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NathanReed's avatar
NathanReed
Iron Contributor
Oct 29, 2026

How to create a fillable PDF form?

I need to create a registration form that people can complete on their computers instead of printing it out. It would have fields for names and contact details, a few checkboxes, and a larger space f...
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Jason_M's avatar
Jason_M
Iron Contributor
Oct 29, 2026

For a registration form where precise positioning matters, Scribus is worth considering. It’s a free, open-source desktop publishing application with PDF form controls. It takes more learning than a word processor, but gives you control over where everything sits.

Start a document and use text frames for the title, instructions and field labels. Then enable the PDF Tools toolbar and draw PDF text fields and checkboxes in the required positions.

Double-click each field to configure its properties. Use different names for independent fields, and enable the multiline option for the larger comments field. You can also adjust field borders and text appearance.

When finished, use File > Export > Save as PDF, choosing a regular PDF version such as PDF 1.4 rather than a print-production PDF/X preset.

The exported layout stays fixed while people enter their answers. Before distributing it, fill in a test copy in a free PDF reader, save it, close it and reopen it to confirm the answers remain.