Automated PDF Form Processing with Web Forms and Email Delivery

⚠️ Notice:
Community nodes like @custom-js/n8n-nodes-pdf-toolkit can only be installed on self-hosted instances of n8n.

This n8n workflow demonstrates how to collect form submissions from a landing page, fill a PDF form automatically, and send it via email. It uses the PDF Form Fill node from customjs.space to populate PDF fields with the submitted data.

What this workflow does

• Serves a landing page with a user-friendly form.
• Receives form submissions via a Webhook.
• Uses the HTTP Request node to fetch a PDF template.
• Fills the PDF form fields with the submitted data using the PDF Form Fill node.
• Optionally reads PDF form field names using Get PDF Form Fields.
• Sends the completed PDF as an email attachment.

Requirements

• Self-hosted n8n instance.
• CustomJS API key for the PDF Toolkit nodes.
• SMTP account for sending emails.
• Optional: Access to the PDF template online.

Workflow Steps

1. Landingpage Endpoint (Webhook)
   Serves the landing page HTML to visitors.

2. Set Form Endpoint
   Dynamically injects the endpoint URL into the HTML form.

3. HTML for Landingpage
   Provides the form where users enter personal information (name, address, city, country, etc.).

4. Respond to Webhook
   Returns the landing page HTML to the visitor.

5. FormData Endpoint (Webhook)
   Receives the submitted form data as JSON.

6. HTTP Request – Get PDF Template
   Fetches the PDF form template from a URL.

7. PDF Form Fill (Fill PDF Fields)
   Populates the PDF with the submitted form data.

8. Get PDF Form Fields (Optional)
   Reads and lists the names of the form fields in the PDF.

9. Send Email
   Sends the completed PDF as an attachment to a configured recipient.

10. Sticky Notes
    Provide documentation within the workflow for easier understanding and maintenance.

Usage

1. Get API key from CustomJS

   • Sign up on the CustomJS platform.
   • Navigate to your profile page and copy your API key.

2. Set Credentials for CustomJS API in n8n

   • Create a new credential in n8n with your API key.

3. Prepare SMTP Credentials

   • Add your SMTP server credentials to n8n for sending emails.

4. Run or schedule the workflow

   • The workflow will serve the landing page, fill the PDF form with submissions, and send it via email.

Customization Tips

• Modify the landing page form in the HTML node to add or remove fields.
• Change PDF template URL in the HTTP Request node.
• Add more recipients or dynamic email addresses in the Send Email node.
• Track submitted form data in Google Sheets or a database for long-term storage.
• Extend workflow logic with validation or notifications using additional nodes.