Data from WordPress form submissions is more readable and sharable when saved as a PDF document. This article shows how to print your WordPress form submissions to PDF.
Have you ever tried sending data from form submissions to a colleague or a customer? Entries from WordPress forms can be exported as CSV files, but this format can be difficult to read.
The easiest way to share form data in a readable format is by saving them as a PDF document. In this article, we’ll learn how to print your WordPress form submissions to PDF.
A PDF version of a form entry can be stored, sent in email, shared, and printed. The PDF file format is readily readable for just about anyone using any desktop or mobile device.
Print a form to PDF from the back-end
The fastest, easiest way to get a PDF of a single form entry, is from the WordPress backend (even in the free version). In the Formidable → Entries list, hover over the entry you want to print and click View.
(This example submission is from a Job Application form. Read more about how to make a job application form in WordPress.)
Click Print Entry in the sidebar, right under Entry Actions.
This will open the print screen, which will look different from one browser to the next. This is the print screen in Google Chrome. Select Save as PDF in the Destination dropdown box. I’ve also selected Portrait mode for the layout. Select the location to save and file and hit Save.
I now have a PDF file of that entry.
Front-end printing to PDF
Let’s look at how to create the PDF from the front-end. This allows the user to print a PDF, save it, and receive it in email.
Install the E2PDF Plugin to export to PDF
E2PDF is a third-party plugin that was designed to create custom PDF documents from WordPress forms. It integrates with Formidable Forms to create PDFs using your own custom templates.
Formidable Forms includes more than 30 field types that are compatible with E2PDF so you can include electronic signatures, dynamic fields, and more. The PDF can be included as an attachment in your email notifications.
Create a PDF template
Go to E2PDF → Templates in the WordPress dashboard menu and select Add New. This will open an editor where you can make your template selections.
Fill in the title, size, and font options. Under Extension select Formidable Forms. For Item select the form that you’d like to create a PDF from. Click Auto PDF so it will create the PDF automatically.
For this example, I’ve selected a simple Contact form.
(For more information about creating amazing contact forms that convert, see the article 10 Research Based Tips to Improve Contact Form Conversions.)
This will create a template from the form you’ve chosen. You can customize it if you want.
If you want to change the text of the button that will appear where you add the shortcode, enter a button title in the Template tab in the Settings area in the bottom right of the editor screen. I’ve selected Inline so the PDF will be opened in a new tab, where visitors can save or print it.
Add the shortcode to the form
In the Shortcodes list in the editor, select the shortcodes for the actions you want to perform (attach, download, save, or view).
To show a downloadable PDF right after a form is submitted, go to your form’s settings. In the General tab, go the Messages section and add the E2PDF shortcodes to the On Submit field. You can add extra text in addition to the shortcode. I’ve added the shortcodes to download and view the same PDF.
This is the example form before I hit Submit.
Once the user clicks the submit button and the submission is completed, they’ll see a message that the responses were submitted, the download link, and the open PDF. They can view, download, or print the PDF.
If you’ve chosen Inline, the PDF file will open in a new tab with download and print features.
Ending Thoughts
That’s a look at how to export WordPress forms to PDF. PDF files more portable and usable by more people. They are more user-friendly and easier to read.
Not using Formidable Forms yet? Need a WordPress forms plugin that allows you to download PDF files for free? Get started with Formidable today.
Just wanted to say that I've used E2PDF a lot and I love it!! It's an extremely useful addition to Formidable Forms and the developer is very responsive. Thanks for highlighting E2PDF, I think more people should know about it!
Just seconding that E2PDF is awesome. One thing that really makes it useful is the ability to include HTML styling in the special E2PDF HTML boxes, and also the ability to use Formidable Forms Conditional statements in the form boxes - allowing the outputted PDF reports to do all sorts of tricks. https://formidableforms.com/knowledgebase/conditionals/
The other gem I'd like to share is the new function to split text across pages - only shared in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZNxz_JZ3d0
I think the documentation for E2PDF is still being developed so these abilities are not immediately obvious.
The combination of Formidable and E2PDF is just great. It works absolutely perfect. Thanks to all developers, it makes the life of a web designer incredibly comfortable.
This functionality sounds great. I wasn't previously aware of E2PDF.
For those who have used E2PDF in conjunction with Formidable Forms, is it possible to automatically create the PDF on submit and email it to an address that has been captured in the form itself?
Yes. You can conditionally email to multiple email addresses, including those collected through the form itself.
First time I have come across E2PF and it looks great but could I add a download pdf link to a detail section of a form - I' have a summary of all entries then click through to the detail of an individual entry and I'd like to add an iption to download the pdf version.
The only concern I have with E2PDF is that it generates the PDF files on its own servers, and not on your own. This is the quote from their WordPress plugin page:
"Due to the complex nature of the PDF file format, dynamic PDF documents are generating remotely with the E2Pdf API at E2Pdf.com. PRIVACY POLICY: We do not collect or store any web form submitted user private data that is sent to the API."
Wow - that is huge. Anything I create has to be 100% on secure servers - not sending data back and forth to other non-secure ones. Is this day and age how is that still a good idea? Looks like I'll be looking for a better. actually secure solution for my clients.
What a shame.
If you need a local PDF Generation on your own system, you can use formidablepro2pdf plugin.
Created from the same developers - we use it in different projects for many years, to create a PDF on the system wich was directly send to Mail and it works without any problem.
https://www.formidablepro2pdf.com/
On the page you find also a Comparision between E2Pdf & PRO2PDF!
The other downside to E2PDF that you have to renew your license in order for the plugin to work at all (because they generate PDFs on their servers). I really miss something like the free and awesome Gravity PDF here. On the other hand I really don't like Gravity Forms. Stuck 😐
Hey Kuba, totally understand. I wonder if a Chrome browser extension like "FireShot" might work for you? It would take some extra work and it might be slower overall, but it would be free 🙂