Auto Convert Forecast Spreadsheets to PDF: End-to-End Workflow

Aug 27, 2025·4 Minutes Read

What You'll Have When Done

A fully automated system that monitors a Google Drive folder for new forecast or performance dashboard spreadsheets, converts them into professional PDFs using PDF.co, and saves them into a designated Google Drive folder with standardized filenames for instant sharing, reporting, or archiving.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

A PDF.co API Key (Get yours here)
Google Drive OAuth2 credentials configured in n8n
An n8n instance (cloud or self-hosted)
A Google Drive folder for incoming forecast spreadsheets
A Google Drive folder for converted PDF reports

Quick Start Options

Option A: I Want It Working Now

Import this workflow template → Download JSON File
Connect your Google Drive account in n8n
Add your PDF.co API key in the PDF.co node
Update the Google Drive Trigger with your source folder
Update the Google Drive Upload node with your destination folder
Test with a sample forecast spreadsheet
Activate and let it run

Option B: I Want to Build It Step-by-Step

Follow the 4-step guide below to create the automation from scratch.

What This Automation Does (Overview)

Monitors a Google Drive folder for new Google Sheets forecast dashboards
Uses PDF.co to convert the Google Sheet into a PDF
Downloads the generated PDF file
Uploads the finalized PDF into a designated Google Drive folder

Real Example

A manager uploads Q4 2024 Business Performance Dashboard into the “Incoming Forecasts” folder → the workflow converts it into a PDF → the final PDF is automatically stored in the “Converted Forecasts” folder as Q4 2024 Business Performance Dashboard - 2024-12-31.pdf → View Sample Files Here

Step-by-Step Build Guide

IN THIS TUTORIAL

Monitor for New Forecast Spreadsheets

Convert Spreadsheet to PDF

Download the PDF

Upload PDF to Google Drive

Step 1: Monitor for New Forecast Spreadsheets

Node: Google Drive Trigger

Settings:

Trigger On: Changes Involving a Specific Folder
Folder From List: Your source folder
Watch For: File Created
Options → File Type: Google Spreadsheets

What This Does: Automatically detects when a new forecast spreadsheet (Google Sheet) is added to your chosen folder.

Success Looks Like: The trigger activates immediately when a new Google Sheet is uploaded, passing its metadata (id, name, createdTime) downstream.

Important: Make sure the file sharing setting is set to “Anyone with the link” so that PDF.co can access the file.

Step 2: Convert Spreadsheet to PDF

Node: PDF.co API → Convert to PDF

Settings:

Convert Type: XLS to PDF
URL: =https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/{{ $json.id }}/export?format=pdf&portrait=false
Advanced Options → File Name: ={{ $json.name }}

What This Does: Calls PDF.co with the Google Sheets export URL to generate a PDF. By default, &portrait=false creates a landscape PDF. To switch to portrait orientation, set &portrait=true.

Success Looks Like: PDF.co returns a secure URL pointing to the generated PDF file.

Step 3: Download the PDF

Node: HTTP Request

Settings:

URL: ={{ $json.url }}
Method: GET

What This Does: Fetches the PDF file generated by PDF.co.

Success Looks Like: HTTP Request returns the PDF as binary data, ready for upload.

Step 4: Upload PDF to Google Drive

Node: Google Drive → Upload File

Settings:

Operation: Upload
Input Data Field Name: data
Parent Drive from List: My Drive
Parent Folder by ID: Select your destination folder

What This Does: Uploads the finalized PDF into your chosen Drive folder.

Success Looks Like: The converted forecast PDF appears in your destination Drive folder, neatly named and ready for use.

Congrats! You’ve created a streamlined reporting system that automatically converts new forecast spreadsheets into shareable, professional PDFs without manual effort.

Built something cool with this workflow? Share it with us @pdfdotco