# Webmerge (Formstack) alternatives for document production? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask Developers\ **Tags:** printing-pdfs\ **Created:** [February 9, 2021, 12:30pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260 "2021-02-09T12:30:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BRUNOCERQU60563](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/brunocerqu60563/32/162_2.png) [@BRUNOCERQU60563](https://forums.knack.com/u/BRUNOCERQU60563)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 12:30pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/1 "2021-02-09T12:30:19Z")
Hi, We currently have an app that uses webmerge to produce several documents in pdf (certificates, reports, etc) with some rules to automatically change the text and some checkboxes on the document itself, although it's working as expected, webmerge is way too expensive if you have to produce many documents, so I was wondering if you guys have any similar solution for this without requiring the use of yet another cloud subscription service. I wish knack would address this directly within the builder, I think this is the one thing really missing here for us with knack. ---
**Author:** ![TonyLewis75327](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/tonylewis75327/32/261_2.png) [@TonyLewis75327](https://forums.knack.com/u/TonyLewis75327)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/2 "2021-02-11T14:42:40Z")
We use Webmerge and Docupilot with Knack. Its much cheaper and a little better actually much cleaner modern interface.  ---
**Author:** ![KeithSterl25609](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee59a6/32.png) [@KeithSterl25609](https://forums.knack.com/u/KeithSterl25609)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/3 "2021-08-10T14:00:35Z")
Here’s some javascript to fill a pdf form on the fly, similar to what webmerge does. It took me a little work to customize it but I have it working and use it for all my pdfs. > **[GitHub - phihag/pdfform.js: Fill out PDF forms in pure JavaScript](https://github.com/phihag/pdfform.js)** > > Fill out PDF forms in pure JavaScript. Contribute to phihag/pdfform.js development by creating an account on GitHub. The problem is it doesn’t flatten the pdf after filling the forms, so as a workaround, I just create the forms as read-only. Wish I could find something to actually flatten them, though. ---
**Author:** ![JulianSwal10732](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@JulianSwal10732](https://forums.knack.com/u/JulianSwal10732)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/4 "2021-08-11T22:59:36Z")
I used Integromat with their Word Template Module and then use CloudConvert to generate the pdf from that. I store the template documents in a knack table. I’ve also used Integromat with [Carbone.io](http://Carbone.io) to generate documents. Depending on how many you need to create these may be helpful… ---
**Author:** ![DamienLee06777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@DamienLee06777](https://forums.knack.com/u/DamienLee06777)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/5 "2021-08-19T15:29:55Z")
I have used Integromat with [Eledo](https://eledo.online/) to generate PDF docs. It is really cost effective. ---
**Author:** ![JulianKirkness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/juliankirkness/32/770_2.png) [@JulianKirkness](https://forums.knack.com/u/JulianKirkness)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/6 "2021-08-19T16:39:27Z")
I also have a client’s system set up with Eledo and Integromat - also used the word approach with Integromat at well. I also sometimes use HTML and then CloudConvert in Integromat for this - you can see an article about this here - subject to the proviso that the Integromat PDF app no longer exists - you need to use Coudconvert instead (I need to update the post): > **[Sending a PDF document from your database with Integromat](https://www.onlinedatabase.expert/post/sending-a-pdf-document-from-your-database-with-integromat)** > > I've seen several requests on Knack's and other forums asking how to send PDFs from their databases. With the recent introduction of Integromat's PDF app, which converts HTML into a PDF, I thought I would explore the possibilities. The Requirement I... ---
**Author:** ![ZakKatz41795](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/2bfe46/32.png) [@ZakKatz41795](https://forums.knack.com/u/ZakKatz41795)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/7 "2022-09-12T22:25:13Z")
Hey Julian - wanted to check this out but noticed your images are all broken. Do you have them archived? ---
**Author:** ![Jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@Jack](https://forums.knack.com/u/Jack)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/8 "2022-09-15T22:31:48Z")
Hello, I’m interested in this. I’ve set up the connection between Eledo and Knack. Do you add a button on the knack page in order to generate the PDF? ---
**Author:** ![JulianKirkness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/juliankirkness/32/770_2.png) [@JulianKirkness](https://forums.knack.com/u/JulianKirkness)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 8:42am UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/9 "2022-09-16T08:42:17Z")
Hi @ZakKatz41795 - this is odd because I can see the images (tried with Safari and Chrome and also in a private window). ---
**Author:** ![JulianKirkness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/juliankirkness/32/770_2.png) [@JulianKirkness](https://forums.knack.com/u/JulianKirkness)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 8:49am UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/10 "2022-09-16T08:49:52Z")
There would be several ways to ‘trigger’ [Make/Integromat](https://www.make.com/en/register?pc=kirkness) to create a PDF- here are just a few: 1. A new or updated record trigger. 2. Send an email containing the record id to a Make/Integromat “Mailhook” - a feature that is part of the Webhooks module. 3. Have a time Integromat process which looks for records requiring the pdf. Once you have the Scenario triggered and have made the PDF in Eledo, you can then choose what to do with the file - email it, store in Drive or similar, or upload in to Knack and link it to the records for example. Make is incredibly flexible and there are so many opportunities to automate Knack apps with it - they are a prefect fit! ---
**Author:** ![BRUNOCERQU60563](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/brunocerqu60563/32/162_2.png) [@BRUNOCERQU60563](https://forums.knack.com/u/BRUNOCERQU60563)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 11:56am UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/11 "2022-09-19T11:56:09Z")
Anyone achieved this without using Integromat/Make? For example, just using Knack and Eledo? It’s not a good solution if we have to pay for several subscriptions in order to simply generate a decent document. I wish Knack had a native way for us to do it. I was using Formstack with Knack but their pricing is way to high. ---
**Author:** ![BradStevens](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.knack.com/bradstevens/32/140_2.png) [@BradStevens](https://forums.knack.com/u/BradStevens)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 10:21pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/12 "2022-09-24T22:21:43Z")
There are pure JS alternatives to creating documents in the browser if you’re prepared to roll up sleeves and code: - [github.com/dolanmiu/docx](https://github.com/dolanmiu/docx) or [github.com/zuck/jsdocx](https://github.com/zuck/jsdocx) - create docx files from scratch in the browser. - [github.com/open-xml-templating/docxtemplater](https://github.com/open-xml-templating/docxtemplater) - insert data into docx templates. A fan of docxtemplater and have used it in a major Knack project - a warning though there are a myriad of moving parts including storage and retrieval of the template files, consistent field mapping, creation of template files and managing them, and finally handling the finished document. Strongly recommend connecting to something like Eledo via [Make.com](https://www.make.com/en) in the first instance. ---
**Author:** ![Ausy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Ausy](https://forums.knack.com/u/Ausy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:08am UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/13 "2022-09-28T08:08:58Z")
Your images for that particular page don’t work for me either… ---
**Author:** ![wise.ice9002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@wise.ice9002](https://forums.knack.com/u/wise.ice9002)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://forums.knack.com/t/webmerge-formstack-alternatives-for-document-production/8260/14 "2024-08-28T17:34:05Z")
I’ve been using [https://documerge.ai](https://documerge.ai). Super reliable, was able to use their migration tool from webmerge/formstack. Up and running same day.