How do I convert a word doc to PDF using Flow

[Anonymous]

This is my first time using Flow. How do I convert a word doc file to PDF using Flow?

[v-monli-msft]

Hi vynnettekj,

You cannot use Flow to convert a word file to PDF format. Actually you don’t need flow to do this. You can directly save word file to .pdf format:

 

Best regards,

Mona Li

[JRitmeijer · Accepted solution]

Hi,

We are about to make Actions available for Flow to allow all kind of documents to be converted, merged, watermarked, secured and OCRed via Flow. Would you like to participate in our beta programme?

Background, the company I work for makes a popular PDF Converter for SharePoint (on premise and Online), which works in SharePoint workflows but is currently being extended to work in Flow as well so it can be used with any system. 

What are you looking to do exaclty. Where does the Word document come from (SharePoint, Onedrive, Salesforce, dropbox)? Are you looking to convert other file formats as well?

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your response.

Currently, we are using a form were the users are able to attach documents of any file type ( word doc, excel, power point, and pdf). Once the form is submitted, and email is sent to the approver, but the approver wants all documents received in a PDF format.  So i was looking for a way to convert the documents to PDF within the Flow process. So the approver receives the email with a PDF attachment

[JRitmeijer]

Hi,

What kind of form are you referring to? An InfoPath form that resides in SharePoint or some kind of other technology? A PowerApp perhaps?

Is your Flow currently able to access the individual attached files? e.g. for the purpose of sending them as en email attachment in Flow?

[Anonymous]

We are using infopath within sharepoint.

Is your Flow currently able to access the individual attached files? e.g. for the purpose of sending them as en email attachment in Flow?

I will have to say no (not really sure). My Flow is simple, When item is created-> email approver.

The attachments are saved to a file share.

Hope that helps

[JRitmeijer]

If you want to convert the individual files that are attached to an InfoPath form then you need a way to extract them from the form, which can only be done programmatically and is quite tricky.

However, I may have a better solution for you. Our software can convert InfoPath forms to PDF INCLUDING all attachments, see this blog post. The resulting PDF file contains a representation of the InfoPath form as well as all attachments, all in a single PDF.

Does that sound like a solution that would work for you, or is it an absolute requirement to extract all attachments and save them as separate fiels in a separate folder?

[Scottman777]

Hi

Are you still looking for testers?

I need a solution that prints list forms  - New, Edit and Display - to PDF, and then send the PDF to email addresses both internal and external.

My forms are customised with Skybow Rich Forms.

I am also perticularly interested in OCR technology...

Thanks!

[JW83]

Could i please be added to the Beta testing programme as i am trying to achieve the same thing

[JRitmeijer]

Hi @Scottman777,

Your particular scenario (SharePoint lists to PDF) is something we are still working on, and expect to release in Q2/2017. The problem is that what you are trying to do is HTML to PDF conversion, something we already support. However, before we can convert your SharePoint page we will need to transparently log in to your SharePoint environment, something we cannot do yet (well we can, but it is undergoing testing).

OCR works today, see my other response in this thread for details about how to get started. Drop support@muhimbi.com a line if you wish to be added to a notification list.

[JRitmeijer]

Hi @JW83, @Anonymous.

Apologies for the delay in getting back, but we were working out some last minute issues to make sure we provide a premium experience.

We are currently working with Microsoft to make our PDF Converter, Merging, Watermarking, Security and OCR facilities available to all Flow users. Until then you can install it manually by following the instructions at https://support.muhimbi.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002915647

We are keen to hear about your experiences so let me know (either in this forum, or by emailing support@muhimbi.com) how you get on.

Thanks in advance.

[UB400]

@JRitmeijer I'm looking for a way to use flow to convert incoming e-mails (not attachments) but the e-mail itself to PDF, which can then be stored in a Document library.

Our use case scenario is that we need the e-mails to be read only, and should not be deleted, as they're part of an audit trail. As Site mailboxes and list mailboxes are no longer available in Sharepoint online, we're looking for alternatives.

[JRitmeijer]

Hi @UB400,

That should be possible, have a look at our tutorials.

If you get stuck, drop support@muhimbi.com a line, we love to help.

Jeroen

[katonage]

There is a free PDF converter in the onedrive connector.
Get file content
Onedrive : create file
Onedrive : convert
Onedrive : delete file
Create file using content of the convert.
Works!

[UB400]

@katonagethanks, I'll look into it, can't complain about free