Generate a PDF with DocsAutomator

Automate the creation of professional documents and PDFs from your data using DocsAutomator and Noloco

This workflow action lets you automate the creation of professional documents from your data. Whether you're using Noloco tables, Airtable, SmartSuite or a SQL based data source. This integration leverages DocsAutomator's capabilities to turn data into polished PDFs using Google Docs templates, and it's very easy to get started.

See it in Action

What is DocsAutomator?

DocsAutomator is a no-code tool that simplifies the process of converting data into Google Docs and PDF documents. It is designed to work with various data sources like Noloco, Airtable, ClickUp, and more through API integration. With DocsAutomator, you can can automate document creation, such as invoices, proposals, and contracts, by utilizing Google Docs templates and mapping fields to their data​.

Setting Up an Automation in DocsAutomator

1. Create a Google Docs Template: Start by creating your document template in Google Docs. This template should include placeholders (using curly brackets) for the dynamic content that will be filled in from your data source. eg. Hello {{first_name}}

2. Create a New Automation: Sign up or log into your DocsAutomator account and create a new automation. You will need to select the Noloco data source and add the URL of the Google Docs template you created. Then, map the fields from your data source to the placeholders in your template​​. (If you don't yet have a template, they have an extensive Template Gallery) More details on setting up automations in DocsAutomator
3. Start Automating Documents: Once your automation is set up, you can start sending data to DocsAutomator from Noloco. The service will generate a PDF based on your template and the data provided, which can then be saved back to your data source or handled as you see fit​

For more details explore DocsAutomator's guide on using Noloco with DocsAutomator https://docsautomator.notion.site/Noloco-integration-8ceb44c1b79749fd99f6e38587e5c3e2

Setting Up the Action in Noloco

To integrate DocsAutomator within a Noloco workflow:

1. Select the "Generate a PDF with DocsAutomator" Action: In your Noloco workflow editor, add a new action and select "Generate a PDF with DocsAutomator" from the list of available actions.

2. Add your DocsAutomator API Key: Grab your API Key from your Account Settings and securely save it to Noloco when prompted.
3. Choose your Automation Pick the automation you created with the Noloco data source from the dropdown, or click refresh if you have only just created it.

4. Setup your Placeholders Define the values for your placeholders, combining dynamic and static values as needed.

5. Setup your Line Item Placeholders If you have line-items in your template, you will be prompted to choose a multi-linked field from your workflow scope (such as the trigger). Once you choose that, you can use those values in your line-item placeholders

6. Choose a file name

Saving the PDF to Another Record

After generating a PDF with DocsAutomator, you may want to save or reference this PDF in another record within your Noloco app:

Configure a Follow-up Action: After the PDF generation action, add a follow-up action in your workflow to save the PDF to another record. This could involve updating a record with the PDF file to a fiile field or saving the file URL to a text field

You can also include the output file as an attachment in a Send an Email workflow action.

Some Examples of Document Automation in Noloco

Here are detailed examples of how you could use the "Generate a PDF with DocsAutomator" workflow action within Noloco.

Example 1: Generating Invoices for New Payments

Scenario: Automate the creation of invoices whenever a new payment record is created in your system.

Workflow Steps:

1. Trigger: Set up the workflow to trigger when a new "Payment Record" is created in Noloco.

2. Data Preparation: Extract the details of the payment record, including payment amount, date, payer details, and associated line items.

3. Template Mapping: Use a pre-designed invoice template in DocsAutomator with placeholders for payment details, line items (e.g., service descriptions, quantities, unit prices), total amount, and payment instructions.
4. Action Configuration: In the workflow action, map the extracted data from the payment record to the corresponding placeholders in your DocsAutomator template.

5. PDF Generation: Once the mapping is complete, the action generates an invoice as a PDF document using the provided data.

6. Save PDF: Configure the action to attach the generated PDF invoice back to the corresponding payment record in Noloco, ensuring it is easily accessible for future reference.

Example 2: Creating Custom Reports for Project Milestones

Scenario: You want to generate a custom report PDF when specific project milestones are reached to share with stakeholders.

Workflow Steps:

1. Trigger: The workflow is initiated when a "Milestone Reached" status is updated in your project management tool integrated with Noloco.
2. Data Aggregation: Collect project details, milestone achievements, upcoming goals, and any relevant statistics or graphs.

3. Template Design: Utilize a DocsAutomator template that accommodates dynamic content such as project summaries, visual data representations, and milestone descriptions.

4. Automate PDF Creation: Map the project and milestone data to your DocsAutomator template within the Noloco action settings.

5. Generate and Distribute PDF: Automatically generate a detailed project milestone report in PDF format and then distribute it by saving it to the project record or emailing it directly to stakeholders from Noloco.

Example 3: Contract Generation for New Clients

Scenario: Generate personalized contracts for new clients upon signing up for your services.

Workflow Steps:

1. Trigger: Initiate the workflow when a new client record is created in Noloco.

2. Collect Client Data: Automatically pull client information such as name, service terms, pricing, and start date from the new client record.

3. Prepare Contract Template: Have a contract template in DocsAutomator with placeholders for client-specific information and terms of service.
4. Map Data to Template: In the Noloco workflow, configure the mapping between client data fields and the corresponding placeholders in the DocsAutomator template.

5. Generate Contract PDF: Upon successful mapping, automatically generate a personalized contract in PDF format.

6. Save and Share Contract: Attach the PDF contract to the client's record in Noloco and optionally configure an action to email the contract directly to the client for review and signature.