How to Create a PDF from an Adobe Experience Manager Page
Question details
The user needs a method to export or convert an authored Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) webpage into a static PDF document and subsequently add interactive PDF form fields.
- Product
- Adobe Experience Manager / PDF
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Capturing a live or authored web page as a functional document and manually adding editable fields to collect user input.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat and AEM do not natively support direct one-click exporting of an AEM page to a functional PDF, requiring a print-to-PDF workaround.
Ensure you have the authored Adobe Experience Manager page open in your web browser and verify that your system has a virtual PDF printer (like Microsoft Print to PDF) enabled.
Use a Virtual PDF Printer to Generate a Static PDF
Use your operating system's built-in print-to-PDF functionality to capture the webpage as a static document before manually inserting form elements.
Since direct export from AEM to PDF is not supported, the most effective workaround is utilizing a virtual PDF printer. This captures the exact visual layout of the authored page.
Navigate to the authored Adobe Experience Manager page you wish to capture using your preferred web browser.
Press Ctrl + P on your Windows keyboard to open the browser's print menu.
In the destination or printer dropdown menu, select 'Adobe PDF' or 'Microsoft Print to PDF'.
Click 'Print' and choose a destination folder to save your new static PDF file to your computer.
Open the newly saved PDF document in a dedicated PDF editor, navigate to the Form editing tools, and manually insert text boxes, checkboxes, or radio buttons.
Easily Add Form Fields to Printed PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive suite of PDF editing tools that makes it incredibly easy to open static PDFs generated from web pages and insert fully functional, interactive form fields.
- 1. Print the AEM page to PDF: Use your browser's Print to PDF feature to save the AEM web page to your local drive.
- 2. Open the PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office, select the 'PDF' module, and open your newly created static document.
- 3. Access the Form tools: Click on the 'Form' tab in the top ribbon to reveal the interactive field options.
- 4. Insert interactive elements: Select text fields, checkboxes, or dropdowns from the toolbar and click on the page to place them.
- 5. Save your interactive PDF: Click 'Save' or press Ctrl + S to preserve your document with the new fillable fields intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export an Adobe Experience Manager page directly to an interactive PDF?
No, standard AEM instances do not offer a native 'Export to Interactive PDF' button. You must first capture the page as a static PDF using a virtual printer, then use a PDF editor to overlay interactive form fields.
How do I make a static PDF fillable after printing it?
Once you have saved the web page as a PDF, open it in a capable PDF editing software like WPS Office. Navigate to the Form or Prepare Form tab, where you can manually draw text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons over the static text.
What is the best virtual printer to use on Windows?
If you have Adobe Acrobat installed, 'Adobe PDF' is highly recommended for accurate rendering. Alternatively, Windows 10 and 11 come with 'Microsoft Print to PDF' pre-installed, which works perfectly for capturing web pages.
