Using the app
PDF export
Preview, download, and regenerate PDFs from your form data
Tradie Forms maps your entered data onto the official template PDF for that form — the same layout the regulator or your business expects.
Preview vs download
| Action | Without account | Free (signed in) | Pro / Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preview | Yes (public templates) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Download | Sign-in required | Yes — plan limits apply | Unlimited |
Preview shows the PDF in the app with a Tradie Forms preview watermark so you can check layout without using a download allowance.
Download creates the file on your device. On completed records, regenerate builds a new PDF from saved data.
Private (custom) templates require sign-in even for preview.
Typical workflow
- Complete and validate sections
- Open Preview and scan every page (names, addresses, licences, readings, serial numbers)
- Download when you are happy with it
- Open the record from Completed to regenerate or view PDF history
Saving to Completed and PDF history
In Settings:
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Save completed form data | Keeps the form in Completed when you download |
| PDF audit trail (Team) | Stores each exported PDF so you can reopen PDF history on that record |
With audit trail off, you can still save form data and regenerate a PDF anytime from the completed record.
Email and submission portal
Some compliance templates add toolbar actions after export:
- Email — send the PDF to recipients from the app (where supported)
- Portal — open the regulator’s submission site in a new flow (template-specific)
These do not lodge the form for you — you still submit through the authority’s process.
Accuracy and responsibility
You are responsible for verifying the PDF before issue. Tradie Forms does not lodge certificates with regulators or network operators.
If downloads fail repeatedly
Check you are signed in. Fix any validation errors, then try preview or download again. On the free plan, see Billing if you may have hit your monthly download limit. If the problem continues, contact support@tradieforms.com.au with the template name and approximate time.
Billing
Free, Pro, and Team limits and pricing.
Troubleshooting export
When preview or download fails.