Export Google Docs as PDF Automatically with Apps Script
Using Apps Script to automatically export Google Docs as PDF gives you complete control over the workflow. The script exports the document, names the file, saves it to Drive, and optionally sends it by email.
Basic export function
The core of the script uses the Drive API to get the document by ID and fetch its PDF export URL. The response is saved as a file in Drive using DriveApp.createFile(). This function can be called manually or triggered on a schedule.
Adding a timestamp to the filename
To keep a history of exports, append the current date to the filename in the script. Use Utilities.formatDate(new Date(), 'GMT', 'yyyy-MM-dd') to get a formatted date string and concatenate it with the document name.
Running the script on multiple documents
To export an entire folder, use DriveApp.getFolderById() and iterate over its files. Check each file's MIME type to identify Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, then export each one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apps Script free to use for automated PDF exports?
Yes. Apps Script is included free with every Google account and has generous daily quotas for Drive operations.
Can I use Apps Script to export Google Sheets and Slides as PDF too?
Yes. The same approach works with different MIME types: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet for Sheets and application/pdf for Slides export.
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