Using the app
PDF downloads
Preview, download, regenerate, store, and send completed form PDFs
Tradie Forms maps your answers onto the PDF layout for that template. Preview first, then download when the PDF is ready to use.
Preview and download
| Action | Guest | Free | Solo / Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preview public templates | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Download form PDFs | Sign-in required | 3 per calendar month | Unlimited |
| Regenerate from Completed | Sign-in required | Counts toward limit | Unlimited |
Preview opens in the app and includes a Tradie Forms preview watermark. It does not use a Free download allowance.
Private templates require sign-in before preview or download.
PDF tool downloads are handled separately from form template PDF downloads. See PDF tools for organise, merge, sign, convert, and mark-up tools.
When the PDF is ready, the final sheet lets you Save PDF or View PDF. Solo and Team may also see Share link or an attach button for ServiceM8, Fergus, or Xero when those actions are available.
Download checklist
- Run Validate
- Open Review and scan the answers
- Open Preview and check every page
- Download the PDF
- Lodge, email, attach, or complete the PDF through the right process
Check names, addresses, dates, licence numbers, readings, serial numbers, signatures, diagrams, and page layout.
Completed records
When Store completed form data is enabled in Settings, downloading a PDF saves the record under Completed.
From a completed record you can:
- Open and edit saved answers
- Rename the record
- Duplicate it
- Regenerate the PDF
- Download the stored PDF when stored PDF copies (Solo) or PDF audit trail (Team) is enabled
- View PDF history / stored PDF when enabled
- Create a share link on Solo or Team
- Archive or delete it
- Send to ServiceM8, Fergus, or Xero where that integration is connected and PDF upload is enabled
Free accounts show the last 3 completed records. Solo and Team show full history.
Share a completed PDF
On Solo or Team, select Share link from the PDF-ready screen or a completed form's actions. Choose an expiry and optional password, then copy the link for the recipient. The link opens the finished PDF and can be revoked at any time.
See Share links for expiry, signature requests, and safe sharing steps.
Stored PDF copies and PDF audit trail
Solo workspaces can enable Stored PDF copies to keep the most recent completed PDF for easy re-download from history.
Team workspaces can enable PDF audit trail to keep the full history of downloaded PDFs and re-download any previous version via PDF history.
When the feature is off (or on Free), completed form data can still be saved. The app regenerates a new PDF from the saved answers when needed.
Email, portal, and integrations
Some templates provide extra actions:
- Email builds a message where supported. Attach the downloaded PDF yourself before sending.
- Portal opens relevant submission portal links where supported.
- Attach to ServiceM8, Fergus, or Xero appears on the PDF-ready sheet when a linked job or contact is available and PDF upload is enabled
- Send to ServiceM8, Fergus, or Xero is also available from Completed where the connected integration supports PDF upload
These actions help move the PDF. They do not replace your responsibility to check, lodge, issue, or keep the form correctly.