Is it possible to generate a PDF document using the API?

Hi,

I have a customer that is using JotForm and would like to be able to download a completed form in PDF format. They currently receive the form via Email and would like to change this.

I know I can use your API to download the form data (presumably in json), but wondering if you have a way to get the auto generated PDF via API too?

Thanks

Adam

Unfortunately, the PDF documents cannot be generated with our API; however, if your purpose is to download it, you may load the following URL: 

https://www.jotform.com/server.php?action=getSubmissionPDF&sid=submissionID&formID=formID

You can get the "submissionID" and "formID" with the API as well. 

I hope this helps. 

Hi,
Thanks very much for your reply, this should help.
Regards
Adam
Adam Cardamone
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Hi, in testing this, it seems that there is an authentication requirement, is it possible to authenticate a web request to this url without using a web browser? 

Without authenticating (ie not logged in to the Jotform web site), I get this error.

Status: 400 Bad Request

Response: {"error":"You're not authorized","success":false,"duration":"0.009"}

Hi Adam! Authenticatin via the brower is required in this case.

However, you can disable the Privacy setting that controls this behavior, i.e. "Require log-in to see submissions.".

You'll find this setting on this page: https://www.jotform.com/myaccount/settings

If disabled, anyone with the PDF link can download the PDF Submission Report.

I hope this solves your purpose. For further queries, feel free to write back to us.

Thank you!

Hi,

Thanks again for the further answer, one more clarification if I may.

I now understand I can turn off the log in requirement, thankyou, but is there any method where I can authenticate a web request (e.g. powershell Invoke-WebRequest or standard .Net WebClient)?

I tried using basic authentication and passing in valid credentials but that fails also. I would like to retain the security if at all possible.

Unfortunately, there is not such function. However, an alternative would be to try logging in and out before and after accessing the link, you will find more details about each function on our API page: 

https://api.jotform.com/docs/#user-login

https://api.jotform.com/docs/#user-logout

I hope this helps. 

Hi,

I have been able to get the user login/logout to work so that I can keep the authentication requirement for downloading PDFs, however I seem to be hitting a limit on the number of times I can log in via the api, is this expected?

I'm not sure what the limit is as i am doing testing so haven't really been monitoring or counting how many times until it denies me log in. 

Is this a configurable option? I tried passing in the apikey with the call in case that helped but it didn't seem to make any difference.

Thanks.

Hello Adam,

There are limits on API calls as explained here: https://www.jotform.com/help/406-Daily-API-Call-Limits 

But, I could not find an account linked to your email address.

Could you provide us your JotForm account username, please?

Hello Adam,

I have moved your last response to a new ticket link so that I could escalate it to our concerned team.

Here is the new link: https://www.jotform.com/answers/2516688 

Hi,

I have demonstrated the results of using https://www.jotform.com/server.php?action=getSubmissionPDF&sid=submissionID&formID=formID to our customer and they are not satisfied.

What they want is the PDF in the format that it is when it is emailed to them. Can I tweak the url to get the customer designed form filled in as the download instead of the generic answers file?

Thanks

Adam

Hello Adam,

Sorry, but using that method, you only get the PDF download in the default format. It is not possible to obtain a customized PDF document using this method.

For that, you will need to download the same from the PDF Editor.