How to Add a Barcode to a Specific Location in a PDF Using Zapier

Step 1: Set Up Your Trigger

Create a Zap and select the app that supplies your PDF. For example, choose Google Drive with the New File in Folder trigger.

Connect your account, select the folder to monitor, and test the trigger with a sample PDF.

Step 2: Connect PDF.co

Add a PDF.co action and select Add Barcode to PDF.

Connect your PDF.co account by signing in and authorizing Zapier when prompted.

Step 3: Choose the Barcode Position

Open your sample PDF in the PDF Inspector. Find an empty area for the barcode and note its X and Y coordinates.

Choose a location that will not cover text or other important content.

Step 4: Configure the Barcode

Complete these settings:

• Barcode Value: Enter the information to encode, such as an invoice number or website URL, or map a value from an earlier step.
• Barcode Type: Select the format you need, such as QR Code.
• Source PDF URL: Map the PDF from your trigger. For Google Drive, select the File output.
• X Co-ordinate / Y Co-ordinate: Enter the position obtained from PDF Inspector.
• Pages: Enter 0 to place the barcode on the first page. Page numbering starts at zero.

See the Add Barcode documentation for additional settings.

Step 5: Test and Save the PDF

Test the action and open the returned output URL. Check the barcode’s placement and scan it to confirm it contains the correct information.

Add a storage action, such as Google Drive → Upload File, and map PDF.co’s output URL to the file input. Choose a separate destination folder so the generated PDFs do not trigger the same Zap again.

Publish the Zap when testing is complete. New PDFs added to your source folder will receive a barcode and be saved automatically.