Building Interactive PDF Forms
Interactive PDF Forms allow your practice to take any existing PDF and turn them into fillable, patient-friendly digital forms. The PDF Builder preserves your original layout while adding interactive fields where patients can type, check, or sign. After completion, the final PDF is stored directly in the patient’s chart.
Uploading a PDF
To start, open Add Form → Interactive PDF and upload your file.
Supported files must be in PDF format and up to 50MB.
Once uploaded, the builder displays your PDF as a static background with tools for placing interactive elements. Page thumbnails on the left help you navigate and review multi-page documents.
Adding and Managing PDF Elements
Interactive PDF Forms support three element types: Checkbox, Signature, and Text Input. Each element can be placed anywhere on the document to match the layout of your original PDF.
All elements you add appear in the PDF Elements list on the left, organized by page. This makes it easy to review the structure of your form, locate specific fields, remove items you no longer need, and manage even complex multi-page PDFs with confidence.
Checkbox
Checkboxes are ideal for consents, acknowledgments, and other quick selections.
When adding a checkbox, you can:
- Drag it into place over printed checkboxes in your PDF
- Resize it to align with your layout
- Mark it as Required so patients cannot submit the form without selecting it
Signature
Signature fields allow the patient to sign digitally.
A signature element can be:
- Positioned over the correct signature line
- Marked as Required if the form needs a validated signature
Signatures are securely captured and embedded into the final PDF.
Text Input
Text input fields allow patients to type directly into the PDF, whether it’s a single line or a multi-line response area.
Placement and Resizing
Text inputs can be:
- Marked as required
- Dragged to any location
- Resized to match printed lines or paragraph blocks
- Labeled internally for easier reference
Input Validation
Validation rules help ensure patients enter information in the correct format. Available options include:
- Letters only
- Numbers only
- Phone
- Date
Once enabled, validation prevents the patient from submitting until the response meets the defined format.
Drag and Drop Placement
All elements in the PDF Builder can be freely moved by dragging them into place. The builder gives you full control over placement, ensuring your form aligns perfectly with the original PDF.
Common use cases:
- Aligning checkboxes with printed boxes
- Positioning text inputs over lines
- Adjusting signature fields to fit signature blocks
Resizing Elements
Checkboxes and text inputs include draggable handles that let you adjust their width and height, making it easy to align each field with the layout of your PDF.
Form Settings
The Settings tab allows you to customize form-wide options:
Form Title
Displayed internally and to patients.
Thank You Message
A message shown to patients after they submit the form. This can include follow-up instructions, next steps, or a simple confirmation.
Notifications
Enable Notify assignees to alert clinicians when a form response is submitted.
Appointment Links
Forms can be linked to appointment types so they are automatically assigned whenever that appointment is booked.
Previewing the Form
Click Preview in the top-right corner to see how the form will appear to patients.
The preview reflects the real patient experience, including:
- Field placement
- Validation rules
- Required fields
- Signature behavior
Previewing helps catch layout issues before publishing.
Publishing the PDF Form
Once your form is complete and the preview looks right, select Publish. Published PDF forms can be:
- Sent from the Forms table
- Sent directly from the patient chart
- Automatically assigned through appointment workflows
PDF Forms follow the same lifecycle as other SigmaMD forms, including version control and secure storage of completed responses.
Check our Overview article to learn more about the Forms feature.