--- title: "Filling PDF form fields | Nutrient Java SDK" canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/java/editor/fill-pdf-form/" md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/java/editor/fill-pdf-form.md" last_updated: "2026-06-09T10:26:34.600Z" description: "How to fill PDF form fields programmatically using Nutrient Java SDK." --- # Filling PDF form fields Use form filling to set PDF field values from your application data. Common use cases include: - Prepopulating onboarding and registration forms - Filling compliance and claim forms - Template-based document assembly - Batch form generation from CSV or database records In this guide, you’ll fill: - Text fields - Checkboxes - Radio button groups - Combo boxes - List boxes [Download sample](https://www.nutrient.io/downloads/samples/java/fill-pdf-form.zip) ## How Nutrient helps Nutrient Java SDK handles field access, type-specific operations, and value validation. The SDK handles: - Parsing PDF form field dictionaries and identifying field types correctly - Managing field type casting and value format validation - Handling field hierarchy traversal for nested field structures - Complex field state management for checkboxes, radio buttons, and selections ## Complete implementation This example fills multiple form field types in one workflow: ```java package io.nutrient.Sample; import io.nutrient.sdk.*; import io.nutrient.sdk.editors.*; import io.nutrient.sdk.editors.pdf.formfields.*; import io.nutrient.sdk.enums.*; public class FillPdfForm { ``` Create the `main` method as the sample entry point: ```java public static void main(String[] args) { ``` ## Opening a document with form fields Open the form document with try-with-resources, create an editor, and get the form field collection. The collection supports iteration and lookup across field types: ```java try (Document document = Document.open("input_forms.pdf")) { PdfEditor editor = PdfEditor.edit(document); PdfFormFieldCollection formFields = editor.getFormFieldCollection(); ``` ## Filling a text field Find a text field by full name, verify the type, cast it, and set the value. In this sample: - The field name is `Text1`. - The type check uses `PdfFormFieldType.Text`. - The value is set with `setValue("John Doe")`. ```java PdfFormField textField = formFields.findByFullName("Text1"); if (textField!= null && textField.getFieldType() == PdfFormFieldType.Text) { ((PdfTextField) textField).setValue("John Doe"); } ``` ## Checking a checkbox Find a checkbox field, verify the type, cast it, and set the checked state. In this sample: - The field name is `Check1`. - The type check uses `PdfFormFieldType.CheckBox`. - The checked state is set with `setIsChecked(true)`. ```java PdfFormField checkbox = formFields.findByFullName("Check1"); if (checkbox!= null && checkbox.getFieldType() == PdfFormFieldType.CheckBox) { ((PdfCheckBoxField) checkbox).setIsChecked(true); } ``` ## Selecting a radio button option Find a radio group, verify the type, cast it, and select an option. In this sample: - The group name is `RadioGroup1`. - The type check uses `PdfFormFieldType.RadioButton`. - The selected export value is `Option2`. ```java PdfFormField radioGroup = formFields.findByFullName("RadioGroup1"); if (radioGroup!= null && radioGroup.getFieldType() == PdfFormFieldType.RadioButton) { ((PdfRadioButtonField) radioGroup).setSelectedOption("Option2"); } ``` ## Selecting an item in a combo box Find a combo box field, verify the type, cast it, and select one value. In this sample: - The field name is `Dropdown1`. - The type check uses `PdfFormFieldType.ComboBox`. - The selected value is `Germany`. Selected values match configured options exactly: ```java PdfFormField comboBox = formFields.findByFullName("Dropdown1"); if (comboBox!= null && comboBox.getFieldType() == PdfFormFieldType.ComboBox) { ((PdfComboBoxField) comboBox).setSelectedValue("Germany"); } ``` ## Selecting items in a list box Find a list box field, verify the type, cast it, and select values. In this sample: - The field name is `List1`. - The type check uses `PdfFormFieldType.ListBox`. - The value is selected with `setSelectedValue("Technology")`. With multi-select enabled, selected values match available options exactly: ```java PdfFormField listBox = formFields.findByFullName("List1"); if (listBox!= null && listBox.getFieldType() == PdfFormFieldType.ListBox) { PdfListBoxField list = (PdfListBoxField) listBox; // Select an item by value list.setSelectedValue("Technology"); } ``` ## Iterating and filling all fields Iterate through all fields and apply type-based updates. In this sample: - Only terminal, non-read-only fields are processed. - Text fields are set to `"Sample Value"`. - Checkbox fields are set to checked. ```java for (PdfFormField field : formFields) { if (field.getIsTerminal() &&!field.getIsReadOnly()) { PdfFormFieldType fieldType = field.getFieldType(); if (fieldType == PdfFormFieldType.Text) { ((PdfTextField) field).setValue("Sample Value"); } else if (fieldType == PdfFormFieldType.CheckBox) { ((PdfCheckBoxField) field).setIsChecked(true); } } } ``` ## Saving the filled form Save the output PDF and close the editor. In this sample: - `saveAs("output_filled_form.pdf")` writes a new file. - `editor.close()` releases editor resources. - The catch block logs runtime failures. ```java editor.saveAs("output_filled_form.pdf"); editor.close(); } catch (Exception e) { System.err.println("Error: " + e.getMessage()); e.printStackTrace(); } } } ``` ## Conclusion Use this workflow to fill PDF form fields: 1. Open the document using try-with-resources for automatic resource cleanup. 2. Create a PDF editor and retrieve the form field collection with `getFormFieldCollection()`. 3. The form field collection provides access to all form fields regardless of type. 4. Use `findByFullName()` to locate specific fields by their fully qualified names (including hierarchy). 5. Verify field types with `getFieldType()` before casting to specific field classes. 6. Cast the generic `PdfFormField` to specific types: `PdfTextField`, `PdfCheckBoxField`, `PdfRadioButtonField`, `PdfComboBoxField`, `PdfListBoxField`. 7. Fill text fields with `setValue()`, using string values for text input. 8. Set checkbox states with `setIsChecked()` using Boolean values (`true` = checked, `false` = unchecked). 9. Select radio button options with `setSelectedOption()` using export values from the option group. 10. Select combo box items with `setSelectedValue()` matching predefined dropdown options exactly. 11. Select list box items with `setSelectedValue()` for single or multiple selection configurations. 12. Iterate all fields with conditional logic using `getIsTerminal()` and `getFieldType()` for batch filling operations. 13. Save the document with `saveAs()` to persist all filled field values. 14. Handle exceptions with try-catch blocks for robust error recovery in production workflows. For related form workflows, refer to the [Java SDK guides](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/java.md). --- ## Related pages - [Adding annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding a custom page to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-custom-page-to-pdf.md) - [Adding interactive form fields to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-form-fields-to-pdf.md) - [Adding invisible digital signatures to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-invisible-signature-to-pdf.md) - [Adding free text annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-freetext-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding link annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-link-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding shape annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-shape-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding stamp annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-stamp-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding text markup annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-text-markup-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Adding sticky note annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-sticky-note-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Detecting and adding form fields to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/detect-and-add-form-fields.md) - [Adding visible digital signatures to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-visible-signature-to-pdf.md) - [Advanced digital signature workflows](/guides/java/editor/advanced-digital-signatures.md) - [Adding redaction annotations to a PDF document](/guides/java/editor/add-redaction-annotations-to-pdf.md) - [Editing PDF form fields](/guides/java/editor/editing-pdf-form-fields.md) - [Editing PDF metadata with Nutrient Java SDK](/guides/java/editor/editing-pdf-metadata.md) - [Merging PDFs](/guides/java/editor/merge-pdf-into-other-pdf.md) - [Nutrient Java SDK editor guides](/guides/java/editor.md) - [Managing PDF page order](/guides/java/editor/manage-pdf-page-order.md)