Auto-Filled PDF Form (mod_autopdfform)

This Moodle activity plugin allows teachers to upload a PDF template (with interactive form fields – AcroForm). When a student accesses the activity, a personalized version of the PDF is automatically generated and downloaded, filled with their own name, ID, email, and the current date.

Key Features

• Personalized PDF Generation: Automatically fills out a PDF form for each student using their Moodle profile data (name, ID, email, date).


• PDF-Based: Teachers upload a final PDF document with form fields containing placeholder texts. The plugin fills those placeholders with student data.


• Instant Downloads: Students click the activity and instantly receive their customized document — no loading or manual edits required.


• Smart File Naming: Generated PDFs are named using the student's personal data to help with record-keeping.


• No Extra Tools: No coding, scripts, or external software needed — everything runs inside Moodle.

Auto-Filled Fields

The plugin automatically replaces the following placeholder texts inside the PDF form:

| Placeholder Field | Filled With |
|----------------------|--------------------------------------|
| full_name | Student’s full name (from profile) |
| student_id | Moodle username or extracted ID |
| email_address | Student’s Moodle email |
| n_date | Current server date |

Note: For student_id, the plugin uses the part before @ in the Moodle username (e.g., 12345@students) or the full username if there is no @.

Example Use Cases

• Lab reports or assignment coversheets


• Participation certificates


• Personalized instruction sheets


• Fieldwork forms or feedback templates

Installation

1. Place the folder mod_autopdfform in moodle/mod/


2. Run Moodle upgrade via web or CLI

Teacher Workflow

1. Turn editing on in your Moodle course


2. Add activity ' Auto-Filled PDF Form


3. Fill in the activity name and description


4. Upload a valid AcroForm PDF file with field names set to full_name, student_id, email_address, and n_date


5. Save and return to course

Important: Use Adobe Acrobat Pro to prepare the AcroForm file and apply "Reader Extensions" if needed to enable editing/viewing of form fields in PDF viewers.

Student Experience

1. See the activity with a PDF icon


2. Click the activity


3. A personalized PDF file downloads automatically


4. The form fields are pre-filled with the student's personal information

Known Limitations

• In rare cases, field values may not display properly (e.g., if the student’s last name matches the registered Adobe Suite user).


• Only AcroForm-compatible PDFs are supported (not XFA).

How Data Is Used

The plugin retrieves the following information from the logged-in student's Moodle account:

• Full Name from the Moodle user profile


• Email Address from the Moodle account


• Student ID from the Moodle username (see rules above)


• Current Date from the Moodle server timestamp

This ensures each student receives a clean and customized PDF — reducing paperwork errors and simplifying distribution.

License

GNU GPL v3 or later

Developed at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), Kleve, Germany.

Authors

• Ivan Volosyak


• Tangat Baktybergen