Convert Form with Image Gallery to PDF Possibly with Flow

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have a PowerApp that connects to a SharePoint list.  There is an Attachment Control that allows users to add up to 10 attachments.  These attachments are expected to be images.  On my display screen, I show the list item details plus an Image Gallery with all of the images.  My users need to be able to print the form data plus all images.  

Initially, I created a button which sends an HTML email that adds the images as attachments.  However, my users need to have everything together to be able to print as one document....so the email with attachments method will not suffice.  Ideally, I would like to be able to generate a PDF.  I've seen videos on how to create a PDF using FLOW. These only seem to take the HTML and possibly include one static image saved somewhere.  I need to be able to loop through and add ALL of the image attachments associated with a particular list item.  In PowerApps, I don't see that there is a way to dynamically build the HTML based on on all of the images in the control for a given item (generate image tags for each).  Is there a way to do this with flow?  Or are there other possible solutions?

[sharonsumner]

Hi

Depends on your browser but if you are accessing the App in a browser and you can see all the images there then just print screen to pdf? or consider an app page that does the layout and surface that as a link in the App to go to a browser.

Sharon

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply.

I was hoping it would be this simple...but I tried adding a scrollable screen with the HTML on it plus an image gallery at the bottom.  When I do a print preview in my browser window, everything gets cut off.  Only 1 page is displayed with the HTML table cutoff and the images missing (they would be on page 2 and 3).  Am I missing something here.

[sharonsumner]

Hi

To get around that I use Chrome and an add in called Full Screen Page Capture - it scrolls the page for you 🙂

Sharon

[Anonymous]

Thanks - I will look into this.

Ideally though, I would like to be able to convert the SharePoint list data with each image attachment to a PDF.  

[Jay-Encodian · Accepted solution]

Hey @Anonymous ,

You could pass the list item ID of the list item containing the attachments in SharePoint and the HTML form data to PowerAutomate and then you can:

• Convert the HTML to a PDF Document using OneDrive or a third party connector 'Convert HTML to PDF'
• Use the SharePoint 'Get Attachments' action to get all the attachments from the list item
• Loop through the attachments collection returned by the SharePoint 'Get Attachments' action and use the SharePoint 'Get attachment content' to get each attachment.
• Merge the attachments to a PDF document ... you'll need a third party connector for this such as Merge document array to PDF. The Encodian action dynamically works out if a file needs to be converted to PDF prior to merging, so you can just pass the documents (70+ file format supported) and a PDF will be returned

There is an example documented here, albeit this is merging attachments from an email to PDF... however the principles of getting the files and merging are the same: https://support.encodian.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360016980633-Convert-an-Email-Message-including-attachments-to-a-PDF-document

HTH

Jay

[sharonsumner]

I totally agree, we have used this method one our our sites using the Encodian tools, there are others too. 

Sharon

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a great option.  Would I need to purchase the third party connector?

[Jay-Encodian]

@Anonymous 

As you'll need to merge multiple documents into a single PDF you'll need a third party connector... Encodian and Plumsail documents for example both provide a merge action.

Encodian also provide a 'Free' subscription plan which may cover you, if not you would need a paid plan.

HTH

Jay

[Anonymous]

Thanks - This solution worked.  I used the Encodian "merge document array to pdf" action and added each of my attachments to a document array.  I also have a formatted Word template that I populate with the SharePoint list data ("populate Word template" action).  I merge this document with the image attachments to create my final PDF.  The only challenge I had is that the image files were wider than the 8.5 x 11 PDF document created.  When you scrolled, the were noticeably wider than the first pages.  I used the Encodian "resize an image" action to resolve it.  Looks really good now.

[cyberco01]

Can you please provide a screen-shot of the flow method used. It will be helpful

[MH3]

can you please show the flow steps and the regarding details please, I am also stuck in this problem!!!

@cyberco01 

[Jay-Encodian]

@cyberco01- check out this post / video guide - https://www.encodian.com/blog/merge-documents-to-pdf-with-power-automate-and-encodian/