Google Forms is a widely used tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and forms for various purposes, such as collecting feedback, conducting research, or planning events. It offers a simple interface that allows users to quickly design forms without any technical expertise. However, despite its convenience and versatility, Google Forms does not natively offer an option to save or export forms directly as PDFs.
The ability to convert Google Forms to PDF can be essential for those who need to share forms in a non-editable format or print them for record-keeping or offline distribution. There are several methods and tools available that can facilitate this conversion process. These tools can help users preserve the layout and content of their forms, ensuring that the form's appearance remains consistent across different platforms and devices.
To convert a Google Form to a PDF, one can use various available online converters or browser extensions designed for this purpose. These solutions range from simple, one-click options to more complex systems that offer customization of the final PDF output. It's important to choose a method that maintains the form's integrity, properly translating the form fields, structure, and content into a fixed format suitable for sharing, storage, or printing.
Converting Google Forms to PDF
When dealing with Google Forms, users often find the need to distribute or archive the content in a more universally accessible format such as PDF.
How to convert a Google Form response to a PDF
There are several methods to convert a Google Form into a PDF:
- Using Browser Print Function: One can simply use the print function available in most web browsers and then select "Save as PDF" as the destination printer.
- Taking Screenshots: This is a manual process where portions of the form are captured as images and compiled into a PDF document.
- Third-party Add-ons or Tools: There are specific add-ons and online tools designed to convert Google Forms to PDF directly.
Printing Responses using the browser
To convert a Google Form to a PDF using the browser’s print function, one can follow these steps:
- Open the Form in a Web Browser: Navigate to Google Forms and open the form to be converted.
- Access the Print Menu
- Adjust Print Settings: In the Printer section, change the destination to "Save as PDF".
- Save the Form as a PDF: Click "Save" or "Print" depending on the browser and select the location to save the PDF file.
By following these steps, users can convert a form into a PDF document for easy sharing or archival.
Save or print a Google Form as a PDF
To convert form responses into a PDF document, users can employ several strategies. Here are the concise steps:
- Open the form and go to the 'Responses' tab.
- Click on the three vertical dots to access more options.
- Select "Print all responses", to display all responses in print preview.
- Adjust print settings, and choose "Save as PDF" in the destination printer options.
- Save the PDF to your desired location.
Alternatively, use Google Sheets:
- Export Data: Download the synchronized Google Sheet containing the Google Form responses.
- Create a PDF: Within Google Sheets, go to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf). Configure settings as necessary before downloading.
These methods allow efficient conversion of responses to a PDF format, suitable for distribution or offline review.
Automating the Conversion Process
To automate the form-to-PDF conversion, users can employ Google Apps Script or third-party automation tools like Zapier. Google Apps Script provides a platform for writing custom scripts that can generate PDFs from form responses automatically. One can create a new script to trigger upon form submission, which then creates a PDF in a specified Google Drive folder.
For example, a basic Apps Script workflow could be:
- Capture form responses.
- Format the data into a Google Doc.
- Export the Google Doc to PDF.
With Zapier, users can set up a 'Zap' that:
- Triggers every time a new response is submitted.
- Sends the data to PDF-generating software like AutomatedDocs.
- Saves the newly created PDF to a cloud storage service like Dropbox.
Automatically generating PDFs using AutomatedDocs
AutomatedDocs offers you the convenience of automatically creating documents for every new submission on your Google Form. Each time a submission is made, a document is generated and sent to your email or directly uploaded to your Google Drive account.
Here's how to get started:
1- Sign up for AutomatedDocs, and enjoy a two-week free trial.
2- Upload your desired document template.
3- Link the Google Sheet you use to gather your form responses and map each column to a corresponding template variable.
4- That's it! Now, whenever your form is completed, a new document will be auto-generated using your template and delivered to you. Say goodbye to manual labor or complex scripts.
Converting Google Forms responses to Google Docs automatically eliminates the need for manual data entry, freeing you from the tedious task of copy/pasting or retyping. Some businesses can spend up to 567 hours per year on administrative tasks, much of which can be automated. By converting Google Forms responses to Google Docs automatically, you can focus on what truly matters.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Why can't I download my Google Form as a PDF directly?
Google Forms does not have a built-in feature to save the form as a PDF directly. Users will typically need to use a workaround, such as printing the form to PDF or using third-party extensions.
How can I print my Google Form to a PDF?
One can print to PDF by:
- Opening their Google Form.
- Clicking the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.
- Selecting "Print."
- In the print settings dialog, changing the destination to "Save as PDF."
- Clicking "Save" to download the form.
The format is not correct when I print my Google Form as a PDF. What should I do?
Users should ensure the print settings are adjusted to their liking before saving. This includes layout, margins, and scale. They may have to manually adjust these settings to get the desired PDF format.
Can I download a Google Form as a PDF with responses?
Google Forms' responses are typically viewed and downloaded separately from the form itself. To download responses:
- Go to the "Responses" tab in the form.
- Click on the green spreadsheet icon to create a Google Sheet.
- Once in Google Sheets, users can download the sheet as a PDF via the "File" menu.
Are there any third-party tools to download a Google Form as a PDF with ease?
Yes, there are third-party add-ons and applications designed to export Google Forms as PDFs. However, users should ensure these tools are trustworthy and secure before granting them access to their data.
