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DocsAutomator’s Google Sheets integration enables rapid document generation from spreadsheet data. The system operates on a primary sheet and linked sheets basis, converting rows into professional PDFs or Google Docs.

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Key Features

Primary Sheet Processing

Documents are generated from rows in your primary sheet

Linked Sheets

Line items can be added from related sheets

Automatic PDF Storage

Generated PDFs save to specified columns automatically

Flexible Triggers

Choose between auto-creation, webhooks, or Apps Script buttons

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Step-by-Step Setup

1

Create an Automation

Initialize a new automation in your DocsAutomator account.
2

Choose Your Template

Every automation needs a template. Use a Google Doc, a Word (.docx) file, or a PDF. Create one with AI, browse the template library, start from scratch, or drag your own file in. See the Google Doc Template Guide, the Word Template Guide, or the PDF Template Guide.
3

Connect Google Sheets

Open the Data / Placeholders panel, click Connect, and choose Google Sheets.
4

Prepare Your Spreadsheet

Structure your sheet with:
  • Header row with column titles (required)
  • Primary sheet containing main document data
  • Linked sheets for related line items (optional)
5

Select Your Google Sheet

Connect your specific spreadsheet to the automation.
6

Define Primary Sheet

Identify which sheet contains your primary records.
7

Configure Key Columns

Set up the following columns:
  • Primary Column: Identifies rows (e.g., Invoice Number)
  • Document Name Column: Unique identifier for generated documents
  • PDF Link Column: Where generated PDF links are stored
8

Map Placeholders

Connect template placeholders to spreadsheet columns. AI-assisted mapping is available.
9

Configure Line Items (Optional)

Select the line item sheet, set the primary column for matching, and map line item placeholders to columns.
10

Create Previews

Test document generation using sample rows before full deployment.
11

Setup Document Creation Trigger

Choose your preferred triggering method.

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Triggering Methods

The system checks every 5 minutes for new rows and automatically generates documents. Enable it from your automation’s settings under the Google Sheets section.How it works:
  • DocsAutomator tracks a “last processed row” cursor for each automation
  • Every 5 minutes, it checks your sheet for rows after that cursor
  • New rows are queued for document creation automatically
  • Up to 50 new rows are processed per polling cycle
Controls:
  • Editable cursor — Click the last processed row number to change it. Set it lower to re-process rows, or higher to skip rows.
  • Skip to end — Sets the cursor to the last row in your sheet, so only future rows are processed.
  • Run Now — Triggers an immediate poll without waiting for the next 5-minute cycle.
Automatic safety shutoff: Auto-creation is automatically disabled in two cases, and workspace owners receive an email notification:
  • Polling failures — If checking your sheet fails 5 times in a row (e.g., disconnected Google account, deleted sheet)
  • Document creation failures — If 5 consecutive polling cycles result in all documents failing (e.g., broken template, missing permissions)
Fix the underlying issue and re-enable auto-creation to resume.
Perfect for hands-off automation where documents should be created as soon as data is added.

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Additional Features

Add images via column links. Separate multiple images with commas.
Configure expiration periods for generated PDFs under template options.
Enable Google Doc generation and specify storage location and Drive folder.
Save generated PDFs to Google Drive with optional custom folder paths.
Send documents automatically with dynamic parameters and conditional logic.

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E-Signatures

Documents generated from Google Sheets rows can go out for signature or one-click acceptance in the same step, and a link to the sealed PDF comes back to the row. Open the automation’s Signing & Acceptance card. Under How it completes, pick one of three options:
  • Signature required: the recipients sign the document. These are legally binding e-signatures, with an audit trail and a certificate.
  • Acceptance: the recipient clicks Accept, for example on a quote or a proposal. See Acceptance.
  • No closing step: documents are delivered without a signing or acceptance request.
Map each signer’s email address and name to columns in your sheet, for example a “Client Email” column and a “Client Name” column. With more than one signer, choose Sequential (signers sign in order) or Parallel (all signers get the request at the same time). Place signing tags such as {{esign.signature_1}} and {{esign.date_1}} in your template where signatures and dates should appear. The number is the signer. The E-Signature Guide lists every tag, including text and checkbox fields. Under After signing, set Save Signed PDF To to a column. When the last person signs or accepts, DocsAutomator writes a link to the sealed PDF into that column of the row. With signing, Save Field Values To writes the text, checkbox and date values the signers enter into columns. E-signing and acceptance are included in every plan. See How e-signing and acceptance are billed.
E-signatures work with both Google Doc templates and PDF templates. See the E-Signature Guide for full configuration details and placeholder reference.

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Next Steps

Line Items

Learn how to add tables and repeating rows

Send Email

Configure automatic email delivery

Save PDFs to Drive

Store PDFs in Google Drive folders

Template Guide

Master the template syntax
Last modified on October 6, 2026