Guides

Convert Table

Documents in Google Sheets

Use Image to Table Documents mode to turn invoices, receipts, forms, and similar files into spreadsheet rows in Google Sheets™.

Use `Documents` mode in Google Sheets™ when the goal is not just to rebuild a visible table, but to turn a structured document into rows in a sheet.

This workflow is designed for repeated OCR jobs such as invoices, receipts, bank statements, bills of lading, transcripts, forms, and similar documents.

What You Can Do

  • Choose a document type: Let the tool auto-detect the document, use a preset, or describe a custom document.
  • Control the output columns: Start from suggested headers, your existing sheet headers, or a preset header set.
  • Choose the row shape: Insert one row per document or expand repeated items into multiple rows.
  • Control insertion behavior: Append to the current sheet or overwrite the sheet with the extracted result.

Quick Start

  1. Open Selected Image to Table in Google Sheets™.
  2. Add an image or PDF page, then choose Documents.
  3. Pick the document type or use auto-detect.
  4. Choose your column header source.
  5. Choose single-row or multi-row output.
  6. Insert the extracted rows into the active sheet.

Note: Documents mode is available in Google Sheets™ because the output is designed for row-based spreadsheet data.

Pick the Document Type

  • Auto-detect: Use this when you want Image to Table to infer the document category.
  • Preset category: Use this when you already know the document family.
  • Custom: Use this when the document is specialized and you want to describe the fields to extract.

Common preset categories include:

  • invoices
  • receipts
  • bank statements
  • tax forms
  • checks
  • bills of lading
  • packing slips
  • customs declarations
  • inventory logs
  • transcripts
  • application forms
  • exam papers

Choose the Column Headers

  • From First Scan (AI): Start from headers suggested during the first analysis.
  • Use Existing Sheet Headers: Map the extraction into the schema already used in your current sheet.
  • From Category Preset: Start from headers that match the selected document category.

Choose the Output Shape

Single row per document

Use this when each document should become one summary row, such as an expense log or invoice register.

Multiple rows per document

Use this when repeated items should expand into separate rows, such as invoice line items, statement entries, or transcript courses.

Choose How to Insert

  • Append rows: Best for ongoing logs and recurring imports.
  • Overwrite sheet: Best when the current sheet should be replaced with the new extraction result.

Tip: If you run the same workflow repeatedly, define your destination sheet headers first. Reusing existing sheet headers makes recurring imports more consistent across different document layouts.

Related Links

  • Table and Full Modes - Use these modes when the goal is a regular extracted table or broader page content.