Split a PDF by Barcode Using PDF.co and Make

Step 1: Watch for New PDFs

Create a scenario in Make and add Google Drive → Watch Files in a Folder.

Connect your Google Drive account and select the folder containing incoming PDFs.

Step 2: Download the Source File

Add Google Drive → Download a File.

Map the File ID from the trigger to download the PDF.

Step 3: Configure PDF.co

Add PDF.co → Split a PDF and connect your PDF.co account using your API key.

Configure these settings:

• Import Options: Upload a File.
• Data: Map the downloaded PDF’s Data.
• Output File Name: Enter a base filename, such as split-document.pdf.
• Split By: Text Found or Barcode.
• Search String: [[barcode:qrcode]]
• ExcludeKey Pages: Yes, to remove the QR-code separator pages.
• Regex Search: No.
• Case Sensitive: No.
• Execution Mode: Async.
• Export Type: JSON Output.

The search expression matches QR codes regardless of their value. To match a particular value, use an expression such as [[barcode:qrcode 12345]].

If barcode pages contain content you need to retain, set ExcludeKey Pages to No. See the Split a PDF documentation for available settings.

Step 4: Test the Split

Click Run once and process a sample PDF.

Inspect the returned URLs array and open the generated files. Confirm that the document boundaries are correct and that separator pages are included or excluded as intended.

Step 5: Save the Split PDFs

Add an Iterator and map PDF.co’s URLs array.

After the Iterator:

1. Add HTTP → Get a file and map the current URL.
2. Add Google Drive → Upload a File.
3. Map the downloaded file’s name and data, and select a separate output folder.

Run the scenario again to verify that every split PDF is saved. Then enable the scenario’s schedule to process new files automatically.