Customize and Edit a PDF using the PDF Designer

The GoCanvas PDF Designer allows you to customize the output of the data that you submit through the GoCanvas application.

PDF Designer

A lot of PDF design is based on your personal preferences for how you want the PDF to look. This is determined by your brand, the audience or who will be seeing the PDF, and the limitations of the PDF Designer. Knowing how to utilize the features of the PDF Designer will allow you to get creative and build unique PDFs for your forms.

Accessing the PDF Designer

The PDF Designer is accessible from several locations in the portal.

• Navigate to the Forms page and select the Edit PDF icon.
• Or if you are already in the Builder, toggle to the PDF Designer using the button at the top of the screen.
• If you have other form settings to configure, you can access the PDF Designer from the Form Settings page as well. Scroll to the setting PDF Options, select the Settings button in the box, and select Launch PDF Designer in the right corner of the page.

Navigating the PDF Designer

The PDF Designer is split in two main sections: the left panel and the center workspace.

The left panel has several menus that can be toggled between or will automatically display settings based on selections in the PDF Designer.

The main portion of the PDF Designer is the center workspace where the output is formatted. Add columns, section, drag fields or elements from the left panel to the workspace, resize images, and more. To learn more about these building blocks of the PDF designer, visit the Help Center article, "Adding new Sections, Columns, and Pages to the PDF."

Adding Fields to the PDF Output

The simplest way to get started with the PDF Designer is to use Auto Layout, either when you first enter the Designer or at any point by selecting the Auto Layout button along the top left of the screen.

This will create a standard layout that will give you a jumping off point for your own design. It will always follow the same rules regardless of the size of your form.

All fields can also be dragged and dropped from the Form Outline as needed.

Formatting Text and Fields

Formatting your design is where the fun really begins because this is all up to your creativity. You can do as little or as much as you want to reflect your brand. Many clients have reported better brand recognition and return customers thanks to their PDF design. To learn more about all the potential formatting available, please visit the Help Center article, "How to Change the PDF Format with Settings in the PDF Designer" for every possible setting. Additionally, the PDF Designer section in the Help Center also contains a wealth of information about niche formatting solutions.

Previewing the Design

You can preview the design by selecting the Preview button in the top right corner of the PDF Designer. If you have already created submissions for this form, a preview will download using data from the most recent submission. If not, a blank preview will generate.

Using your PDF Design

Once your design is complete, you will need to switch your form settings from sending the Standard GoCanvas PDF to the PDF Designer. If this is the first time you are saving your design, you will automatically be prompted to choose if you would like your submissions to use the PDF Designer Output.

If you did not select the Designer PDF after saving for the first time, you can switch manually in Form Settings.

1. Select Save in the top right corner of the Designer then Close out of the PDF Designer.
2. You will automatically be routed back to the Forms page. 
3. Select the name of the form or the Settings gear to open Form Settings.
4. Scroll to Email Options and select the Settings button.
5. Expand the Choose which PDF to email drop down and choose Designer.
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and Save.