> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.sdocs.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.sdocs.com/quick-start/document-generation/getting-started-automate-document-generation.md).
# Getting Started: Automate Document Generation
## Objectives
In this tutorial, you will build a simple record-page flow that generates one PDF from an `Opportunity`.
#### Learn to:
* Create a Salesforce Screen Flow for S-Docs generation
* Pass the current `Opportunity` record into the flow with `recordId`
* Configure the **Generate Document** Apex action
* Add a launch action to the `Opportunity` record page
* Test PDF generation from a real record
#### By the end, you will have:
* One Screen Flow that generates the document
* One S-Docs generation action tied to a fixed template
* One confirmation screen after generation
* One generated PDF saved back to the record
***Estimated time:** 15 minutes*
## Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you have:
* Permission to create, save, and activate Salesforce Flows
* Permission to edit Lightning record pages
* Complete [Create Your First Template](/quick-start/getting-started/create-your-first-template.md)
{% hint style="info" %}
Generated files usually appear in **Files**. Some orgs also use **Documents & Attachments**.
{% endhint %}
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
#### Step 1: Create the Screen Flow
Start with a basic Screen Flow.
1. Go to **Setup** → **Flows**
2. Click **New Flow**
3. Choose **Screen Flow**
4. Click **Create**
#### What you completed:
* Created the flow container
* Started a flow you can place on a Lightning record page
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 2: Create the `recordId` input variable
The flow needs the current `Opportunity` ID from the record page.
1. Open the **Manager** tab in the Toolbox in Flow Builder
2. Click **New Resource**
3. Set **Resource Type** to **Variable**
4. Set **API Name** to `recordId`
5. Set **Data Type** to **Text**
6. Enable **Available for input**
7. Click **Done**
#### What you completed:
* Created the standard record-page flow variable
* Gave the flow a base record to generate against
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 3: Add the Generate Document action
Now add the S-Docs action that creates the document.
1. Click the **+** after **Start**
2. Choose **Action**
3. Search for `Generate Document`
4. Select `apex-SDOC__GenerateDocumentInvocable`
5. Set **Label** to `Generate Document`
6. Set **API Name** to `Generate_Document`
#### What you completed:
* Added the invocable S-Docs action to the flow
* Created the step that performs document generation
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 4: Configure the action inputs
Map the flow to the record and template.
In **Set Input Values**:
1. Set **Base Record ID** to `{!recordId}`
2. Enter the exact S-Docs template name in the template input field
3. Leave other values at their defaults unless your use case requires them
4. Click **Done**
Use the exact template name from the S-Docs template record.
#### What you completed:
* Connected the action to the current `Opportunity`
* Fixed the flow to one S-Docs template for repeatable output
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 5: Add the confirmation screen
Add a simple end screen after generation.
1. Click the **+** after the S-Docs action
2. Choose **Screen**
3. Set **Label** to `Document Created`
4. Set **API Name** to `Document_Created`
5. Add a **Display Text** component
6. Use a short message such as:
{% code title="Confirmation message" %}
```
Document generated successfully.
Check Files or Documents & Attachments to view or download it.
```
{% endcode %}
7. Click **Done**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 6: Name the flow
Give the flow a clear, fixed name.
1. Click **Save**
2. Enter `Generate Opportunity PDF`
3. Click **Save**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 7: Activate the flow
Make the flow available for use on a record page.
1. Click **Activate**
After activation, the flow is ready to place on the record page
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 8: Create the flow action
Create the record-page action that launches the flow.
1. Go to **Setup** → **Object Manager**
2. Select **Opportunity**
3. Click **Buttons, Links, and Actions**
4. Click **New Action**
5. Set **Action Type** to **Flow**
6. Select your flow from the **Flow** dropdown
7. Enter a clear **Label**, such as `Generate Document`
8. Click **Save**
#### What you completed:
* Created a reusable flow action for `Opportunity`
* Prepared the flow for record-page placement
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 9: Add the action to the Opportunity record page
Place the action where users can launch it.
If your org uses traditional **Page Layouts (common practice)**:
1. Go back to **Object Manager** → **Opportunity**
2. Open **Page Layouts**
3. Select the layout you want to edit
4. Click **Mobile & Lightning Actions**
5. Drag your new flow action into **Salesforce Mobile and Lightning Experience Actions**
6. Click **Save**
If your org uses **Dynamic Actions (Modern, simple)**:
1. Open a real `Opportunity` record
2. Click **Gear** → **Edit Page**
3. Click the **Highlights Panel**
4. Click **Add Action** in the properties panel
5. Select your new flow action
6. Click **Done**
7. Click **Save**
8. Click **Activate**
#### What you completed:
* Added a launch point on the record page
* Made the flow available to end users in the right context
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
#### Step 10: Test document generation
Run the flow from a real record.
1. Return to the test `Opportunity` record
2. Click the new flow action on the record page
3. Let the flow finish
4. Check the record for the generated file
#### Verify results:
* The flow completes without an error
* The document is generated from the expected template
* The PDF is linked to the same `Opportunity`
* The file appears in **Files** or **Documents & Attachments**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
## Common Issues and Solutions
I cannot find the Generate Document action
Check these items:
* S-Docs is installed in the org
* Your user can access S-Docs Apex actions
* You searched for `Generate Document` inside **Action**
The flow action does not appear on the record page
Check these items:
* The flow is **Active**
* You created the action with **Action Type** set to **Flow**
* The action was added to **Dynamic Actions** or the page layout
* The record page or page layout was saved after the change
The flow works in debug, but not from the record page
Check these items:
* The flow includes a text variable named `recordId`
* `recordId` is marked **Available for input**
* The record page launches the flow from a record context
* The running user can access the flow and S-Docs action
The flow finishes, but no document is created
Check these items:
* The template name matches the S-Docs template exactly
* The template is related to `Opportunity`
* The running user can access the template
* The `Opportunity` record has the data the template expects
I do not see the generated file on the record
Check these items:
* Refresh the record page
* Check **Files**
* Check **Documents & Attachments** if your org still uses it
* Confirm the document generated against the same record you launched from
## What You've Learned
✅ Created a Screen Flow for S-Docs generation\
✅ Passed the current record into the flow with `recordId`\
✅ Configured the **Generate Document** Apex action\
✅ Added the flow action to the `Opportunity` record page\
✅ Tested PDF generation from a live record
## Next Steps
* Use [Create Your First Template](/quick-start/getting-started/create-your-first-template.md) to build the template used by the flow.
* Use [Configure Document Generation For Your Record Page](/quick-start/document-generation/add-s-docs-lightning-components-to-a-record-page.md) to add a fuller record-page generation workflow.
## Practice Exercise
Build a second version of this flow for another template.
1. Copy the flow.
2. Change the template input to a second `Opportunity` template.
3. Create a second flow action for the copied flow.
4. Add the new action to a test record page.
5. Generate a document from a real record.
6. Confirm the second file appears on the same record.
Bonus challenges:
* Create one version for `Account`
* Add clearer confirmation text after generation
* Test the flow with two different records and compare the output
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