# Process WhatsApp PDFs with S3: n8n workflow template

> Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across S3 and WhatsApp. 9 steps, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/process-whatsapp-pdfs-with-s3 (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Documents and files](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Documents+and+files#library)

# Process WhatsApp PDFs with S3

Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across S3 and WhatsApp. 9 steps, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fprocess-whatsapp-pdfs-with-s3)

**9 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Logic 2 Service 6

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **WhatsApp Trigger** Whats App trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Get PDF** Http Request *Service*
- 3 **File Download** Http Request *Service*
- 4 **Upload File to S3** Aws S3 *Service*
- 5 **Download File from S3** Aws S3 *Service*
- 6 **AWS StartDocumentAnalysis** Http Request *Service*
- 7 **Wait for Processing Time** Wait *Logic*
- 8 **AWS GetDocumentAnalysis** Http Request *Service*
- 9 **Extract Text** Code *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An incoming WhatsApp message
- **Steps:** 9, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** S3, WhatsApp
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own S3 and WhatsApp accounts. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an incoming WhatsApp message.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 9 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 9 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fprocess-whatsapp-pdfs-with-s3)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[S3](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=S3#library)[WhatsApp](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=WhatsApp#library)

## Workflows like it

Also documents and files, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Backup workflow & credentials to Cloudflare R2 with S3** 10 steps · S3, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/backup-workflow-and-credentials-to-cloudflare-r2-with-s3)
- [**Backup all n8n workflows daily to S3** 7 steps · S3](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/backup-all-n8n-workflows-daily-to-s3)
- [**Build a landing page swipe file with Snapshot Site** 11 steps · Google Sheets, S3](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-landing-page-swipe-file-with-snapshot-site)
- [**Automate workflow & credentials backup to S3** 12 steps · S3](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-workflow-and-credentials-backup-to-s3)
- [**Create, delete, and organize AWS S3 buckets & files directly** 13 steps · Email, S3](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-delete-and-organize-aws-s3-buckets-and-files-directly)
- [**Download and compress folder from S3 to ZIP file** 5 steps · S3](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/download-and-compress-folder-from-s3-to-zip-file)