Extract structured data from multiple invoice PDFs in one call, then pipe the results directly into an XLSX accounts payable tracker.
Accounts payable teams receive PDF invoices from multiple vendors and need to log them into a spreadsheet for the approval workflow. This recipe extracts structured data from all invoices in a single call, then feeds the results directly into an XLSX tracker with one row per invoice.
Document Extraction (1 credit per page), Sheet Generation (2 credits/request)
You need an Iteration Layer API key. Get one at platform.iterationlayer.com — free trial credits included, no credit card required.
For full integration guidance (SDKs, auth, MCP, error handling), see the Iteration Layer Integration Guide.
# Step 1: Extract structured data from all three invoices
EXTRACTION=$(curl -s -X POST https://api.iterationlayer.com/document-extraction/v1/extract \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"files": [
{
"type": "url",
"name": "invoice-acme.pdf",
"url": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-acme.pdf"
},
{
"type": "url",
"name": "invoice-brightway.pdf",
"url": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-brightway.pdf"
},
{
"type": "url",
"name": "invoice-delta-freight.pdf",
"url": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-delta-freight.pdf"
}
],
"schema": {
"fields": [
{
"name": "invoices",
"type": "ARRAY",
"description": "One entry per invoice file",
"item_schema": {
"fields": [
{ "name": "vendor_name", "type": "TEXT", "description": "Vendor or supplier name" },
{ "name": "invoice_number", "type": "TEXT", "description": "Invoice reference number" },
{ "name": "invoice_date", "type": "DATE", "description": "Invoice issue date" },
{ "name": "due_date", "type": "DATE", "description": "Payment due date" },
{ "name": "total_amount", "type": "CURRENCY_AMOUNT", "description": "Total invoice amount" },
{ "name": "currency", "type": "CURRENCY_CODE", "description": "Invoice currency" }
]
}
}
]
}
}')
# Step 2: Generate XLSX accounts payable tracker from the extracted values
curl -X POST https://api.iterationlayer.com/sheet-generation/v1/generate \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"format": "xlsx",
"styles": {
"header": {
"is_bold": true,
"background_color": "#1E3A5F",
"font_color": "#FFFFFF"
},
"body": {
"font_color": "#333333"
}
},
"sheets": [
{
"name": "Accounts Payable",
"columns": [
{ "name": "Vendor", "width": 30 },
{ "name": "Invoice #", "width": 18 },
{ "name": "Invoice Date", "width": 14 },
{ "name": "Due Date", "width": 14 },
{ "name": "Amount", "width": 16 },
{ "name": "Currency", "width": 12 },
{ "name": "Status", "width": 14 }
],
"rows": [
[
{ "value": "Acme Office Supplies" },
{ "value": "INV-2026-0041" },
{ "value": "2026-03-01", "format": "date" },
{ "value": "2026-03-31", "format": "date" },
{ "value": 888.98, "format": "currency" },
{ "value": "USD" },
{ "value": "Pending" }
],
[
{ "value": "Brightway Marketing" },
{ "value": "BWM-10094" },
{ "value": "2026-03-05", "format": "date" },
{ "value": "2026-04-04", "format": "date" },
{ "value": 3450.00, "format": "currency" },
{ "value": "USD" },
{ "value": "Pending" }
],
[
{ "value": "Delta Freight Solutions" },
{ "value": "DFS-88321" },
{ "value": "2026-03-10", "format": "date" },
{ "value": "2026-04-09", "format": "date" },
{ "value": 554.85, "format": "currency" },
{ "value": "USD" },
{ "value": "Pending" }
]
]
}
]
}'
import { IterationLayer } from "iterationlayer";
const client = new IterationLayer({ apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY" });
// Step 1: Extract structured data from all three invoices
const extraction = await client.extract({
files: [
{
type: "url",
name: "invoice-acme.pdf",
url: "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-acme.pdf",
},
{
type: "url",
name: "invoice-brightway.pdf",
url: "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-brightway.pdf",
},
{
type: "url",
name: "invoice-delta-freight.pdf",
url: "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-delta-freight.pdf",
},
],
schema: {
fields: [
{
name: "invoices",
type: "ARRAY",
description: "One entry per invoice file",
item_schema: {
fields: [
{
name: "vendor_name",
type: "TEXT",
description: "Vendor or supplier name",
},
{
name: "invoice_number",
type: "TEXT",
description: "Invoice reference number",
},
{
name: "invoice_date",
type: "DATE",
description: "Invoice issue date",
},
{ name: "due_date", type: "DATE", description: "Payment due date" },
{
name: "total_amount",
type: "CURRENCY_AMOUNT",
description: "Total invoice amount",
},
{
name: "currency",
type: "CURRENCY_CODE",
description: "Invoice currency",
},
],
},
},
],
},
});
const invoices = extraction.invoices.value as Array<
Record<string, { value: unknown }>
>;
// Step 2: Generate XLSX accounts payable tracker from the extracted values
const sheet = await client.generateSheet({
format: "xlsx",
styles: {
header: {
is_bold: true,
background_color: "#1E3A5F",
font_color: "#FFFFFF",
},
body: {
font_color: "#333333",
},
},
sheets: [
{
name: "Accounts Payable",
columns: [
{ name: "Vendor", width: 30 },
{ name: "Invoice #", width: 18 },
{ name: "Invoice Date", width: 14 },
{ name: "Due Date", width: 14 },
{ name: "Amount", width: 16 },
{ name: "Currency", width: 12 },
{ name: "Status", width: 14 },
],
rows: invoices.map((invoice) => [
{ value: String(invoice.vendor_name.value) },
{ value: String(invoice.invoice_number.value) },
{ value: String(invoice.invoice_date.value), format: "date" },
{ value: String(invoice.due_date.value), format: "date" },
{
value: Number(
(invoice.total_amount.value as { amount: string }).amount,
),
format: "currency",
},
{ value: String(invoice.currency.value) },
{ value: "Pending" },
]),
},
],
});
from iterationlayer import IterationLayer
client = IterationLayer(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")
# Step 1: Extract structured data from all three invoices
extraction = client.extract(
files=[
{
"type": "url",
"name": "invoice-acme.pdf",
"url": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-acme.pdf",
},
{
"type": "url",
"name": "invoice-brightway.pdf",
"url": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-brightway.pdf",
},
{
"type": "url",
"name": "invoice-delta-freight.pdf",
"url": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-delta-freight.pdf",
},
],
schema={
"fields": [
{
"name": "invoices",
"type": "ARRAY",
"description": "One entry per invoice file",
"item_schema": {
"fields": [
{"name": "vendor_name", "type": "TEXT", "description": "Vendor or supplier name"},
{"name": "invoice_number", "type": "TEXT", "description": "Invoice reference number"},
{"name": "invoice_date", "type": "DATE", "description": "Invoice issue date"},
{"name": "due_date", "type": "DATE", "description": "Payment due date"},
{"name": "total_amount", "type": "CURRENCY_AMOUNT", "description": "Total invoice amount"},
{"name": "currency", "type": "CURRENCY_CODE", "description": "Invoice currency"},
]
},
}
]
},
)
invoices = extraction["invoices"]["value"]
# Step 2: Generate XLSX accounts payable tracker from the extracted values
sheet = client.generate_sheet(
format="xlsx",
styles={
"header": {
"is_bold": True,
"background_color": "#1E3A5F",
"font_color": "#FFFFFF",
},
"body": {
"font_color": "#333333",
},
},
sheets=[
{
"name": "Accounts Payable",
"columns": [
{"name": "Vendor", "width": 30},
{"name": "Invoice #", "width": 18},
{"name": "Invoice Date", "width": 14},
{"name": "Due Date", "width": 14},
{"name": "Amount", "width": 16},
{"name": "Currency", "width": 12},
{"name": "Status", "width": 14},
],
"rows": [
[
{"value": invoice["vendor_name"]["value"]},
{"value": invoice["invoice_number"]["value"]},
{"value": invoice["invoice_date"]["value"], "format": "date"},
{"value": invoice["due_date"]["value"], "format": "date"},
{"value": float(invoice["total_amount"]["value"]["amount"]), "format": "currency"},
{"value": invoice["currency"]["value"]},
{"value": "Pending"},
]
for invoice in invoices
],
}
],
)
package main
import (
"fmt"
il "github.com/iterationlayer/sdk-go"
)
func main() {
client := il.NewClient("YOUR_API_KEY")
// Step 1: Extract structured data from all three invoices
extraction, err := client.Extract(il.ExtractRequest{
Files: []il.FileInput{
il.NewFileFromURL("invoice-acme.pdf", "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-acme.pdf"),
il.NewFileFromURL("invoice-brightway.pdf", "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-brightway.pdf"),
il.NewFileFromURL("invoice-delta-freight.pdf", "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-delta-freight.pdf"),
},
Schema: il.ExtractionSchema{
"invoices": il.NewArrayFieldConfig(
"invoices",
"One entry per invoice file",
[]il.FieldConfig{
il.NewTextFieldConfig("vendor_name", "Vendor or supplier name"),
il.NewTextFieldConfig("invoice_number", "Invoice reference number"),
il.NewDateFieldConfig("invoice_date", "Invoice issue date"),
il.NewDateFieldConfig("due_date", "Payment due date"),
il.NewCurrencyAmountFieldConfig("total_amount", "Total invoice amount"),
il.NewCurrencyCodeFieldConfig("currency", "Invoice currency"),
},
),
},
})
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
invoicesRaw, _ := (*extraction)["invoices"].Value.([]interface{})
rows := make([]il.SheetRow, 0, len(invoicesRaw))
for _, item := range invoicesRaw {
invoice, _ := item.(map[string]interface{})
getStr := func(field string) string {
f, _ := invoice[field].(map[string]interface{})
return fmt.Sprintf("%v", f["value"])
}
totalAmountField, _ := invoice["total_amount"].(map[string]interface{})
totalAmountValue, _ := totalAmountField["value"].(map[string]interface{})
amountStr := fmt.Sprintf("%v", totalAmountValue["amount"])
rows = append(rows, il.SheetRow{
{Value: getStr("vendor_name")},
{Value: getStr("invoice_number")},
{Value: getStr("invoice_date"), Format: "date"},
{Value: getStr("due_date"), Format: "date"},
{Value: amountStr, Format: "currency"},
{Value: getStr("currency")},
{Value: "Pending"},
})
}
// Step 2: Generate XLSX accounts payable tracker from the extracted values
_, err = client.GenerateSheet(il.GenerateSheetRequest{
Format: "xlsx",
Styles: &il.SheetStyles{
Header: &il.CellStyle{
IsBold: true,
BackgroundColor: "#1E3A5F",
FontColor: "#FFFFFF",
},
Body: &il.CellStyle{
FontColor: "#333333",
},
},
Sheets: []il.Sheet{
{
Name: "Accounts Payable",
Columns: []il.SheetColumn{
{Name: "Vendor", Width: 30},
{Name: "Invoice #", Width: 18},
{Name: "Invoice Date", Width: 14},
{Name: "Due Date", Width: 14},
{Name: "Amount", Width: 16},
{Name: "Currency", Width: 12},
{Name: "Status", Width: 14},
},
Rows: rows,
},
},
})
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
}
{
"name": "Extract Invoices and Build Accounts Payable Spreadsheet",
"nodes": [
{
"parameters": {
"content": "## Extract Invoices and Build Accounts Payable Spreadsheet
Accounts payable teams receive PDF invoices from multiple vendors and need to log them into a spreadsheet for the approval workflow. This recipe extracts structured data from all invoices in a single call, then feeds the results directly into an XLSX tracker with one row per invoice.
**Note:** This workflow uses the Iteration Layer community node (`n8n-nodes-iterationlayer`). Install it via Settings > Community Nodes before importing. Self-hosted n8n only.",
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"id": "b74d5200-3556-44d1-9654-3cf1b1cb17a8",
"name": "Overview"
},
{
"parameters": {
"content": "### Step 1: Extract Invoice Data
Resource: **Document Extraction**
Configure the Document Extraction parameters below, then connect your credentials.",
"height": 160,
"width": 300,
"color": 6
},
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
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"name": "Step 1 Note"
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{
"parameters": {
"content": "### Step 2: Generate AP Spreadsheet
Resource: **Sheet Generation**
Configure the Sheet Generation parameters below, then connect your credentials.",
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"width": 300,
"color": 6
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"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
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"id": "7a8b9c0d-1e2f-3456-0123-678901234567",
"name": "Manual Trigger"
},
{
"parameters": {
"resource": "documentExtraction",
"schemaInputMode": "rawJson",
"schemaJson": "[
{
\"name\": \"invoices\",
\"type\": \"ARRAY\",
\"description\": \"One entry per invoice file\",
\"children\": [
{
\"name\": \"vendor_name\",
\"type\": \"TEXT\",
\"description\": \"Vendor or supplier name\"
},
{
\"name\": \"invoice_number\",
\"type\": \"TEXT\",
\"description\": \"Invoice reference number\"
},
{
\"name\": \"invoice_date\",
\"type\": \"DATE\",
\"description\": \"Invoice issue date\"
},
{
\"name\": \"due_date\",
\"type\": \"DATE\",
\"description\": \"Payment due date\"
},
{
\"name\": \"total_amount\",
\"type\": \"CURRENCY_AMOUNT\",
\"description\": \"Total invoice amount\"
},
{
\"name\": \"currency\",
\"type\": \"CURRENCY_CODE\",
\"description\": \"Invoice currency\"
}
]
}
]",
"files": {
"fileValues": [
{
"inputMode": "url",
"fileUrl": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-acme.pdf"
},
{
"inputMode": "url",
"fileUrl": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-brightway.pdf"
},
{
"inputMode": "url",
"fileUrl": "https://example.com/invoices/invoice-delta-freight.pdf"
}
]
}
},
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"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
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"id": "8b9c0d1e-2f3a-4567-1234-789012345678",
"name": "Extract Invoice Data",
"credentials": {
"iterationLayerApi": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Iteration Layer API"
}
}
},
{
"parameters": {
"resource": "sheetGeneration",
"sheetFormat": "xlsx",
"sheetsJson": "[
{
\"name\": \"Accounts Payable\",
\"columns\": [
{ \"name\": \"Vendor\", \"width\": 30 },
{ \"name\": \"Invoice #\", \"width\": 18 },
{ \"name\": \"Invoice Date\", \"width\": 14 },
{ \"name\": \"Due Date\", \"width\": 14 },
{ \"name\": \"Amount\", \"width\": 16 },
{ \"name\": \"Currency\", \"width\": 12 },
{ \"name\": \"Status\", \"width\": 14 }
],
\"rows\": \"{{ $json.invoices }}\"
}
]",
"sheetStylesJson": "{
\"header\": {
\"is_bold\": true,
\"background_color\": \"#1E3A5F\",
\"font_color\": \"#FFFFFF\"
},
\"body\": {
\"font_color\": \"#333333\"
}
}"
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"name": "Generate AP Spreadsheet",
"credentials": {
"iterationLayerApi": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Iteration Layer API"
}
}
}
],
"connections": {
"Manual Trigger": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Extract Invoice Data",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Extract Invoice Data": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Generate AP Spreadsheet",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
},
"settings": {
"executionOrder": "v1"
}
}
Extract invoice data from the files at [file URL 1], [file URL 2], and [file URL 3], then generate an accounts payable spreadsheet. Use the extract_document tool with these fields:
- invoices (ARRAY): One entry per invoice file, each with:
- vendor_name (TEXT): Vendor or supplier name
- invoice_number (TEXT): Invoice reference number
- invoice_date (DATE): Invoice issue date
- due_date (DATE): Payment due date
- total_amount (CURRENCY_AMOUNT): Total invoice amount
- currency (CURRENCY_CODE): Invoice currency
Then use the generate_sheet tool to create an XLSX accounts payable tracker with the extracted rows.
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"buffer": "UEsDBBQAAAAIAA...",
"mime_type": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"
}
}