Work with Forms

Foxit PDF Editor supports both the AcroForms and XFA forms. You can also create a standard PDF form with Foxit PDF Editor. Working with AcroForms is free in Foxit PDF Editor. To work with XFA forms or create PDF forms, you need to subscribe to Foxit PDF Editor, and log in to your subscription account in Foxit PDF Editor. 

• Highlight Form Fields
• Enable Auto-Complete Feature
• Fill Out Forms
• Sign PDF Forms
• Reset Form Fields
• Flatten Form Fields (Subscription Required)
• Import and Export Form Data
• Create a PDF Form (Subscription Required)

Highlight Form Fields

By default, Foxit PDF Editor highlights the form fields in PDF forms for easy recognition. To change the settings, follow the steps below.

• Tap Discover on the main interface.
• Tap Settings.
• Find Highlight Form Field under the PDF VIEW group, and do the following:
  • (iOS only) If you need to change the highlight color, tap the color palette and choose a color as desired.
  • If you need to turn off the feature, slide the toggle to off.

Enable Auto-Complete Feature

Before filling in an interactive form, you can also enable auto-complete feature so that Foxit PDF Editor can store your entries and provide relevant suggestions to help you complete forms quickly and easily.

• Tap Discover on the main interface.
• Tap Settings.
• Slide the Suggest Previously Used Words When Filling Forms toggle to on.
• If you need to clear all the recorded entries, tap Clear Suggestions, and confirm your operation.

Fill Out Forms

Fill in Interactive PDF Forms

• Tap the fillable form field and input the text, or check the options as desired. For interactive text fields, you can long press on the existing text to select, copy, cut, or delete the text. 
• Foxit PDF Editor will save the changes automatically. If you are working with an AcroForm that contains a submit button, tap the submit button to submit the form via HTTP, FTP, or Email.

Tip: If you work on a PDF form integrated with Ultraforms technology, Foxit PDF Editor can generate a 2D barcode right onto the form that contains the variable form data. You can use a supported scanner to scan, capture, and incorporate the form data into a database.

Fill in Non-interactive PDF Forms

You can use the Fill & Sign tools to add text and symbols in non-interactive PDF forms.

• On the document pane, tap Fill & Sign on the toolbar at the top.
• To add normal text, do the following:
  • Select the Add Text tool  on the Fill & Sign toolbar.
  • Tap on the document where you want to add the text, and input your text.
• To add text in continuous boxes in a line, do the following:
  • Select the Comb Field tool  on the Fill & Sign toolbar.
  • Tap on the document where you want to add the text, and input your text.
• To add predefined text (Name, Address, Date, etc.), do the following:
  • Follow the steps below to preset text first:
    • Select the Predefined Text tool  on the Fill & Sign toolbar.
    • In the Predefined Text window, tap the text field to input your text.
    • (Optional) If you need to edit an existing text, tap Edit on the top right corner, and then tap on the text field that you want to edit to make your changes. Please note that the Date field is got and filled by your system date as default, and cannot be edited.
    • (Optional) If you need to add a custom field, tap Add custom field at the bottom, and input the field name.
    • Tap Done to complete your editing.
  • Choose a predefined text in the Predefined Text window, and tap on the document where you want to add the text.
• To add symbols, do the following:
  • Choose the Checkmark tool , Cross Mark tool , or Dot tool  to fill in check boxes, radio buttons, etc.
  • Choose the Line tool , or Rectangle tool  to add a line or rectangle.
  • Tap on the place where you want to add the symbol.
• After adding text or symbols, use the field toolbar floating above them to make appropriate changes, if necessary.
  • Tap  or  to decrease or increase the size. You can also drag the handle to resize the symbols.
  • To delete the text or symbol, tap .
  • To move the text or symbol, drag it directly to the desired location.
  • To replace the current text or symbol, tap  to choose an option asdesired.
• (Optional) If you need to undo or redo the last action, tap  or  on the toolbar at the top. (Tip: On phones, before choosing the Undo or Redo tool, you first need to tap on the toolbar at the top to access the Undo & Redo toolset.)

Tip: For quick access, you can also tap and hold on the document to access the Fill & Sign tools in the pop-up menu when you are in the Fill & Sign mode.

Sign PDF Forms

After filling PDF forms, you can sign PDF forms with your handwritten signatures or certificates. Formore information, please refer to “Add Signatures”.

Reset Form Fields

• On the document pane, tap  on the toolbar at the top.
• Tap Comments & Fields, and choose Reset Form Fields.
• Tap OK to confirm your operation.

Flatten Form Fields (Subscription Required)

You can flatten PDF forms to make the form fields a part of the page content and prevent further editing. The steps are as follows:

• On the document pane, tap  on the toolbar at the top.
• Tap Flatten.

Import and Export Form Data

Foxit PDF Editor supports to import and export form data in XML format.

To import form data:

• On the document pane, tap  on the toolbar at the top.
• Tap Comments & Fields, and choose Import Form Data.
• Select the form data file, and tap Done.

To export form data:

• On the document pane, tap  on the toolbar at the top.
• Tap Comments & Fields, and choose Export Form Data.
• Select the folder in which you want to save the exported file, and tap Done.
• Input the file name.
• Tap OK.

Create a PDF Form (Subscription Required)

Create Form Fields

Foxit PDF Editor provides a group of buttons that can be used to create and design form fields in interactive PDF forms. You can add form fields like text fields, check boxes, combo boxes, list boxes, signature fields, radio buttons, and image fields to an interactive PDF form and specify their properties.

• On the document pane, choose Form on the toolbar at the top.
• In the Form toolbar, choose any of the following form tools:
  • Text Field: Let the user type in text, such as name, address, phone number, etc.
  • Check Box: Present yes-or-no choices for individual items.
  • Radio Button: Present a group of choices from which the user can select only one item.
  • Combo Box: Let the user either choose an item from a pop-up menu or type in a value.
  • List Box: Display a list of options the user can select.
  • Signature Field: Create a blank digital signature field for reviewers to sign the document.
  • Image Field: Create an image field for users to quickly browse and select an image to add to the PDF document.
• Drag to draw an area on the document where you want to add the form field.
• The form field will be added with the default properties. If you want to change the properties of text fields, check boxes, radio buttons, combo boxes, or list boxes, follow the steps below:
  • Deselect the form field tool on the Form toolbar.
  • Long press the form field that you want to change the properties, and choose Appearance from the pop-up menu.
  • In the Property window, you can find the following options based on the type of form field you have selected.
    • Color/Font/Size: Specify the color, font, and size for the text displayed on the form field.
    • Name: Specify the name for the radio buttons.
    • Options: Add items in list boxes and combo boxes. When you select the Options property, the Options window appears. Tap anywhere in the Item List area to add items. For combo boxes, you can also slide the Custom Text toggle to on to enable users to input custom text in the form fields. For list boxes, you can also slide the Multiple Selection toggle to on to enable users to select multiple items from the list.
  • When completed, tap anywhere on the document pane to close the Property window.