I'm pretty computer savvy so tried out the Acrobat DC Pro. (I had to dig up my old windows machine because it won't work on Chrome!) So there's a tool that automatically turns your PDF into a form and populates the various fields. This is exactly what I wanted because trying to recreate my forms with google forms or other software is extremely cumbersome.

So it seems pretty intuitive and though I don't understand all the properties of a given field I can easily make a text box and say if it has multiple lines or a single line. I can have entries validated,  I can put up multiple check boxes and seeming provide a name for them, in order, to collect the info perhaps in a database...

But that'd where it all falls apart... I have a 9 page form that will take some effort for my viewers to fill out. The'll need to save as they go and return to the form when they need. I'd like to do all this on my wordpress site while at the same time making it so they don't have to create a new account (no idea if that is possible).  So I'd like them to be able to save and view as they go, and to submit at the end of the process. I'd also like them to receive or download a copy of their copy of their finished form, and for me to receive a copy.    And... I'd like to receive that copy in PDF format, as well as in the long run collect info for various entries to view in a database. I'd like to see, for example, how many male or female respondents I have, or their age ranges.

The forms I'm using are opensource and perhaps not ideal for recreating online. But they'll do for now and I hope to redesign and format them to my needs at time goes on.

Being that making the forms seems pretty straight forward, I'm hoping submitting them will be too.    If it is easier I'm happy for now to do it through email; send the pdf out, have the viewer fill it it out, then send it back via email.  I don't understand the two options at the end of the process when you to to 'export' or send the form, and I don't know what else I need to do?  I think one is for email and one is for integrating a database. Sorry for the longwinded question but I need a road map to figure it all out.

I have seen similar things online like I think for doing my passport recently or with something from the DMV like renewing my registration online.  Tks