How Do I Create a Fillable PDF Where I Fill out the First Portion?

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How do I create a fillable PDF where I fill out the first portion (and then make it uneditable) and then allow a client to fill in the rest?

I prefer to collect the info in html form fields and then write to the pdf with PHP. Starting with the pdf as editable makes it harder because you both need to collect the form info and present it back in the pdf. I use PHP to write the html forms to the browser, collect what I need and then use html2pdf to write the output to an inexorable pdf.

PDF documents can be cumbersome to edit, especially when you need to change the text or sign a form. However, working with PDFs is made beyond-easy and highly productive with the right tool.

How to Create PDF with minimal effort on your side:

  1. Add the document you want to edit — choose any convenient way to do so.
  2. Type, replace, or delete text anywhere in your PDF.
  3. Improve your text’s clarity by annotating it: add sticky notes, comments, or text blogs; black out or highlight the text.
  4. Add fillable fields (name, date, signature, formulas, etc.) to collect information or signatures from the receiving parties quickly.
  5. Assign each field to a specific recipient and set the filling order as you Create PDF.
  6. Prevent third parties from claiming credit for your document by adding a watermark.
  7. Password-protect your PDF with sensitive information.
  8. Notarize documents online or submit your reports.
  9. Save the completed document in any format you need.

The solution offers a vast space for experiments. Give it a try now and see for yourself. Create PDF with ease and take advantage of the whole suite of editing features.

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Create PDF: All You Need to Know

The format has some advantages over the PDF file to which it is written: there are no page breaks/padding and any comments that might be present in a PDF file disappear completely. I don't have to look at the PDF file when I'm editing the forms — it's the HTML I need. I write the HTML forms via the command line, but using a text editor I'm able to edit them more quickly. The HTML form for one of my business applications requires some HTML/JavaScript code to determine the correct data types, so I can't automate that task but if you're writing your own PDF/HTML file, you can automate other tasks that might require some HTML processing. You should always try to make it as easy for users as possible to submit the PDF that they are editing, even if the interface is intimidating at first. A very common mistake.