Articles on: Forms

Automate Form Data Collection Using Google Sheets

A step-by-step guide on how to collect data using PDF Generator API Forms integrated with Google Sheets. This integration lets you populate your spreadsheet with data one row at a time. Once you're done with this guide, every customer submission from your questionnaire will be automatically recorded in your Google Sheets.

This guide assumes you have already created a form in PDF Generator API. For this integration to work correctly, your form must contain fields with the following exact Field Names: name, surname, email, company, position and phone.

For a guide on creating forms, please see our support article How to Create a Form.

Step 1: Set Up Your Spreadsheet

First, open your Google Sheet (or create a new one). It's a best practice to label your columns in the first row to keep your data organized. Make sure the headers match the data the script will add:

Step 2: Open Apps Script

In your Google Sheet, go to Extensions > Apps Script. This will open a new script editor tab where you'll place the automation code.

Step 3: Paste the Script

Delete any default code in the Code.gs file. Then, copy and paste the entire script below.

IMPORTANT: In order this script to interact with your Form, you need to use exact fields like we did in our example: name; surname; email; company; position. Follow our support article on HOW TO CREATE A FORM.

// This function runs when the script's URL receives an HTTP POST request.
function doPost(e) {

  try {
    // Get the raw JSON string from the request body.
    const jsonString = e.postData.contents;
    
    // Parse the JSON string into a JavaScript object.
    const data = JSON.parse(jsonString);

    // Access the nested data from the 'form_data' object.
    const formData = data.form_data;
    const name = formData.name || 'N/A';
    const surname = formData.surname || 'N/A';
    const company = formData.company || 'N/A';
    const position = formData.position || 'N/A';
    const email = formData.email || 'N/A';
    const phone = formData.phone || 'N/A';

    // Get the form ID from the top-level object.
    const formId = data.form_public_id || 'N/A';
    
    // Get the current timestamp.
    const timestamp = new Date();

    // Get the target sheet. 
    // ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Change "Sheet1" if your sheet tab has a different name!
    const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName("Sheet1");

    // Append the data as a new row. The order here is important.
    sheet.appendRow([
      timestamp,
      name,
      surname,
      email,
      company,
      position,
      formId,
      phone
    ]);

    // Return a success response.
    return ContentService
      .createTextOutput(JSON.stringify({ "status": "success", "message": "Record added." }))
      .setMimeType(ContentService.MimeType.JSON);

  } catch (error) {
    // If any error occurs (e.g., malformed JSON), log it and return an error response.
    Logger.log(error.toString());
    return ContentService
      .createTextOutput(JSON.stringify({ "status": "error", "message": error.toString() }))
      .setMimeType(ContentService.MimeType.JSON);
  }
}

Step 4: Deploy the Script as a Web App ⚙️

Step 5: Authorize and Copy the URL

Once deployed, a new window will appear with your Web app URL. This is your callback URL. Copy this URL.

Step 6: Connect Your Form

Navigate back to your form settings in the PDF Generator API dashboard.
Paste the Web app URL you just copied into the Callback URL field.
Ensure the "Send data and document to third party service" toggle is enabled.

Step 7: Collect Your Data! 🚀

That's it! Your integration is complete. Now, every time your form is submitted, the data will automatically appear as a new row in your Google Sheet. You can find a video tutorial below on how to collect data using PDF Generator API Forms integrated with Google Sheets.

Updated on: 04/09/2025

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