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March 31, 2023
Question

PDF Form using embedded excel sheet to use formulas and auto generate sales quotes.

  • March 31, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 3038 views

I am trying to figure out how I can create a fillable pdf form to generate quotes to send to customers. We are currently using word with an excel spreadsheet embedded so we can just plug in pricing and it automatically calculates totals, but it is time consuming and inefficient to change around the word document for each customer. Are we able to Convert that to a fillable pdf where we can edit the customers info, pricing, quantity, etc. and then somehow convert the boxes we fill in to read-only for the customer without them being able to convert the boxes back to edit if they have acrobat? We only want them to have a couple lines for their signature and date to fill out. Any tips or direction on this would be appreciated! 

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2 replies

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 1, 2023

You can't do it using an Excel file, but you can re-create the formulas (most likely) using JavaScript and have them work the same in your PDF file, using form fields.

Karl Heinz  Kremer
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 31, 2023

Once the data is calculated, you can "flatten" the form, which means that the form fields are converted to static PDF text. This way, even with Acrobat, they cannot be made writable again. However, with Acrobat you can edit static text. But hopefully, you would still have the original copy of the quote and would be able to tell if something was changed.