One of the great things about Classroom is its ability to take your learner on a journey from consuming content all the way through obtaining a certificate after proving their knowledge. Using Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can prepare a PDF with editable fields that will allow Classroom to pull in information from pertinent data fields.
Build a Template
First, you can build a simple certificate template using Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. Be sure to "hard code" any pertinent course detail such as the course name, number of CEUs it may be worth, etc. Any learner-related data--such as learner name, course completion date, certificate expiration, any special license numbers, etc.--can be merged into the certificate in a later step. So you do not have to put those details into the document or powerpoint file.
Save Certificate as a PDF
Once you complete your certificate document, save it as a PDF. Then, open that PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Add Merge Fields to PDF
Open your new PDF certificate and select Prepare Form from the tools available on the right-hand side of your screen. Pro tip: If you do not see Prepare Form, click More Tools and you should be able to add it to your quick toolset by choosing it from a larger list of available tools.
On the next screen, click Start after making sure the correct file is selected. You may get a message that says "No new form annotations were detected." That's ok! Just click OK.
Next, let's add some merge fields so that Classroom can take information from registration fields and automatically place it in the pertinent position on your certificate before issuing it to the successful learner.
You can create a merge field for any information that is captured in the Registration Fields of Classroom. Use for student name, certificate issue date and expiration date, you must stylize those as follows:
- studentName
- certificateDate
- expirationDate
For all other fields you would like to use (i.e., Company, License Number, etc.), just make sure that what you set up in Adobe matches how it appears in the Classroom Registration Fields setup.
Here's how it would look inside Adobe as you add merge fields:
When you add a merge field (outside of student name, certificate date or expiration date) to your certificate, just make sure it matches exactly how the corresponding Registration Field exists in Classroom. See below for example:
A few quick tips for setting up your merge fields. When you click All Properties, you're able to stylize how merged information will appear on your certificate.
Adjust the font and font size by going to the Appearance tab.
Adjust alignment of the text by clicking on the Options tab (we recommend aligning Center).
It's time to save your PDF! Once you have built your PDF the way you'd like it, click Close and then Save! Now, let's upload your certificate into your Classroom!