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How to Create a Custom PDF for HIPAAtizer's Online Forms

Here is an example online form for which we will create a custom PDF: https://hptz.io/0uuwruC

Opening the Form in Adobe Acrobat​

Open Adobe Acrobat and select the "Tools" tab from the top menu. Click on the "Prepare Form" option and select the PDF file that you want to work with.

Acrobat will automatically detect any interactive form fields in the PDF document. If it doesn't, you can manually add text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons by clicking on the respective icons in the toolbar on the right side of the screen.

Adobe Acrobat Tools tab with the Prepare Form option highlighted

Adobe Acrobat Prepare Form view showing the PDF with auto-detected form fields

Adobe Acrobat toolbar with the Add Text Field icon highlighted

Working with Text Fields​

  • Click on the "Add Text Field" icon and click on the location where you want to place the field. You can adjust the size and shape of the text field by dragging its corners.

Adobe Acrobat PDF with a text field placed and its corners available for resizing

  • Right-click on the field and select "Properties" from the dropdown menu. In the Properties dialog box insert the unique name of related field from your online form to the "Name" field. If you want to include several unique names, please insert these names to the "Name" field and divide them with a space or comma.
Please Note:

Please note: for correct work of custom forms, we recommended you to write the unique name with underline between the words (e.g. "first_name")

Adobe Acrobat context menu with the Properties option highlighted for a text field

Adobe Acrobat Text Field Properties dialog with the Name field containing the HIPAAtizer unique field name

Adobe Acrobat Text Field Properties dialog showing Appearance settings for font family and size

  • In the Properties dialog box, you can change the appearance, behavior, and options for the field. For example, choose a font family, adjust a font size, etc.
Please Note:

If you need to use a Text area component in your online form that can accommodate multiple lines of text, make sure to check the "Multi-line" checkbox in the "Options" tab.

Adobe Acrobat Text Field Properties Options tab with the Multi-line checkbox

Adobe Acrobat text field displaying multi-line text on the PDF form

Working with Checkboxes​

Checkboxes are used to create multiple-choice options. In the HIPAAtizer form builder, you can use either the single "Checkbox" component or the "Multiple Choice" component.

Click on the "Add Checkbox" icon and click on the location where you want to place the checkbox. You can adjust the size of the checkbox by dragging its corners. Right-click on the field and select "Properties" from the dropdown menu. In the Properties dialog box insert to the "Name" field:

  • the unique name of "Checkbox" component
  • the unique name of "Option" if you use "Multiple Choice" component

Adobe Acrobat toolbar with the Add Checkbox icon highlighted

Adobe Acrobat PDF with a checkbox placed at the desired location

Adobe Acrobat Checkbox Properties dialog with the Name field containing the HIPAAtizer component unique name

Adobe Acrobat PDF showing multiple checkboxes placed for a Multiple Choice component

HIPAAtizer form builder showing a Multiple Choice component with option unique names visible in settings

Adobe Acrobat PDF with checkboxes configured for each Multiple Choice option using their unique names

Working with Radio Buttons​

Radio buttons are used to create single-choice options. In the HIPAAtizer form builder, you can use either the "Single Choice" component or the "Dropdown Select" component.

To add a radio button:

  • Click on the "Add Radio Button" icon and click on the location where you want to place the radio button. You can adjust the size of the radio button by dragging its corners. Right-click on the field and select "Properties" from the dropdown menu. In the Properties dialog box insert the unique name of "Single Choice" or "Dropdown Select" component to the "Name" field.

Adobe Acrobat toolbar with the Add Radio Button icon highlighted

Adobe Acrobat PDF with a radio button placed and its Properties dialog open

Adobe Acrobat Radio Button Properties dialog with the Name field containing the Single Choice component unique name

  • Insert the first option name to the "Radio Button Choice" field. To change the appearance of radio buttons, select your preferred view from the "Button Style" field. This will allow you to customize the look and feel of your radio buttons to better suit your form design.

Adobe Acrobat Radio Button Properties showing the Radio Button Choice field and Button Style options

Adobe Acrobat PDF with multiple radio buttons placed for each Single Choice option

  • Copy and paste the already created radio button and change the "Radio Button Choice" to the name of your second option. Continue adding and naming each option until you have listed all the choices for this question. Once you have completed this step, you can proceed to the next question in the form.
Please Note:

When creating radio buttons, it's important to change the "Name" field first before making any other settings. This will ensure that your radio buttons are properly labeled and function as intended.

Adobe Acrobat PDF showing a completed set of radio buttons for a Single Choice question

Working with Text​

Select the "Add Text" icon and click on the location where you want to place the label or text. Type in the text you want to appear next to the form field.

Adobe Acrobat PDF with a static text label placed next to a form field

Working with Signatures​

Click on the "Add Text Field" icon and click on the location where you want to place the signature. You can adjust the size and shape of the text field by dragging its corners. Right-click on the field and select "Properties" from the dropdown menu. In the Properties dialog box insert the unique name of related "Signature" component from your online form to the "Name" field.

Adobe Acrobat PDF with a signature field placed and sized appropriately

Adobe Acrobat Text Field Properties dialog with the Name field set to the Signature component's unique name

Adobe Acrobat PDF showing a completed signature field linked to the HIPAAtizer Signature component

Working with Canvas​

Click on the "Add "Print" or "Clear"…" icon and click on the location where you want to place the field. You can adjust the size and shape of the text field by dragging its corners. Right-click on the field and select "Properties" from the dropdown menu. In the Properties dialog box, insert the unique name of the related "Canvas" component from your online form into the "Name" field.

Go to the "Options" tab and select the layout type "Icon Only." Click on the "Choose Icon" button and upload the image you need.

Adobe Acrobat toolbar with the Add Print or Clear button icon highlighted for canvas fields

Adobe Acrobat Button Properties dialog showing the Name field set to the Canvas component's unique name

Adobe Acrobat Button Properties Options tab with Icon Only layout type selected

Adobe Acrobat Choose Icon dialog for selecting the canvas image to display

Adobe Acrobat PDF showing the completed canvas field with the uploaded image icon

Updating PDF Form Template​

If you updated the webform in the web builder and you need help updating the PDF form template, just send us the relevant form's JSON file and we'll do the rest. Send your JSON files to support@hipaatizer.com. Here are the steps to export the form's JSON file to your computer:

Go to My Forms. Click on the "Edit" icon for the selected form. Click on the "Download JSON" button.

HIPAAtizer My Forms dashboard with the Edit icon highlighted for the selected form

HIPAAtizer form builder with the Download JSON button visible

HIPAAtizer form builder showing the JSON file download dialog

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