5 Ways To Convert Excel To Fillable Pdf

Excel is a powerful tool for data analysis and visualization, but when it comes to sharing or collaborating with others, a fillable PDF can be a more convenient and user-friendly option. In this article, we'll explore five ways to convert Excel to a fillable PDF, making it easier to share and collect data from others.

Method 1: Using Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is a popular PDF editing software that allows you to convert Excel files to fillable PDFs. Here's how:

Open Adobe Acrobat and select "Create" > "From File"
Choose your Excel file and click "Open"
Select "Tools" > "Prepare Form"
Acrobat will automatically detect the table structure in your Excel file and create form fields
Customize the form fields as needed and save the file as a PDF

Pros and Cons

Pros: Easy to use, accurate form field detection, and customizable
Cons: Requires Adobe Acrobat software, which can be expensive

Method 2: Using SmallPDF

SmallPDF is a free online PDF editor that allows you to convert Excel files to fillable PDFs. Here's how:

Go to SmallPDF.com and select "Convert" > "Excel to PDF"
Upload your Excel file and click "Convert"
Select "Form" > "Create Form"
SmallPDF will automatically detect the table structure in your Excel file and create form fields
Customize the form fields as needed and download the file as a PDF

Pros and Cons

Pros: Free, easy to use, and customizable
Cons: Limited features compared to Adobe Acrobat, and watermarked output

Method 3: Using PDFelement

PDFelement is a popular PDF editing software that allows you to convert Excel files to fillable PDFs. Here's how:

Open PDFelement and select "Create" > "From File"
Choose your Excel file and click "Open"
Select "Tools" > "Form"
PDFelement will automatically detect the table structure in your Excel file and create form fields
Customize the form fields as needed and save the file as a PDF

Pros and Cons

Pros: Easy to use, accurate form field detection, and customizable
Cons: Requires PDFelement software, which can be expensive

Method 4: Using Online-Convert

Online-Convert is a free online PDF converter that allows you to convert Excel files to fillable PDFs. Here's how:

Go to Online-Convert.com and select "Convert" > "Excel to PDF"
Upload your Excel file and click "Convert"
Select "Form" > "Create Form"
Online-Convert will automatically detect the table structure in your Excel file and create form fields
Customize the form fields as needed and download the file as a PDF

Pros and Cons

Pros: Free, easy to use, and customizable
Cons: Limited features compared to Adobe Acrobat, and watermarked output

Method 5: Using Microsoft Excel

Yes, you can even convert Excel files to fillable PDFs using Microsoft Excel itself! Here's how:

Open your Excel file and select "File" > "Save As"
Choose "PDF" as the file type and click "Options"
Select "Document Properties" > "Form"
Excel will automatically detect the table structure in your file and create form fields
Customize the form fields as needed and save the file as a PDF

Pros and Cons

Pros: Free, easy to use, and no additional software required
Cons: Limited features compared to Adobe Acrobat, and may not work with complex tables

Conclusion

Converting Excel files to fillable PDFs can be a game-changer for sharing and collecting data from others. With these five methods, you can choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences. Whether you're a business professional or an individual, being able to create fillable PDFs can streamline your workflow and improve collaboration.