Drive2pdf API

Generate high-quality PDF documents from Google Docs and Sheets templates with advanced data insertion, conditional sections, repeating tables, and dynamic images.

Key Features

• Document Templates — Use Google Docs with placeholders for text, images, conditional sections, and repeating tables.
• Sheet Templates — Use Google Sheets with dynamic cell data, row/column visibility control, and multi-tab export.
• Rich Content — Support for styled text, hyperlinks, and dynamic images.
• PDF Customization — Add watermarks, metadata, and control page size/orientation.
• Secure Storage — Generated PDFs are stored securely and accessible via unique URLs for 24 hours (1-day TTL).

Authentication

All API requests require authentication using your API key. Include the key in the request header:

Base URL

All API requests should be made to:

Deploying Templates

Before using a template with the API, it must be deployed. Deployment creates a cached mirror of your Google Drive file tailored for high-performance API generation.

How to Deploy

1. Go to the Drive2pdf Admin Dashboard.
2. Select an existing template, or;
3. Click "New Template" to create a template, a Google File Picker will open where you can select your file from your Google Drive.
4. On the templates list, click the Deploy button.

The deployment interface allows you to sync your Drive files with the API.

Document Template Language

Drive2pdf uses a powerful template language for Google Docs that allows you to define dynamic content using placeholders, conditional sections, and repeating tables.

Text Placeholders

Text placeholders are defined using double curly braces: {{placeholder_name}}. These are replaced with the corresponding values from your API request.

Template Example

Dear {{customer_name}},

Thank you for your purchase on {{date}}. Your order #{{order_id}} has been confirmed.

API Data

{
  "data": [
    { "key": "customer_name", "value": "John Doe", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "date", "value": "January 22, 2026", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "order_id", "value": "ORD-12345", "type": "text" }
  ]
}

Multiple Data Types Example

You can mix text and number types in the same request:

{
  "data": [
    { "key": "customer_name", "value": "John Doe", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "order_total", "value": 299.99, "type": "number" },
    { "key": "order_date", "value": "January 22, 2026", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "order_id", "value": "ORD-2026-0001", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "quantity", "value": 5, "type": "number" }
  ]
}

Multi-line Text

Use \n for line breaks within a placeholder:

{
  "key": "address",
  "value": "123 Main Street\nSuite 456\nSan Francisco, CA 94105",
  "type": "text"
}

Conditional Sections

Conditional sections allow you to show or hide entire blocks of content based on a boolean value. Define sections with opening and closing tags:

Template Syntax

{{disclaimer}}
This section will only appear if the "disclaimer" key has show: true.
{{/disclaimer}}

API Data (Hide Section)

{
  "data": [
    { "key": "disclaimer", "show": false, "type": "section" }
  ]
}

If the section key is not provided in the data, the section content will be kept (shown) by default.

Multiple Conditional Sections Example

You can control multiple sections in a single request:

Invoice #{{invoice_number}}

{{has_discount}}
DISCOUNT APPLIED: {{discount_amount}} off your order!
{{/has_discount}}

Total: {{total}}

{{show_bank_details}}
Bank Details:
Account: 1234567890
Routing: 987654321
{{/show_bank_details}}

{{is_overdue}}
⚠️ PAYMENT OVERDUE - Please pay immediately to avoid service interruption.
{{/is_overdue}}

{
  "data": [
    { "key": "invoice_number", "value": "INV-2026-0042", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "discount_amount", "value": "$50.00", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "total", "value": "$450.00", "type": "text" },
    { "key": "has_discount", "show": true, "type": "section" },
    { "key": "show_bank_details", "show": true, "type": "section" },
    { "key": "is_overdue", "show": false, "type": "section" }
  ]
}

Repeating Tables

Repeating tables allow you to dynamically generate rows based on an array of data. Only the rows containing placeholders with dotted field notation (e.g., {{member.name}}) will be repeated for each item in the array.

Template Structure

Create a normal table in Google Docs. Add a row containing placeholders with dotted notation (e.g., {{member.name}}) to define the repeating fields. The API will automatically detect the repeating rows and the table key (member).

API Data

{
  "data": [
    {
      "key": "member",
      "type": "table",
      "value": [
        { "name": "Sarah Mitchell", "role": "CEO", "age": "34" },
        { "name": "James Chen", "role": "CTO", "age": "29" },
        { "name": "Emily Rodriguez", "role": "Designer", "age": "31" }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Invoice Line Items Example

A common use case is generating invoice line items:

{
  "key": "item",
  "type": "table",
  "value": [
    { "description": "Web Development", "qty": "40 hrs", "rate": "$150.00", "amount": "$6,000.00" },
    { "description": "UI/UX Design", "qty": "20 hrs", "rate": "$125.00", "amount": "$2,500.00" },
    { "description": "Project Management", "qty": "10 hrs", "rate": "$100.00", "amount": "$1,000.00" }
  ]
}

Advanced Table Features

• Multi-row headers/footers: Rows without dotted field placeholders are preserved as static headers or footers.
• Row styling: Background colors, text styles, and borders from template rows are preserved in generated rows.
• Independent placeholders: Regular placeholders (not using dotted notation) work normally and are replaced with their values.

Images

To replace images in your template, insert a placeholder image in Google Docs and set its Alt Text title to the key name. The API will replace it with the image from the provided URL.

Setup Steps

1. Insert a placeholder image in your Google Doc
2. Right-click the image → Alt Text
3. Set the Title to your key (e.g., logo)

API Data

{
  "data": [
    {
      "key": "logo",
      "value": "https://example.com/logo.png",
      "type": "image"
    }
  ]
}

Advanced: Image with Link

{
  "key": "logo",
  "value": "https://example.com/logo.png",
  "link": "https://example.com",
  "type": "image"
}

Images in Tables

For images inside repeating tables, use the dotted notation for the Alt Text title:

// Alt Text title: member.photo

"value": [
  { "photo": "https://example.com/sarah.jpg", "name": "Sarah" },
  { "photo": "https://example.com/james.jpg", "name": "James" }
]

Multiple Images Example

{
  "data": [
    { "key": "company_logo", "value": "https://example.com/logo.png", "type": "image" },
    { "key": "product_photo", "value": "https://example.com/product.jpg", "type": "image" },
    {
      "key": "cta_button",
      "value": "https://example.com/button.png",
      "link": "https://example.com/signup",
      "type": "image"
    }
  ]
}

Rich Text

Rich text allows you to insert styled text with bold, italic, colors, and more. Use the richtext type with an array of text segments.

Basic Example

{
  "key": "features",
  "type": "richtext",
  "value": [
    { "text": "Doc to PDF", "bold": true },
    { "text": ": Generate PDFs from Google Docs\n" },
    { "text": "Sheet to PDF", "bold": true, "color": "#6366f1" },
    { "text": ": Generate PDFs from Google Sheets" }
  ]
}

Multi-line Styled Text Example

{
  "key": "product_description",
  "type": "richtext",
  "value": [
    { "text": "Premium Quality\n", "bold": true, "size": 14, "color": "#1a1a1a" },
    { "text": "Our flagship product features:\n", "italic": true },
    { "text": "• ", "bold": true },
    { "text": "Advanced technology\n" },
    { "text": "• ", "bold": true },
    { "text": "Eco-friendly materials\n" },
    { "text": "• ", "bold": true },
    { "text": "5-year warranty" }
  ]
}

Status with Highlights Example

{
  "key": "status_message",
  "type": "richtext",
  "value": [
    { "text": "Status: " },
    { "text": "APPROVED", "bold": true, "color": "#22c55e", "highlight": "#dcfce7" },
    { "text": " - Your application has been ", "color": "#64748b" },
    { "text": "successfully processed", "underline": true }
  ]
}

Richtext with Clickable Links

Use the url property to make text segments clickable:

{
  "key": "contact_info",
  "type": "richtext",
  "value": [
    { "text": "Questions? Contact us at " },
    { "text": "[email protected]", "url": "mailto:[email protected]", "color": "#2563eb", "underline": true },
    { "text": " or visit our " },
    { "text": "Help Center", "url": "https://help.example.com", "color": "#2563eb", "underline": true },
    { "text": "." }
  ]
}

Available Style Properties

Rich Text in Tables

You can use rich text inside repeating tables for dynamic styled content. Instead of a plain string value, provide an array of styled text segments for the field.

Template Setup

Create a table with placeholders like {{project.status}} and {{project.notes}}:

API Data with Rich Text in Table

{
  "key": "project",
  "type": "table",
  "value": [
    {
      "name": "Project Alpha",
      "status": [
        { "text": "On Track", "bold": true, "color": "#22c55e" }
      ],
      "notes": [
        { "text": "Milestone 1: ", "bold": true },
        { "text": "Completed\n", "color": "#22c55e" },
        { "text": "Milestone 2: ", "bold": true },
        { "text": "In Progress", "color": "#f59e0b" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Project Beta",
      "status": [
        { "text": "Delayed", "bold": true, "color": "#ef4444" }
      ],
      "notes": [
        { "text": "Blocked by: ", "bold": true },
        { "text": "Resource constraints\n", "color": "#ef4444" },
        { "text": "ETA: ", "bold": true },
        { "text": "Feb 15, 2026" }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Links

The link type converts a placeholder into a clickable hyperlink with customizable display text.

{
  "key": "website",
  "type": "link",
  "value": "https://drive2pdf.com",
  "caption": "Visit our website",
  "color": "#0055FF",
  "underline": true
}

Link Properties

Multiple Links Example

{
  "data": [
    {
      "key": "website",
      "type": "link",
      "value": "https://drive2pdf.com",
      "caption": "Visit our website"
    },
    {
      "key": "support_email",
      "type": "link",
      "value": "mailto:[email protected]",
      "caption": "Contact Support",
      "color": "#0055FF",
      "underline": true
    },
    {
      "key": "download_link",
      "type": "link",
      "value": "https://example.com/report.pdf",
      "caption": "Download Full Report",
      "color": "#22c55e"
    }
  ]
}

Google Sheets Templates

Key Concepts

• Targeting: Insert data into specific cells or Named Ranges.
• Structure: Dynamically insert, remove, or hide rows/columns.
• GID (Sheet ID): Every tab has a unique ID found in the URL (#gid=123). You must specify which GID you are modifying or exporting.

1. Data Insertion

Use data operations in the operations array to insert values into the sheet. You can target specific cells or Named Ranges.

Basic Example

{
  "operations": [
    {
      "type": "data",
      "target": "invoice_items",
      "repeat": true,
      "content": [
        ["Item A", 150.00],
        ["Item B", 299.99]
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "data",
      "target": "B2",
      "content": [["2025-10-10"]]
    }
  ]
}

Comprehensive Invoice Example

{
  "operations": [
    { "type": "data", "target": "B2", "content": [["Invoice #INV-2026-001"]] },
    { "type": "data", "target": "B3", "content": [["January 22, 2026"]] },
    { "type": "data", "target": "E2", "content": [["$9,500.00"]] },
    {
      "type": "data",
      "target": "invoice_items",
      "repeat": true,
      "content": [
        ["Web Development Services", 40, 150.00, 6000.00],
        ["UI/UX Design", 20, 125.00, 2500.00],
        ["Hosting (Annual)", 1, 1000.00, 1000.00]
      ]
    }
  ]
}

2. Row/Column Visibility

Control the visibility of rows and columns dynamically. This is useful for hiding empty rows or conditional content.

{
  "operations": [
    {
      "type": "visibility",
      "dimension": "row",
      "start": 10,
      "quantity": 5,
      "hide": true,
      "gid": 0
    },
    {
      "type": "visibility",
      "dimension": "column",
      "start": 4,
      "end": 6,
      "hide": true
    }
  ]
}

Multiple Visibility Operations Example

{
  "operations": [
    { "type": "visibility", "dimension": "row", "start": 50, "end": 100, "hide": true, "gid": 0 },
    { "type": "visibility", "dimension": "column", "start": 8, "quantity": 3, "hide": true, "gid": 0 },
    { "type": "visibility", "dimension": "row", "start": 5, "quantity": 1, "hide": false, "gid": 123456 }
  ]
}

3. Insert & Remove

Dynamically insert or remove rows and columns using operations.

{
  "operations": [
    {
      "type": "insert",
      "dimension": "row",
      "start": 20,
      "quantity": 2,
      "inherit_from": "after"
    },
    {
      "type": "remove",
      "dimension": "col",
      "start": 5
    }
  ]
}

Insert Operation Fields

Remove Operation Fields

4. Export Options

Control how the sheet is exported to PDF, including page size, orientation, margins, and which tabs to include.

API Reference

/v1/pdf Endpoint

Generate a PDF from a template. The template type (Doc or Sheet) is determined automatically based on the template configuration.

Common Parameters

These parameters apply to both Document and Sheet templates:

Metadata Object Fields

Document Parameters

Additional parameters for Document (Google Docs) templates:

Data Object Types

Sheet Parameters

Additional parameters for Sheet (Google Sheets) templates:

Response

Success Response (200)

{
  "urls": ["https://pdf.drive2pdf.com/pdfs/.../document.pdf"]
}

With base64: true

{
  "urls": ["https://pdf.drive2pdf.com/pdfs/.../document.pdf"],
  "base64": ["JVBERi0xLjQKJ..."]
}

Response Headers

Limits

Drive2pdf enforces timeout and rate limits to ensure reliable service. Limits vary by plan—check the pricing page for your plan's specific limits.

Request Timeout

API requests have a maximum timeout of 60 seconds. If PDF generation exceeds your plan's timeout limit, the API returns a 408 REQUEST_TIMEOUT error.

Rate Limits

The API enforces two types of rate limits to ensure fair usage and system stability:

Error Responses

All errors return a JSON object with code and message:

{
  "code": "ERROR_CODE",
  "message": "Human-readable description"
}

Examples

Document with Text and Image

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-123",
    "data": [
      { "key": "name", "value": "John Doe", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "date", "value": "January 22, 2026", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "signature", "value": "https://example.com/sig.png", "type": "image" }
    ],
    "name": "certificate",
    "watermark": true,
    "metadata": {
      "title": "Certificate of Completion",
      "author": "Acme University"
    }
  }'

Sheet with Multiple Tabs

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-456",
    "operations": [
      { "type": "data", "target": "B2", "content": [["Monthly Report"]] },
      { "type": "insert", "dimension": "row", "start": 10, "quantity": 2, "gid": 0 },
      { "type": "data", "target": "invoice_items", "repeat": true, "content": [["Item A", 100], ["Item B", 200]] },
      { "type": "visibility", "dimension": "row", "start": 15, "quantity": 5, "hide": true, "gid": 0 }
    ],
    "gid": [0, 58736200],
    "name": ["summary", "details"],
    "merge": true
  }'

Document with Repeating Table

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-789",
    "data": [
      { "key": "company_name", "value": "Acme Corp", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "report_date", "value": "Q4 2025", "type": "text" },
      {
        "key": "employee",
        "type": "table",
        "value": [
          { "name": "Alice Johnson", "department": "Engineering", "salary": "$95,000" },
          { "name": "Bob Smith", "department": "Marketing", "salary": "$78,000" },
          { "name": "Carol White", "department": "Sales", "salary": "$82,000" }
        ]
      },
      { "key": "total_employees", "value": "3", "type": "text" }
    ],
    "name": "employee_report"
  }'

Document with Rich Text

Generate a document with styled text, highlights, and clickable links:

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-offer-letter",
    "data": [
      { "key": "recipient_name", "value": "Sarah Johnson", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "date", "value": "January 22, 2026", "type": "text" },
      {
        "key": "message_body",
        "type": "richtext",
        "value": [
          { "text": "Dear Sarah,\n\n", "bold": true },
          { "text": "We are pleased to inform you that your application for the " },
          { "text": "Senior Developer", "bold": true, "color": "#2563eb" },
          { "text": " position has been " },
          { "text": "approved", "bold": true, "color": "#22c55e", "highlight": "#dcfce7" },
          { "text": ".\n\nPlease visit our " },
          { "text": "onboarding portal", "url": "https://example.com/onboard", "color": "#2563eb", "underline": true },
          { "text": " to complete the next steps.\n\nBest regards,\nHR Team" }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "name": "offer_letter"
  }'

Document with Conditional Sections

Dynamically show or hide sections based on your data:

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-invoice-conditional",
    "data": [
      { "key": "customer_name", "value": "Acme Corporation", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "invoice_number", "value": "INV-2026-0042", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "subtotal", "value": "$8,500.00", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "discount_amount", "value": "$850.00", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "total", "value": "$7,650.00", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "has_discount", "show": true, "type": "section" },
      { "key": "is_overdue", "show": false, "type": "section" },
      { "key": "show_bank_details", "show": true, "type": "section" }
    ],
    "name": "invoice_acme"
  }'

Product Catalog with Images and Rich Text

Generate a product catalog with images and styled descriptions in a repeating table:

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-product-catalog",
    "data": [
      { "key": "catalog_title", "value": "Spring 2026 Collection", "type": "text" },
      {
        "key": "product",
        "type": "table",
        "value": [
          {
            "photo": "https://example.com/products/widget-pro.jpg",
            "name": "Widget Pro",
            "price": "$299.99",
            "description": [
              { "text": "Professional Grade\n", "bold": true, "color": "#1a1a1a" },
              { "text": "• Advanced features\n• 2-year warranty\n• Free shipping", "color": "#64748b" }
            ]
          },
          {
            "photo": "https://example.com/products/widget-lite.jpg",
            "name": "Widget Lite",
            "price": "$149.99",
            "description": [
              { "text": "Best Seller\n", "bold": true, "color": "#f59e0b" },
              { "text": "• Essential features\n• 1-year warranty", "color": "#64748b" }
            ]
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "name": "product_catalog"
  }'

Complete Invoice with All Features

A comprehensive example combining text, images, tables, sections, rich text, and links:

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-full-invoice",
    "data": [
      { "key": "company_logo", "value": "https://example.com/logo.png", "type": "image" },
      { "key": "invoice_number", "value": "INV-2026-0099", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "invoice_date", "value": "January 22, 2026", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "due_date", "value": "February 21, 2026", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "client_name", "value": "TechStart Inc.", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "client_address", "value": "123 Innovation Drive\nSan Francisco, CA 94105", "type": "text" },
      {
        "key": "line_item",
        "type": "table",
        "value": [
          { "description": "API Integration Services", "hours": "32", "rate": "$175.00", "total": "$5,600.00" },
          { "description": "Custom Dashboard Development", "hours": "48", "rate": "$175.00", "total": "$8,400.00" },
          { "description": "Training & Documentation", "hours": "8", "rate": "$150.00", "total": "$1,200.00" }
        ]
      },
      { "key": "subtotal", "value": "$15,200.00", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "tax_rate", "value": "8.5%", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "tax_amount", "value": "$1,292.00", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "total_due", "value": "$16,492.00", "type": "text" },
      { "key": "has_notes", "show": true, "type": "section" },
      {
        "key": "notes",
        "type": "richtext",
        "value": [
          { "text": "Payment Terms: ", "bold": true },
          { "text": "Net 30\n" },
          { "text": "Thank you for your business! ", "italic": true, "color": "#64748b" },
          { "text": "Pay online", "url": "https://pay.example.com/inv-0099", "color": "#2563eb", "underline": true }
        ]
      },
      {
        "key": "payment_link",
        "type": "link",
        "value": "https://pay.example.com/inv-0099",
        "caption": "Pay Now - Secure Payment",
        "color": "#22c55e"
      }
    ],
    "name": "invoice_techstart",
    "watermark": false,
    "metadata": {
      "title": "Invoice INV-2026-0099",
      "author": "Your Company Name",
      "subject": "Invoice for TechStart Inc."
    }
  }'

Sheet with All Operations

A comprehensive Sheet example with interleaved operations: data insertion, visibility control, row insertion, and multi-tab export. Notice how operations are ordered to handle index shifts correctly:

curl -X POST https://api.drive2pdf.com/v1/pdf \
  -H "api_key: your-api-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "template_id": "tpl-financial-report",
    "operations": [
      { "type": "data", "target": "report_title", "content": [["Q4 2025 Financial Summary"]] },
      { "type": "data", "target": "report_date", "content": [["Generated: January 22, 2026"]] },
      { "type": "insert", "dimension": "row", "start": 15, "quantity": 10, "inherit_from": "before", "gid": 0 },
      {
        "type": "data",
        "target": "monthly_data",
        "repeat": true,
        "content": [
          ["October 2025", 125000, 98000, 27000],
          ["November 2025", 142000, 105000, 37000],
          ["December 2025", 168000, 112000, 56000]
        ]
      },
      { "type": "visibility", "dimension": "row", "start": 60, "end": 85, "hide": true, "gid": 0 },
      { "type": "visibility", "dimension": "column", "start": 10, "quantity": 5, "hide": true, "gid": 0 }
    ],
    "gid": [0, 987654321],
    "name": ["summary", "detailed_breakdown"],
    "size": "Letter",
    "portrait": false,
    "margins": "0.5,0.75,0.5,0.75",
    "merge": true
  }'