PDFRasterizer.NET 4.0 is now available. Supports .NET Core. Renders pixel-perfectly.
Try it now

Create formfields in PDF documents

This codesample shows how you can create different types of formfields in PDF.

This sample may seem long, but it uses a lot of different field types in a lot of ways. The key-message here is to create an instance of a formfield, assigning a widget to it and setting layout values of the widget.

Create Form Fields Pdf

//New document
Document document = new Document();

Page page = new Page(PageSize.A4);
document.Pages.Add(page);

//TextBox Field with all default values
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 50, "TextBox Field with all default values", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    TextField field = new TextField("FieldName1");
    Widget widget = new Widget(10, page.Height - 50, 200, 15);

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//TextBox Field with text (and Cmyk black)
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 75, "TextBox Field with text (and Cmyk black)", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    TextField field = new TextField("FieldName2");
    field.Value = "Hello World!";

    Widget widget = new Widget(10, page.Height - 75, 200, 15);
    widget.TextColor = TallComponents.PDF.Colors.CmykColor.Black;
                 
    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//TextBox Field with multiline text
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 150, "TextBox Field with multiline text", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    TextField field = new TextField("FieldName3");
    field.Value = "Default text...\n...already included new-lines";
    field.ToolTip = "Tooltip for field 3";
    field.MappingName = "Mappingname3";

    field.MaxLength = 200;
    field.Multiline = true;
    field.RequiredMode = RequiredMode.Required;

    Widget widget = new Widget(10, page.Height - 150, 200, 65);
           
    widget.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Purple;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Dashed;
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red;
    widget.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.Yellow;

    widget.Font = TallComponents.PDF.Fonts.Font.TimesBoldItalic;
    widget.FontSize = 9;

    widget.HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Center;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//DropDownList Field  -- no options but editable
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 200, "DropDownList Field -- no options but editable", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    DropDownListField field = new DropDownListField("FieldName4");
    field.AllowTextEntry = true;

    Widget widget = new Widget(10, page.Height - 200, 200, 15);
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//DropDownList Field -- with options
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 225, "DropDownList Field -- with options", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    DropDownListField field = new DropDownListField("FieldName5");
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("opt1"));
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("opt2"));
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("opt3"));
    field.Value = "opt2";

    Widget widget = new Widget(10, page.Height - 225, 200, 15);
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Inset;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//ListBox Field -- with options
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 300, "ListBox Field -- with 6 options", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    ListBoxField field = new ListBoxField("FieldName6");
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("1", "opt1"));
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("2", "opt2"));
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("3", "opt3"));
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("4", "opt4"));
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("5", "opt5"));
    field.Options.Add(new ListOption("6", "opt6"));
    field.ListBoxValue = new ListOption[1] { field.Options[1] };

    Widget widget = new Widget(10, page.Height - 300, 200, 50);
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.DarkBlue;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}


//CheckBox Field -- unchecked
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 350, "CheckBox Field -- unchecked", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    CheckBoxField field = new CheckBoxField("FieldName7");

    CheckBoxWidget widget = new CheckBoxWidget(10, page.Height - 350, 15, 15);
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Inset;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//CheckBox Field -- checked, custom on-value
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 375, "CheckBox Field -- checked, custom on-value", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    CheckBoxField field = new CheckBoxField("FieldName8");
    field.CheckBoxValue = CheckState.On;
           
    CheckBoxWidget widget = new CheckBoxWidget(10, page.Height - 375, 15, 15);
    widget.CheckMarkAppearance = CheckMarkAppearance.Check;
    widget.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Purple;
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Green;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Inset;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//PushButton Field -- default
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 425, "PushButton Field -- default", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    PushButtonField field = new PushButtonField("FieldName9");

    PushButtonWidget widget = new PushButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 425, 100, 30);
    widget.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.LightGray;
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Beveled;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//PushButton Field -- with label
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 474, "PushButton Field -- with label", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    PushButtonField field = new PushButtonField("FieldName10");

    PushButtonWidget widget = new PushButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 475, 200, 30);
    widget.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.LightGray;
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Gray;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Beveled;

    widget.Label = "Push me!";

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);

    //Show how a submit action must be included.
    TallComponents.PDF.Actions.SubmitFormAction action = new TallComponents.PDF.Actions.SubmitFormAction();
    action.SubmitFormat = TallComponents.PDF.Actions.SubmitFormat.Xfdf;
    action.Url = @"http://www.yourname.com/receiver.aspx";
    widget.MouseUpActions.Add(  action );
}

//PushButton Field -- with icon
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 545, "PushButton Field -- with icon", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    PushButtonField field = new PushButtonField("FieldName11");

    PushButtonWidget widget = new PushButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 545, 100, 50);
    widget.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.LightGray;
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Gray;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Beveled;

    widget.Layout = PushButtonLayout.IconOnly;

    using (System.Drawing.Bitmap bitmap = new System.Drawing.Bitmap( @"..\..\..\inputDocuments\logo_pdfkit.gif"))
    {
    widget.SetIcon(bitmap);
    }

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//RadioButtonField -- with 3 options
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 600, "RadioButtonField -- with 3 options", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    RadioButtonField field = new RadioButtonField( "FieldName12");

    RadioButtonWidget widget = new RadioButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 600, 15, 15, "Option1");
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);

    widget = new RadioButtonWidget(35, page.Height - 600, 15, 15, "Option2");
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Purple;
    widget.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.Yellow;
    widget.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Blue;
    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);

    widget = new RadioButtonWidget(60, page.Height - 600, 15, 15, "Option3");
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Green;
    widget.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Dashed;
    widget.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red;
    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);

    field.RadioButtonValue = field.Options[1] as RadioButtonOption;
    field.RadioButtonDefaultValue = field.Options[2] as RadioButtonOption;
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}
       
//SignatureField -- unsigned
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 650, "SignatureField -- unsigned", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    SignatureField field = new SignatureField("FieldName13");

    SignatureWidget widget = new SignatureWidget(10, page.Height - 650, 150, 40);
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Indigo;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//SignatureField -- signed
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 700, "SignatureField -- signed", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    SignatureField field = new SignatureField("FieldName14");

    Pkcs12Store ks = null;
    using (FileStream file = new FileStream( @"..\..\..\inputdocuments\ChrisSharp.pfx", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read))
    {
    ks = new Pkcs12Store(file, "Sample");
    }

    SignatureHandler handler = StandardSignatureHandler.Create(ks);

    field.SignatureHandler = handler;

    field.ContactInfo = "+31(0)77 4748677";
    field.Location = "The Netherlands";
    field.Reason = "I fully agree!";

    SignatureWidget widget = new SignatureWidget(10, page.Height - 700, 150, 40);

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}

//PasswordField
{
    TextShape textShape = new TextShape( 250, page.Height - 725, "PasswordField", Font.Helvetica, 12 );
    page.VisualOverlay.Add( textShape );

    PasswordField field = new PasswordField("FieldName15");

    Widget widget = new Widget(10, page.Height - 725, 100, 15);
    widget.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.HotPink;

    field.Widgets.Add(widget);
    page.Widgets.Add(widget);
    document.Fields.Add(field);
}
       
// write the modified document to disk, note: signing requires read-write file access
using ( FileStream outFile = new FileStream( @"..\..\createformfields.pdf", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite ) )
{
    document.Write( outFile );
}
'New document
Dim document As New Document()

Dim page As New Page(PageSize.A4)
document.Pages.Add(page)

'TextBox Field with all default values
Dim textShape1 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 50, "TextBox Field with all default values", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape1)

Dim field1 As New TextField("FieldName1")
Dim widget1 As New Widget(10, page.Height - 50, 200, 15)

field1.Widgets.Add(widget1)
page.Widgets.Add(widget1)
document.Fields.Add(field1)

'TextBox Field with text (and Cmyk black)
Dim textShape2 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 75, "TextBox Field with text (and Cmyk black)", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape2)

Dim field2 As New TextField("FieldName2")
field2.Value = "Hello World!"

Dim widget2 As New Widget(10, page.Height - 75, 200, 15)
widget2.TextColor = TallComponents.PDF.Colors.CmykColor.Black

field2.Widgets.Add(widget2)
page.Widgets.Add(widget2)
document.Fields.Add(field2)

'TextBox Field with multiline text
Dim textShape3 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 150, "TextBox Field with multiline text", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape3)

Dim field3 As New TextField("FieldName3")
field3.Value = "Default text..." & Environment.NewLine & "...already included new-lines"
field3.ToolTip = "Tooltip for field 3"
field3.MappingName = "Mappingname3"

field3.MaxLength = 200
field3.Multiline = True
field3.RequiredMode = RequiredMode.Required

Dim widget3 As New Widget(10, page.Height - 150, 200, 65)

widget3.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Purple
widget3.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Dashed
widget3.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red
widget3.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.Yellow

widget3.Font = TallComponents.PDF.Fonts.Font.TimesBoldItalic
widget3.FontSize = 9

widget3.HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Center

field3.Widgets.Add(widget3)
page.Widgets.Add(widget3)
document.Fields.Add(field3)

'DropDownList Field  -- no options but editable
Dim textShape4 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 200, "DropDownList Field -- no options but editable", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape4)

Dim field4 As New DropDownListField("FieldName4")
field4.AllowTextEntry = True

Dim widget4 As New Widget(10, page.Height - 200, 200, 15)
widget4.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black

field4.Widgets.Add(widget4)
page.Widgets.Add(widget4)
document.Fields.Add(field4)

'DropDownList Field -- with options
Dim textShape5 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 225, "DropDownList Field -- with options", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape5)

Dim field5 As New DropDownListField("FieldName5")
field5.Options.Add(New ListOption("opt1"))
field5.Options.Add(New ListOption("opt2"))
field5.Options.Add(New ListOption("opt3"))
field5.Value = "opt2"

Dim widget5 As New Widget(10, page.Height - 225, 200, 15)
widget5.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black
widget5.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Inset

field5.Widgets.Add(widget5)
page.Widgets.Add(widget5)
document.Fields.Add(field5)

'ListBox Field -- with options
Dim textShape6 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 300, "ListBox Field -- with 6 options", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape6)

Dim field6 As New ListBoxField("FieldName6")
field6.Options.Add(New ListOption("1", "opt1"))
field6.Options.Add(New ListOption("2", "opt2"))
field6.Options.Add(New ListOption("3", "opt3"))
field6.Options.Add(New ListOption("4", "opt4"))
field6.Options.Add(New ListOption("5", "opt5"))
field6.Options.Add(New ListOption("6", "opt6"))
field6.ListBoxValue = New ListOption(0) {field6.Options(1)}

Dim widget6 As New Widget(10, page.Height - 300, 200, 50)
widget6.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.DarkBlue

field6.Widgets.Add(widget6)
page.Widgets.Add(widget6)
document.Fields.Add(field6)


'CheckBox Field -- unchecked
Dim textShape7 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 350, "CheckBox Field -- unchecked", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape7)

Dim field7 As New CheckBoxField("FieldName7")

Dim widget7 As New CheckBoxWidget(10, page.Height - 350, 15, 15)
widget7.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black
widget7.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Inset

field7.Widgets.Add(widget7)
page.Widgets.Add(widget7)
document.Fields.Add(field7)

'CheckBox Field -- checked, custom on-value
Dim textShape8 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 375, "CheckBox Field -- checked, custom on-value", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape8)

Dim field8 As New CheckBoxField("FieldName8")
field8.CheckBoxValue = CheckState.[On]

Dim widget8 As New CheckBoxWidget(10, page.Height - 375, 15, 15)
widget8.CheckMarkAppearance = CheckMarkAppearance.Check
widget8.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Purple
widget8.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Green
widget8.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Inset

field8.Widgets.Add(widget8)
page.Widgets.Add(widget8)
document.Fields.Add(field8)

'PushButton Field -- default
Dim textShape9 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 425, "PushButton Field -- default", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape9)

Dim field9 As New PushButtonField("FieldName9")

Dim widget9 As New PushButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 425, 100, 30)
widget9.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.LightGray
widget9.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black
widget9.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Beveled

field9.Widgets.Add(widget9)
page.Widgets.Add(widget9)
document.Fields.Add(field9)

'PushButton Field -- with label
Dim textShape10 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 474, "PushButton Field -- with label", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape10)

Dim field10 As New PushButtonField("FieldName10")

Dim widget10 As New PushButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 475, 200, 30)
widget10.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.LightGray
widget10.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Gray
widget10.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Beveled

widget10.Label = "Push me!"

field10.Widgets.Add(widget10)
page.Widgets.Add(widget10)
document.Fields.Add(field10)

'Show how a submit action must be included.
Dim action As New TallComponents.PDF.Actions.SubmitFormAction()
action.SubmitFormat = TallComponents.PDF.Actions.SubmitFormat.Xfdf
action.Url = "http://www.yourname.com/receiver.aspx"
widget10.MouseUpActions.Add(action)

'PushButton Field -- with icon
Dim textShape11 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 545, "PushButton Field -- with icon", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape11)

Dim field11 As New PushButtonField("FieldName11")

Dim widget11 As New PushButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 545, 100, 50)
widget11.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.LightGray
widget11.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Gray
widget11.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Beveled

widget11.Layout = PushButtonLayout.IconOnly

Using bitmap As New System.Drawing.Bitmap("..\..\..\inputDocuments\logo_pdfkit.gif")
    widget11.SetIcon(bitmap)
End Using

field11.Widgets.Add(widget11)
page.Widgets.Add(widget11)
document.Fields.Add(field11)

'RadioButtonField -- with 3 options
Dim textShape12 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 600, "RadioButtonField -- with 3 options", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape12)

Dim field12 As New RadioButtonField("FieldName12")

Dim widget12 As New RadioButtonWidget(10, page.Height - 600, 15, 15, "Option1")
widget12.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black
field12.Widgets.Add(widget12)
page.Widgets.Add(widget12)

widget12 = New RadioButtonWidget(35, page.Height - 600, 15, 15, "Option2")
widget12.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Purple
widget12.BackgroundColor = System.Drawing.Color.Yellow
widget12.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Blue
field12.Widgets.Add(widget12)
page.Widgets.Add(widget12)

widget12 = New RadioButtonWidget(60, page.Height - 600, 15, 15, "Option3")
widget12.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Green
widget12.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Dashed
widget12.TextColor = System.Drawing.Color.Red
field12.Widgets.Add(widget12)
page.Widgets.Add(widget12)

field12.RadioButtonValue = TryCast(field12.Options(1), RadioButtonOption)
field12.RadioButtonDefaultValue = TryCast(field12.Options(2), RadioButtonOption)
document.Fields.Add(field12)

'SignatureField -- unsigned
Dim textShape13 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 650, "SignatureField -- unsigned", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape13)

Dim field13 As New SignatureField("FieldName13")

Dim widget13 As New SignatureWidget(10, page.Height - 650, 150, 40)
widget13.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.Indigo

field13.Widgets.Add(widget13)
page.Widgets.Add(widget13)
document.Fields.Add(field13)

'SignatureField -- signed
Dim textShape14 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 700, "SignatureField -- signed", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape14)

Dim field14 As New SignatureField("FieldName14")

Dim ks As Pkcs12Store = Nothing
Using file As New FileStream("..\..\..\inputdocuments\ChrisSharp.pfx", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
    ks = New Pkcs12Store(file, "Sample")
End Using

Dim handler As SignatureHandler = StandardSignatureHandler.Create(ks)

field14.SignatureHandler = handler

field14.ContactInfo = "+31(0)77 4748677"
field14.Location = "The Netherlands"
field14.Reason = "I fully agree!"

Dim widget14 As New SignatureWidget(10, page.Height - 700, 150, 40)

field14.Widgets.Add(widget14)
page.Widgets.Add(widget14)
document.Fields.Add(field14)

'PasswordField
Dim textShape15 As New TextShape(250, page.Height - 725, "PasswordField", Font.Helvetica, 12)
page.VisualOverlay.Add(textShape15)

Dim field15 As New PasswordField("FieldName15")

Dim widget15 As New Widget(10, page.Height - 725, 100, 15)
widget15.BorderColor = System.Drawing.Color.HotPink

field15.Widgets.Add(widget15)
page.Widgets.Add(widget15)
document.Fields.Add(field15)

' write the modified document to disk, note: signing requires read-write file access
Using outFile As New FileStream("..\..\createformfields.pdf", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite)
    document.Write(outFile)
End Using
Download PDFKit.NET 5.0
We will send you a download link

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Why do we ask your email address?
We send tips that speed up your evaluation
We let you know about bug fixes
You can always unsubscribe with one click
We never share your address with a 3rd party
Thank you for your download

We have sent an email with a download link.