Parse PDF Invoices from Dropbox Using PDF.co and Make

Step 1: Watch for New Invoices

Create a Make scenario and add Dropbox → Watch Files.

Connect your Dropbox account and configure:

• Folder: Select your incoming-invoices folder.
• Limit: Set to 1 while testing.
• Starting point: Choose From now on.

Keep this folder dedicated to PDF invoices, or add a filter that allows only filenames ending in .pdf.

Step 2: Download the Invoice

Add Dropbox → Download a File.

In the file-path field, map Path lower from Watch Files. This downloads the PDF’s binary data for the next module.

See the Dropbox-to-PDF.co mapping guide.

Step 3: Extract the Invoice Data

Add PDF.co → AI Invoice Parser.

Create a PDF.co connection using your API key, then configure:

• Import Options: Select Upload a File.
• Data: Map Data from Dropbox’s Download a File module.
• Custom Fields: Leave blank.
• Line Item Structure: Leave blank.
• Webhook URL: Leave blank.
• Export Type: Select Download a File.

This configuration produces a JSON file containing the extracted invoice data, ready to upload to Dropbox. No Template ID is required.

See the AI Invoice Parser module documentation.

Step 4: Save the Results to Dropbox

Add Dropbox → Upload a File.

Select your extracted-results folder. Map the file returned by PDF.co, or enable manual mapping and configure:

• File Name: Use the source invoice’s Name with .json appended, such as invoice.pdf.json.
• Data: Map the downloaded file data from AI Invoice Parser—not the original Dropbox PDF data.

Keep the output folder separate from the watched folder to prevent repeated processing.

Step 5: Test and Activate

Save the scenario, upload a new test invoice to the incoming folder, and select Run once.

Open the generated JSON file in Dropbox. Check the extracted invoice number, vendor details, totals, and line items against the source PDF.

Once the test succeeds, choose your processing schedule and activate the scenario.