In this step-by-step guide, we’ll briefly see steps on how to convert documents to PDF in Salesforce Apex using PDF.co. Initially, we’ll go through all the basic steps on salesforce integration. Later we’ll also see the code and demo video. Let’s get started!

  1. Create Remote Site Settings
  2. Create an Apex Class in Salesforce
  3. Enter API Key
  4. Search Files and Upload the DOCX File
  5. Verify the Code
  6. Search Files
  7. Source Code Files
  8. Demo Video: Convert DOCX to PDF

Step 1: Create Remote Site Settings

Create three remote site settings in the Salesforce Org like below:


Note that the URL here is “https://api.pdf.co”.


Note that the URL here is “https://pdf-temp-files.s3.amazonaws.com”


Note that the URL here is “https://pdf-temp-files.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com”

Step 2: Create an Apex Class in Salesforce

Create an apex class in Salesforce like below and paste the code there.
Once you login to the Salesforce org, you will see the screen like below and click on “Developer Console”


Create an apex class. For this, click on “Files” then “New” then “Apex Class”.


Write the class name “DOCTOPDFConvertor” and click “Ok”. Now copy the DOCTOPDFConvertor code in this file.
Similarly, create a new file with the name “DOCTOPDFConvertorTest” and copy the code.

Step 3: Enter API Key

In the DOCTOPDFConvertor file, please add the PDF.co API key by replacing the ‘******************************************’;.


Similarly, please add the DOCX file name instead of the sample. Then please add the Destination file name which you want as a pdf.

Step 4: Search Files and Upload the DOCX File

Now, Search Files from the “App Launcher” and upload the DOCX file here.

Step 5: Verify the Code

To Verify the code, please open the execute Anonymous window and call the method like below.

Then Click on “Execute”.

Step 6: Search Files

Now, Search Files from the “App Launcher”.

You will see the resulting PDF file there.

Source Code Files:

DOCTOPDFConvertor.cls

public class DOCTOPDFConvertor {
    
    String API_KEY = '"*****************************************';
    @TestVisible
    String fileName = 'sample'; // File name "sample.docx" which is available in Files.
    string DestinationFile =  'result.pdf'; //This is the Desitantion File Name.
    public void convertDocxToPdf()
    {
        ContentVersion cv = [select Title, VersionData from ContentVersion where Title = :fileName limit 1];
        Blob SourceFile  = cv.VersionData;
        
        try
        {
            //1. Prepare URL for "Get Presigned URL" API call
            string url = 'https://api.pdf.co/v1/file/upload/get-presigned-url?contenttype=application/octet-stream&name=:fileName'; 
            HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest();
            req.setHeader('x-api-key', API_KEY);
            req.setEndpoint(url);
            req.setMethod('GET');
            req.setTimeout(60000);
            Http http = new Http();
            HTTPResponse res = http.send(req);
            if(res.getStatusCode() == 200) 
            {
                System.Debug('res ' + res);
                Map<String, Object> deserializedBody =  (Map<String, Object>)JSON.deserializeUntyped(res.getBody());
                Boolean isError = Boolean.ValueOf(deserializedBody.get('error'));
                if(isError == false)
                {
                    // Get URL to use for the file upload
                    String uploadUrl = String.ValueOf(deserializedBody.get('presignedUrl'));
                    // Get URL of uploaded file to use with later API calls
                    String uploadedFileUrl = String.ValueOf(deserializedBody.get('url'));
                    // 2. UPLOAD THE FILE TO CLOUD.
                    if(uploadFile(API_KEY, uploadUrl, SourceFile))
                    {
                        // 3. CONVERT UPLOADED DOC (DOCX) FILE TO PDF and download.
                        ConvertDocToPdf(API_KEY, DestinationFile, uploadedFileUrl);
                    }
                }
            }
            else
            {
                System.debug('Error Response ' + res.getBody());
                System.Debug(' Status ' + res.getStatus());
                System.Debug(' Status Code' + res.getStatusCode());
                System.Debug(' Response String' + res.toString());
            }
            
        }
        catch(Exception ex)
        {
            String errorBody = 'Message: ' + ex.getMessage() + ' -- Cause: ' + ex.getCause() + ' -- Stacktrace: ' + ex.getStackTraceString();
            System.Debug(errorBody);
        }
    }
    
    @TestVisible
    public static boolean uploadFile(String API_KEY, String url, Blob sourceFile)
    {
        HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest();
        req.setHeader('x-api-key', API_KEY);
        req.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/octet-stream');
        req.setEndpoint(url);
        req.setMethod('PUT');
        req.setTimeout(60000);
        req.setBodyAsBlob(sourceFile);
        Http http = new Http();
        HTTPResponse res = http.send(req);
        if(res.getStatusCode() == 200) 
        {
            System.Debug(res);
            return true;
        }
        else
        {
            System.debug('Error Response ' + res.getBody());
            System.Debug(' Status ' + res.getStatus());
            System.Debug(' Status Code' + res.getStatusCode());
            System.Debug(' Response String' + res.toString());
            return false;
        }
    }
    
    public static void ConvertDocToPdf(String API_KEY, String DestinationFile, String uploadedFileUrl)
    {
        Map<string, object> parameters = new Map<string, object>();
        parameters.put('name', DestinationFile);
        parameters.put('url', uploadedFileUrl);
        string jsonPayload = Json.serialize(parameters);
        String url = 'https://api.pdf.co/v1/pdf/convert/from/doc';
        
        HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest();
        req.setHeader('x-api-key', API_KEY);
        req.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
        req.setEndpoint(url);
        req.setMethod('POST');
        req.setTimeout(60000);
        req.setBody(jsonPayload);
        Http http = new Http();
        HTTPResponse res = http.send(req);
        if(res.getStatusCode() == 200) 
        {
            System.Debug(res);
            Map<String, Object> deserializedBody =  (Map<String, Object>)JSON.deserializeUntyped(res.getBody());
            Boolean isError = Boolean.ValueOf(deserializedBody.get('error'));
            if(isError == false)
            {
                String resultFileUrl = String.ValueOf(deserializedBody.get('url'));
                downloadPDFAndStore(resultFileUrl, DestinationFile);
            }
        }
        else
        {
            System.debug('Error Response ' + res.getBody());
            System.Debug(' Status ' + res.getStatus());
            System.Debug(' Status Code' + res.getStatusCode());
            System.Debug(' Response String' + res.toString());
        }
    }
    
    @TestVisible
    private static void downloadPDFAndStore(String extFileUrl, String DestinationFile)
    {
        Http h = new Http(); 
        HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest(); 
        extFileUrl = extFileUrl.replace(' ', '%20'); 
        req.setEndpoint(extFileUrl); 
        req.setMethod('GET'); 
        req.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/pdf');
        req.setCompressed(true); 
        req.setTimeout(60000); 
        //Now Send HTTP Request
        HttpResponse res  = h.send(req); 
        if(res.getStatusCode() == 200) 
        {
            blob fileContent = res.getBodyAsBlob();
            ContentVersion conVer = new ContentVersion();
            conVer.ContentLocation = 'S'; // to use S specify this document is in Salesforce, to use E for external files
            conVer.PathOnClient = DestinationFile + '.pdf'; // The files name, extension is very important here which will help the file in preview.
            conVer.Title = DestinationFile; // Display name of the files
            conVer.VersionData = fileContent;
            insert conVer;
            System.Debug('Success');
        }
        else
        {
            System.debug('Error Response ' + res.getBody());
            System.Debug(' Status ' + res.getStatus());
            System.Debug(' Status Code' + res.getStatusCode());
            System.Debug(' Response String' + res.toString());
        }
    }
}

DOCTOPDFConvertorTest.cls

@isTest
private class DOCTOPDFConvertorTest
{
    @TestSetup
    static void makeData(){
        ContentVersion conVer = new ContentVersion();
        conVer.ContentLocation = 'S'; // to use S specify this document is in Salesforce, to use E for external files
        conVer.PathOnClient = 'DestinationFile.pdf'; // The files name, extension is very important here which will help the file in preview.
        conVer.Title = 'Sample'; // Display name of the files
        conVer.VersionData = Blob.ValueOf('fileContent');
        insert conVer;
    }
    
    private  testmethod static void testconvertDocxToPdf()
    {
        Test.setMock(HttpCalloutMock.class, new DOCTOPDFConvertorTest.DocumentCreationMock());
        DOCTOPDFConvertor dc = new DOCTOPDFConvertor();
        dc.fileName = 'Sample';
        Test.startTest();
        dc.convertDocxToPdf();
        Test.stopTest();
        List cv = [select Id from ContentVersion];
        System.assertEquals(2, cv.size());
    }
    
    private  testmethod static void testuploadFile()
    {
        Test.setMock(HttpCalloutMock.class, new DOCTOPDFConvertorTest.DocumentCreationErrorMock());
        Test.startTest();
        Boolean result = DOCTOPDFConvertor.uploadFile('abc', 'https://www.google.com', Blob.ValueOf('fileContent'));
        Test.stopTest();
        System.assertEquals(false, result);
    }
    
    private  testmethod static void testconvertDocxToPdfError()
    {
        DOCTOPDFConvertor dc = new DOCTOPDFConvertor();
        dc.fileName = 'Sample';
        Test.startTest();
        dc.convertDocxToPdf();
        Test.stopTest();
        List cv = [select Id from ContentVersion];
        System.assertEquals(1, cv.size());
    }
    
    public class DocumentCreationMock implements HttpCalloutMock {
        public HTTPResponse respond(HTTPRequest req) {
            HttpResponse res = new HttpResponse();
            String testBody = '{"presignedUrl":"https://pdf-temp-files.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/0c72bf56341142ba83c8f98b47f14d62/test.pdf?X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIZJDPLX6D7EHVCKA/20200302/us-west-2/s3/aws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20200302T143951Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=8650913644b6425ba8d52b78634698e5fc8970157d971a96f0279a64f4ba87fc","url":"https://pdf-temp-files.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/0c72bf56341142ba83c8f98b47f14d62/test.pdf?X-Amz-Expires=3600&x-amz-security-token=FwoGZXIvYXdzEGgaDA9KaTOXRjkCdCqSTCKBAW9tReCLk1fVTZBH9exl9VIbP8Gfp1pE9hg6et94IBpNamOaBJ6%2B9Vsa5zxfiddlgA%2BxQ4tpd9gprFAxMzjN7UtjU%2B2gf%2FKbUKc2lfV18D2wXKd1FEhC6kkGJVL5UaoFONG%2Fw2jXfLxe3nCfquMEDo12XzcqIQtNFWXjKPWBkQEvmii4tfTyBTIot4Na%2BAUqkLshH0R7HVKlEBV8btqa0ctBjwzwpWkoU%2BF%2BCtnm8Lm4Eg%3D%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA4NRRSZPHEGHTOA4W/20200302/us-west-2/s3/aws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20200302T143951Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host;x-amz-security-token&X-Amz-Signature=243419ac4a9a315eebc2db72df0817de6a261a684482bbc897f0e7bb5d202bb9","error":false,"status":200,"name":"test.pdf","remainingCredits":98145}';
            res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
            res.setBody(testBody);
            res.setStatusCode(200);
            return res;
        }
    }
    
    public class DocumentCreationErrorMock implements HttpCalloutMock {
        public HTTPResponse respond(HTTPRequest req) {
            HttpResponse res = new HttpResponse();
            String testBody = '{"presignedUrl":"https://pdf-temp-files.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/0c72bf56341142ba83c8f98b47f14d62/test.pdf?X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIZJDPLX6D7EHVCKA/20200302/us-west-2/s3/aws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20200302T143951Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=8650913644b6425ba8d52b78634698e5fc8970157d971a96f0279a64f4ba87fc","url":"https://pdf-temp-files.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/0c72bf56341142ba83c8f98b47f14d62/test.pdf?X-Amz-Expires=3600&x-amz-security-token=FwoGZXIvYXdzEGgaDA9KaTOXRjkCdCqSTCKBAW9tReCLk1fVTZBH9exl9VIbP8Gfp1pE9hg6et94IBpNamOaBJ6%2B9Vsa5zxfiddlgA%2BxQ4tpd9gprFAxMzjN7UtjU%2B2gf%2FKbUKc2lfV18D2wXKd1FEhC6kkGJVL5UaoFONG%2Fw2jXfLxe3nCfquMEDo12XzcqIQtNFWXjKPWBkQEvmii4tfTyBTIot4Na%2BAUqkLshH0R7HVKlEBV8btqa0ctBjwzwpWkoU%2BF%2BCtnm8Lm4Eg%3D%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA4NRRSZPHEGHTOA4W/20200302/us-west-2/s3/aws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20200302T143951Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host;x-amz-security-token&X-Amz-Signature=243419ac4a9a315eebc2db72df0817de6a261a684482bbc897f0e7bb5d202bb9","error":false,"status":200,"name":"test.pdf","remainingCredits":98145}';
            res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
            res.setBody(testBody);
            res.setStatusCode(201);
            return res;
        }
    }
}

Convert DOCX to PDF – Demo Video