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    Technology Manager of Test Dept.
 

Summary
Explore some free pdf fillers. Use a professional PDF form filling tool for efficient, user-friendly, and secure document completion.



I. About PDF form filling

free pdf filler
Before PDFs became widely used, many forms were in Word documents. However, Word content is easily tampered with, while PDFs are not easily edited, making PDFs more secure for forms. Despite their security, PDFs are more troublesome to fill out.
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a widely used file type originally developed by Adobe Systems for independent file exchange across applications, operating systems, and hardware. Typically read-only, PDFs are difficult to modify compared to other file formats. However, in daily life and work, there may be a need to edit PDF files despite their inherent complexity.
Note: Not all forms are fillable, and sometimes form creators do not convert PDF documents into interactive fillable forms. If it is a non-interactive form, you can also directly insert text into it through PDF editing software, and place it in the specified position.
To fill out PDF forms and insert text, you need professional PDF editing tools. You can choose professional PDF editing software (such as Adobe Acrobat) or PDF editing and conversion tools (such as Renee PDF Aide). These tools allow you to quickly modify and edit tables, texts, pictures, and other information in PDF files. To quickly fill in PDF forms, the following will recommend various methods, allowing you to choose the one that suits you best.

II. Convert PDF to Word/Excel and fill in the form

To fill out the PDF form, convert it to an editable format like Word or Excel. Once converted, you can freely modify the document’s content, including text and pictures. After editing, save it as a PDF using the same software. The process is straightforward.

1. Renee PDF Aide

The fastest way to edit a PDF is to convert it directly to a Word document using Renee PDF Aide. Its user interface is simple, easy to use, and highly efficient. It supports converting PDFs to various formats, including WordExcel, PowerPoint, ePub, Text, HTML, and Image formats.

Besides format conversion, you can also edit, optimize, repair, and encrypt PDF files. Despite its diverse functions, the operation interface is user-friendly. As the best alternative to Adobe Acrobat DC, it offers a free trial and is ideal for personal use.

Supported operating systems: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000 (32-bit and 64-bit versions).
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In Renee PDF Aide, it only takes three steps to convert a PDF file to Word/Excel format, and the converted page display is consistent with the source document.
① After installing Renee PDF Aide, open it. Select (Convert PDF).
select to convert pdf with renee pdf converter
② Click (Word / Excel) in the top menu bar, and then select the save location of the target document.
enable ocr with renee pdf aide
③ Click the (Add Files) button to add the PDF file to be converted. After the file is successfully added, the information about the file to be converted will be displayed in the conversion list, click (Selected Pages) to set the page for file conversion.
ocr technology conversion
Tips

If you need to convert a scanned PDF to text format, choose (Enable OCR). The software offers three text recognition modes:

  • A: Recognize text in pictures or PDF scans: This option assumes the text is on a picture/scanned image and uses OCR to recognize and convert the text. Selecting the corresponding language improves accuracy.
  • B: Identify built-in fonts: This option assumes the text uses embedded fonts, converting these fonts into images and then using OCR for text recognition and conversion. Selecting the corresponding language improves accuracy.
  • A+B (slower): The program automatically determines if the font is a picture or an embedded font, then converts and outputs it. This option is more time-consuming.

Click the Convert button to start the conversion. Once complete, the software will display the total and successful conversions. Your PDF is now a Word/Excel document, ready for editing. After making changes, click File > Save As and select PDF to save it again as a PDF.

2. Convertio

Convertio online tool converts PDF to Word, PowerPoint, EPUB, HTML, JPG, RTFD, PNG, and over 300 other formats. It offers simple operation, fast conversion, and supports simultaneous conversion of single or multiple PDF files.
Conversion link: https://convertio.co/
① Open the Convertio online conversion link in the browser, and click (Choose files) to upload the PDF file to be converted. If you need to upload more files, please click (Add more files).
open the site Convertio
② Select DOCX/XLSX format and click Convert to start the conversion. Once complete, click Download to save it to your computer. Open the Word/Excel document and fill in the form. Finally, click File > Save As and choose PDF to save it as a PDF again.

III. Recommended PDF form filling tools

In addition to using the method described above to fill in the form after conversion, the most direct method is to fill in the form through the PDF form filling tool.

1. Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe Acrobat DC, developed by Adobe, is a powerful tool for filling out, creating, editing, exporting, organizing, sharing, and signing PDFs. It can handle both electronic and paper forms, automatically recognizing static form fields and converting them into fillable text fields. While Adobe Acrobat DC is considered the best PDF editor, it is not free and is more expensive than other options. To use it, download and install the software, then click File > Open (shortcut: Ctrl+O) to import the PDF form. Select the Prepare Form tool to fill in the PDF form.
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

2. PDFill PDF Form Maker

PDFill PDF Form Maker is designed for fillable PDF forms, allowing you to create, fill, edit, and delete form fields in PDF documents. You can set the font format, size, color, and perform data calculations when filling out the form. Additionally, all PDF forms created with PDFill can be shared via email and websites. Note that this software is not free.
pdfill pdf tools

3. Blueberry PDF Form Filler

Blueberry PDF Form Filler is a free desktop software for filling any type of PDF form. Open the PDF in the software and fill in data by selecting the appropriate fields, with various fonts and sizes available. You can also highlight content, insert comments, erase errors, and more.
Blueberry PDF Form Filler

4. EasePDF

EasePDF is a versatile online PDF editing and conversion tool with over 20 features, including “Edit PDF”. Its user-friendly interface simplifies filling out PDF forms. After uploading a PDF, you can easily enter and move text within the document. While the tool is free, it limits uploaded files to a maximum of 10MB each.
EasePDF online link: https://www.easepdf.com/edit-pdf/
EasePDF

5. PDF Buddy

PDF Buddy is a free online PDF editing tool for filling out forms and adding signatures. Accessible on any operating system and browser, it enhances work efficiency by allowing PDF form completion anytime. The tool permits editing up to 3 PDF files for free per month, with additional purchases required for more services. The site’s interface is simple, ad-free, and without pop-ups, ensuring quick PDF form completion.
PDF Buddy online link: https://www.pdfbuddy.com/
Online PDF Form Filler

IV. Other commonly used PDF editing operations

Apart from PDF form filling, you can use Renee PDF Aide for other editing tasks such as splitting, merging, rotating, and watermarking documents. Here’s how to perform these operations with Renee PDF Aide, a simple and user-friendly PDF editing software.
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Multifunctional Encrypt/decrypt/split/merge/add watermark

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Quick Edit/convert dozens of PDF files in batch

Compatible Convert PDF to Excel/PowerPoint/Text, etc.

Easy Use with simple steps

Functional Encrypt/decrypt/split/merge/watermark

Safe Protect PDF with AES256 algorithms

Free TrialFree TrialNow 800 people have obtained the free version!

1. Split PDF files

Splitting a PDF involves dividing a multi-page PDF into smaller files or removing redundant pages to keep only specified ones. If your PDF is too large or contains unwanted content, you can split it. With Renee PDF Aide Converter software, you can split it without converting to other editable formats.
① After opening the software, click (PDF Tools).
select pdf tools in renee pdf converter
② Click (Split) > (Add Files) to import the PDF file.
how to split pdf files with renee pdf aide
Split mode:

  • Split into multiple smaller files.
  • Keep specified pages (remove unneeded ones).
③ Then, select one of the split modes. There are two split modes: split into multiple smaller files, retain specified pages (remove unnecessary).
④ Finally, click (Convert) to export the file.

2. Merge PDF files

Merge PDF files, as the name suggests, is to merge multiple PDF files into one PDF. Before merging, you can choose to specify pages to be merged or to merge all pages directly.
① After opening the software, click (PDF Tools) > (Merge) > (Add Files) to import the PDF file.
merge pdf files with renee pdf aide
② In the drop-down box on the right of “Pages to Merge”, select “All” or “Use Generator”. After clicking “Use Generator”, you can manually select the pages to merge, or use the various automatic merge options provided by the software.
how to merge pdf pages with renee pdf aide
③ Finally, click (Convert) to export the file.

3. Rotate PDF files

If you find that the angle is not correct after the PDF file is opened, you can also adjust it through this software. Adjust the display angle of the PDF file, the angle options are 90, 180, 270.
① After opening the software, click (PDF Tools) > (Rotate) > (Add Files) to import the PDF file.
rotate pdf page with PDF Aide
② Set the angle to be rotated in “Rotate angle (clockwise)” or directly select the angle 90, 180, or 270.
③ Finally, click (Convert) to export the file.

4. Add watermark to PDF

To prevent PDF files from being stolen and protect ownership, add personal watermarks using Renee PDF Aide. You can add foreground or background watermarks, choosing from images or PDF files.
① After opening the software, click (PDF Tools) > (Watermark) > (Add Files) to import the PDF file.
select to add watermark or background in renee pdf aide
② You can choose the Add watermark (Overlay)  or Add background option, and then choose (Watermark file) and (Location information).
③ Finally click (convert).

5. Image to PDF

The “Image to PDF” function in the software refers to the conversion of multiple or single images into multiple or one PDF files.
① Open Renee PDF Aide, click (PDF Tools) > (Add Files), and add the image to be converted. The image formats supported by the software are BMP, PNG, JPG, GIF and TIFF.
② Click (Image to PDF), please choose (Merge into one file) or (One image into one PDF file).
Description of image conversion settings:

  • Merge into one file: Generate all the added pictures into one PDF file, and generate one page of PDF for one picture.
  • One image into one PDF file: generate multiple PDF files for all added images, and generate one PDF file for each image.
add image to pdf in renee pdf aide
③ After completing the output settings, click (Convert) to export.

6. Optimize PDF files

Sometimes when you encounter a large PDF file, it will take a relatively long time to open the file. To save time, you can use the “Optimize” function to compress large PDF files so that they can be opened quickly.
① After opening the software, click (PDF Tools) > (Optimize) > (Add Files) to import the PDF file.
optimize pdf file with renee pdf aide
② Select optimization options:

  • Online page loading speed (linearize): Optimizes webpage PDFs for smoother loading.
  • Compress Images: Reduces image sizes in PDFs.
  • Compress data stream: Reduces PDF file size by compressing the data stream.
③ Finally click (convert).

7. Encrypt/decrypt PDF files

In the encrypted PDF file option, you can add password protection to prevent unauthorized access and modification. With Renee PDF Aide, you can set editing and printing permissions, such as allowing printing, modification, text and image extraction, annotation, form filling, and signature. If you forget the password, you can quickly decrypt the file by clicking the Decrypt PDF File option.
Steps to encrypt PDF:
① After opening the software, click (PDF Tools) > (Encrypt/ Decrypt) > (Add Files) to import the PDF file.
② Select (Encrypt PDF files). Then please enter the encryption password and set the editing and printing permissions of the file.
encrypt pdf to lock with renee pdf aide
③ Finally click (Convert) to export PDF.
Steps to decrypt PDF:
① Select (Decrypt PDF files).
② Click (Edit), and enter a possible password in the pop-up window. NOTE: Please keep one password per line.
decrypt pdf with renee pdf aide
③ Finally, click (Convert) to export the PDF file.