Taking a dashboard "snapshot" as a pdf and attaching to a given row
While the header of my question seems confusing, hopefully an easy solution exists somewhere.
I have a complex smartsheet's dashboard created which has metric widgets filled with values that update every time a new form is submitted to a sheet ("sheetX" for later reference).
What I want to do is try and capture a part (or whole if necessary) of the dashboard as a pdf, and attach said pdf to the corresponding row in sheetX (thus having a back-referenceable, visually appealing form of the data).
Through the smartsheet's API, I know you can convert a sheet to a pdf, but I couldn't find documentation on how to convert a dashboard to a pdf. Any suggestions would be great, I have already tried:
-embedding pdf creation html on the dashboard, but smartsheet does not allow the pdf creation API site
-linking outside programs such as Zapier or Google Docs (for company reasons, this must be done solely within smartsheet)
-making a visually appealing report (was not even close to the aesthetic and reading-ease that dashboards allow for)
Comments
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To create a PDF out of a dashboard, go to print the Dashboard from the web app. The pop-up print window from your browser will then allow you to choose to create a PDF instead (in Chrome it's under the section "Destination").
If you only want an image of a section in the dashboard, you may want to look into taking a screen capture, instead. This won't create a PDF but it will create an image that you can then attach to your sheet as needed. How to take a screen capture will vary depending on the type of computer or device you are using.
Cheers!
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Thank you Genevieve!
I could get that far, but I need to figure out the functionality of adding that pdf as a row attachment within a sheet. This needs to occur without user input so either on a submitted form workflow basis, or a time driven event / workflow. I know this adds complexity to the original answer, but hopefully a solution exists. Thanks!
Another thought or possible solution I came up with but don't know how to implement would be to completely circumvent the dashboard, and see if there's someway to automate pulling all the info from a row into a template document, and then save the given document to the same row's attachments (and then repeat every time a new submission comes in).
-Austin -
Hi Austin,
There are a few different ways to structure a solution.
Does it have to be automatic, or would it work to go through a recurring process?
One option could be to use the Google Docs integration and create a document that would attach to the correct row.
Another option could be to set something up with the third-party service, Zapier.
What do you think?
I hope that helps!
Have a fantastic day!
Best,
Andrée Starå
Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD
SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER
Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD
W: www.workbold.com | E:andree@workbold.com | P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35
Feel free to contact me for help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or anything else.
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I can't integrate those apps into Smart Sheet for company reasons, but I think that may be the best way to go. Finding a work around is just too much effort so I'll put that effort into getting the app integration approved internally. Thanks for your help!
-Austin -
I'm always happy to help!
That sounds like the best plan!
Let me know how it goes!
SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER
Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD
W: www.workbold.com | E:andree@workbold.com | P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35
Feel free to contact me for help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or anything else.
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