To create a PDF template, take an existing PDF document and apply the BI Publisher markup.
Because you can use a PDF from any source, you have multiple design options. For example:
Design the template using any application that generates documents that can be converted to PDF, such as Microsoft Word
Scan a paper document to use as a template
Download a PDF document from a third-party website
Note:
The steps required to create a template from a third-party PDF depend on whether form fields have been added to the document. For more information, see Creating a Layout from a Predefined PDF Form.If you are designing the template, then when you have converted to PDF, the template is treated like a set background. When you mark up the template, you draw fields on top of this background. To edit the template, you must edit the original document and then convert back to PDF.
For this reason, the PDF template is not recommended for documents that require frequent updates. However, it is appropriate for forms that have a fixed template, such as invoices or purchase orders.