Autocrat Extension: Effortlessly Generate and Email Bulk Certificates

Are you tired of the tedious process of manually creating and sending individual certificates? If so, the Autocrat extension for Google Sheets and Google Docs is the perfect solution. This powerful tool automates certificate generation, letting you produce and distribute professional certificates in bulk, saving you valuable time and effort.

What is Autocrat?

Autocrat is a versatile add-on that integrates seamlessly with Google Sheets and Google Docs. Its primary function is to merge data from a spreadsheet into a pre-designed certificate template, generating customized certificates for each recipient. Autocrat also offers the ability to send these certificates directly as email attachments.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Install Autocrat:

   • Open a Google Sheet.
   • Navigate to Add-ons > Get add-ons.
   • Search for "Autocrat" and install the add-on.

2. Prepare Your Data:

   • Create a Google Sheet with columns for each data element you want on the certificates (e.g., Name, Date, Course Title, etc.).
   • Ensure you have one row for each certificate recipient.

3. Design Your Certificate Template:

   • Create a Google Doc that will serve as your certificate template.
   • Insert merge tags where your data should appear. They look like this: <<Name>> <<Date>>

4. Launch Autocrat:

   • Open the Google Sheet with your data.
   • Go to Add-ons > Autocrat > Open.

5. New Job Setup:

   • Give your job a descriptive name.
   • Choose your Google Doc template.
   • Select how you want the generated files to be output (PDF, Google Docs, etc.)

6. Map Your Merge Tags:

   • Autocrat will attempt to automatically match the merge tags in your template to the column headers of your spreadsheet.
   • Ensure the mappings are correct, and edit them if necessary.

7. File Naming and Sharing Options:

   • Specify how you want your certificate files named (include merge tags for customization).
   • Configure share settings if you want certificates automatically shared with recipients.

8. Email Settings (Optional):

   • Enable the option "Email the output" if you want to email the certificates.
   • Customize the email's subject line and body, and include merge tags as needed.

9. Run Job and Monitor Progress:

   • Click "Next" and finally "Run Job".
   • Autocrat works in the background. Track its progress in the sidebar.

Key Benefits of Using Autocrat

• Time-Saving: Batch process certificates instead of creating them one by one.
• Customization: Personalize certificates with individual data.
• Error Reduction Eliminates the potential for errors in manual creation.
• Email Integration: Streamlines distribution by sending directly from Google Sheets.

Additional Tips:

• Start with a well-designed certificate template.
• Experiment with merge tags to customize file names for better organization.
• Test your setup with a small dataset before generating a large batch.