Monitor folders - move new PDF files automatically

Step-by-step instructions for automatically moving PDF files with Automatic PDF Processor for Windows

Introduction

This tutorial shows how to set up a hot folder to auto-move PDF files using data extracted from their contents. After creating the profile, you can also move a batch of pre-existing PDF files using the Catch-up function from the upper toolbar.


Create a new profile

Creating a new profile is done by clicking on the New Profile button in the upper toolbar. In the configuration window that opens, you can give the profile a meaningful name (for example, Move invoices) and optionally add a comment, e.g., the destination folder. The program will show this comment in the profile list. If necessary, you can enter the password for the PDF files in the input field below.

Configure auto-move invoices

Determine the folder to be monitored

Select a folder to be monitored, i.e., one or more folders where the PDF files to move will arrive. To do so, click the Add button and select one of the folders listed there.

Select folders with PDF files

Set filters

To move only specific PDF files automatically, you can optionally define filter criteria here. For example, enter a term from the text of the document and part of the file name. It is also possible to use a list that contains all customer names or numbers, for example. Furthermore, you can combine filter terms with logical AND as well as OR. The Results Preview tab shows whether the sample files added (in the next step) meet the filter criteria.

PDF file filter

Add example files

Specify five or more PDF files here which correspond to the files you want to process. You will get a preview of the extracted data, verification results, etc., based on these sample files in the profile settings. If you only want to print the PDF files, this specification is not required. However, since the preview of the filter results is based on the sample files, this specification is recommended. It is best to select files located in a separate directory to ensure they will not be processed, especially not renamed or moved.

add example files

Extract data

Switch to the Data Extraction category and click Create/Edit Rules... to open the rule editor. Once you have some rules created, you can alternatively double-click on a rule name to navigate directly to it.

Overview of extracted PDF data

In the Rule Management window, you can set up rules to extract values from the text of the respective PDF file using the previously defined sample files. For most cases, the data type Text is the right choice. However, when extracting a date, you should choose the data type of the same name. This way, when you use the extracted value, you have the individual date components available and can combine them as you wish.

With the data type Query or Query With List, you can store a value in a placeholder depending on the occurrence of certain keywords. A Query With List enables you to determine categorical values, among other things. For example, for three different report types (daily report, weekly report, monthly report), the type occurring in the respective document can be stored in a placeholder named Report Type and used for the name, etc.

Data type of extracted PDF data

The default setting Text Block covers all subsequent characters of the text block adjacent to the search word and is sufficient in most cases. However, if the text block overlaps into an unwanted adjacent data range, you must switch to the First Character setting. With this setting, only the first visible character of the text block is used as the extraction result - so the data range must be extended here in almost all cases using the tab Extend Data Area next to it.

The preview located below the configuration area shows the currently extracted value.

Extract PDF data

Activate and configure the task Move File

Select the task type Move File and set the task status to Active.

Next, determine the base directory for the storage. Then, you can use previously defined placeholders in the fields Sub-folder and File Name. Placeholders can contain, for example, properties of the PDF file or data extracted from the document text, such as an invoice number or invoice date. To select a placeholder, click the link of the same name above the input field File Name and select the corresponding menu item.

If a file with the same name already exists, you can specify how the program should behave. For example, select Append Numbering or Cancel Operation.

The program can optionally adjust the modification date or the creation date of the moved file.

Configuration - move PDF file

Status notifications

In this category, it is possible to specify whether status messages about the processing of the respective PDF document (success, error, no match, no text, ...) should be sent to a specific email address. Automatic PDF Processor can send this email via:

  • the default Outlook email account
  • an SMTP server
  • or an Exchange server.
status notification

Other step-by-step instructions


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