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Generate PDF

The Generate PDF action turns content from the inline rich-text HTML editor into a PDF file. Later actions can attach the PDF to an email or Autotask entity, or create a temporary download link for it.

When to Use This Action​

Use this action when:

  • You want to turn form responses into a formatted document
  • You need to generate a report, confirmation, invoice, or summary
  • You need to combine text expressions and uploaded images in one PDF

Don't use this action to convert an existing PDF or other file format. It renders an HTML template into a new PDF.

How It Works​

  1. The action renders text expressions in HTML Template and Output Filename.
  2. It converts the resulting HTML and CSS into a PDF.
  3. It applies a fixed 0.75-inch margin to every side of each page.
  4. It stores the PDF with the current workflow.
  5. It publishes a file reference in the configured results variable for later action steps.

The renderer includes CSS backgrounds. For security, it disables JavaScript and does not load external HTTP URLs, HTTPS URLs, or local file references.

Configuration​

FieldDescription
HTML TemplateContent for the PDF. Use the inline rich-text HTML editor to format text, insert tables, edit HTML, and insert available workflow data or text expressions.
Output FilenameFilename for the generated file. Supports text expressions. Default: document.pdf.

Insert a Table​

Click Insert table in the HTML editor toolbar, then enter the number of rows and columns. The editor inserts the table at your cursor with visible borders, cell padding, and a full-page-width layout. You can edit each cell directly or switch to HTML view to customize the table styles. Tables support 1 to 20 rows and 1 to 20 columns.

Insert Workflow Data and Images​

In the editor, type {{ to search the data available to the current action. Select a property or text-expression helper to insert it at the cursor. For example, select email.from.address to insert {{email.from.address}}.

To insert an image, type {{, search for an available image artifact, and select it. The editor inserts the complete image element with the correct expression.

When writing HTML manually, place the artifact_data_uri helper in the image src attribute. Use three braces so the HTML renderer does not escape the data URI:

<img src="{{{artifact_data_uri input.photo}}}" alt="Submitted photo">

HTML Example​

<style>
  @page { size: A4; }
  body { font-family: sans-serif; }
  img { max-width: 100%; }
</style>

<h1>Request from {{input.name}}</h1>
<p>{{input.description}}</p>
<img src="{{{artifact_data_uri input.photo}}}" alt="Submitted photo">

The action always uses 0.75-inch margins. You can set the page size in your HTML, but the action controls the page margins.

Security Restrictions​

The PDF renderer accepts the HTML and CSS in the editor, but it does not run JavaScript or load content from external HTTP URLs, HTTPS URLs, or local file paths. Upload images through a form or create them in an earlier action, then insert their image artifacts in the editor or use artifact_data_uri manually.

Returned Variables​

Store the results in a variable to make this file available to later actions.

VariableTypeDescription
idstringUnique file ID.
namestringLogical file name. This normally matches the configured results variable name.
filenamestringGenerated filename.
content_typestringAlways application/pdf.
size_bytesintegerPDF size in bytes.
sha256stringSHA-256 content hash.

For a results variable named generatedPdf, reference the filename as {{custom.generatedPdf.filename}}. Select custom.generatedPdf in a later action's Files section to attach or share the PDF.

FAQs​

Why does an external image not appear?​

The PDF renderer does not load external URLs or local file paths. Upload the image through a form or produce it in an earlier action, then select its image artifact in the editor or pass its file reference to artifact_data_uri.

How long does the PDF remain available?​

The PDF remains available for the lifetime of its workflow history. Actions can use it during that run, and temporary download links cannot extend its retention.