A Step-by-Step Guide to Auto Fill PDF Form

Many times, we have to fill out forms regularly for job applications, medical records, tax filings, business documents, etc. Manually entering the same details each time can be tedious and prone to mistakes.

Today, there are tools and methods that support auto fill PDF forms. With just simple clicks, you can now auto fill forms and save significant time. In this guide, we have shortlisted the three best methods on how to auto populate PDF form fields. So, let's jump right to it!

Method 1. Import Data into PDF Form with One-Click

The best way to fill out PDF forms automatically is to use a reliable PDF tool that offers a smooth form filling experience.

UPDF is an advanced PDF tool that provides a modernized and intuitive way to create, fill and sign PDF forms. It simplifies the form-filling process by letting you fill forms autonomously with saved data.

Basically, UPDF requires you to first fill out one form manually. Afterward, you can export the form data to .a fdf file and save it in your system. The next time you fill out a similar PDF, you simply have to import the data and get the similar form fields filled accurately. This way, UPDF's smooth export and import process makes it intuitive to auto populate PDF form fields effortlessly.

The key advantages of using the UPDF's auto fill feature include:

Recognize and highlight all form fields
Effortlessly import and export form data
One-click auto fill forms
Accurate form filling with no errors

Follow the below steps to learn how to use UPDF to auto fill PDF forms:

Step 1. Export Data

Install and launch UPDF and open the PDF form file.

Click the form fields to fill them out. Once completed, click Prepare Form from the left panel. Click the "Tools" button and select "Export Data". This will export the form data for later use.

Step 2. Import Data

To fill the same data into a new identical form, open the new form with UPDF. Click Prepare Form > Tools > Import Data. This will auto populate PDF form fields with previously exported data.

That's it! This way, UPDF offers an intuitive and advanced way to fill PDF forms and save significant time.

Download UPDF now and try its auto form filling feature yourself for free.

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To learn more about UPDF's form filling features, watch this video:

Bonus Tip:

You can also use UPDF to create and edit PDF forms. Plus, you can also edit, annotate, convert, organize, and handle other PDF activities.

Method 2. Name the Fields the Same

Sometimes, we have to fill out the same form fields in multiple pages of a PDF. You can use PDFelement for this purpose.

PDFelement is another easy-to-use PDF tool that offers extensive form filling features. Its auto-fill feature allows you to auto-populate similar form fields in a PDF.

The key advantages of its auto fill PDF form include:

Fill in the form field once and update it everywhere in the same PDF.
No need for manual importing/exporting.
Perfect for frequently used forms to save time and reduce errors.

Best for: Forms where multiple fields require the same input.

Follow the below steps to auto populate PDF form fields with PDFelement:

Step 1. Launch PDFelement and open the PDF form you want to fill.

Step 2. Click the "Form" tab from the top. Next, double click on Form Field 1 to bring up a popup window showing the field's properties and copy its name.

Step 3. Double-click on Form Field 2 and paste Form Field 1's name in the name section of its properties popup. Afterward, click "Close".

Now, anything you enter in Form Field 1 will automatically appear in Form Field 2.

Step 4. You can repeat the above steps for other form fields and name them the same for auto filling similar fields.

This way, you can fill form fields once and update them everywhere in the same PDF.

For more comparisons between UPDF and PDFelement, you can read this article: PDFelement vs UPDF >>

Note:

UPDF is 50% cheaper than PDFelement, and a single UPDF license can be used simultaneously on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Purchase UPDF now and have the best PDF tool at your disposal.

Method 3. Using Python to Auto Populate Form Fields

The third and last method to auto fill PDF form is using Python code using pdfrw.

pdfrw is a Python library that writes and reads PDF files. It can intelligently detect form fields from a PDF form and fill out the details with the data you provided. It offers some unique advantages:

Batch process multiple PDFs automatically
Integrate with databases for large-scale form filing

Best for: Developers or businesses handling high volumes of documents.

Use the below code to use pdfrw to auto populate form fields:

Using Python to Auto Populate Form Fields

Why Choose UPDF for Auto-Filling PDF Forms?

UPDF is an exceptional tool to auto fill PDF forms. Why we found it the best is evident from the below points:

Fast and Efficient Form Filling

UPDF simplifies form filling with its intelligent "Form Field Recognition" feature, which automatically identifies all the form fields in the PDF. This saves time and helps you complete forms in seconds instead of minutes.

Support for .fdf Import/Export

UPDF lets you easily import and export .fdf (Forms Data Format) files. This feature allows you to use the form data easily on multiple similar PDFs and fill forms instantly without errors.

Advanced PDF Editing Features

UPDF offers exceptional PDF editing features. You can edit PDF text, images, links, backgrounds, headers/footers, and more. You can also edit form fields.

Secure and Privacy-Focused

UPDF is highly secure and privacy-focused. Being an offline tool, it eradicates the concerns of cyber attacks. Furthermore, it offers password protection and redaction features to secure sensitive information. Additionally, users can add digital signatures to their PDFs after filling the forms.

Built-in AI Features

UPDF elevates the game with its advanced AI assistant, which can help with analyzing form data, charts, and graphs. Moreover, it can also summarize/translate PDF, chat with content, generate mind maps, or chat beyond PDF. You can also use it to fill out form fields.

Ready to experience the top-notch features of UPDF? Download it now and transform the way you handle PDF forms!

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FAQs About Auto Filling PDF Form

Q1: Are there any online tools that support auto-filling forms?

No, online tools can assist in manually filling forms, but they are not supportive of auto-filling. You need to opt for desktop-based tools to auto-fill forms.

Q2: Does Adobe Acrobat support auto-filling forms?

Yes, Adobe Acrobat supports auto-filling forms, but the process is a bit complex and requires a learning curve. In contrast, there are tools like UPDF, PDFelement, and others that offer straightforward approaches to auto fill PDF forms.

Q3: Can any PDF be fillable?

No, not every PDF is fillable. A PDF must be designed as a fillable form with interactive fields, like checkboxes, text fields, dropdown menus, buttons, and more. Scanned PDFs or ordinary PDFs don't have such fields, so they are not fillable.

Conclusion

Auto fill PDF forms are a handy way to fill forms quickly, save time, and avoid unintentional errors. Above, we have learned three methods to auto populate PDF form fields. Each method has its unique approach and set of advantages. However, UPDF is the one that gives the best experience. Its export-import approach makes it useful to quickly fill similar forms in seconds with high accuracy. So, install UPDF and use it the next time you have to fill out the same forms.