In this article, we will show you how to automate invoice extraction using the Lido app. Simply follow the steps below!
To automate invoice data extraction, we'll use Lido, a tool tailored to streamline and automate repetitive tasks in spreadsheets. You can register for a free account at this link: https://www.lido.app/go/signup.
For this guide, we will be using Lido's custom formula, EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF, to automate the extraction of tabular data from PDF invoices:
Sign into your Google Drive and upload the PDF invoice you want to extract data from. Ensure the PDF is online and accessible for Lido's use.
Navigate to the Files page on your Lido account and click the "New file" button at the top right to start a new spreadsheet for managing the data from your PDF invoice.
Next to your default sheet, click the plus (+) icon at the top left corner to add a new worksheet.
In the new worksheet, go to cell A1 and type in "=EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF(".
Press the "Add Credential" button then "Connect to Google Drive" to link your Google Drive with Lido. Follow the steps on screen to complete the account setup.
With your account linked, press the comma key to move to the next section of the formula. Then, click "Select a file" to open the file selector.
Navigate through Google Drive and select the PDF invoice you uploaded earlier. This links your PDF directly to the formula.
Complete the formula by typing ",Sheet1!B2)" to specify that the extracted data should start at cell B2 in Sheet1. Press ENTER to apply the formula.
Right-click on the menu in cell A1 and choose "Run action" from the context menu. This action initiates the formula, extracting table data from your PDF invoice into the spreadsheet.
Go to Sheet1 to check the extracted data. Confirm that the tables have been extracted precisely and accurately represent the invoice content. Note that only tabular data will be extracted.
We hope that you now know how to automate invoice extraction using Lido.