Copy data from new Google Sheets rows to a Google Doc template
Each new row added to a Google Sheets spreadsheet becomes a new Google Doc made from your template, with the row’s values replacing the placeholders, so you stop copying cells into documents by hand.
Google Sheets
Google Docs2 steps Setup ~5 min Used on 2.1k sites Free to import
What this workflow does
Letters, certificates, short contracts and summaries often follow one layout with a few details changed. If those details already sit in a spreadsheet, copying them into a document one at a time is repetitive work and invites typos. This workflow builds the document from the row instead.
The Google Sheets trigger fires when a new row is added to the spreadsheet you watch. FlowMattic takes the row's values and passes them to Google Docs, where the Create Document From Template action makes a new document from your template and replaces its placeholder variables with the mapped values.
You prepare the template in Google Docs first, with a placeholder for each value you want filled. One row produces one document. Rows that existed before you switched the workflow on are not turned into documents, and editing an existing row doesn't create a new one.
Certificates for course completions
When a learner's name and course are added as a row, a certificate document is created from your certificate template with their details filled in.
Offer letters from a hiring sheet
HR adds a row for each accepted candidate with role, start date and salary, and a filled offer letter appears in Google Docs ready to review.
Client briefs from an intake sheet
Each new client row on your intake sheet produces a brief document with their company name and project details in the right places.
How this workflow runs
What happens at each step once the workflow is on, and what you need before you import it.
Google Sheets New Spreadsheet RowRuns whenever a row is appended to the spreadsheet you pick in Google Sheets. Each column's value becomes available to map into the document.
- Google Docs Create Document From Template
Creates a new Google Docs document from your template and replaces its placeholder variables with values from the row. Choose the template and map each placeholder to a column.
What you need
- FlowMatticCore
- Google Sheets AccountAccount
- Google Docs AccountAccount
After importing, map your own data. To keep the template universal, not every step is pre-filled. Open each step in the builder and connect your accounts and fields (channels, lists, sheets, recipients) before you switch the workflow on.
Make it yours
Changes worth making after you import it.
- Add a Filter after the trigger that continues only when a Ready column says yes, so half-filled rows don't produce documents before the details are complete.
- Add a Gmail or Slack step after Google Docs to tell someone a new document is ready, including its link if the document step returns one.
- Add one test row after import, then check the created document to confirm every placeholder was replaced before you start adding real rows.
Questions about this workflow
How do I mark the placeholders in my Google Docs template?
Add a placeholder in the template wherever a value from the sheet should go. After import, open the Create Document From Template step to see how it reads your template's placeholders and map each one to a column.
Does editing a Google Sheets row update the document?
No. The trigger fires on new rows only, so changes to a row after it is added don't create or update a document.
Will rows already in the spreadsheet become documents?
No. Only rows added after you turn the workflow on are processed. Copy older rows to the bottom of the sheet if you want documents for them too.
Can I save the document as a PDF too?
Not as imported. The workflow creates a Google Doc only. You can download any created document as a PDF from Google Docs yourself.
More Docs & Notes workflows
Other ready-to-import templates from the same category.
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