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Forms & fillable PDFs · Bulk filling and templates

Fill a PDF form from a spreadsheet (mail merge)

Open the Fill PDF from Excel tool, drop a fillable PDF and a CSV or XLSX file, match columns to fields, check the rows, set a file name and generate. Runs of up to 50 rows are filled in your browser, free.

Updated 2 min read Counts toward spreadsheet fill rows

Use this when the same form has to be filled many times from data you already have: certificates for a class, offer letters, vendor packets. You get one PDF per spreadsheet row, named from that row's data.

  1. Step 1: Drop both files

    In Fill PDF from Excel, drop a Fillable PDF (a PDF with form fields) and a Spreadsheet (CSV or XLSX, one row per document), then choose Map columns.

  2. Step 2: Match columns to fields

    Under Match columns to fields, PDFBetter matches what it can by name. Check each PDF field against its Spreadsheet column, or choose — leave empty —.

  3. Step 3: Check the data

    Rows that break the form's rules (a missing required value, an invalid email, an option that doesn't exist) are listed with the reason. Fix the spreadsheet, or tick Skip rows with problems.

  4. Step 4: Name the output files

    In File name template, use {Column name} for cell values and {row} for the row number. {#:3} pads the number to 001.

  5. Step 5: Generate

    Leave Flatten the filled PDFs on so values can't be changed, or turn it off to keep fields editable. Then run it and download the ZIP.

Browser runs and server runs

Up to 50 rows, everything happens in your browser: no account, no upload and nothing counted. Larger runs are filled on PDFBetter's servers. They need a free account with a confirmed email address, run one at a time, and count toward your monthly spreadsheet fill rows.

Per month. “Unlimited” is subject to fair use; “—” means not included.
FeatureNo accountFreeProBusiness
Spreadsheet fill rows—255005,000
  • The spreadsheet needs one header row. Merged cells and several header rows should be cleaned up first.
  • Excel formulas aren't recalculated; the stored cell values are used.
  • The PDF must have form fields. If it doesn't, make it fillable first.
Can I send each filled PDF for signature?

Not in one step. PDFBetter doesn't send a separate signature request per row yet. Download the PDFs and request signatures on each, or automate it with the API on Business.

Can I use Google Sheets or Numbers?

Export the sheet to .xlsx or .csv first, then drop that file in.

Why does it say I need to confirm my email?

Server runs (more than 50 rows) need a confirmed address. Use the link in your welcome email, or request a new one in Settings, or split the file into smaller batches.

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