How to Make a Fillable Word Document a Fillable PDF

Why Convert a Word Document to a Fillable PDF?

There are numerous compelling reasons to convert Word documents to fillable PDFs. Fillable forms are a fantastic method to save time and money for business owners by automating routine processes such as onboarding new employees or gathering feedback from customers. By using digital forms, you can reduce the amount of time and resources spent on physical paperwork.

Fillable PDFs also help reduce errors in data collection. Streamlined information capture ensures that all necessary fields are completed accurately, minimizing the risk of incomplete or incorrect submissions. This structured approach leads to more reliable data and better decision-making based on the information collected.

Moreover, fillable PDFs significantly improve customer experience. Clean, easy-to-navigate forms provide a professional and user-friendly interface, making it simple for respondents to provide the required information. This convenience translates into higher completion rates and a more positive impression of your organization. By reducing reliance on paper, you protect the environment by conserving resources and minimizing waste. Finally, fillable PDFs offer enhanced security features, including password protection, to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access, enhancing the privacy of sensitive data.

The convenience factor of fillable PDFs makes them perfect for gathering information from multiple people, as the consistent formatting and easy-to-use interface simplifies the process for everyone involved.

Methods for Converting Word Documents to Fillable PDFs

Several methods exist for converting Word documents to fillable PDFs, each with its own set of advantages and limitations. Traditional methods like using Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat involve multiple steps and potential compatibility issues. However, BreezePDF offers a simpler and more streamlined approach, allowing you to create fillable PDFs with ease and maintain complete privacy.

Method 1: Using Microsoft Word (Limited Functionality)

Microsoft Word offers a built-in PDF export function, but it has limitations regarding form fillability. While Word can save documents as PDFs, the basic form fields may not be fully preserved during the conversion, making it difficult to create truly interactive forms. Word's primary function is word processing, not specialized form creation, so its PDF capabilities are somewhat limited.

To create a form using Word's Developer tab, you first need to enable the tab in Word's settings. This can be done by navigating to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and checking the Developer box. Once enabled, the Developer tab provides access to various content controls, including text fields, checkboxes, and drop-down lists. By inserting these controls into your document, you can create a basic form layout.

Saving the document as a PDF from Word is straightforward: go to File > Save As, select PDF as the file type, and click Save. You can customize the options by specifying whether you want document structure tags and other accessibility features. Despite these options, the fillability of the form may not be fully preserved. The same holds true for Mac users utilizing Microsoft Word to create PDFs, where functionality is similar, and the limitations persist.

Method 2: Using Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is a professional PDF tool specifically designed for working with PDF files and provides more robust features for creating fillable forms. Adobe Acrobat is better able to handle complex features of PDF files and allows more advanced form creation options. To create a fillable PDF from a Word document, you'll need to follow a series of steps.

Within the Word program, select File > New Document and create the form. Type out the necessary details of your form. Because Acrobat searches for any horizontal lines to know where to place a fillable field, you’ll need to first create these on your own by typing underscores with your keyboard. Once you’re happy with your Word document, you’ll need to save it as a PDF. Navigate to File > Save As and then change the file format to a PDF. Click Export. Then open the PDF with Adobe Acrobat by right-clicking the file and selecting Open With Adobe Acrobat. If you don’t have it on your computer, you’ll need to install it before proceeding.

In Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the toolbar and select Tools > Prepare Form. This will prompt Acrobat to find the horizontal lines and create fillable fields. Once complete, click File > Save As to save your form to your desired location. Acrobat also offers form templates. Go to File > New and search online templates, typing “Forms” or the type of form you would like and pressing Enter. Choose a form template, then choose Create or Download.

To start with a blank document in Adobe Acrobat, go to File > New and choose Blank Document. From here, go to Developer, and select the controls you want to add to the document. Click where you want to insert the control. Choose Developer > Rich Text Content Control > or Plain Text Content Control. Despite the versatility of Adobe Acrobat, BreezePDF offers a more intuitive and straightforward experience.

Method 3: Using Google Docs

Google Docs provides another avenue for creating fillable PDFs, although its features are more limited compared to dedicated PDF editors. Google Docs features are limited when it comes to fillable form creation, which might restrict the types of forms you can create.

Open Google Docs and choose a template from Google Docs or search Google to find a different one. If pulling one from a Google search, be sure to make a copy and save it to your Google Drive folder. Use the underscore on your keyboard by pressing Shift+Hyphen to enter blank lines to show the viewers where you would like them to type information. Another option is to insert a blank table for lists of information required for your document. You can also draw a box using the Drawing tool. Both of these options can be found in the Insert menu. Take a moment to discover everything you can do with Acrobat online services to make it easier than ever to send and receive forms, redact sensitive information, and keep those important documents moving.

Method 4: Online PDF Editors & Converters

Numerous online PDF editors and converters are available, offering varying degrees of functionality. These options include online converters like Smallpdf, ILovePDF, or PDF2Go, which allow you to convert Word documents to fillable PDFs quickly. Alternatively, online PDF editors like PDFescape or JotForm PDF Editor provide tools to add fillable fields directly to your PDF document.

Many of these platforms offer a Fill and Sign tool to get the job done. You can send the document, track responses, collect electronic signatures, and more from there. These methods, while convenient, may not always offer the level of control and privacy provided by a dedicated, offline PDF editor like BreezePDF.

Limitations of Fillable Forms in Word and other tools.

While various methods can create fillable PDFs, they often come with limitations. Mobile responsiveness can be an issue, as forms created in Word or other basic tools may not display correctly on mobile devices, leading to a poor user experience. Design options are typically limited, making it difficult to create visually appealing and professional-looking forms.

Advanced features like conditional logic and data validation are often absent or difficult to implement. Without data validation, you may have to deal with inaccurate or inconsistent data. It can also be difficult to update fillable forms, which can be a major hassle. These methods lack reporting and analysis capabilities, making it difficult to track form submissions and gather insights. All these limitations can often lead to form abandonment.

Solution: BreezePDF - Create Fillable PDFs Easily

BreezePDF offers a user-friendly alternative to traditional methods for creating fillable PDFs. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, adding form fields is a breeze, allowing you to create professional-looking forms in minutes. Unlike other online tools, BreezePDF operates entirely on your device, ensuring your documents remain private and secure. This is particularly important when dealing with sensitive information that you don't want to be sent to external servers.

BreezePDF offers features like mobile-responsive forms, ensuring that your forms look great on any device. Data validation and security options help maintain data integrity and protect sensitive information. Customizable branding allows you to create forms that align with your organization's identity, enhancing professionalism and brand recognition. With BreezePDF, creating fillable PDFs is not only easy but also secure and customizable.

With BreezePDF, you'll gain conditional logic capabilities, HIPAA compliance options, and a simplified responder journey. This ensures that your fillable forms are as efficient, compliant, and user-friendly as possible.

Step-by-step guide to creating fillable PDFs with BreezePDF

While no sign up or download is required to use Create Fillable PDF, BreezePDF is simple to use to create your own fillable PDFs! Let's get into the steps.

1. Signing up for a BreezePDF account. After logging in, you'll be taken to your BreezePDF studio.
2. Creating a new form.
   • Click the “+ New flow” button and select “Pick a template” or “Start blank.”
   • Template: Browse through the available templates and click on the template to start creating your form. You can edit the questions and answers and customize the design to your needs.
   • New flow: Start by selecting a theme.
3. Customizing the form by adding questions, images, and branding.
   • Add questions and form elements relevant to your form. You can include text input fields, checkboxes for consent, dropdowns, and more.
   • If you select a template, you’ll see pre-populated steps. You can make any necessary adjustments.
   • Add images and branding: Enhance the form's visual appeal and professionalism by adding images, logos, and custom branding. This step helps align the form with your healthcare company's identity.
4. Implementing conditional logic for personalized user experiences.
   • Conditional logic: To create personalized user experiences, implement conditional logic. For instance, set up rules that display specific questions based on the patient's previous responses. This ensures that the responder only sees questions relevant to their circumstances.
5. Previewing and testing the form.
   • Preview: Before finalizing your form, use Formsort's preview feature to see how it will appear to respondents. This allows you to check for any formatting or layout issues.
   • Testing: Test the form by filling it out as if you were a patient or a user. Verify that conditional logic works as intended and that the user experience is smooth.
6. Connecting to Google Sheets to save answers.
   • Google Sheets integration: To automatically save form responses, integrate your Formsort form with Google Sheets. This feature helps you maintain a central repository of data for analysis and record-keeping.
7. Publishing the form and collecting responses.
   • Publish the form: Once you're satisfied with your form, click the "Deploy" button. You'll receive a link or embed code that you can share with others.
   • Collect responses: Responses are automatically collected and can be viewed in real-time within Google Sheets.

Conclusion

Using fillable PDFs for data collection offers significant benefits, including time savings, reduced errors, and improved customer experience. While several conversion methods exist, each has its limitations. BreezePDF stands out as the recommended solution, offering a user-friendly interface, robust features, and unmatched privacy. It provides you complete control over your data, never sending your documents to a server.

Try BreezePDF today and experience the easiest and most secure way to create your own fillable PDFs. Its intuitive interface and robust features make it the ideal choice for anyone looking to streamline their data collection process.