Appsheet Episode 28: How to generate PDF and access directly from the app. (Google Drive Edition)

In this tutorial, i will show you how to use AppSheet to generate PDF files and access them directly from your app. AppSheet is a powerful platform that allows you to create custom business apps without any coding knowledge.
With AppSheet, you can easily generate PDF files from your app's data and make them available to your users. You can also add buttons to your app that allow your users to access these PDF files directly.
In this tutorial, we will cover the following topics:
-How to create a workflow to generate a PDF file
How to access the PDF file
By the end of this tutorial, you will have a fully functional app that generates PDF files and allows your users to access them with just a few clicks.
If you're looking to streamline your business processes and make it easier for your team to access important documents, this tutorial is for you. So, join us and learn how to use AppSheet to generate PDF files and access them directly from your app!

[@aris_azhar]

In this video, i used this : CONCATENATE("/data/EmployeeDataApp-1001768258/custom/",[UID],".PDF")

[@shibanandachoudhury5379]

Insightful video. But I am having a problem regarding the display of the pdf. In this formula you have started defining the folder root starting from 'data', where as this folder itself in within another folder called 'appsheet'. Is there any specific reason for that?

[@shibanandachoudhury5379]

I have tried your way and even adding it's containing folder as well, but is showing error- '.....' not found. Can you please help with this or share the link for the demo app

[@aris_azhar]

@@shibanandachoudhury5379 Thank you for your comments. i started with /data instead of /appsheet/data is because Appsheet made that assumption that the /data is relative to the main folder.

[@aris_azhar]

@@shibanandachoudhury5379 I will try my best to assist you. Mind sharing the access ? as an editor/admin for this email . [e-mail] then we can have a look at it

[@Sebo419]

I had an error when using this expression. I managed to fix it by adding appsheet before data. CONCATENATE("appsheet/data/EmployeeDataApp-1001768258/custom/",[UID],".PDF"). Thanks for the Video!

[@jpr2661]

It worked, thank you very much! For those who are having some problems, remember a basic... share the files folder in drive...

[@aris_azhar]

Glad it did!

[@mr.unknowngaming7156]

Such a simple, straightforward and clear tutorial, kudos to you man! Excellent work!

[@aris_azhar]

Thank you! and kudos to you for being an amazing person! Appreciate it dearly. There's a few episodes that's related to PDF that you may want to have a look. Apparently certain scenarios/error may occur depending on the setup you're having.

[@marcohama1]

Thank you so much

[@aris_azhar]

You're most welcome

[@jobelleariola7919]

Very helpful!!

[@aris_azhar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mrjwf007]

Hello, Did anyone ever get this working im having all kinds of issues :(

[@fabiodias3439]

Thanks

[@aris_azhar]

No problem!

[@BMTANNUUR]

this works, however I have a question in my case 2 conditions were found, First, when you click on a file it automatically downloads the file the second case, when you click on the file it opens as per my brother's tutorial and there is no difference between the two... Please help!

[@alvinglee8086]

isit possible to generate the PDF with a click of a button instead of needing to update the data?

[@henriqueaguiar805]

Hi Aris, thanks for the video! I was succesfull when doing it for one data like yours, but when I want to do it for a selection of data (i.e. if I wanted a PDF that showed a table view of some filtered data like everyone from malasya), I'm stuck.

[@user-il5pv8kj3z]

I have an Issue about the Same I am not able to View the PDF Can you pls Help me regarding this

[@najahelal]

thanks Aris i fix problem this problem App Properties Default app folder The default location for app files change this file to file Upload photo or files in google drives is work me

[@aris_azhar]

I'm glad you managed to get it to work! congratulations to you!

[@walidyamoun]

Hello, thanks for your videos, could you please tell me how to resize a picture in the pdf file ?

[@FarmersContactCenter]

I think there is a missing link. How have you been able to create a new folder while accessing the app?

[@svagamianimazioneeventi5281]

Thank you for your video; it doesn't update the attached file when I make changes. Can you help me? Am I doing something wrong in the configuration?

[@aris_azhar]

Youre doing fine so far perhaps theres a bit more left to modify to get things going accordingly. Share some details and lets see what can be done..

[@jpr2661]

Maybe you create the bot just for adds only, try to set "All Changes" in "Data change type"

[@ChristianNickerson]

Aris, did you find the root cause of why clicking the generated PDF reference pulls up an HTML file instead of spawning the PDF?

[@aris_azhar]

Hello Christian! Sorry my late response. It depends on the current setup. Issues differ and it always goes back to the location of your table and pdf folder. There's another video i did that covers this issue in depth. You may refer to this episode kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnXRgYSVr7h0a8U Let me know if its any good for you, else we can work it out together and see. Cheers!

[@spiceyfrenchtoast9421]

Good video! How do you set up automatic SMS messages when work orders are complete?

[@aris_azhar]

Thanks! For SMS feature you'll have to go through the same process just add another step in your workflow to set an action to "send a sms" in the action. Roughly that's about it

[@noorfirdausag9607]

I try to test with Twilio service integrate with AppSheet. It worked. I create an app to manage the parcel for the students.

[@MahmodNarrani]

First of all, I really enjoy your helpful videos, I need a little help please, I did exactly according to the instructions in the video, but when I click on the link, a page appears saying that the file does not exist. Although a PDF file was created in GDRIVE. I tried several times but I can't. What could be the problem?

[@dariovelasquez1025]

Same issue here, any update on the solution?

[@emanuelferreira4817]

Great video. I’ve done all of the steps however it leads me to a blank page. I have redone all the steps and the same always happens. Is there a possibility that I need to grant consent on my google drive and if so how would I do it?

[@aris_azhar]

it sounds that you're almost there. If it's not a trouble mind sharing the expression that you've done to my email : [e-mail] i'll have a look

[@julianp1308]

Hi, ive an issue, so please help me. the pdf file isnt show in my drive. how can i fix it?

[@aris_azhar]

i would love to help. Do contact me @ [e-mail]

[@ideait.solutions]

I did exactly the same, but instead of opening the pdf, it opens an html: '/data/EPMS-221722020/files/a22302c1.PDF' not found Probable cause: N/A ..... Is there any other configuration you made?

[@LiubaCeban]

Hey, I am trying to follow your steps for 3 days already. Do you have an idea why the "Files" folder is not created and the PDF is not generated? Would appreciate your guidance a lot towards potential areas of errors I might have. Thanks in advance.

[@AyoubBezahe-d2v]

It dosnt work ...link takes me to a page with a lot of writing?

[@wilsonwijaya.design]

can you transform the download link for the pdf file into a 'Download Button'?

[@thiagofranca4648]

First thank you very much for the video. Very educational and of good quality. Unfortunately the concatenate did not find the directory to direct to the PDF. The bad request message or a white screen with the wrong path appears.

[@thiagofranca4648]

Path: Root Result: FAILURE Message: N/A

[@aryhoo]

I’m having the same issue here. Did you fix it?

[@dolphinsgroupofschools2995]

same issue Probable cause: N/A Path: Root Result: FAILURE Message: N/A Details

[@user-ii8nz8zv9j]

How to show photo, please explain the format (i mean

[@marksacramento7064]

Hi Aris, thanks for your video successful at creating a pdf file with my desired file name prefix. But I have a problem with re-calling the file, the pop-up page says file not found. and may I also know how to set custom download path? I think you forgot to include it in this video.

[@marksacramento7064]

I've your follow-up video for the fix but I still get an error like, the new tab that should display file only shows an HTML coding that includes "not found"

[@kareemelkafi7845]

how to control the size of picture to reformat the report as i like ?

[@Theshibananda]

How to control the image size inside the pdf? It's showing different for different original images

[@josecampos9832]

first of all, thanks for the great video!!! im having a trouble that when i try to open the pdf file right after an update all the informations are all set up just fine but the file didnt appear, but if a made a change in any information to force an update and generate again the pdf the images now appears, i think that the pdf is made so fast that when the pdf is done the image wasnt upload yet and it is causing the bug, any suggestion?

[@aris_azhar]

Hello Jose! Glad you're here..i assume the first time it's working just that it's pending creation of the PDF unless the first time the file was not created. I would suggest reviewing the workflow or it's just the bot taking it's sweet time to create the file. Happened to me few times. Guess we just have to wait a few moments before opening the file. Nevertheless, am happy that you managed to create the file. Maybe you can trigger a separate PDF workflow that generates a PDF file via timestamp etc as a backup..redundant but it gets the job done.

[@josecampos9832]

@@aris_azhar yeah, since i dont actually need the pdf done right after i set up a wait action of 5 minutes, so im sure all the informations and files are uploaded correctly, and yes it already gets the job done, again thank you very much it will help me a lot !!!!!

[@aris_azhar]

@@josecampos9832 Yeah! Happy to know it worked for you man. You're most welcome brother 👌

[@dareenkhayyat5488]

Thank you so much for your tutorial but I have a problem opening the pdf file from the Appsheet where a message error popped up every single time I tried so many times but this message came: bad request message or a white screen with the wrong path appears not found Probable cause: N/A Path: Root Result: FAILURE Message: N/A

[@Compliance-s4z]

How come I cant click my PDF file in the data? U all know where is the wrong?

[@RakeshSabui]

what to do when the file has time stamp aswell

[@شؤونالموظفين-ر8ح]

I tried all the methods, but unfortunately it didn't work

[@aris_azhar]

hi! sorry that you're facing issues..are you using Google spreadsheet for your app?

[@jpr2661]

@@aris_azhar Hi, i am using Spreadsheet. Is there a problem with that?

[@DanaLLLL]

Hi, i made it, but all records path same pdf 😢

[@YonyCastillo-w4i]

Hey bro, it s getting an error, could you fixed??

[@aris_azhar]

Hello, what error are you currently facing?

[@quranrecitatiesvertalingen4136]

Ariz, how can I contact you privately?

[@หน่องมล]

I need a pdf file to have a header on every page. How can I do this?

[@Sebo419]

Yes, this is possible. When editing the document click insert, Headers and Footers, Header. What every you put in the Header will be on each page.

[@FathulJihad-t3j]

nothing happened when i click the file

[@EOPhassanjama]

HELLO SIR , I AM YOUR SUBSCRIBER I WATCHET THE PDF FILE APPSHEET GENERATOR GOOGLE EDITION , BUT I FOLLOW ALL YOUR STEPS AND I AM GETTING A HTML FILE WHEN I CLICK THE PDF FILE THROUGH THE APP CAN YOU HELP ME SIR , I REALLY WANTED THAT HERE IS THE SCREENSHOOT THANKS FOR ANSWERING

[@aris_azhar]

Hello! im sorry to hear that you are having issues with it. Mind sharing the admin access to your app? and folders so that i can see what can be done to fix it

[@user-gs5zr8zq4x]

I have the same problem. Could you fix it? Thanks for sharing,

[@FarmersContactCenter]

I can't follow

[@pedropegcred]

'/Files/6d18ebcf.pdf' not found Probable cause: N/A Path: Root Result: FAILURE Message: N/A Saiba mais