{"id":170965,"date":"2025-02-25T17:00:32","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T08:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/support.questetra.com\/?p=170965"},"modified":"2026-07-02T15:25:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T06:25:47","slug":"google-drive-pdf-export","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/support.questetra.com\/en\/developer-blog\/google-drive-pdf-export\/","title":{"rendered":"Create a PDF File Using Google Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will explain how to create a PDF file using an auto-step related to Google Drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides stored in Google Drive can be exported in PDF format. We will show you how to use this function to output content written in Markdown as a PDF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just by writing Markdown, you can create a PDF file with simple decorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The mechanism introduced here is that the content entered in a Human Task is saved as a PDF file. When inputting text, the Markdown notation is used to specify the structure and decoration of the text. The input content is saved as a PDF file in a File-type data item according to the following procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. A text file is created based on the content entered as Markdown text.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The created file will be converted to a Google Doc and uploaded to Google Drive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The uploaded file is downloaded as a PDF file and saved in the data item.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The above actions are carried out by three automated steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    About Each Auto Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are many built-in automated steps for Google Drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    R2010: BPMN Icons Available in Each Edition<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This time we will use three features: [Google Drive: Upload File], which has been recently updated, the newly added [Google Drive: Export Google Workspace File as PDF], and [Generate Text File], which converts text-type data into a file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First, a brief explanation of each Auto Step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Generate Text File<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a>
    Generate Text File Step Settings Screen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Reference: [Generate Text File<\/a>]\n\n\n\n

    Create any text file and store it in a File-type Data Item. When saving, you can select the character code type, such as UTF-8 or UTF-16BE (with BOM). You can also select the file type, such as text\/html or text\/markdown, when saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Google Drive: Upload File<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a>
    Upload File Step Settings Screen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Reference: [Google Drive: Upload File<\/a>]\n\n\n\n

    This is an automated step that was also introduced in Utilizing Google Drive from Workflow<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition to the features mentioned in the article above, you can now choose to convert your files to either Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides when uploading to Google Drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Please also refer to the above article for information on “Setting up Google Connectivity”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Google Drive: Export Google Workspace File as PDF<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a>
    PDF Export Step Settings Screen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Reference: [Google Drive: Export Google Workspace File as PDF<\/a>]\n\n\n\n

    Download the specified Google Workspace file (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) in PDF format. Multiple downloads are possible at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Sample App<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Here is a sample app created using these automated steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    We will introduce specific app settings below as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Data Item Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Set the data items as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Data Item Name<\/strong><\/th>Data Type<\/strong><\/th>Field Name<\/strong><\/th>Required<\/strong><\/th>Markdown input step<\/strong><\/th>PDF confirmation step<\/strong><\/th>Explanation<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Title<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>\u2013<\/td>\u2013<\/td>Editable<\/td>Display only<\/td>The Case title.<\/td><\/tr>
    Document Manuscript <\/strong><\/td>String-type (Markdown)<\/td>q_document_source<\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Editable<\/td>Display only<\/td>Enter the Markdown text that will be the source of your PDF content.<\/td><\/tr>
    File ID<\/strong><\/td>String-type (multiple lines)<\/td>q_file_id<\/td>\u2013<\/td>No display<\/td>Display only<\/td>Saves the ID of the file you uploaded to Google Drive.<\/td><\/tr>
    Upload File<\/strong><\/td>File-type<\/td>q_up_file<\/td>\u2013<\/td>No display<\/td>Display only<\/td>Saves the file created in the [Generate Text File] Step.<\/td><\/tr>
    Download File<\/strong><\/td>File-type<\/td>q_down_file<\/td>\u2013<\/td>No display<\/td>Display only<\/td>Saves the downloaded PDF file<\/td><\/tr>
    Error<\/strong><\/td>String-type (multiple lines)<\/td>q_error<\/td>\u2013<\/td>No display<\/td>Display only<\/td>If an error occurs in the [Google Drive: Upload File] step, saves the error response<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    [Generate Text File] Step Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    First, in the “Input Manuscript” step, you input the Markdown text that will be the source of the PDF. In the next “Convert Manuscript File” step, a text file is created based on the Markdown text input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The setting items for the \u201cConvert Manuscript File\u201d step are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Item Name<\/strong><\/th>Required<\/strong><\/th>Explanation<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    C1: File type data item to save text file<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Specify the File-type data item to save the created text file. In this example, specify “Upload File”.<\/td><\/tr>
    C2: Delete other files when saving<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>Specify whether to replace the created file or save it to an existing file. In this example, set it to on.<\/td><\/tr>
    C3: Saving file name<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Specify the name of the file to be created. In this example, let’s use “markdown-#{processInstanceId}”. The “#{processInstanceId}” part contains the Case ID, so the file will not overlap with other files created with this app.<\/td><\/tr>
    C4: Contents of text file<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>The content entered in this field will become the file. In this example, specify the expression (#{#q_document_source) that references the String-type (Markdown) “Document Manuscript”.<\/td><\/tr>
    C5: Character encoding when saving (UTF-8 if not selected)\n <\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>Specify the character code for the file to be generated. In this example, specify “UTF-8”.<\/td><\/tr>
    C6: File type when saving (text\/plain if not selected)\n <\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>Specify the MIME-type of the file to be generated. In this example, specify [text\/markdown].<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    [Google Drive: Upload File] Step Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Next, in the “Upload File” step, the specified file is uploaded to the Google Drive folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The setting items for the \u201cUpload File\u201d Task are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Item Name<\/strong><\/th>Required<\/strong><\/th>Explanation<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    User who connects to Google Drive<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Specify the user who will upload the file to Google Drive. The specified user must be connected to Google Drive.<\/td><\/tr>
    Data item whose attached files will be uploaded<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Specify the data item that contains the file to be uploaded. In this example, specify “Upload File”.<\/td><\/tr>
    Folder ID that files will be uploaded<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>Specify the folder ID to which the file will be uploaded in Google Drive. If left blank, the file will be uploaded to the root of My Drive.<\/td><\/tr>
    Convert files<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>When uploading a file to Google Drive, you can choose to convert it to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides, or upload it as is without converting it. In this example, select Google Docs.<\/td><\/tr>
    Data item that will save uploaded file ids<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>Specify the data item in which to save the ID of the uploaded file. In this example, specify “File ID”.<\/td><\/tr>
    Data item that will save web view urls of uploaded files<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>Specify the data item in which to save the display URL of the uploaded file. Not used this time.<\/td><\/tr>
    Data item that will save download urls of uploaded files<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>Specify the data item to save the download URL of the uploaded file. Not used this time.<\/td><\/tr>
    Data item to save error details<\/strong><\/td>\u2013<\/td>When an error occurs, specify the data item to which the error response will be saved. In this example, specify “Error”.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    [Google Drive: Export Google Workspace File as PDF] Step Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The “Export PDF” step downloads the file stored in Google Drive in PDF format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The settings for the “Export PDF” step are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Item Name<\/strong><\/th>Required<\/strong><\/th>Explanation<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    C1: Service Account Setting\u2009<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Specify the name of the HTTP authentication configuration you created in the [OAuth2 JWT Bearer Flow].<\/td><\/tr>
    C2: File IDs to download<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Specify the data item in which the file ID to be downloaded is saved. In this example, specify “File ID”.<\/td><\/tr>
    C3: Data item to add the downloaded file<\/strong><\/td>\u25cb<\/td>Specify the data item to save the downloaded file. In this example, select “Download File”.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Once the file download is complete, you will check the PDF file in the “PDF Verification” step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Operation Check<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Once you have completed all the settings, check the operation by running the debug command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Click [Start debug Case] from the first Start Event. In the started Case, enter Markdown text into the “Document Manuscript,” the String-type data item. You can check the appearance of the text you enter on the preview screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Please refer to the following documents for how to write Markdown text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n