PDF, Word, and HTML Documents
TrueContext generates PDF, Microsoft Word, and HTML documents from form submissions and delivers them through Data Destinations
A Data Destination specifies where to send data from a submitted form. You can use Data Destinations to automate data sharing and storage, routing data to a specific service (such as email or cloud storage) in several different formats.. These documents present submission data in a formatted, human-readable layout that you can send to customers, internal teams, or external services for storage. Because you can attach multiple documents to the same form, you can produce separate customer-facing and internal documents from a single submission.
Available on all tiers:
Contents
Note:These settings configure PDF, Word, and HTML documents. For Excel files, go to Excel Document. To build other custom document types, go to DREL Documents, Handlebars Documents, or FreeMarker Documents.
Set up a document
After you create a document and choose a document type, the document editor shows three tabs: Document Basics, Question Filtering, and Formatting.
Info:Go to Create and Manage Documents for instructions on creating a document.
Configure document basics
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Enter a unique name for the document. Optionally, enter a description.
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Keep the document identifier that was added based on the name, or type in a different identifier.
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Define the Filename.
This name applies to all instances of the document, including downloaded documents and documents sent by Data Destinations.
Tip:A recognizable file name can help you quickly search for and identify files when:You download files from multiple form submissions so that you can work locally.
You or your customers receive multiple messages generated by Email Destinations.
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Select the Source Language. This sets the language for document metadata labels and system-generated content such as page numbering.
Info:If your team has the Multi-Language feature, refer to the topic Multi-Language Document Setup Options for more details on the Source Language. This applies to documents that have a Standard (not Custom) layout.
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Select a Font. The system shows only fonts that work with your selected Source Language.
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Select a Font Size. This sets the size of page headers, section headers, questions, and answers. Text scales proportionally — page headers remain larger than section headers.
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Select the Document Time Zone Source. This controls the timezone applied to date and time answers.
Filter questions
The Question Filtering tab controls which questions and answers appear in the document.
Hide unanswered pages, sections, and questions
Pages, sections, and questions with no answers are hidden in the document. Use this option to keep documents short and concise.
- Questions marked Hidden on Device in the form builder never appear in the form, regardless of this setting.
- A page or section that Conditional Logic marks as ignored counts as unanswered.
Choose which questions, sections, and pages to include
You can select which pages, sections, or questions appear in the document. For example, you can create a customer-facing document that omits internal-only answers such as hourly rates, while including those answers in a separate internal document.
Filtering options
- Include all pages, sections, and questions: All questions appear in the document.
- Include selected pages, sections, and questions, hide all others: Only the selected fields appear in the document.
- Hide selected pages, sections, and questions, include all others: The selected fields are hidden. All other fields appear in the document.
Note:Consider how your include and hide selections combine. If you hide a section, all questions inside it are hidden — even if those questions are in the include list.
Format the document
TrueContext offers two layout options for PDF, Word, and HTML documents: Standard Layout and Custom Layout.
Standard layout
The standard layout presents submission data in a linear, easy-to-read format. It meets the design needs of most use cases and works across many forms — a single standard layout document can render data from any form, and the document adapts automatically when you update the form.
Standard layout configuration
- Omit specific pages, sections, or questions.
- Choose colors and styles for document headings.
- Define table layouts for repeatable sections.
Info:Go to Standard layout options for PDF/Word/HTML documents for details on configuring a standard layout.
When to use the standard layout
Use the standard layout when you need a consistent format across many forms, or when you want the document to adapt automatically to form changes.
Custom layout
Our Standard layouts are designed to work with any form, and they support our Multi-Language Feature. Standard layouts offer a variety of formatting options that you can use to tailor your business document or report. When you need even more control over your document layout and structure, use a Custom Layout.
Tip:A custom layout takes more work to build and maintain than a standard layout, but provides you with more formatting options. Use custom layouts as needed and test them using actual data from submitted records.
Custom layout configuration
- Use HTML to define the structure of the document.
- Use CSS to style the document.
Note:Not all CSS properties are supported by the document generator. Be sure to preview and test your documents.
- Apply conditional formatting and loops.
Info:Go to Custom PDF, Word, and HTML Document Layouts for details on setting up a custom layout.
When to use a custom layout
Use a custom layout for documents linked to a single form or to a set of related forms.