Open a submission, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, and select Export as PDF. The PDF includes every form field and its response, with any image attachments embedded inline alongside the relevant field. This is the fastest way to produce a portable, printable record of a submission — no additional formatting required.
How do I export a submission as a PDF?
Open the submission, use the three-dot menu, and select Export as PDF. The download begins immediately.
Open the submission you want to export.
Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right corner of the submission view.
Select Export as PDF.
The PDF downloads automatically to your device.
The export runs instantly. There is no confirmation step — the download begins as soon as you select the option.
What does the exported PDF include?
The PDF contains the full submission record: every form field label paired with the creator's response, in the same order they appear in the submission form. Image attachments are embedded directly into the PDF rather than listed as file references — each image appears inline, alongside the form field it was submitted against.
Content type | How it appears in the PDF |
Text fields (short answer, paragraph) | Label and response, as entered by the creator |
Dropdown / multiple choice | Label and selected option(s) |
Image attachments | Embedded inline in the PDF, matched to the relevant field |
File attachments (non-image) | Listed by filename |
Form metadata (submission date, creator name) | Included in the header of the PDF |
When should I export a submission as a PDF?
PDF export is most useful when you need to share, print, or archive a submission outside of Dapple. Common use cases:
Art exhibitions and image-based opportunities — images embed alongside size, weight, medium, and other installation details, so the full picture is in one document.
Installation planning — share a single PDF with venue staff or logistics teams who do not have Dapple access.
Panel review offline — download PDFs for reviewers who prefer to assess submissions on paper or without a screen.
Record-keeping and archiving — produce a standalone record of a submission for internal files.
Client or funder reporting — share submission details with stakeholders outside your organisation without granting platform access.
Why is PDF export particularly useful for image-based opportunities?
When a submission form collects images — artwork photographs, installation shots, portfolio examples — the PDF export pairs each image with the form fields submitted alongside it. For an art exhibition, this means a panel member or venue coordinator sees the artwork and its associated technical specifications (dimensions, weight, materials, hanging requirements) in the same document, in the same order the creator submitted them. There is no need to cross-reference attachments with form responses manually.
Best practices
Use PDF export when sharing submission details with anyone who does not have a Dapple account — it removes any access barrier.
For image-heavy opportunities, ask creators to upload images as attachments within the form (rather than linking externally) so they embed correctly in the export.
If you need PDFs for multiple submissions, export them individually — bulk PDF export is not currently available.
Check the PDF opens correctly before forwarding to external stakeholders; large image files can produce large PDFs.
For panel review, consider whether PDF export or the built-in Review Panel feature better suits your workflow — Review Panel allows scoring and commenting inside Dapple without any downloads.
Where to go next
Set up a Review Panel — if you need reviewers to score and comment on submissions inside Dapple, use the Review Panel instead of sharing PDFs manually.
Managing submissions — filter, tag, and move submissions through your project workflow.
Form Builder — configure your submission form to collect images and technical details in the right order for clean PDF exports.