Convert PDF Invoices to Google Sheets using Zapier

Creating and sending invoices takes time and effort, especially when it is done manually. Moreover, to process those invoices, the data need to be scanned and transformed. The ready-to-go automation can save time tremendously and provide better data accuracy.

The PDF format for invoices is your optimal choice whether you need to send a bill to your client l or process an incoming invoice. PDF invoice template includes commonly used invoice fields, such as:

In this article, we will show how to process an incoming invoice and convert it to Google Sheets using Zapier and PDF.co automation. You will learn how to connect your Google Drive account so that any PDF Invoice can be used in your Google folder. You will also find out how to set up Google Sheets to add all the parsed line items in their columns and rows automatically.

PDF Invoices to Google Sheets – Step-by-Step Guide

Create A Zap
Google Drive App Event
New File In Folder
Google Drive Account
Set Up The Trigger
Test The Trigger
PDF.co App Event
Document Parser
PDF.co Account
Set Up Action
Test Action
Test Result
Google Sheet App Event
Create Spreadsheet Row(s)
Connect Google Sheet Account
Set Up Action For Google Sheet
Test Action Of Spreadsheet Row
Test Result Of Spreadsheet Row
Google Sheet Output

We will use the table line items in this sample PDF Invoice and automatically add them to the Google Sheets.

Step 1: Create A Zap

First, we will Make A Zap! and click on the upper-left corner button in the Zapier dashboard.

Step 2: Google Drive App Event

Next, select Google Drive as our App Event.

Google Drive App

Step 3: New File In Folder

Then, select the New File In Folder to trigger when a new file is added to the folder.

New File Folder

Step 4: Google Drive Account

We will now connect the Google Drive account that we will use in this Zap.

Google Drive Account

Step 5: Set up The Trigger

Then, let’s set up the Trigger.

In the Drive field, we will select My Google Drive as the drive to use.
Under the Folder field, we will choose the specific folder where the file is located.

Note: The new files added to subfolders inside the folder you choose will NOT trigger this Zap.
Set Up Trigger

Step 6: Test The Trigger

We will then Test the trigger to make sure that we set it up correctly.

Test Trigger

Step 7: PDF.co App Event

In the Action step, we will choose the PDF.co app.

PDF.co App Event

Step 8: Document Parser

In the Action Event, we will choose the Document Parser to parse the line items in the table.

Document Parser

Step 9: PDF.co Account

Now, we will connect the PDF.co account to Zapier by adding the API Key. You can obtain the API Key in your PDF.co dashboard.

PDF.co Account

Step 10: Set Up Action

Let’s set up the action.

In the Input field, we will input the URL of the source file that we stored in our Google Drive.
For the Template ID field, we will put the ID of the Document Parser template.

Step 11: Test Action

We will now Test the Action to see if there are no errors in our configuration.

Test The Action

Step 12: Test Result

Our Zap ran flawlessly and PDF.co processed our request successfully.

Test Result

Step 13: Google Sheets App Event

In this App Event, we will choose the Google Sheets app.

Google Sheets App Event

Step 14: Create Spreadsheet Row(s)

Under Action Event, we will choose to Create Spreadsheets Row(s) to perform when the Zap runs.

Create Spreadsheets Row

Step 15: Google Sheets Connect Account

We will now put the Google Sheets account to connect in Zapier.

Google Sheets Account

Step 16: Set up Action For Google Sheets

We will now set up the action.

We will put My Google Drive in the Drive field where our Google Sheet resides. If nothing is selected, then your personal Google Drive will be used.
Under the Spreadsheet field, we will choose the Google Sheet where we want to store the line items.
In the Worksheet field, select the name of the Worksheet.

Set Up Action for Google Sheets

Under the Rows objects, we will map the parsed table values in their corresponding column headers.

Body Object Rows

Step 17: Test Action Of Spreadsheet Row

We will now test the Spreadsheet Row to make sure that there are no errors.

Test Action Of Spreadsheet Row

Step 18: Test Result Of Spreadsheet Row

Excellent! Our test was successful. You can then turn the Zap On.

Spreadsheet Row Test Action Of Spreadsheet RowTest Result

Step 19: Google Sheet Output

Here’s what our table items look like in the Google Sheets.

In this tutorial, you learned to connect your Google Drive account to use the PDF Invoice in your Google folder. You were able to use this Google file in your PDF.co Document Parser to parse the table line items. You also learned how to set up the Google Sheet to automatically add all the parsed line items in their corresponding columns and rows in one go.