Convert Google Docs Material Schedules to PDF
Material schedules and finish schedules are table-heavy documents that architects issue to contractors for construction. A finish schedule might list every room, the floor finish, wall finish, ceiling finish, and any special coatings, with hundreds of rows and six or more columns. Table formatting is critical. The extension converts these documents to PDF using Google's own engine, which preserves column widths, row heights, cell borders, and all the content that makes the schedule usable on site.
Column widths and table structure
A finish schedule table must have readable column widths. If columns collapse in a conversion, the schedule becomes unusable. The extension calls Google's export API, which renders the table exactly as it appears in the editor. Column widths set in Google Docs appear identically in the PDF.
Issuing to contractors
A PDF finish schedule issued to a contractor has a clear issue date and cannot be modified. The contractor knows that what is in the PDF is what has been specified. PDF also prints correctly on A3 or A4 depending on the page size set in the Google Doc.
Revision tracking
Material schedules are revised as design develops. Each revision can be issued as a new PDF with a revision number in the file name. The revision history is clear and distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a wide finish schedule table with 8 columns export correctly?
Yes. The extension uses Google's own export engine, which handles wide tables as long as the table fits within the page margins set in the document.
Can I set the page to landscape for wide tables?
Yes. Set the page orientation to landscape in Google Docs before converting. The PDF will use the same orientation.
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