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Softr

Prerequisites

  • A PolyDoc account and API key — sign up for free, no credit card required. The free plan includes 150 PDF conversions per month.
  • A Softr account — sign up for free, no credit card required.

Use Case 1: Generate PDFs from App Records

Trigger PDF generation from a Softr app by wiring an action button to PolyDoc via a webhook-based automation tool (Zapier or Make).
Action button → Webhook / Zapier integration → PolyDoc API → Display result

Set up your Softr app with a data source

Create a Softr app and connect it to an Airtable base or Google Sheet as the data source. Ensure the table contains the fields your PDF template requires (e.g. customer_name, invoice_number, amount).

Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc1-data-source.png

Add a custom action button to a block

Add a List Details or Table block to a page. Inside the block settings, add a Custom Action button (e.g. "Generate PDF"). This button will trigger the automation when clicked by a user.

Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc1-action-button.png

Connect the action to a webhook

In your automation tool (Zapier or Make), create a workflow triggered by the Softr action. In Zapier, use Webhooks by Zapier as the trigger; in Make, use Webhooks → Custom webhook. Copy the generated webhook URL and paste it into Softr's action button configuration under Integrations.

Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc1-webhook-connect.png

Add the PolyDoc API call

Add an HTTP / Webhooks step in the automation tool configured for PolyDoc:

  • URL: https://api.polydoc.tech/pdf/convert
  • Method: POST
  • Headers: Authorization = Bearer YOUR_API_KEY (get from the Dashboard), X-Sandbox = true
  • Content-Type: application/json
  • Body: JSON mapping the Softr record fields to your PolyDoc template.
Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc1-polydoc-request.png

Use the automation's response to write the PDF link back to the Airtable or Google Sheets record. In Softr, add a URL or Button column to your block so users can view or download the generated PDF directly in the app.

Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc1-display-result.png

Use Case 2: PDF on Form Submission

Generate and email a PDF whenever a user submits a form in your Softr app.
Softr form block → Webhook → PolyDoc API → Email

Add a form block to your app

Add a Form block to a page in your Softr app. Configure the form fields to match your PDF template (e.g. name, address, order details).

Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc2-form-block.png

Set the form action to trigger a webhook

Under the form's Actions settings, set On submit to trigger a webhook. Paste the webhook URL from your automation tool (Zapier or Make). Submit a test entry so the automation tool learns the field structure.

Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc2-form-webhook.png

Generate the PDF via PolyDoc

In the automation tool, add an HTTP step that POSTs to https://api.polydoc.tech/pdf/convert with the same headers and JSON body structure as Use Case 1 — map the form submission fields to your PolyDoc template.

Screenshot placeholder: /img/guides/softr/softr-uc2-polydoc-call.png

Email the PDF to the user

Add an email step (Gmail, Outlook, or SMTP) in the automation. Set the recipient to the form's email field, include a subject line, and attach the PDF binary from the PolyDoc response. Submit a test form to verify delivery.