Glide: PDF Generation

Introduction

Generating PDF files from your Glide app is a powerful way to turn your app data into polished documents, such as invoices, reports, or certificates. Glide offers several integrations that make PDF generation easy, even if you aren’t a developer. Official integrations like PDFMonkey and DocsAutomator let you create and automate document production using templates and data from your app. The Glide community also shares alternative approaches and workarounds for more flexible or free solutions, including practical tips and troubleshooting help from experienced users and experts.

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When to Use This

• Sending custom invoices or receipts to your users directly from your Glide app.
• Exporting user-generated data (like forms or reports) as downloadable PDF documents.
• Creating printable certificates or personalized documents using data stored in your app.

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What You Need First

• A Glide app on a plan that supports integrations (check Glide’s pricing if needed).
• Accounts on third-party PDF services like PDFMonkey or DocsAutomator if you use their integrations.
• API keys from your chosen PDF integration to connect with Glide.

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Step-by-Step Guide

Option 1: Using the PDFMonkey Integration

1. Open Glide and Find Integrations

   • Click the Settings menu in your Glide app.
   • Go to the Integrations section and select PDFMonkey.

2. Add the Integration

   • Click Add to app.
   • Enter your PDFMonkey API key (found in your PDFMonkey account settings).

3. Set Up PDF Generation

   • Choose a component (like a Button) that supports actions. Add it to your app screen.
   • In the component’s actions panel, select Generate PDF file (under Integrations > PDFMonkey).
   • Provide your PDFMonkey Template ID and Filename.
   • Use "Add value" to fill template fields with data from your Glide app.
   • Set the output column for the PDF link – this is where the generated PDF's URL is saved.

4. Test the Action

   • Publish/preview your app, run the action, and check if the PDF is generated and linked correctly.

Option 2: Using the DocsAutomator Integration

1. Add DocsAutomator to Glide

   • In your Glide app’s settings, go to Integrations and select DocsAutomator.
   • Click Add to app.

2. Link Your Account

   • Get your API key from DocsAutomator (in your DocsAutomator profile).
   • Enter the API key and your DocsAutomator email in Glide’s integration settings.

3. Create a PDF Generation Action

   • Add an action to a component (for example, a Button).
   • Choose Generate Document under Integrations > DocsAutomator.
   • Add the Template ID (from the document template you’ve set up in DocsAutomator).
   • Set up data placeholders for dynamic content.
   • Define the Filename and set the output destination column for the PDF link.

Option 3: Community Alternatives and Workarounds

• Free Plugin: HTML2PDF
  • Community members have created plugins (e.g., HTML2PDF) that convert HTML to PDF. This usually requires using a "Download" button in your app and may need manual steps to save returned PDFs to Glide. Some users suggest combining this with Glide’s Upload File component for smoother workflows.
• Rich Text to HTML/PDF
  • Export rich text as HTML, then use third-party tools or APIs to convert that HTML into a PDF that can be attached or downloaded. This approach allows more customization but might need more setup and technical know-how.
• Third-party automations
  • Advanced users may connect Glide to automation platforms (like Zapier or Make) to generate PDFs using external services and then store/access them in Glide.

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Helpful Tips

• Plan Limits: Make sure your Glide plan supports integrations with PDFMonkey or DocsAutomator before you start.
• Template IDs: Find Template IDs directly in the URL bar of your PDF service or their template management page—copy-paste to Glide for accuracy.
• Dynamic Content: Use "relations" and "lookups" in Glide to create a single JSON blob if you want to send multiple rows or complex data into your PDF template. This helps with invoices or lists in one document.

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Fixing Common Problems

Problem: The PDF generation action works in Glide's preview, but the button doesn’t show up on the published/mobile app.

Solution:

1. Check if the integration requires a paid Glide plan—upgrade if needed.
2. Ensure that the action is attached to a visible component (like a button) for the right users and screens.
3. Test in both preview and live app; sometimes permissions or visibility conditions can hide a button.
4. If using PDFMonkey and your PDF isn’t updated with multi-row data:
   • Edit your PDFMonkey template to use a loop (using Liquid syntax) to handle lists.
   • Pass all your row data as JSON from Glide.
   • If you get file type recognition issues, try testing PDF download in different browsers and check recent updates to plugins or integrations for compatibility fixes.