Overview
Zoho Writer lets you automate what happens after a respondent submits a fillable form using Submit Actions. These actions help streamline document handling, data collection, and follow-up processes without manual effort.
Steps
Click the Automate tab in the left panel to open the On Submission settings.
Option 1 : Save a Copy to a Folder
This option allows you to save a copy of the filled document in the configured Work Drive Folder
- Check 'Save a copy to a folder' and click on the hyperlink folder.
- A dialog box opens as shown below where you can choose a name, format and also set a password for the documents.
Option 2 : Send as email
The filled document can be emailed to the configured email id.
Click Send as email , in Email Settings dialog, enter the From, To, Reply To, Cc and Bcc email addresses and subject line as required. Please note that the To, Cc and Bcc addresses can be customized with the data filled in the fillable fields using the "+" icon.
- Send Email As : Choose one of the following available options to send your filled document in email:
- Inline : The filled document will be a part of the body of the email you're sending.
Attachment : The filled document will be sent as an attachment along with the email. Share the attachment as:
PDF Document : The filled document will be attached in .pdf format. The filled values will be present as text and not as form fields in the filled document and this document can be downloaded.
PDF Form : The filled document will be attached in .pdf format with interactive form fields. The recipient can make changes or delete the values entered in the fields and send it out as a fresh PDF form.
MS Word Document : The filled document will be attached as an MS Word file in .docx format.
Send As Link : The filled document will be emailed as a link, and you can also send the link as a QR code. Anyone with access to the link can view and download the filled document. Click Settings to choose a location in WorkDrive to save the filled document. Please note that the filled document will be saved in Work Drive based on which service the original document is stored.

- Enter a message if any, if you have chosen email document type as attachment or link. Personalize the message with fields. To add a field to your message, click "+".
- You can also add up to 5 additional common attachments with the email. Please note that common attachments will be the same for all recipients.
Option 3 : Send for sign collection
Send the filled document for signatures or approvals. You can also define who can sign, approve, or simply view the document.
- Check 'Send for sign collection' and click sign collection.
- Configure the signer details, language and role of the signer.
- Go to Advanced Settings to set reminders and a term of expiry for signing the document.
The additional Option "Allow Respondents to Configure Sign Collection" allows form respondents to define who should sign, approve, or view the filled document during submission. Instead of predefining all recipients, you give the respondent the flexibility to add signer details themselves—such as names, email addresses, and roles.
Useful in cases like, A sales team sends out a custom sales agreement form to clients after finalizing deal terms. Each client may have a different set of internal stakeholders (e.g., procurement head, legal advisor, or finance manager) who need to sign or approve the agreement.
Option 4 : Save responses in Zoho Sheets
Configure this action so that once the responders hit Submit, the filled data gets stored in a worksheet for you to create data tables, interpret, compare and arrive at conclusions based on the responses of the form.
Note : The responses are saved with their labels as the header row and for fields without labels, a unique id will be populated automatically as the header.
If you change the label of a field after sending out the forms for filling, a separate column will be created with the new label as the header, and the responses post change will be listed under this header.
If the sheet name is changed, a new sheet will be created with the changed name and the data post change will be stored on this new sheet.
Option 5 : Trigger Webhook & custom functions
- Check 'Email the filled document to' and enter the email id of one or more persons to email the filled document.

- In addition to the default options in Writer, you can run entire workflows via Zoho's Deluge Custom Functions once a document is submitted.
- Check 'Execute Custom Function' and click Configure. Follow these steps to access the custom functions for fillable forms.
Option 6 : Configure Post-Submission Message and Redirect URL
- Enable 'show custom message & redirection' and enter a message that you want to appear post submission and if you enter a URL here, on submission, the responder will be redirected to the URL as mentioned.
- Download a copy of the submitted document'
- Email the submitted document
- Send the document for signing
Note: Emailing the document and sending it for sign collection is restricted to users within your organization.
- On document submission, users can be given options to download, email, or send the document for sign collection based on the submit actions configured by the document owner.

Additional Note
Save progress and resume later
Forms automatically allow saving progress and resuming later. Recipients can copy the unique link or email it to continue filling in from where they left off.
While filling the form, respondents can click the ︙(More Options) menu.
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Select Save as Draft.
A unique link is automatically generated for you to copy or send via email. Please note that the link expires 30 days after the last modification to the form, and if the document owner removes sharing or publishing access, the link becomes invalid.
Troubleshooting
1. Question : Is there a way for users to save and resume later, especially if form too large to complete in one go?
Solution : Saved values will last for 30 days. Your resume link will expire if you don't save your work at all during that 30-day period.
2. Question : How can I make the user filling out a fillable document be the first signer?
Solution : Open the Sign Settings dialog to configure the Submitter's Mail as the first signer.
Related Articles
- How to share, publish, or embed fillable forms using Zoho Writer fillable templates
- How to configure Sign Collection in Fillable Templates
- How to create a fillable form in Zoho Writer
- How to generate prefilled fillable forms using Zoho Writer?