How to Add Rows to Google Sheets with Data Parsed from PDF Documents using PDF.co and Zapier

We prepared this step-by-step tutorial with screenshots to teach you how to add rows on Google Sheets with data parsed from PDF documents using PDF.co and Zapier. This is to automatically send your parsed data into your Google Sheets.

We will use this sample PDF to parse the table and send some parsed data to create new rows on Google Sheets.

Screenshot of Source PDF
Screenshot of Source PDF

Step 1: Create a New Zap

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

Step 2: Set App Event

We will now set up our Trigger. Search and select Google drive as the App event. 

Selecting the trigger app

Step 3: Set Trigger 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.

Choosing new file in folder as the trigger event

Note

If you are not a Google Drive user, you can use a different cloud storage service such as Dropbox, OneDrive, etc., and look for a similar Trigger Event.

Step 4: Connect Google Drive Account

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

Connecting google drive account to zapier

Step 5: Choose Folder Location

Select My Google Drive as the drive to be used and select the specific folder where the zip files are located. In my case, I put the sample PDF in the Samples folder

Selecting the drive and folder to be used

Step 6: Test Trigger

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

Testing the trigger to check for errors

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

Step 7: Select Another App Event

Search and select PDF.co as our App event

Choosing PDF.co as the App event

Step 8: Select Document Parser

Select Document Parser as our Action event. Document Parser can parse data in your PDF.

Choosing Document Parser as the action event

Step 9: Connect PDF.co Account

Select or connect your PDF.co account which you will be using with Zapier. You can get your API key from the PDF.co dashboard.

Select or connect your PDF.co account to Zapier

Step 10: Setup Action

Under Setup Action set the Input into Web Content Link and set the Template ID into the template that you want to use with Document Parser. You can create templates here.

Under Setup Action set the Input into Web Content Link and set the Template ID into the template that you want to use with Document Parser

Step 11: Test Action

We will now Test the action. Click on Test & Review to see if there are any errors or none.

Testing action by clicking Test & Review

So we’re done with setting up the PDF.co action. Now let’s create an action for Google Sheets.

Step 12: Add Another Action

Add another Action. Search and select Google Sheets as our App event.

Choosing Google Sheets as another App event

Step 13: Set Action Event

Select Create Spreadsheet Row as our Action event. This way we can create a new row through the parsed data from the sample PDF.

Choosing create spreadsheet row as the action event

Step 14: Connect Google Sheets Account

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

Choosing a google sheets account to be used in Zapier

Step 15: Setup Action

Under Setup Action select the Drive that you want to use, select the Spreadsheet that you’ll be using, select which Worksheet you’ll want to add the new row, and set the Value of the row that you want to add.

Select the drive that you want to use, select the Spreadsheet that you'll be using, select which Worksheet you'll want to add the new row, and set the Value of the row that you want to add

Step 16: Test & Review

Click on Test & Review to see if there are any errors or none.

Testing the trigger to check if there are errors or none

Step 17: Output

Once the test returns as successful. You can then turn the zap on.

Just follow those steps to add rows on Google Sheets with data parsed from PDF documents using PDF.co and Zapier. Here’s what it looks like once a new row has been added.

Result in Google Sheets
Result in Google Sheets

In this tutorial, you’ve learned how to add rows to Google Sheets with data parsed from PDF documents using PDF.co and Zapier.