I want to send Photos

Jennifer Z

I'm looking for a solution to send photos for a daily project update in an automated fashion, when attached to a row/grid via form.

We've tried inserting photos into the columns however this doesn't pull the photos into the automated notification/email.

We've tried including attachments in the automation and that doesn't work either.

At this point I'd be happy with photos being linked or attached in the automated distribution.

Is this possible?

Andrée Starå

Hi @Jennifer Z

I hope you're well and safe!

I'd recommend the Document Builder feature, which can send a PDF with the pictures.

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Jennifer Z

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/343818#Comment_343818

We've tried this option and it works OK, however we cannot get the automation to attach the generated PDF and send to the list of users who should receive it each time the form is submitted and the document/PDF is generated.

And in order to get the images into the PDF, the form user needs to "attach" the images. we then have to download and save each image, then insert each image into a column/cell. With another column that includes the description of the image for it to populate into the PDF.

Andrée Starå

@Jennifer Z

Creating the Document Builder pdf and having it sent is easy. (I'll get back to it if the below will work)

Regarding the pictures. You could have a report where they add the images directly to the cells, and then it should work with Document Builder.

Have you tested that?

Would that work/help?

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Jennifer Z

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/343823#Comment_343823

we've tried this also - but you can't automate a distribution of that PDF from a report then can you?

Andrée Starå

@Jennifer Z

Yes, you can!

Would that work?

Jennifer Z

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/343828#Comment_343828

i would LOVE more information on how to do that!

Andrée Starå

@Jennifer Z

You'd have a Workflow that triggers from an added attachment and then have an Alert trigger with the attachment.

Make sense?

Would that work?

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Jennifer Z

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/343832#Comment_343832

but where would this automation be set up from? there are no automations from a report.

Andrée Starå

@Jennifer Z

It would be set up on the sheet(s) that is shown in the report.

Jennifer Z

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/343858#Comment_343858

so the report generates the PDF document. but the grid sends the automation?

how will the grid be able to attach the PDF to the automated send if its coming from a Report?

@KelliBretsch

LaurenLong

Hi! I have the same question- when end user fills a form, they attach a picture and I'm trying to set up an automation that generates a PDF document with the info and picture from the form. I'm confused on the step where I add it to a report and then map back to the PDF?

Jennifer Z

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/388577#Comment_388577

Hey Lauren - the only resolution that we've been able to find is to get the image INTO the cell. Then you can set your trigger that can automate to generate a PDF. for example - we have a form that requests all the data that's needed. Once the user submits the form, they're taken right back to the sheet and prompted to insert the images directly into the cell (this has to be done in the sheet from what i've seen, NOT the form!). Once they've put their images into each cell, they click a "completed" box which triggers the Generate PDF automation.

Its pretty cumbersome and it seems like there should be a better way, but so far that's the only way we've been able to work around.