pdf-form-filler

name	pdf-form-filler
description	Fills PDF form fields from structured JSON data and writes a flattened output file. Use when the user asks to fill, complete, or populate a PDF form programmatically. Do not use for scanned or image-only PDFs, and not for creating new PDF layouts.

PDF form filler

Fill AcroForm fields in an existing PDF from a JSON mapping and produce a flattened copy. Read field mapping reference when the form uses radio groups or nested field names.

Workflow

1. Inspect the form fields: run python scripts/fill.py --list input.pdf.
2. Build the JSON mapping of field name to value.
3. Fill the form: python scripts/fill.py input.pdf mapping.json out.pdf.
4. Validate the output: re-run with --list out.pdf and confirm every required field is populated; if any field is empty, fix the mapping and repeat until the validation passes.

python scripts/fill.py taxform.pdf mapping.json filled.pdf

{ "applicant_name": "Jane Doe", "filing_year_choice": "single" }

Anti-patterns

• Do not overwrite the input PDF; always write to a new output path.
• Never guess field names — list them first.
• Avoid flattening when the user explicitly asks for an editable result.

Safety

scripts/fill.py only reads the input PDF and writes the named output file; it touches nothing else on disk and never makes network calls. The agent should execute it (not merely read it). Arguments: input path, JSON mapping path, output path; --list prints field names instead of writing.