How to Add CC or BCC Recipients to a PDF Submit Button
Question details
A user wants to configure a PDF form's submit button so that the submitted data is sent to a primary email address as well as additional CC or BCC recipients.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or modifying an interactive PDF form designed to be submitted directly via email.
- Observed behavior
- The user is able to add a standard 'To' email address but needs the exact parameter syntax to correctly map secondary email addresses to the CC and BCC fields.
Ensure that you have a PDF editor with form creation capabilities installed and that your default email client is properly configured to process 'mailto' links.
Use Standard Mailto Parameters in the Action URL
You can include CC and BCC recipients by formatting the submit button's URL action with standard HTML mailto syntax.
When setting up an email submission button in a PDF form, the application relies on standard internet protocols to launch your email client. By using specialized URL parameters within the 'mailto' link, you can automatically populate the CC and BCC fields in the resulting email draft.
Open your PDF form in editing mode. Right-click the existing Submit button on the page and select 'Properties' from the context menu.
In the Button Properties dialog, click on the 'Actions' tab. From the 'Select Action' dropdown list, choose 'Submit a form' and click the 'Add' button.
In the 'Enter a URL for this link' field, start by typing your primary destination email address formatted as a mailto link. For example: mailto:primary@example.com.
Add the CC recipient by appending '?cc=copy@example.com'. To include a BCC recipient as well, add an ampersand followed by the BCC parameter, resulting in a complete string like this: mailto:primary@example.com?cc=copy@example.com&bcc=hidden@example.com.
Click 'OK' to save the action, close the properties window, and save your PDF. Test the button to ensure it opens your email client with the correct fields populated.
Create and Configure PDF Form Buttons with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a comprehensive set of PDF editing tools that allow you to quickly design interactive forms. Easily insert push buttons, text fields, and dropdowns, then configure advanced submit actions to streamline your document workflow.
- 1. Open the PDF File: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Access Form Controls: Navigate to the 'Form' tab in the top ribbon to view available interactive elements.
- 3. Insert a Push Button: Click on 'Push Button', draw it on the page where you want the submit button to appear, and double-click it to open the Properties menu.
- 4. Configure the Submit Action: Switch to the 'Actions' tab, select 'Submit a form', and enter your custom mailto link including the required CC or BCC parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add multiple email addresses to the CC field?
Yes, you can add multiple CC recipients by separating the email addresses with a comma. For example: mailto:primary@example.com?cc=copy1@example.com,copy2@example.com.
Why isn't the BCC field populating when I click the submit button?
Some web-based email clients or older desktop applications may not fully support the 'bcc=' parameter in a mailto link. The successful population of these fields relies entirely on how the user's default email client processes standard URL commands.
Do I use a question mark or an ampersand for additional parameters?
Use a question mark '?' for the very first parameter you add after the primary email address (e.g., ?cc=email@domain.com). For any subsequent parameters, such as BCC or Subject, you must use an ampersand '&' (e.g., &bcc=hidden@domain.com&subject=FormSubmission).
Can I also set a default email subject line using this method?
Yes, you can add a subject line by appending the 'subject=' parameter. A complete example would look like this: mailto:primary@example.com?cc=copy@example.com&subject=Completed%20Form.
