eForms Server by Aloaha

AloahaA product of Aloaha Limited · PDF and signatures since 2003

Aloaha eForms Server One form. PDF and HTML. Signed and delivered.

Aloaha eForms Server is a web-based form platform: you design a form once in the browser, and the server publishes it as fillable PDF, responsive HTML and static HTML. Every submission comes back as a sealed PDF plus machine-readable XML, by e-mail.

No programming, no app to install. Runs in your own data centre on Windows Server and IIS, or hosted by Aloaha.

What the eForms Server does

Aloaha eForms Server turns paper and PDF forms into online forms that work on every device. Form designers build the form in a browser-based WYSIWYG editor. Citizens, customers or staff fill it in on a phone, a desktop browser or in Adobe Reader. The server checks the input, renders the result and sends it to the person who submitted it and to the business owner of the form.

It is built for public administration, insurers, property and legal offices, universities and companies that need forms with a reliable paper trail: signed, timestamped and readable by people and by software.

What you get

The main building blocks. Each one is described in detail on its own page.

Browser-based form designer

Place text fields, check boxes, radio buttons, drop-down lists, images, lines and signature fields by drag and drop. Set fonts, colours and validation rules.

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PDF and HTML from one design

Every released form exists as dynamic PDF, responsive HTML and static HTML. The server picks the right format for the device.

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Handwritten and X.509 signatures

Sign with finger or mouse; the server seals the result. Fields named esignature become PDF signature fields for certificates and smart cards.

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E-mail delivery with XML data

The submitter gets the sealed PDF, the form owner gets the PDF plus the data as XML. Mail texts are templates per language.

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ZUGFeRD and Factur-X

Turn invoice forms into EN 16931 e-invoices: PDF/A-3 with embedded XML, created automatically on submission.

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Users, groups and sign-in

Roles for administrators, designers and guests, form groups, and sign-in with your Aloaha or CodeB account (OpenID Connect), including passkeys and the EU Digital Identity Wallet.

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How a form goes live

Four steps from idea to the first submission.

  1. Design. Create a new form or clone an existing one, place the fields and set validation rules in the online designer.
  2. Preview and release. Check the PDF preview, then release the form. The server renders the dynamic PDF and both HTML versions and e-mails you when they are ready.
  3. Share a link. Put the form link on your website, in an e-mail or on a QR code. No plug-in and no app are needed.
  4. Receive submissions. Each submission is sealed as PDF and sent by e-mail together with the XML data, ready for your back office.

Privacy by design

The eForms Server does not keep a database of submitted forms. A submission is turned into a sealed PDF and XML, delivered by e-mail and then removed from the server. If you need a server-side copy, an optional encrypted archive keeps password-protected PDFs that can only be opened with the submission ID.

Because you can run the server in your own data centre, form data never has to leave your infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

What is Aloaha eForms Server?

A web-based platform to design, publish and process electronic forms. One design is published as fillable PDF, responsive HTML and static HTML; submissions are delivered as sealed PDF plus XML by e-mail.

Do form users need Adobe Reader or an app?

No. The responsive HTML version works in any current browser on phones, tablets and desktops. The dynamic PDF version is available for people who prefer Adobe Reader.

Can forms be signed?

Yes. Handwritten signatures are captured with finger or mouse and sealed by the server with a digital signature and an optional timestamp. Fields named esignature become PDF signature fields for X.509 certificates and smart cards.

Where are submitted data stored?

By default nowhere: the submission is delivered by e-mail as sealed PDF and XML and then removed. An optional encrypted archive can keep password-protected copies.

Can I run it in my own data centre?

Yes. The server runs on Windows Server with IIS and the .NET Framework 4.7.2. Aloaha can also host it for you.

How is the eForms Server licensed? Is there a trial?

You can use the eForms Server hosted by Aloaha or rent a server for installation in your own data centre; rented in-house servers receive free updates, and integration help and online training are free. A free 30-day trial with three example forms is available. For prices, write to info@aloaha.com.

Can I send e-invoices without my own invoicing software?

Yes. Design your invoice template once on the eForms Server and fill it in for each invoice; every submission becomes a compliant ZUGFeRD / XRechnung e-invoice (PDF/A-3 with EN 16931 XML), sent by e-mail.

Can the eForms Server create e-invoices?

Yes. Invoice forms can be converted to ZUGFeRD / Factur-X (EN 16931) on submission: a PDF/A-3 with the embedded invoice XML.

See it with your own forms

Try the public sample forms, or ask us for a free online presentation and a private form group on the demo server.

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