How to Create a Fillable PDF Form with a Submit Button in LibreOffice Writer - NO CODING REQUIRED

In this tutorial you will learn how to how to create a fillable PDF form with submit button in LibreOffice Writer. There is no coding required to create the fillable form. Your recipients can also select which mail client they want to use to submit the form back to you. This includes Outlook and Webmail clients.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:18 - Prep work
02:16 - Create form without table
02:56 - Use table to create form
05:00 - Textboxes
06:54 - Drop down list
08:35 - Numerical field
09:17 - Radio/option buttons
11:55 - Date field
12:45 - Checkboxes
15:53 - Export as PDF without submit sutton
18:40 - Create submit button
22:50 - Export as PDF with submit button
23:07 - Submit button send email properties
23:31 - Configure email client
22:54 - Saving and sending filled out form
24:37 - Receiving filled out form
24:49 - Wrap up
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[@PEIRDO777]

This video should have a lot more views. Easily the best break down on how to do all of the form options. Thank you.

[@LitBoxTv]

The best tutorial on this topic hands down. Thank you so much. ❤

[@andrewdowniephd]

A very useful tutorial. A client has asked me to add a pdf form to his website. I've toyed with the notion of adding a multi-step form in Elementor Pro but sought a method of using a pdf form directly. Many thanks Melissa, this will be very useful.

[@user-jl9um2vr3p]

Thank you! This is exactly what I needed. Your video was so helpful to me that I could get my tasks done quicker and more easily.

[@abaddon319]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for this video it was by far the MOST helpful on KZbin. Hands down

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! I'm glad it helped!

[@jim7smith]

Excellently done! You covered everything necessary without a lot of skipping around and/or unnecessary words. I really liked how you left in the mistake on the scrolling and explained how to avoid duplicating it. liked and subbed

[@michaelbishton9439]

VERY clear and well explained. Thank you for producing it.

[@paulg3336]

This is nice and clear. You covered just about everything someone might ask about form creation. Many thanks

[@MelCompton]

Hi! How to create the form itself is in the tutorial.

[@wrus9]

what a brilliant tutorial. superb! Many thanks

[@odkdsjf]

You did an amazing job of explaining.

[@a.r1832]

That a girl Melissa! You are the best.

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! I'm glad it helped!

[@CHX_37]

Very clear, well-designed, informative video. Thank you.

[@MelCompton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-ww1uh5hi1n]

Thanks Melissa, I learnt alot.

[@Zenon-fg4dw]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. Exactly what I needed.

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! Glad it helped!

[@lucillevicente6873]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed, a step by step lesson. As a senior that learns computer skills as needed, I was so relieved to find a tutorial that explained everything slowly, clearly, and with lots of visual guidance. I can finally create an order form according to what I need without using predetermined templates. I certainly feel less computer-challenged. Wonder what else I will learn from you next? Keep up the great work!

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

[@zimtage1744]

You're awesome. This was so well done and easy to follow

[@MelCompton]

Thanks so much!

[@samsrilanka]

Thank you! valuable video!

[@wayajamesagok2501]

I really enjoyed this technique. Thank you more❤️

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! Glad it helped!

[@CharlesSmall]

Thank you i love it.

[@blueskydave1955]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks.

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! Glad it helped!

[@blade-X0295]

Thanks for the video 😊

[@jobsonpt2739]

Great Video.... Thanks alot.. 👌💯

[@dabluk]

Subscribed and liked it! thank you!

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! Glad it helped!

[@craigbertrand6011]

thank you

[@leehaynes7761]

What a great video...

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! Glad it helped!

[@abesternberg]

I really enjoyed this video. You did a great job and made building a form and adding a submit button easy to understand. Is there any way to do this so you get a .csv file that can be loaded into a spreadsheet?

[@cosmicgoo8074]

Thank you for the info. Can you show us how to add a button to save the form? Again, thank you!

[@RitikYadav-vl4dd]

Thanks mam.

[@MelCompton]

Thank you! Glad it helped!

[@valthompson1952]

Love this, but did I miss something! I made a form, and when I type into the text boxes, it doesn't overwrite the default text there (enter name here). You have to highlight it all to overwrite it. How do I properly make the text boxes overwrite when a user fills in the box?

[@lizzietheoldbiddy262]

Fabulous tutorial, thank you. I'd love to know how to auto sum numeric (currency) cells in Libre Office Write form, please

[@timothymanz7999]

I was hoping you might consider a follow up video on Libre office forms going a bit more in depth with topics like "smart/responsive" form design. Like depending on radio button response(s) show/hide follow up dropdown selections. This is something specific I am looking for, but I feel there are more similar possibilities that are just beyond my know how at this stage. I'm guessing cascades of dependent dropdowns will require Libre Calc integrations which is a bit beyond what I'm attempting at this time (however I'm curious if that type of integration carries over into PDF form conversions?)

[@MelCompton]

Hello! I will add this to my list of topics. Thank you for the suggestion!

[@officialsofficials9126]

I followed your tutorial and the form looks OK and the submit button appears, but when I click on the submit button, the email box does not come up.

[@lizzietheoldbiddy262]

Same for me...

[@zarilliontrading]

Wow! Great Video Melissa! Thank you! Is there a way to add an "Attach Image Here" to a fillable PDF in Libre? I would love to let my clients insert an image file, once they've filled out my form. Thanks again! You're terrific! :)

[@francescoalbano8619]

I am trying to build my own form now. this video is amazing. is it a way to make it smartphone-friendly?

[@MsBiz888]

Melissa, I love all your tutorials, thank you! Quick question, on our form, we need the signers to upload certain docs from their computer to give to us. When signers click "UPLOAD HERE" there should be a box that shows FILE from Desktop etc. How to create that on the form please? I have not seen anyone give this tutorial in youtube :--(((

[@mohsenuss91]

Thank you! I would like to know, How to collect Answers (offline in local area network)? and is there an auto scoring method based on Answers? can be helpful for teachers and students

[@lisamenconi922]

I love this! I made a form and when i type into the text boxes, it doesn't overwrite the default text there (enter name here). You have to highlight it all to overwrite it. How do i properly make the text boxes overwrite when user fills in the box?

[@linaloveslove]

Thank you so much! I have been struggling with a project and this should save me many hours and frustration! I selected too many options and now I don't have an effective toolbar. Any advice? Which version libreoffice are you running?

[@coastaerialimaging2027]

Melissa, thanks for your videos. They have helped so much. I have a question. I was attempting to make a text "suggestion" box for a editable PDF and wanted to underline the text as someone types their comments. After making the text box I double click on it. Then click on the fonts and click the font effects tab. I have tried selecting "Single" in the Underlining box but I have yet to make this work. Do you or anyone else have a suggestion I would be grateful. Thanks again.

[@shaheryaarkamran6670]

You explained really well I understand each and everything and I implemented but unfortunately when I completed all my work my submit button is not working when I clicked on submit button nothing happends no window appeared pls explain me where I did mistake I tried too many times but submit button is not working pls reply

[@ibrahimmohammed3364]

was waiting for the combo box how to add multi list already specified then add more to that list manually

[@apchristianevents]

how to add image upload/insert option while creating this fillable pdf form

[@charlieross-BRM]

This tutorial was beautiful but when I get to the Form properties after setting up the Submit button, the field for URL always fills itself with an insanely long chain of repeating characters. I can't replace it with a proper mailto:etcetera . I've removed the button, saved the doc and restarted Libre Writer but it's always doing the same thing.

[@oscarpradilla]

This is great !! but I have a question, is it possible to export the selected entry of a list or a check box into a different cell, so you can copy and paste or work with that data?

[@MelCompton]

Hello! You want to be able to pull the data into calc and have it write into cells for analysis?

[@gerardcorreia]

Love the video but when I create a listbox the content of the listbox doesn´t show in the pdf.

[@dd4all]

Can I change the checkbox in the 'generate pdf' from X to a nicer looking 'vink'?

[@LifeAccordingtoMaria]

Melissa I sure learned a lot. Would you be able to do a quick video on how to add an "upload or browse to" button to a form so that when clicked, the customer can browse on their computer to upload it through the form? I tried in LibreOffice Draw and added the "File Selection" field. It works while in Draw, I can click the three dot button and it opens for me to browse on my computer, no problem. But when I export it to PDF, it doesn't do anything and seems to think that it is a text box? Very strange. Any thoughts or workarounds? Thanks so much. :)

[@MelCompton]

Hello! To make sure I understand. You are wanting them to be able to upload the PDF instead of using the submit button?

[@LifeAccordingtoMaria]

@@MelCompton Not quite. I would like a button that when clicked the customer can browse on their local drive, choose a file and "attach" it to this form. Much like when you upload a resue PDF document and attach it to a job opening form?

[@user-ty5cp8bs9y]

Hello! This is an awesome video! Question??? I work for an online school and want to create an enrollment form, is this secure to do so ?

[@MelCompton]

Hi! If you are collecting sensitive information like SSN, etc…. I would not recommend doing it through email. It would be more secure to do it through Forms in Microsoft 365 or Google workspace.

[@craigbertrand6011]

If you import a PDF to make it a fillable form, The PDF opens in Draw. Do the same rules for making the PDF into a fillable form remain the same in Draw as they do in Writer?

[@peterc2248]

Is there a way to validate the data before the user submits the form? For example, in your case, if the user does not click the checkbox saying they agree to the payment terms they can still send the form. Any ideas?

[@alexmartinez3683]

Something that I wish they would fix is that when you put the check mark box in and then use it through PDF it marks it as an X as opposed to a checkmark. Does anyone know how to fix this?

[@amywalker7515]

So what if you have a pre-existing form you want to make fillable you can send out to prospective customers? I spent a lot of time using another program only to discover when finished you either ended up with a whole lot of unchangeable "put text here" boxes or a completely unchanged form.

[@user-bp9nt1zf5u]

Melissa thank you very much for your help. I am having some issues getting the "file select" button to show up in my form when I convert it to a PDF. Any suggestions? Thanks again Mark

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Can you please give me a little bit more information as to what it is doing?

[@tomasgonzalez4819]

How do you make documents that allow you to fill out only certain parts. For example, let's say I want to creat a model deed for my clients. I only want to change the folio number, grantor, grantee, legal description, etc. The rest of the document would remain untouched. I know exactly how to do this with Word, but can't figure this out with LibreOffice.

[@ajaykumargupta6371]

mam not showing after export send mail for selection....pls help

[@cosmicgoo8074]

In creating a PDF form with Writer; and using both a “label” and an “image button”, in control properties for each I add “Help Text”. In Writer, the help text I create shows up as it should. But, after exporting to a PDF, the “Help Text” does not appear on hover or clicking or anything; using Acrobat Reader or Google Chrome. I’ve tried exporting as a Hybrid and FDF and HTML, as well as, PDF, still no “Help Text”. I’m pretty sure it’s user error. Can anyone help, offer suggestions or link me to an answer? Thanks

[@farhanalimalik9555]

Thanks Mam... But Its Not Picking Up Outlook Or Gmail With Chrome Browser.... Just Ask For Login And Hangs.....

[@bcklompsma]

Hello Melissa, I have gratefully used your tutorial video, very clear and user-friendly. However, when I have saved the document properly and I open it in Chrome, not all options work. Is there any way I can give and get some information via private message? Thanks in advance.

[@bcklompsma]

For instance, the SUBMIT button is doing nothing in the saved and then opened PDF and also the valuta-sign "€" does not appear in the valuta box.

[@MelCompton]

Hello! If the form is downloaded and opened with a PDF reader it should work. It won't work when opening with Chrome.

[@bcklompsma]

@@MelCompton Hi Melissa. At the moment I'm on holiday. I will look into it and try it with 4 weeks! Thanks for the answer. Stay safe!

[@swhortoab6926]

Many thanks for a very nice video! I created an orderform with submit button, but when I embedded the pdf the submit button didn´t work. I have tried to embed in many different ways but it still doesn´t work. Any ideas?

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Can you define "embedded the pdf"?

[@navioneer]

Mel, Back in the bad old days... I used to have web pages that used HTML to make forms and at the end with the person submitted the form it would email a CSV list of the values that I could easily import to a spreadsheet. Now it's asking for trouble to have an open web site with a form on it. You end up with 99% garbage and 1% real people. Sending a form like this to a customer and just getting their info back is a much better scheme. Is there any way to do that with LibreOffice Writer? It's nice that the sender can review the form as a PDF but all that gets in the way at my end. I just need their answers. I guess LibreOffice Writer is just being used as a fill-able PDF composer, so my question is, is there a mechanism for PDF to distill a form as I've described and mail it? Thanks, Bill

[@michaelj.bolanosdavis6693]

Very good explanations. I followed all steps in LibreOffice Writer, but the submit button is never active in Firefox although all fields are indee fillable. If I test it in Writer, the submit button seems to work, but no form is attached to the email. So, somehow there must be something not right or missing in the definitions, but what why would the submit button not be active in Firefox? I also tested it with Nitro 5 and the submit button appears to be active but nothing happens when clicked. Please help with these issues.

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Is the form being downloaded and saved before it is filled out and sent back?

[@MedoHamdani]

Is it possible to do that using Draw Libre?

[@farhanalimalik9555]

How Can We Add A Save/Download Button Instead Submit And That Save/Download File Into Your PC

[@dinaedwards8667]

HELP!! My submit button won't work. It does when I am in Libre Office or if I email myself the Libre Office copy but if I save the PDF on my desktop and then email it to myself the submit button does not work. What am I doing wrong?

[@samsrilanka]

When submit button is clicked, is there a way to just submit and save as new, locked, uneditable PDF file? (without loading up email)

[@chrisw5299]

Does anyone know if there's a way to get the buttons on a list box to not display in a completed form? Or maybe a drop down menu that doesn't have the buttons in the first place?

[@MelCompton]

Hello! This might be possible with some basic coding. I will see what I can come up with.

[@farhanalimalik9555]

Do We Need Same Emails For Both Email Client & Adobe Account... Currently I Have Different For Adobe

[@JoySchoonover]

I followed this video exactly and the submit button did not work.

[@dunoyerinvestment9997]

your video was really good, but im a little bit crazy jejej I have like 12 hour trie to resolve the problem whit the number field, I do the steps like you do, but when I export the pdf and I go to check the number file and at number that box write whit (,) all the numbers and I don't have any idea how to delete the (,) because is for add phone numbers

[@MelCompton]

Hello! So to clarify. Your number fields have comma's in them?

[@kubilyunanto320]

hi. . . can you show me, how to export pdf form to exel? why mine is blank. thanks

[@dontobey879]

Hi Melissa - I'm using Libre 7.5 the latest software version, since I couldn't get SUBMIT button to work in a previous version. In both cases, the "Send Email" box never showed up with the "webmail" option as shown in your video. People can input the data in the various fields, but cannot send it back when clicking the submit button. I hope this gives you enough information to help resolve the issue. I'm using this for our church men's organization. I'd appreciate it if you could help me solve this issue. Thanks

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Are they downloading the form before they fill it out? It has to be downloaded and saved to their machine. Then they can fill it out and send it back.

[@dontobey879]

I think I confused you Melissa with my explanation. I was trying to design the submit button, but couldn't get the "Sen to" webmail shown in your video. By any chance, do you have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer? Another video using that software had the same visual. Do I need to have it to complete the design of the submit button?

[@MelCompton]

@@dontobey879 Yes Adobe Acrobat is needed. I will add that to my description.

[@AliReza-xk7if]

Dear Melissa Kindly let me know the software version and how to get it? Best Regards ALI

[@twooldfartsinanrv7137]

Works great for creating the form. However, after many tries and rewatching the submit button part, I am dead in the water.

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Sorry for the delayed response. What is it doing or not doing?

[@jocelynbarnhart1478]

@@MelCompton Hi. I'm not the original poster, but I'm in the same boat. I have tried multiple times and the submit button just doesn't do anything. I have tried to submit the form to multiple addresses, but it never arrives!

[@hhampton]

Is there a way to create a templated number field for phone numbers, Social Security numbers or other fixed format numbers?

[@timothymanz7999]

From the "Form Design" tool bar, look for item selection that looks like it has the "%" symbol inside it. Hovering should reveal the name "Formatted Field." After adding view the properties of the field. You should see a property called "Formatting." I selected this one and looked at related online help combined with a little trial and error to come up with very basic custom phone format "("###") "###"-"####

[@MsMRBEER]

I have a application where I have a multiple page fillable form. I have two problems I would like to know how to address. First, I want to be able to enter a control number on the first page that is automatically added to every other remaining page without having to enter manually on each succeeding page. That is because the individual pages are disbursed to different people for evaluation once the form is received The second problem is how to create a fillable field to which the person using the form can insert a photo. How do I accomplish these two things?

[@MelCompton]

Hello! This might take some Basic coding. Let me look into it and I will either respond or put ouyt a tutorial as soon as I can.

[@user-bh8jk1nj8l]

great tutorial unfortunately can't get submit button to work will not open send mail dialog box 😞

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Are you getting an error of some sort?

[@sizomabu1036]

How to link that pdf form to data base or ecxel

[@edumurphy3161]

I am having a problem with the submit button, I saved it as pdf but the button does nothing, it will execute before I save as a pdf but not after I save it

[@ruthlawson8017]

Where do you find the PDF, or do you have to download it

[@arjanseunninga8724]

How can I make a fillable form field required? I can't find the property "Required" in the field properties.

[@MelCompton]

Hello! If you double click on the field and go to the Data Tab you can give the field a name and then require input.

[@arjanseunninga8724]

@@MelCompton I'm not able to make the field required. I would expect that the user is not able to save the PDF document if one of the required fields is empty. I gave the field a name in the Data tab and made it required, but it doesn't work as I would expect. Do you have other suggestions on how to make this work?

[@Muis207]

@@arjanseunninga8724 That is something I also would like to know. I have tried everything, but it doesn't work.

[@jennifernorman6058]

I created a form in Libre Writer, I did save the form but when I went back into the form to finish the form, my drop downs for dates were gone, my tab stops changed order, a few other things changed also. I am creating an application, so input is required on most answers, how do I keep that? That also changed.

[@MelCompton]

Hi Jennifer. It should have kept everything. Something could have happened during the saving process so that it did not save. If you have checked "Always create a backup copy" then you can find the back up there. If you do not have it checked then I would recommend it. I would also recommend setting it to "Save AutoRecovery information every "10" minutes. To set both of these go to: Tools>Options>Load/Save>General you will find them under "Save" on the right hand side. To find where your back up files are saved go to Tools>Options>Load/Save>General and it will show you the path. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions!

[@jennifernorman6058]

I figured out most of my issues, thank you for the help keeping my info. My next question, can I take the form (application) and add it to a web page? Also some of my calendar drop downs are not working correctly outside of Libreoffice.

[@MelCompton]

@@jennifernorman6058 this is only compatible with LibreOffice. If you want to add a form to a website I would recommend using Google Forms or Microsoft 365.

[@spectrumsoftapp2818]

can form data submit to rest api ??

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Just to make sure I understand. Are you asking if this data in motion can submit to a data at rest api?

[@MsMRBEER]

Continuing comment: I was able to create the form and the submit button worked as advertised. The problem I have is it created and emails me a form data file (.fdf). I need to be able to extract that data into an Excel file because I will have 400+ of these forms returned to me. How do I accomplish this?

[@MelCompton]

If you are going to take a fillable form from LibreOffice to Excel, I would recommend creating the form in Microsoft 365 online and sending it that way. Then you can do all kinds of reporting and analytics on it.

[@MsMRBEER]

@@MelCompton Does that require that the respondent have Microsoft 365 on their machine in order to fill out the form and do they need Outlook to send it back to me? I will need to examine your tutorial on Microsoft 365. Would I need Outlook mail to transmit the form to them to fill out in the first place? I am dealing with groups of retired seniors. That is why pdf was so enticing and Libre made that easy.

[@MelCompton]

@@MsMRBEER You can use forms to send it to people who do not have a Microsoft account. However, they will come back to you anonymously. So, if you need who has submitted responses then include an area for them to fill in their names.

[@richardburton8826]

So tell me I've completed a fillable form in word with button is it possible you can send it out by email for people to fill in and send back as I send mine out and it gets there but they can't use the drop down boxes or fill the form in any help please

[@MelCompton]

Hello. So this is the video for fillable form in LibreOffice. You are using MS Word?

[@richardburton8826]

@@MelCompton yes I am with submit button but it's not going through as a fillable form when I email it to people back

[@MelCompton]

@@richardburton8826 did you use this video with the VB script to make it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJvSdKyNppx_gJo

[@richardburton8826]

@@MelCompton no I used a diff way through word made my form added button put codes in at end for sending there sending but people can't seem to fill them in as the drop boxes are not working

[@MelCompton]

@@richardburton8826 I don't know what process you used or what code you used to create it so I don't know how to help.

[@cosmicgoo8074]

I could not get the reset form push button to work in Safari. What am I doing wrong?

[@MelCompton]

Try it in chrome.

[@cosmicgoo8074]

I know it works in chrome, The form is supposed to be designed for non tech types that just want to use apple's safari only. Some folks just don't like Google. I can't imagine why...

[@craftaddicted6318]

I click on the submit button, the email box does not come up.

[@stephanevert-pre914]

Several have the same issue and it seems there isn't an answer to the problem yet.

[@MelCompton]

Hello! Did you download the form to your computer and save it before filling anything out and clicking the submit button?

[@jsgeare]

Looks like I can order only 1 fruit.

[@MelCompton]

Hi. I address this in the video. :)

[@bcklompsma]

To bad that Melissa can't find the time to answer some serious questions.

[@MelCompton]

My mother-in-law died in March. She was in hospice care in our home since December 11. I apologize. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

[@bcklompsma]

@@MelCompton Melissa, Sorry for my impatience , didn't know that. My deepest condolences and take your time! Berend.