Basic steps to create a fillable PDF form

This walkthrough demonstrates the process to create a PDF file using CenoPDF. In this walkthrough, you will create a Microsoft Word document, add some PDF form fields and generate the final PDF file.

The files created by this walkthrough can be downloaded here: walkthrough.doc and walkthrough.pdf.

  1. Launch Microsoft Word. The CenoPDF menu and tool bar will appear in the window if it is installed properly. Start with a blank document. Zoom the page to 100%.

    CenoPDF user interface in Microsoft Word 2003

    In Microsoft Word 2007 Fluent user interface, CenoPDFtab is in the Ribbon:

    CenoPDF user interface in Microsoft Office Word 2007

  2. Choose Table > Insert > Table to insert a table in the document. Type Applicant Name:, Job:, Manager and Developer in the table cells.

    Add a table in Microsoft Word

  3. Choose CenoPDF > Add Text Box.

    CenoPDF Add Text Box menu

  4. Text Box Properties dialog box pops up. Type appname in the Name box. Click the OK button.

    PDF Text Box Properties

  5. A new box, which represents the PDF text box you just added, appears in the document. Drag it to the cell next to the Applicant Name. Adjust the table and the text box as you like.

    Adjust PDF Text Box position in Microsoft Word

  6. Choose CenoPDF > Add Radio Button.

    Add a PDF radio button using CenoPDF

  7. Radio Button Properties dialog box pops up. Type job in the Name box. Click Options tab. Type manager in the Export Value box. Click the OK button.

    PDF radio button properties

  8. A new box, which represents the PDF radio button you just added, appears in the document. Drag it to the right side of the text Manager.

    Adjust position of the PDF radio button

  9. Add another radio button. In the Radio Button Properties dialog box, type job in the Name box. Click Options tab. Type developer in the Export Value box. Click the OK button.

    Note that the two radio buttons with the same name will be grouped together and only one of them can be checked at any given time.

    Add another PDF radio button

  10. Drag the added gray box to the right side of the text Developer.

    Microsoft Word document before exporting to PDF file

  11. Choose CenoPDF > Export to PDF.

    Export to PDF file using CenoPDF menu

  12. Type demo in the File name box and click the Save button.

    Input a PDF file name

  13. When the export is finished, you will see the success message. If you have installed a PDF viewer program such as Adobe Reader, you can click the Yes button to open the newly generated PDF file in the viewer.

    Prompt to open the PDF file after exporting

  14. This is how the PDF file looks when opened in Adobe Reader.

    Open the PDF file in Adobe Reader