HOW TO USE CERTCOMPOSE
From your first row
to their first PDF.
A short guide to setting up, checking and creating certificates.
1. Prepare a sheet
Use unique headings in row 1 and one recipient per row. A simple sheet has Name, Course and Date columns. Download fictional sample rows to try the flow.
2. Choose your design
Choose one of the seven designs and a certificate type. Replace “Your organisation”, edit the wording and click Use design & continue. A private template and output folder are created in your account.
Use the Slides link to add a logo or signature image. Keep the placeholders intact, save your changes and choose Reload template changes. Own templates can be imported as single-slide PowerPoint files up to 4 MB.
3. Match every field
Each placeholder needs a source column. For example, {{Name}} maps to Name. Add a field supports four additional details in starter layouts. For a custom “Membership number”, create that column in your sheet and enter the numbers first; mapping it to Grade will print the grade instead.
4. Preview, then create
Select data rows, refresh the selection and check that every field is mapped. Preview the first certificate and open the PDF. Check the details and text fit, then create the selected PDFs. Open them from DM PDF links or the output folder.
When something stops
Preview or Create is disabled
Read the message above Preview. Match every field, select an unmerged data row and refresh. Create also needs your organisation name, a preview of the current selection and remaining allowance.
A batch paused or the connection dropped
Return to the same sheet and choose Resume saved batch. Keep the source cells unchanged. Wait for any Google quota limit to reset. Do not start a second batch to replace a saved one.
A file was deleted
Restore the original template, working copy, folder or PDF from Drive Trash, then retry or resume. If restoration is impossible, open Help → Recovery & remove saved data and stop the saved batch or preview. Existing files and row claims stay protected. Review the output folder before copying only unfinished source values into new rows without tracking columns.
The sidebar is blank or permissions fail
Use the Chrome profile that authorised the app, reopen it from the Sheets Extensions menu and refresh. Review any Google consent yourself. Don’t change browser security settings or broaden sharing to work around an error.
A name or added field does not fit
Shorten the text or adjust the text box in Slides, then reload the template and preview again. Check the longest names separately. Imported templates may need font or spacing adjustments.
Limits to know
The planned free allowance is 10 final PDFs per Google user per UTC calendar month across the add-on. Previews don’t count. Google runtime and account quotas still apply. Automatic Forms processing, email delivery, payments, shared drives and multi-slide templates are outside this first release.
Get help or report a problem ↗