How to Add a Clickable Link to PDF using PDF.co and Zapier

Step 1: Make a Zap

Start by clicking on Make a Zap! at the upper-left corner of your Zapier dashboard.

Step 2: Set Up Trigger

We will now set up our Trigger. Search and select Google drive as the App event. As for our Trigger Event go ahead and choose New File in Folder. In this case, whenever there’s a new file added to your specific folder, it will trigger this zap.

Step 3: Connect Google Drive Account

Select or connect your Google Drive account which you will be using with Zapier

Step 4: Select Drive Folder for Source PDF

Select My Google Drive as the drive to be used and select the specific folder where the PDF file is located. In my case, I put the PDF file in the PDF Filler folder.

Step 5: Test Trigger

We will then Test the trigger to see if there are any errors or none.

So we’re done setting up the Trigger. We will now set up the Action.

Step 6: Add the PDF.co Action

Add another step and select PDF.co.

For the action event, choose Add Text to PDF.

Step 7: Connect Your PDF.co Account

Connect PDF.co through OAuth:

1. Select Connect a new account.
2. Sign in to PDF.co if prompted.
3. Review and authorize Zapier’s access.
4. Return to Zapier and select the connected PDF.co account.

Step 8: Configure the Clickable Text

Configure the Add Text to PDF action:

• Source File URL: Map the source PDF from the Google Drive trigger.
• Text to Add: Enter the text readers should click, such as Visit our website.
• X Coordinate: Enter the horizontal position of the text.
• Y Coordinate: Enter the vertical position of the text.

Expand Advanced Options and configure the available formatting fields:

• Pages: Enter 0 for the first page or 0- for every page.
• Link: Enter the complete destination URL, including https://.
• Font Size: Enter the desired text size, such as 24.
• Font Name: Enter a supported font, such as Calibri.
• Font Color: Enter a color such as #CCBBAA.
• Bold, Italic, and Underline: Enable the desired styles.
• Output File Name: Enter a name such as pdf-with-clickable-link.pdf if this field is available.

Use the PDF.co PDF Edit Add Helper to determine the appropriate X and Y coordinates.

When using Google Drive, map the actual file output when Zapier offers that option. If the action requires a URL, use a directly downloadable URL that PDF.co can access.

Step 9: Test the Action

Test the PDF.co action.

Open the generated PDF and verify that:

• The text appears in the intended position.
• The text styling is correct.
• Clicking the text opens the correct destination.
• The link includes the proper https:// or http:// prefix.

If the text is misplaced, adjust the X and Y coordinates and test again.

Step 10: Save the Output

A successful PDF.co response returns a URL for the updated PDF. This output URL is temporary, so add another Zapier action to save the file permanently if needed.

For example, use Google Drive – Upload File and map the PDF.co result URL into the File field. Save the output in a folder different from the trigger folder to prevent the generated PDF from starting the Zap again.