Convert Google Forms Responses to PDFs with Make

Step 1: Create a Make Scenario

Sign in to Make and create a scenario named Google Forms Submission Receipts.

The workflow will be:

Google Sheets → JSON → PDF.co → Google Drive

Step 2: Add the Google Sheets Trigger

Add Google Sheets → Watch New Rows and connect your Google account.

This module checks the response worksheet for new rows on the scenario’s schedule. Each returned row will continue through the workflow separately.

Step 3: Connect the Response Spreadsheet

In Google Forms, open Responses and select the destination spreadsheet. You can create a new spreadsheet or select an existing one. See Google’s response-storage instructions.

Return to Make and configure:

• Spreadsheet ID: Select the linked response spreadsheet.
• Sheet Name: Select its response worksheet.
• Table contains headers: Yes.
• Row with headers: Enter the actual header range, such as A1:D1 when the only columns are Timestamp, Name, Request, and Details.
• Value render option: Formatted value, so the timestamp uses the spreadsheet’s display formatting.
• Limit: 2 during testing.

Keep the response worksheet in its original order. Avoid sorting, deleting, or inserting rows within the watched data.

Step 4: Test a New Submission

Choose From now on as the trigger’s starting point, then submit a new test response through Google Forms.

Click Run once and inspect the returned row. Confirm that Timestamp, Name, Request, Details, and the row number are available.

Watch New Rows processes records from its configured starting point and within its execution limit. One test does not necessarily retrieve the complete response history. See the Google Sheets module reference.

Step 5: Save the Receipt Layout

Open HTML to PDF Templates in PDF.co. Create a template using this HTML:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Submission receipt</title>
  <style>
    body {
      font: 12pt Arial, sans-serif;
      color: #222;
    }
    dt {
      font-weight: bold;
      margin-top: 14px;
    }
    dd {
      margin-left: 0;
      white-space: pre-wrap;
      overflow-wrap: anywhere;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Submission receipt</h1>
  <dl>
    <dt>Submitted</dt>
    <dd>{{submitted_at}}</dd>

    <dt>Name</dt>
    <dd>{{name}}</dd>

    <dt>Request</dt>
    <dd>{{request}}</dd>

    <dt>Details</dt>
    <dd>{{details}}</dd>
  </dl>
</body>
</html>

Save the template and copy its ID.

Step 6: Map the Response Values

Add JSON → Create JSON after Google Sheets. Create a data structure containing four Text fields:

• submitted_at: Map Timestamp.
• name: Map Name.
• request: Map Request.
• details: Map Details. Keep this field optional so a blank answer is accepted.

The JSON module handles quotation marks and line breaks in the answers. Do not construct JSON by placing mapped answers between quotation marks manually.

Keep one JSON object per response. No aggregator is needed. See Make’s JSON module documentation.

Step 7: Generate the PDF

Add PDF.co → Convert HTML to PDF. Create a connection using your PDF.co API key.

Configure:

• Convert Options: HTML Template to PDF.
• HTML Template ID: Enter the receipt template’s ID.
• Input data in CSV or JSON format: Map the output JSON text from Create JSON, without adding surrounding quotes.
• Output File Name: Enter response-, insert the Google Sheets row number, and append .pdf. For example, response-2.pdf.
• Paper Size: A4.
• Orientation: Portrait.
• Export Type: Download a File.

The row number distinguishes receipts within this response worksheet. See the Make HTML-to-PDF reference for additional options.

Step 8: Save and Test the Receipts

Add Google Drive → Upload a File, connect your Google account, and select the destination folder.

Map:

• File Name: The PDF.co output name.
• Data: The PDF.co binary Data output.

Map the file content, not the temporary download URL. See Make’s file-mapping guide.

Submit two new test responses, then run the complete scenario. Include a name containing &, a multiline Details answer, and an optional blank answer across the tests.

Open both saved PDFs and compare their answers with the corresponding spreadsheet rows. Confirm that each submission produces its own receipt.

Once the tests succeed, save the scenario, choose its checking schedule, and activate it. Each new response row will generate a separate PDF saved in Google Drive.