How to generate a PDF from Formstack Forms

Docmosis Cloud is a template-based document generation service that can be used via a REST API.

This article is a step-by-step guide to:

  • creating a form using Formstack Forms
  • sending data, collected by the form, to the Docmosis Cloud service using Zapier
  • generating a custom PDF document with the data

Completing and submitting the web form will trigger the generation of a PDF certificate, like this one:

a screenshot of the generated pdfDownload the generated document

Setting up Docmosis Cloud console

Step 1: Login to the Cloud console

If you don't already have a Cloud account, you can sign up for a free trial here.

Once you have an account, log in to the Cloud console.

Image of a login page to DWS4 Docmosis

Step 2: Download the template

Docmosis templates are ordinary Microsoft Word documents, with special placeholders that Docmosis replaces with data when it generates the document. 

Click on the image or link below, to download the sample template: CourseCompletionCertificate.docx.

The template is ready to use, without any further changes.Placeholders in template that will be replaced by Formstack Forms fields

 CourseCompletionCertificate.docx

Step 3: Upload the template to the console

Create a new top-level folder, for storing the sample template. In our example, we have named the new folder FormstackForm.

Upload the CourseCompletionCertificate.docx template to the FormstackForm folder in the Cloud console.

Upload Template in Docmosis

Step 4: Locate the Docmosis Cloud access key and API URL

You will need your access key and URL when setting up the call to Docmosis Cloud in Zapier. Copy these to an editor such as Notepad, to be used later.

Note: In this example, we used the US (Oregon) processing location in the Docmosis Cloud service, for storing the template and generating the document. You can use your default processing location, when following this example.

Build a form in Formstack Forms

Step 5: Login in to Formstack Forms & Build

Log in to Formstack Forms.

In the Build tab, modify a form template or create a new form, follow the create a new form guide.

We have created a form for administrative use within an organization, designed to collect information about students who are about to graduate.a Formstack Forms screenshot

Configure Zapier for automated document generation

Step 6: Create a new Zap with Formstack Forms as the trigger 

Log in to Zapier.

Click on any of the "Create Zap" buttons.

Click on trigger step then search and select Formstack from the "Change trigger" pop-up.

To set up the trigger :

  • In the "App & event" section choose "New submission" as Event

  • In the "Account" section authenticate your Formstack Forms account

  • Choose the desired form in the "Trigger" section

  • "Test" to see the form fields populated as data 

Choose New Submission as Event in FormstackAppStep 7: Setup Docmosis as an action.

Click on the Action section, then search and select Docmosis in the "Change action" pop-up.

In the "App & event" section, Select "Generate a Document" as Event. then click continue

Select Generate Document as a Event in Docmosis Zapier appStep 8 : Connect your Docmosis Cloud account to Zapier

To connect Docmosis with Zapier, first click on the "Sign in" button located in the "Account" section.

This will open a new authentication window, where you must

Step 9: Select a template 

 To select a template you must

  • Choose the processing location you are using.
  • Select the template from the drop down list.

Docmosis Action Screenshot in ZapierStep 10 : Map the form fields to the template fields.

In the "Action" section,

  • Output filename must be specified and should include a file format extension (eg: ".pdf" or ".docx") . The file format extension determines the format of the generated document.
  • To map form submission data with template placeholders, simply select the desired form field from the dropdown list. 

Note: The template placeholders are automatically populated once the template is selected. The Formstack Forms fields are shown as a dropdown list when the "Enter text or insert data" box is clicked. 

Map Formstack forms Data in Docmosis to generate a pdf

Step 11: Set up a email delivery.

This is the easiest way to confirm that all settings are correct. Later on you can add more steps to your Zap to perform further actions with the document.

To setup email delivery enter the email, subject and body of email in the corresponding fields.

Note: From a Docmosis Cloud Free Trail account emails can only be sent to the Docmosis account Admin(s).
Set up email delivery of pdf generated from Formstack Forms submission

Step 12. Test the Zap.

Check your email. The generated document will arrive in the email as an attachment.

That's it! Publish the Zap and every time the form is completed you will receive a generated document.

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All Integrations

Docmosis integrates with third-party platforms via a REST API, enabling automated document generation from tools like Zapier, Airtable, Google Sheets, TypeForm and other no/low code platforms.