Monitor folders - save PDF attachments automatically

Step-by-step instructions for extracting attachments from PDF documents with Automatic PDF Processor for Windows

Introduction

This tutorial shows how to extract embedded files from PDF documents. Those embedded files could be, for example, an essential part of an invoice, such as an XML interpretation of the order data. With Automatic PDF Processor, you can easily automate this process.

Create a new profile

Click on "New Profile..." in the toolbar to create a new profile and open the configuration dialog box. Enter a meaningful name for the profile (e.g., Invoices from Imaginary Inc.) and optionally add a comment, e.g., Extract the embedded Excel document. You can have the profile highlighted in color in the log list to quickly distinguish between the tasks performed.

Create profile for saving PDF attachments

Determine the folder(s) to be monitored

Next, specify a folder where PDF files are received whose attachments should be extracted automatically. To do this, click on "Add..." and then select at least one of the folders listed.

Monitor folders with PDF files

Set one or more filters

If you only want to save attachments from specific PDF files, you can specify various filter criteria here. For example, enter a part of the file name. To ensure that the PDF file contains an XLSX attachment, you can enter the term ".xlsx" in the input field Attachment Name Contains on the tab PDF Data. Filter terms can also be combined with logical AND as well as OR. If you do not enter a filter term, the attachments of all PDF files placed in the monitored folders will be saved.

Filter PDF attachments

Activate task Save Attachment

Next, click the category Save Attachment and set the task status to Active.

In this category, you define the directory in which you want to automatically save all matching PDF attachments and optionally specify dynamic content to be used for the folder structure and/or the name of the attachments to be saved. First, define the base directory, e.g., "D:\Invoices". In the Subfolder field, you can use dynamic properties (e.g., name or similar of the respective PDF file). Click Placeholder and select the appropriate entry. Various PDF file properties can also be integrated into the file name of the attachment. The preview is calculated based on the previously added sample files.

Here you can also determine the program's behavior if a file with the same name already exists. For example, select Append Numbering or Cancel Operation.

Storage location for PDF attachments

Status notifications

The next step is to specify whether status messages regarding the processing of the respective PDF file (success, error, no match, no text) are to be sent to a specific email address. For sending status messages, either the Outlook email account set as the default can be used or an email account with user-defined properties. After successfully saving a PDF attachment, any Wave file can also be played.

Outlook status report

Other step-by-step instructions


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