PDFs Overview

Tadabase PDFs: Overview

Elevate Your Data with Tadabase PDFs

Tadabase's PDF functionality transforms the way you manage and present data within your applications. Designed to work seamlessly with your databases, the PDF features empower you to generate dynamic, data-driven documents with ease.

Tadabase offers two powerful ways to generate PDF documents, each designed for different use cases:

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PDF Forms

Use your existing PDF documents as templates and automatically fill them with data from your app.

Best For:

• Filling standardized forms (W-9s, I-9s, applications)
• Generating contracts and agreements
• Creating invoices with fixed layouts
• Producing certificates and badges
• Any situation where you have an existing PDF template

How It Works:

1. Upload your existing PDF document
2. Add dynamic field placeholders (text, checkboxes, images, signatures)
3. Map placeholders to data from your app
4. Generate filled PDFs via action links or automation

Key Features:

• Four field types: Text, Checkbox, Image, Signature
• Auto-detect embedded form fields
• Password protection
• Custom watermarks
• Version history tracking
• Date, number, and currency formatting
• Generation logs and auditing

Learn more about PDF Forms →

View the PDF Forms Complete Guide →

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PDF Pages

Generate PDFs from your app pages using page components and layouts for fully customizable document designs.

Best For:

• Custom reports and dashboards
• Documents that need to match your app's design
• Multi-record list documents
• Detailed record views with related data
• Documents requiring complex layouts and styling

How It Works:

1. Create a PDF Layout with theme, page settings, headers, and footers
2. Build a PDF Page using page components (Details, Table, List, Rich Text, etc.)
3. Configure how the PDF page displays data (List or Details view)
4. Generate PDFs via PDF Print buttons, action links, or automation

Key Features:

• Use all page components (tables, details, rich text, etc.)
• Pre-built themes or custom CSS
• Headers and footers with dynamic content
• Multiple page sizes and orientations
• List PDFs (all records) or Details PDFs (single record)
• JavaScript support for dynamic content
• Background images and branding

Learn more about PDF Pages →

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Choosing the Right Option

Feature	PDF Forms	PDF Pages
Starting Point	Existing PDF document	Build from scratch with components
Design Control	Limited to PDF template layout	Full control with page builder
Best Use Case	Standardized forms and templates	Custom reports and documents
Field Types	Text, Checkbox, Image, Signature	All page components available
Multi-Record Display	One record per PDF	Can show all records in lists
Styling	Individual field styling	Full CSS and theme support
Setup Time	Quick if you have a PDF template	More time for custom design
Auto-Detection	Yes (for embedded PDF fields)	N/A

Use PDF Forms When:

• You have an existing PDF template or form
• You need to fill government or standardized forms
• The layout is already designed and shouldn't change
• You want quick setup with field placeholders
• You need to maintain brand consistency with existing templates

Use PDF Pages When:

• You need complete design control from scratch
• You want to display multiple records in a list
• You need complex layouts with multiple components
• You want the PDF to match your app's design
• You need custom themes and styling

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Common Features

Both PDF Forms and PDF Pages share these capabilities:

• Action Links: Trigger PDF generation from table, list, or custom components
• Tasks & Automation: Generate PDFs automatically based on record rules or schedules
• Email Attachments: Attach generated PDFs to automated emails
• Dynamic Data: Populate PDFs with live data from your database
• User Permissions: Control who can generate PDFs
• File Storage: Store and access generated PDFs

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Getting Started

Accessing PDF Features

Both PDF Forms and PDF Pages are accessed from the Automation tab in your app builder:

1. Open your app in the builder
2. Click the Automation tab
3. Select PDF Forms or PDF Pages
4. Click Add New to create your first PDF

Plan Availability

PDF features are available on most Tadabase plans. Check your plan details in Settings → Billing & Plans to see:

• Number of PDF Forms allowed per app
• Number of PDF Pages allowed per app
• Monthly generation limits (if applicable)
• Advanced features availability

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Use Cases and Examples

Business Operations

• Invoices and Receipts: Use PDF Forms with your invoice template
• Sales Reports: Use PDF Pages to show sales data in tables and charts
• Contracts: Use PDF Forms to fill standardized contract templates
• Purchase Orders: Use PDF Forms for consistent PO formatting

Education

• Certificates: Use PDF Forms to fill certificate templates
• Report Cards: Use PDF Pages to design custom report cards
• Transcripts: Use PDF Pages to show all grades in a table
• Applications: Use PDF Forms for standardized application forms

Human Resources

• Employee Onboarding: Use PDF Forms for I-9s, W-4s, and other forms
• Performance Reviews: Use PDF Pages for custom review documents
• Offer Letters: Use PDF Forms to fill company letterhead
• Employee Directories: Use PDF Pages to list all employees

Healthcare

• Patient Forms: Use PDF Forms for intake and consent forms
• Lab Reports: Use PDF Pages for custom result layouts
• Prescriptions: Use PDF Forms on prescription templates
• Patient Records: Use PDF Pages to display complete medical history

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Next Steps and Resources

Detailed Documentation

• PDF Forms: Complete Guide - Comprehensive guide to all PDF Forms features
• PDF Forms: Quick Start - Get started quickly with PDF Forms
• PDF Pages - Complete guide to PDF Pages

Related Topics

• Action Rules: Learn about triggering PDFs from action links
• Tasks & Automation: Automate PDF generation with tasks
• Email Templates: Attach PDFs to automated emails
• File Storage: Understand where PDFs are stored
• User Permissions: Control access to PDF generation

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Summary

Tadabase provides two powerful PDF generation options to fit your needs:

• PDF Forms for filling existing PDF templates with dynamic data
• PDF Pages for building custom PDF documents from page components

Whether you're creating invoices, reports, certificates, contracts, or forms, Tadabase's PDF capabilities provide robust, professional document generation integrated seamlessly with your application data.