How to Convert a Spreadsheet to PDF with PDF.co and Zapier

Step 1: Create Your Zap and Set Up the Trigger

Log in to Zapier and create a new Zap.

Choose the app and event that should start your workflow. The exact trigger depends on where your spreadsheet comes from.

For example, you could use:

• Google Drive when a new file is added to a folder
• OneDrive when a new file is created
• Dropbox when a new file is added
• Gmail when an email containing a spreadsheet attachment arrives

Connect the appropriate account and configure the trigger.

Next, open the Test tab and test the trigger. Select a test record containing the spreadsheet you want to use.

Make sure the test data contains either the spreadsheet itself or a URL that PDF.co can access.

Step 2: Add PDF.co as an Action

Add a new action to your Zap.

Search for PDF.co and select it as the action app.

For the Action event, select:

Anything to PDF Converter

This action can take supported source files and convert them into PDF.

Step 3: Connect Your PDF.co Account

In the Account field, select an existing PDF.co connection or connect a new account.

If you are connecting PDF.co for the first time, Zapier will ask for your PDF.co API key.

Copy your API key from your PDF.co dashboard and use it to authorize the connection.

Once the account is connected, continue to the action configuration.

Step 4: Configure the Spreadsheet-to-PDF Conversion

Open the Configure section of the PDF.co action.

For Input Format, choose the option for an XLS or XLSX spreadsheet URL or PDF.co file token.

For Input Source, provide the spreadsheet you want PDF.co to convert. In an automated workflow, you will normally map the file URL or download URL returned by your trigger or an earlier Zap step.

For example, if your trigger watches a cloud storage folder, map the downloadable URL for the spreadsheet from that trigger.

Next, enter an output filename, such as:

converted-spreadsheet.pdf

If your workflow processes different files automatically, you can also map the original spreadsheet name from the trigger instead of entering a fixed filename.

Configure any additional conversion options you need, then continue.

Step 5: Test the PDF.co Action

Open the Test tab and click Test step.

Zapier will send your sample spreadsheet to PDF.co for conversion.

If the conversion is successful, the Data out section will contain information returned by PDF.co, including a URL for the generated PDF.

Open the returned URL to verify that:

• The spreadsheet was converted successfully
• The correct worksheet content appears
• Tables and other spreadsheet content are rendered correctly
• The PDF has the expected filename and layout

If the conversion does not succeed, check that the source URL points directly to a spreadsheet that PDF.co can access.

Step 6: Save or Use the Generated PDF

PDF.co returns a URL for the converted PDF. You can use that output in another Zapier action instead of ending the workflow at the conversion step.

For example, add another action to:

• Upload the PDF to Google Drive
• Save it to Dropbox or OneDrive
• Attach it to an email
• Send it to another application
• Pass it into another document-processing step

When configuring the next action, map the PDF URL returned by the Anything to PDF Converter step into the appropriate file or URL field.

For example, to store the PDF in Google Drive, add a Google Drive → Upload File action and map the PDF.co output URL as the file to upload.

Step 7: Test and Publish the Zap

Test the complete workflow and confirm that the spreadsheet is converted and, if applicable, delivered to the correct destination.

Once everything works as expected, click Publish to activate the Zap.

Zapier will then run the workflow whenever the trigger event occurs.

Step 8: Result

Your spreadsheet-to-PDF workflow is now automated.

Whenever your Zap receives a supported spreadsheet, PDF.co can convert it into a PDF and return the generated file for use in the rest of your workflow.

A typical completed workflow might look like this:

Google Drive → PDF.co Anything to PDF Converter → Google Drive

For example, a new Excel spreadsheet added to an incoming-files folder can automatically be converted to PDF and saved in a separate output folder.