Convert Excel files to images with Nutrient Document Web Services API on Zapier

What is Zapier?

Zapier is an automation platform that connects your favorite apps and services with no code required. You can build “Zaps” to automate repetitive tasks by setting up triggers and actions between apps like Google Drive, Slack, Gmail, and more.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use Zapier to automatically convert Excel files (XLS, XLSX) into JPG, PNG, or TIFF images using the Nutrient API.

What is the Nutrient API?

Nutrient Document Web Services API is a powerful platform for document automation. With your free account, you get 100 credits, which you can use to perform various document operations. Each tool (e.g. conversion, signing, flattening) consumes a different amount of credits depending on complexity.

You can use Nutrient to:

• Convert Office files to images

• Convert PDFs to/from PDF/A or Office

• Apply OCR, annotations, signatures, and watermarks

• Extract, archive, or generate documents automatically

What you’ll need

• A Zapier account (a pro plan is necessary for multi-step Zaps)

• A Google Drive account

• An XLS or XLSX file stored in Google Drive

• A Nutrient Document Web Services API key — sign up here

Step 1 — Trigger a new file in a Google Drive folder

1. Select Google Drive as the trigger app.

2. Choose the New File in Folder trigger event.

3. Connect your Google Drive account.

4. Configure the trigger:

• Drive — Select your personal Google Drive.

• Folder — Choose a folder to monitor (e.g. xls-to-image).

• Ensure that the option for Include Deleted Files? is set to Only return non-deleted files.

5. Test the step by uploading an .xlsx file and confirming it’s pulled into Zapier. You can use our sample file for testing this step.

Step 2 — Convert Excel to image action (Nutrient API)

1. Select Nutrient Document Web Services API as the action app.

2. Choose Convert XLS/XLSX to Image as the action event.

3. Connect your Nutrient API account.

You can find your API key in the Nutrient dashboard.

4. Configure the action fields:

• Spreadsheet File — Map this to the file from the trigger step.

• Output format — Required. Choose jpg, png, or tiff.

• Output File Name — Optional (e.g. spreadsheet-preview.png).

5. Test the step to verify the Excel file is converted to your selected image format.

Step 3 — Upload the image to Google Drive

1. Select Google Drive again and choose the Upload File action.

2. Choose your drive and output folder. Use the image file from the Nutrient step.

3. Test this step to ensure the converted image is uploaded successfully.

Conclusion

You’ve now automated the process of converting Excel files into image formats using Zapier and the Nutrient API. This is especially helpful for generating visual snapshots of spreadsheet reports or dashboards. Combine this workflow with OCR, PDF merging, or email automation for even more power!