Document Generation

Generate Personalized PDFs Directly from Course Data

Turn learner inputs, assessment scores, and course variables into customized certificates, action plans, and job aids. Build your template in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, connect variables in Storyline or Captivate, and deliver finished documents via instant download or automated email.

Connect a PDF template

Supports Microsoft Word (.docx), Google Docs, and built-in templates with instant download or email delivery.

Template Design

Build Templates in the Tools You Already Use

Design documents using the full layout, typography, and styling capabilities of your preferred word processor. Placeholders like %LearnerName%, %CompletionDate%, and %FinalScore% define where dynamic course data appears.

  • Microsoft Word (.docx)Design certificates, multi-page workbooks, and job aids in Word, then upload the file directly to your project.
  • Google Docs integrationConnect a live Google Doc URL to update certificate formatting and layout instantly without re-uploading files.
  • Built-in rich text editorDraft and edit quick single-page certificates and notes directly in the browser with full styling controls.
  • Flexible page sizingChoose between Letter and A4 page sizes in portrait or landscape orientations to match your organization's design standards.

Variable Mapping

Connect Course Variables with a Single Trigger

Connecting course data to your document requires zero server configuration. Cluelabs scans your template, extracts every placeholder, and provides the exact trigger code ready to paste into your authoring software.

  • Automated variable detectionUpload your template and Cluelabs immediately lists every placeholder tag found in the document.
  • Storyline and Captivate supportUse a ready-made starter project or paste a single-line trigger into your existing course slides.
  • Capture any learner inputMap text-entry responses, reflection journal notes, quiz scores, timestamps, and learner names to distinct document fields.
  • Standard JavaScript and web appsGenerate documents from custom HTML5 learning interactions, software simulations, and bespoke web apps.

Document Delivery

Deliver PDFs via Instant Download or Direct Email

Give learners take-away resources they can reference long after completing training, or send verifiable documentation directly to supervisors and compliance managers.

  • Instant browser downloadGenerate the PDF on the server and trigger an immediate browser download when the learner clicks a course button.
  • Automated email deliveryEmail the generated PDF as an attachment directly to the learner, their manager, or an instructor using a course variable.
  • Custom email messagingDefine your own sender name, subject line, and personalized email body to provide context alongside the attached document.
  • Take-away job aids and action plansConvert on-screen reflection exercises into practical action plans that learners can print or save for workplace application.

Audit Logging

Record Every Generation Event in Real Time

Maintain complete visibility over issued certificates and course documents, even when delivering courses outside a traditional Learning Management System.

  • Integrated Data Cloud loggingConnect your PDF template to a secure Cluelabs Data Cloud table with a single click.
  • Complete audit trailRecord the exact timestamp, recipient email address, and variable values submitted for every generated document.
  • LMS-independent verificationVerify that a learner achieved required benchmark scores before issuing formal credential documents.
  • CSV log exportDownload complete generation histories as spreadsheet-ready CSV files for compliance audits and stakeholder reporting.

AI Automation

Generate Course Documents with Model Context Protocol

Incorporate document generation into modern agentic AI workflows. With native Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, autonomous agents and AI assistants can inspect templates, map data, and generate documents programmatically.

  • Direct agent interactionEnable AI agents in environments like Claude, ChatGPT, and VS Code to inspect available document templates and required variables.
  • Programmatic generationInstruct your AI assistant to generate score reports, customized learner summaries, and certificate packages using natural language.
  • Automated curriculum workflowsPair document creation with Content Studio storyboards and LMS data pipelines to produce learner materials automatically.
  • Standardized endpointsSecure API and MCP endpoints provide reliable, token-authenticated document synthesis for custom development.

Implementation Steps

How to Add PDF Generation to Your Course

  1. Design the Template

    Create your certificate or action plan in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, inserting placeholders like %LearnerName% and %Score% wherever course data belongs.

  2. Connect the Document

    Add your template to Cluelabs by uploading the .docx file, pasting your Google Docs link, or building the layout in the browser editor.

  3. Choose Delivery and Logging

    Select whether learners download the PDF directly in their browser or receive it by email, and optionally attach a Data Cloud table to track every document created.

  4. Paste the Trigger into Your Course

    Copy the generated JavaScript trigger or download the starter .story file, add it to your completion slide in Storyline or Captivate, and publish your course.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does This Differ from Storyline's Native "Print Slide" Trigger?

Storyline's native "Print Slide" trigger relies entirely on the learner's local browser print dialog, which often cuts off margins, removes background graphics, and prints navigation buttons. Cluelabs PDF Maker generates a real, server-rendered PDF document with crisp typography, multi-page layouts, and professional formatting independent of browser print settings.

Do I Have to Write Custom JavaScript to Make This Work?

No. Cluelabs provides pre-formatted trigger scripts and downloadable starter .story files. You paste the provided code into an "Execute JavaScript" trigger in Storyline or an advanced action in Captivate, map your variable names, and publish your project.

Can I Send Certificates Directly to a Manager or Mentor?

Yes. You can configure PDF Maker to deliver documents via email. By capturing a manager's email address in a course text-entry field or pulling it from an LMS variable, the PDF sends automatically as an email attachment upon course completion.

Can I Track Which Learners Have Generated a Document?

Yes. You can link any PDF template to a Cluelabs Data Cloud table. Each time a document is created, the system logs the timestamp, recipient email, and all populated variable values, creating an auditable record you can view online or export to CSV.

What Template Formats Are Supported?

You can upload Microsoft Word documents (.docx), connect live Google Docs via URL, or create your document directly within the Cluelabs rich text editor.

Does PDF Maker Work Without a Learning Management System?

Yes. PDF Maker operates entirely through standard web requests, allowing you to generate certificates, job aids, and action plans from courses hosted on corporate intranets, public web servers, or standard LMS platforms.

Can AI Agents Generate PDFs Through the Model Context Protocol?

Yes. Cluelabs PDF Maker exposes authorized MCP endpoints, allowing AI assistants and coding agents to inspect document variables, trigger downloads, and send emailed PDFs programmatically.

Get Started

Add Custom PDF Generation to Your Elearning Courses

Design your template, connect your variables, and give learners professional take-away documents from every course.

Connect a PDF template