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PDF Export

Exports a Google Docs document as a PDF file.

Common Properties​

  • Name - The custom name of the node.
  • Color - The custom color of the node.
  • Delay Before (sec) - Waits in seconds before executing the node.
  • Delay After (sec) - Waits in seconds after executing node.
  • Continue On Error - Automation will continue regardless of any error. The default value is false.
info

If the ContinueOnError property is true, no error is caught when the project is executed, even if a Catch node is used.

Inputs​

  • Document Id - The ID of the Google Docs document to export as PDF.
  • File Path - The local file path where the PDF should be saved.

Options​

  • Credentials - Google Docs credentials used to authenticate with the service.

How It Works​

The PDF Export node integrates with Google Docs to export a document as a PDF file. When executed, the node:

  1. Validates the provided inputs (Document Id, File Path)
  2. Authenticates with Google Docs using the provided credentials
  3. Exports the specified Google Docs document as a PDF
  4. Saves the PDF file to the specified local file path

Requirements​

  • Valid Google Docs credentials
  • A valid Google Docs document ID
  • A valid local file path for saving the PDF
  • Valid Google Docs permissions to access the document
  • Write permissions to the specified local file path

Error Handling​

The node will return specific errors in the following cases:

  • Empty or invalid Document Id
  • Empty or invalid File Path
  • Empty or invalid Google Docs credentials
  • Google Docs service errors
  • Insufficient permissions to access the document
  • Unable to write to the specified file path

Usage Notes​

  • The Document Id can be found in the URL of the Google Docs document
  • The File Path should be a valid local path where the PDF will be saved
  • If a file already exists at the specified path, it will be overwritten
  • The node requires appropriate permissions to access the specified document
  • The exported PDF will maintain the formatting of the original Google Docs document
  • This node is useful for creating PDF versions of Google Docs documents for sharing or archiving

Practical Examples​

Example 1: Export Document to PDF​

Export a document to a local PDF file:

Inputs:

  • Document Id: $.document_id
  • File Path: "/home/user/reports/monthly_report.pdf"

Result: PDF file is created at the specified path with all document formatting preserved

Example 2: Export with Dynamic File Name​

Export PDF with date-stamped filename:

Inputs:

  • Document Id: $.document_id
  • File Path: "/reports/report_" + $.date + ".pdf"

Example: Creates /reports/report_2024-01-15.pdf

Example 3: Export Multiple Documents​

Export multiple documents in a loop:

Workflow:

For Each doc in document_list:
  1. Open Document (URL: $.doc.url)
     ↓
  2. PDF Export
     Document Id: $.document_id
     File Path: "/exports/" + $.doc.name + ".pdf"

Example 4: Complete Report Workflow​

Generate, modify, and export document:

Workflow:

1. Create Document (Title: "Monthly Report")
   ↓
2. Insert Text (Report content)
   ↓
3. Add Header (Company name)
   ↓
4. Add Footer (Page numbers)
   ↓
5. PDF Export (File Path: "/reports/monthly.pdf")

Example 5: Archive Documents​

Export documents for archival:

Inputs:

  • File Path: "/archive/" + $.year + "/" + $.month + "/" + $.doc_name + ".pdf"

Use Case: Organize PDFs in year/month folder structure

Example 6: Export and Email​

Export PDF then send via email:

Workflow:

1. PDF Export (save to temp location)
   ↓
2. Send Email (attach PDF file)
   ↓
3. Delete File (cleanup temp file)

Tips for Effective Use​

  1. Use absolute paths - Specify full file paths to avoid confusion: /home/user/file.pdf
  2. Create directories first - Ensure destination folders exist before exporting
  3. Dynamic naming - Include dates, IDs, or names in filenames for organization
  4. Check permissions - Verify write access to destination folder
  5. Overwrite handling - Be aware existing files are overwritten without warning
  6. Formatting preserved - Headers, footers, images, and formatting are all included
  7. File size - PDFs with many images may be large; consider storage space

Common Errors and Solutions​

Error: "Document ID cannot be empty"​

Cause: Document ID is missing or undefined

Solution:

  • Use Open Document or Create Document before PDF Export
  • Verify $.document_id variable is set
  • Check previous nodes executed successfully

Error: "File Path cannot be empty"​

Cause: File Path input is missing

Solution:

  • Provide a valid file path
  • Use absolute paths like /home/user/file.pdf
  • Verify variable contains a path value

Error: "Failed to create local file"​

Cause: Cannot write to specified path

Solution:

  • Check folder exists (create it first if needed)
  • Verify write permissions on destination folder
  • Ensure path is valid (no invalid characters)
  • Check disk space is available
  • On Windows, use: C:\\Users\\Name\\file.pdf or C:/Users/Name/file.pdf

Error: "Failed to export document as PDF"​

Cause: Google Drive API error or permission issue

Solution:

  • Verify account has access to the document
  • Check Google Drive API is enabled (required for export)
  • Ensure credentials are valid
  • Try re-opening the document
  • Check for API rate limits

Error: "ErrCredentials" - Missing credentials​

Cause: Credentials not provided in Options

Solution:

  • Select credentials in the Options field
  • Verify OAuth2 or Service Account credentials are configured
  • Re-authenticate if using OAuth2

File path issues on different OS​

Cause: Path format differs between Windows and Linux

Solution:

  • Linux/Mac: Use /home/user/folder/file.pdf
  • Windows: Use C:/Users/Name/folder/file.pdf or C:\\Users\\Name\\folder\\file.pdf
  • Avoid spaces in filenames or use quotes
  • Use forward slashes / for cross-platform compatibility

Integration Patterns​

Pattern 1: Automated Report Distribution​

Generate and distribute PDFs:

1. Create Document (report template)
   ↓
2. Insert Text / Replace Text (populate with data)
   ↓
3. PDF Export (save to shared folder)
   ↓
4. Send Email (with PDF attachment)

Pattern 2: Document Archive System​

Archive documents as PDFs:

For Each document in archive_list:
  1. Open Document
     ↓
  2. PDF Export (to archive folder)
     ↓
  3. Log export to database
     ↓
  4. Move to "Archived" status

Pattern 3: Batch PDF Generation​

Create multiple PDFs from data:

For Each record in dataset:
  1. Create Document (personalized title)
     ↓
  2. Replace Text (fill template with record data)
     ↓
  3. PDF Export (File: record_id + ".pdf")
     ↓
  4. Store PDF path in database

Pattern 4: Backup and Version Control​

Create PDF snapshots of documents:

1. Open Document (master document)
   ↓
2. PDF Export (File: "backup_" + timestamp + ".pdf")
   ↓
3. Upload to cloud storage
   ↓
4. Keep last 30 days of backups

Pattern 5: Print-Ready Documents​

Generate PDFs for printing:

1. Open Document
   ↓
2. Add Header (company logo, title)
   ↓
3. Add Footer (page numbers, date)
   ↓
4. PDF Export (high-quality for printing)
   ↓
5. Send to printer or print service

PDF Export Details​

What's Included in PDF:​

  • All text content with formatting (bold, italic, underline, fonts, colors)
  • Headers and footers
  • Images and drawings
  • Tables with formatting
  • Hyperlinks (clickable in PDF)
  • Page breaks and section breaks
  • Document margins and page setup

File Characteristics:​

  • Format: PDF (Portable Document Format)
  • Quality: High-quality, suitable for printing
  • Size: Depends on content (images increase size)
  • Compatibility: Opens in any PDF reader
  • Security: No password protection (add separately if needed)

Platform-Specific Paths​

Linux:

/home/username/documents/report.pdf
/var/reports/monthly.pdf
/tmp/export.pdf

Windows:

C:/Users/Username/Documents/report.pdf
D:/Reports/monthly.pdf
C:/Temp/export.pdf

Mac:

/Users/username/Documents/report.pdf
/Users/username/Desktop/export.pdf

Best Practices​

  1. Organize exports - Use folder structures: /year/month/filename.pdf
  2. Naming conventions - Include dates and identifiers: report_2024-01-15_ID123.pdf
  3. Check before export - Verify document is ready (all content added)
  4. Handle errors - Use Try-Catch for export failures
  5. Cleanup - Delete temporary PDFs after use
  6. Version control - Keep timestamped versions if needed
  7. Test paths - Verify file paths work before production use