Automate Text Extraction from Image or Scanned PDF Receipts using PDF.co and Zapier

Step 1: Open PDF.co Account

First, go to your PDF.co account and click on the Document Parser Manager. On the top right, click on the Create New Template to open the Online Template Editor. Here’s a direct link: https://app.pdf.co/document-parser/templates/new

Step 2: Template Editor

Next, click on the Load Test PDF or Image button to open the scanned PDF receipt. You can either copy and paste the sample template in the Edit Template to run the template right away or start from scratch.

To start from scratch, click on the +Add Object button and select the Add FIELD based on TEXT SEARCH. This is the object that we will use to parse all the non-table text such as Company Name, Receipt #, etc.

Step 3: Parse Company Name

To get the Company Name, we can use the $$funcFindCompany special function. This will find the first company name that it encounters in the document. You can add it in the Expression field. Make sure to check the Regex box every time you use the special functions, macros, and regular expressions.

Step 4: Parse Receipt Number

To extract the Receipt #, enter RECEIPT{{Spaces}}#{{Spaces}}(?<value>{{AnythingGreedy}}) in the Expression field and check the "Regex" box.

Step 5: Parse Bill To Value

To extract the "Bill To" value, use {{LineStart}}{{Spaces}}(?<value>{{SentenceWithSingleSpaces}}){{Spaces}}{{SentenceWithSingleSpaces}}{{Spaces}}RECEIPT DATE in the Expression field.

Step 6: Parse Ship To Value

To extract the "Ship To" value, use {{LineStart}}{{Spaces}}{{SentenceWithSingleSpaces}}{{Spaces}}(?<value>{{SentenceWithSingleSpaces}}){{Spaces}}RECEIPT DATE in the Expression field.

Step 7: Extract Table Items

To extract the table items, we'll use the ADD TABLE field based on the TEXT SEARCH object. Enter the below Expression to capture all the items, then click the "Run Template" button to view the results.

{
  "start": {
    "expression": "QTY{{Spaces}}DESCRIPTION",
    "regex": true
  },
  "end": {
    "expression": "Subtotal{{Spaces}}{{Number}}",
    "regex": true
  },
  "row": {
    "expression": "{{LineStart}}{{Spaces}}(?{{Digits}}){{Spaces}}(?{{SentenceWithSingleSpaces}}){{Spaces}}(?{{Number}}){{Spaces}}(?{{Number}})",
    "regex": true
  },
  "columns": [
    {
      "name": "qty",
      "dataType": "integer"
    },
    {
      "name": "description",
      "dataType": "string"
    },
    {
      "name": "unitPrice",
      "dataType": "decimal"
    },
    {
      "name": "amount",
      "dataType": "decimal"
    }
  ]
}

After completing the extraction process, save the template by clicking on the "Save Template and Return" button. Then, retrieve the Template Id to use in your automation workflow.