Your fast track guide to get started automating documents
Thanks for giving DocsAutomator a go! The following steps should get you started in a few minutes. This guide assumes you already created an account at app.docsautomator.co
After logging in for the first time, you're greeted with the following screen:
Please click + New Automation
An automation in DocsAutomator combines your data source (Airtable, Glide, Noloco, ...) with your Google Doc document template.
2. Set Title & Choose Data Source
DocsAutomator integrates with a growing list of data sources like Airtable, Glide, Noloco. Please choose the data source you would like to use. Depending on the use case, you may be asked to connect your account.
3. Choose Document Template
DocsAutomator uses Google Docs for templates. You have a few options to get started:
Add the DocsAutomator Playground Template to learn interactively
Next to "Select Template", you can add the playground template to your automation. This gives you a quick start to interactively learn DocsAutomator's syntax, map some data and generate first documents. You can also check out the template here: Visit DocsAutomator Playground Template
Pick a template from our library
We offer a growing list of ready-made templates for various use cases which you find in our template library: Visit Template Library
Create a template from scratch / bring your own template
If you already have a Google Doc template, it might make most sense to convert it to DocsAutomator's syntax. For this, or if you want to start from scratch, follow the guide here: Google Doc Template Guide
Let us handle the template creation for you
We offer a template creation service to create perfect templates for you. You can submit a request here: Visit Template Creation Service Form
4. Map Data, Create Previews & Start Automating
Depending on your data source / integration, you map data to your template variables inside of DocsAutomator's automation interface or directly inside the integrated app.
For Airtable and ClickUp, mapping happens inside of DocsAutomator.
For Glide and Noloco, you map data inside of those apps in the respective integrations.
Airtable
This section covers the basics of the Airtable integration. Please visit here for the in-depth guide and all features: Airtable
Having selected "Airtable" as your data source, you will see the following section in your automation:
This is where you define which Base and Primary Table will be used for mapping your template placeholders to fields in your primary table and where the generated PDF will be stored.
DocsAutomator's Airtable integrationdifferentiates between a primary table and linked tables. Think of an invoice and line items. The invoice would be a record on your primary table, whereas line items live in a separate, related table.
After selecting the base, primary table, document name field and attachment field, you'll map data below:
DocsAutomator handles all of Airtable's field types.
On the right, you'll be able to create as many previews as needed to make sure your documents are perfect:
Last step is to set up document creation inside of Airtable to start sending requests to DocsAutomator and automate the document creation process:
Here you can copy / paste a script in Airtable or use the webhook feature to send requests. In the video below, you see an example using the webhook via a button in Airtable:
Glide
This section only covers the basics of the Glide integration. Please visit here for the in-depth guide and all features: Glide
Set your automation to "preview mode" as long as you're testing your documents!
Mapping of data happens via the DocsAutomator integration inside of Glide.
If you click on add, you will have to provide your API key and DocsAutomator account email address. You find your API key under Settings in your DocsAutomator account.
You will then find the screen to configure the DocsAutomator action:
Add Template / Automation ID
In the integration, you have to provide the Template / Automation ID. You find this ID in the address bar of your automation inside of your DocsAutomator account:
The filename can be a custom name or come from any field in your Glide data source.
Mapping of values
Now it's time to map some values. If you click on + Add Value, you will be able to enter key / value combinations. The key is the name of the placeholder used in your Google Doc template — just without curly brackets. The value is any value from your Glide data source or a custom value:
File Output
Lastly, you need to define a field for storing the PDF URL:
Start Automating
Having everything set up, it's not time to start sending requests to DocsAutomator!
Noloco
This section only covers the basics of the Noloco integration. Please visit here for the in-depth guide and all features: Noloco
Set your automation to "preview mode" as long as you're testing your documents!
Mapping of data happens in the DocsAutomator integration inside of Noloco's workflows.
Setup
First step is to connect your DocsAutomator account under Integrations & API Keys inside of Noloco settings. You find your API key under Settings in your DocsAutomator account.
Create New Workflow and Select DocsAutomator
Inside of Noloco Workflows, please create a new workflow and set your trigger.
Now you're adding an action and you'll be able to select "Generate a document with DocsAutomator":
Select Automation
Noloco automatically loads all of your DocsAutomator automations that have Noloco defined as their data source:
Map Fields
Noloco also automatically pulls all of the placeholders / variables from your Google Doc Template. You can then map them to static data or any data from your Noloco data source.
Set File Name
As a last step, you can define how you're generated shall be called.
Follow-up Action
You're now all set up for generating documents, but so far you're not saving the generated PDF. This you can do in a follow-up action by updating a record and selecting the file returned from DocsAutomator:
Start Automating
Having everything set up, it's not time to start sending requests to DocsAutomator from your Noloco Pages!
ClickUp
This section only covers the basics of the Noloco integration. Please visit here for the in-depth guide and all features: Noloco
Setting Space and List
In the automation interface, you will see the following section:
This is where you define which Space and List will be taken for printing your data from tasks in the selected list. You also select how documents will be called based on a field in your list.
Map Data
Below you can now map your placeholders from your template to fields in your selected lists:
Generated Previews
On the right, you're able to generate previews based on your selection:
Set up Document Creation in ClickUp
When you're ready and your previews are looking good, copy the webhook at the bottom of the page under point 5:
This webhook can now be called with a task id passed at the end. If you set this up in ClickUp Automations, it looks like this:
Having everything set up, it's not time to start sending requests to DocsAutomator from ClickUp!
Need help?
Reach out at [email protected] or via the in-app chat to get help quickly!
Airtable
