Monitoring PDFs

• Overview

• Identifying the URL type

• How to monitor a PDF directly

• How to monitor a PDF indirectly

• Limitations

• Frequently Asked Questions

Visualping can monitor PDF files as well as web pages. In this article, you'll learn how to set up monitors for both static and changing PDF URLs.

Visualping also supports other file types, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, TXT, XML, JSON, and images. The steps below work the same way for these files.

Before you create a new monitor, look at the URL of the PDF you want to monitor. Does it stay the same, or does it change when a new version is published?

For example, here is a URL for a list of ingredient information:

https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/downloads/IngredientslistCA_EN.pdf

The URL is static, so new updates will likely be uploaded to the same URL. In this scenario, you'll want to monitor the PDF directly.

The Canada Revenue Agency updates tax forms regularly, but the form URLs change with each tax year. Look at the end of this URL: it contains the tax year 21e.

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/cra-arc/formspubs/pbg/t776/t776-21e.pdf

When next year's form is published, it will have a new URL, so a monitor on this file would never see the update. In this scenario, you'll want to monitor the PDF indirectly.

Step 1:

On the Visualping dashboard, click Start monitoring. Paste the URL of the PDF and click Go.

Step 2:

By default, Visualping monitors the entire document. To monitor only part of it, select that area in the preview window. For example, if the document shows a "last updated" date, you can select just the date to get an alert whenever a new version is published.

Step 3:

In the Alert me when field, describe the changes you want to be alerted about, such as "a new ingredient is added" or "the effective date changes". If you want an alert for any change, choose Any changes in the No AI used tab. See Creating a strong prompt for tips.

Step 4:

Select how often Visualping should check the document, then click Start Monitoring.

When the PDF's URL changes with each new version, monitor the web page that links to the PDF instead. When a new version is posted, the link on that page changes, and Visualping alerts you.

Step 1:

Find the web page where the PDF is published. In this example, that's the T776 Statement of Real Estate Rentals page:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/forms/t776.html

Step 2:

On the Visualping dashboard, click Start monitoring. Paste the page URL and click Go.

Step 3:

In the preview window, select the part of the page that lists the PDF, such as the list of form versions or the download link. Use a simple click action and select the PDF link so it pulls up the PDF file in the preview.

Step 4:

In the Alert me when field, describe the change you're looking for, such as "a new version of the T776 form is posted".

Step 5:

Select how often Visualping should check the page, then click Start Monitoring.

• Page limit: Visualping monitors the first 100 pages of a PDF. Changes after page 100 are not detected. A warning is shown for long PDFs only when the monitor uses the Text changes compare mode; with other compare modes, pages after 100 are skipped without a warning.

• Browser settings are disabled: Settings that control how a web page loads, such as JavaScript, wait time, and mobile view, are not available for PDF monitors.

If the document is split into sections or chapters with their own PDF files, create a separate monitor for each one. You can also monitor the page that links to the PDF, as described in How to monitor a PDF indirectly.

Yes, if you use webhook notifications. Webhook alerts for PDF monitors include download links for the previous and current versions of the file. See How do I use Webhooks? for details.

If you are running into technical issues, reach out to our Support team at support@visualping.io. Include the PDF URL, what you were trying to do, and any error messages so we can help faster.

• How to create a basic monitoring job

• Creating a strong prompt

• How to reduce false positives?

• How do I use Webhooks?