How to create custom PDF document from Google Forms responses?
Boobesh Ramalingam
Co-founder of Guesswork.co.
"i'm making contracts and for each contract i have to fill different data"- Google Docs Editors Community
This is a common problem for Google Docs users who write the same document again and again. For example, you hire out equipment and each customer needs a rental contract before they collect the machine and only the name, the equipment and the date change. Copying the document and typing new details each time takes a long time and one missed line goes out wrong. Google Forms does not have a built-in feature to generate custom PDFs from form responses. A document merge add-on can fill in a template, but it won't get the contract signed. With Formesign, you can automatically generate a custom pdf document when a user submits the form. Even better, you can share it via email and sync it to your google drive folder. This is useful for generating invoices, agreements, applications, certificates, onboarding documents, consent forms and more.
Let's start. Open the google docs you want as the template and follow the steps below. If your document is a PDF, upload it here and pick up from reviewing the fields.
Create your form from your document
The first time, install the Formesign - Signature for Google Docs addon. You can use the Google Docs formatting options to customize the template before you click Request signature. Open the google docs selected as the template > click Extensions > click Formesign - Signature for Google Docs > click Request signature > click Proceed > your document will open on formesign.com in a new tab. Formesign creates a new form from your document, so your Google Form is not used.
Review the fields on your document and click Proceed > How do you want the signature? will be displayed > select "Create a reusable link for recurring forms" and click Continue > your form will open in a new tab to try it and its thank-you page leads to the link to share with your users > View your signed document anytime will be displayed > click View signed documents.
Set up PDF template
Click PDF Template > Form fields side panel will be displayed > you can click on + Add, then click where the answer goes or drag to draw its box, to add a missing field in the document. The added fields will be shown on the document.
Each signer starts on Google Sign-in. If your users have no Google account, click Form, click the signature field and click Not required beside Verify identity.
Email custom PDF
Click Responses > click Kanban board > click on the three dots for the column your responses land in, such as Submitted > click Notify respondent > The Email respondent setup wizard will be displayed > select the email address field, click Next > update the subject, click Next > update the message, enable the Include form response as attachment option and click Next > when Test email notification is displayed, submit a test response and click YES to complete the setup.
When the user completes the form and submits it, they will receive a confirmation email with the generated PDF document as attachment.
Sync custom PDF to drive
Click Signed PDF > click Save to Google Drive > select the preferred folder, click Next > keep Save Entire form response ticked, click Proceed and authorize Google Drive access to complete the setup.
Click Share, copy the link and share it with your users. When the user completes the form and submits it, the generated PDF document will be automatically synced to your google drive.
Summary
If you write the same contract for each customer, copying it and typing new details takes a long time and Google Forms does not have a built-in feature to generate custom PDFs. With Formesign, you turn your google docs into a template and each customer's answers fill in their own signed copy, which you can share via email and sync to your google drive folder. Open the google docs you want as the template or upload it as a PDF and complete the steps above. If you have any questions, write to support.
