PDF Export via Action Flow with Variables and View Support

Question

We're trying to set up an automated PDF report using Action Flows and running into a few limitations we'd like to understand better before deciding how to proceed.

Our setup: a view with multiple tabs, one of which renders differently depending on a variable (basically acts like a toggle filter). We want to export a combined PDF that includes content from different tabs, including three versions of that one tab with different variable values, and send it to a group of users automatically at least twice a week.

Two things we've hit:

Separating tab IDs with commas in the Create PDF module didn't produce the multi-sheet output we expected. Not sure if we're doing something wrong or if this just doesn't work as described.
We're not sure if variables can only be set through manual interaction, or whether there's a way to pass them in when an Action Flow runs on a schedule.

Is the desired output achievable in some form, and if so, what's the recommended approach?

yingtao.gu13 · Accepted Answer

From experience, the Create PDF module really only plays nicely with Analysis, not Views, so using a View ID there isn't a supported path, even if it got suggested as a workaround somewhere along the way.

For multi-sheet exports within a single Analysis, comma-separating the sheet IDs or picking them manually both work fine. Merging sheets across different Analysis objects though, that's not something it handles natively.

On the variable side: passing one into an Action Flow tends to require manual interaction, since variables live in Studio. For Enhanced Views specifically, one thing that can work is updating the variable first and then triggering the Action Flow from the view itself, though that's still a manual trigger, not something you can schedule outright.

For the full five-sheet setup you're after (three variable-driven versions of the same tab, sent out automatically), I don't think the current tooling gets you there as described. For the first two sheets, splitting it into two separate PDF modules might be worth exploring, though I haven't seen that confirmed as a working setup myself.

Honestly, the cleanest path forward is probably just submitting a Feature Request for View support in the Create PDF module. Worth glancing at the docs on Enhanced View Variables and Action Flow Inputs in the meantime, might get you part of the way there.

m.sanchezmedina · Answer

Hi Songfan,Do I understand correctly that: You have multiple view tabs. Each view tab has approx. 3 variables that can be selected. Thus, if you had 2 tabs, you’d want to send out all 6 combinations in a single PDF?I am not sure if having everything in one single PDF is possible. However, you could configure multiple PDF exports and then combine those PDFs through some later logic (you’d need to test this).To the issues you’re facing.​​​​​​​Have you made use of the split() function to pass the IDs? Otherwise, it might be seeing everything you pass a single string.There is a Private Preview feature that might be of use to you (see here). If you have the Private Preview agreement you can test it out. The benefit is that with this new module you can pass Bookmarks, and bookmarks hold the state of your view with preferences.

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