Publishing Workflow Guide

Learn how to efficiently publish PDFs across your entire Shopify store using PDF Connect's enhanced publishing system.

Overview: Two-Step Publishing Process

PDF Connect uses a streamlined two-step workflow that separates content management from display configuration:

1. 🔗 Link PDFs - Associate PDFs with pages, products, collections, etc.
2. 🎨 Add Theme App Extensions - Configure how PDFs appear using Shopify's theme editor

This separation allows for flexible content management and consistent visual presentation across your store.

Step 1: Link Your PDFs

Understanding Page Types

PDF Connect supports linking to all major Shopify page types:

Page Type	Use Cases	Examples
Products	Datasheets, manuals, specifications	Product manual, sizing chart, warranty info
Collections	Catalogs, buying guides	Spring catalog, buyer's guide, collection overview
Blog Articles	Resources, supplements	Downloadable checklist, research paper, template
Custom Pages	Policies, forms, info	Privacy policy, return form, company brochure
Homepage	Featured content	Company overview, featured catalog, welcome guide
Search Page	Discoverable content	FAQ document, site guide, help resources

Linking Process

1. Access PDF Management: Navigate to your PDF in the PDF Connect app
2. Start Linking: Click the "Link" button in the upper right corner
3. Choose Page Type: Select from the dropdown menu (Products, Collections, Articles, etc.)
4. Search & Select: Use the search bar to find specific pages or browse the paginated list
5. Confirm: Click "Link to [X] [Page Type]" to complete the process

Advanced Linking Features

Smart Search

• Partial Matching: Search for "tshirt" to find "Premium T-Shirt Collection"
• Real-time Results: See results update as you type
• Broad Matching: Search works across titles, handles, and descriptions

Efficient Navigation

• Pagination: Browse large catalogs with "Load More" functionality
• Bulk Selection: Select multiple items at once for efficient linking
• Quick Filters: Filter by status, type, or other criteria

Cross-Linking Strategy

Link the same PDF to multiple page types for maximum visibility:

• Product manual → Product page + Help article
• Company brochure → Homepage + About page + Contact page
• Size guide → All relevant product pages + Size guide page

Step 2: Add Theme App Extensions

Understanding Display Styles

Choose the right display style for your content and context:

📄 Embedded PDF

Perfect for: Primary content that customers should see immediately
Visual: PDF displays directly in the page
Best for: Product specifications, menus, technical documentation
Mobile: Responsive viewer that adapts to screen size

🔘 PDF Button

Perfect for: Optional or supplementary content
Visual: Button that opens PDF in popup overlay
Best for: User manuals, additional resources, detailed specs
Mobile: Touch-friendly buttons with optimized popups

📋 PDF List

Perfect for: Multiple related documents
Visual: Organized list with titles and descriptions
Best for: Resource libraries, document collections, download centers
Mobile: Stack layout optimized for mobile browsing

Adding Extensions to Templates

1. Access Theme Editor

• Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize
• Select the template you want to modify

2. Choose Template Type

Select the appropriate template based on where your PDFs are linked:

• Product template for product-linked PDFs
• Collection template for collection-linked PDFs
• Article template for blog article PDFs
• Page template for custom page PDFs
• Index template for homepage PDFs

3. Add PDF Extensions

• Navigate to the desired section
• Click "Add block"
• Select "Apps" tab
• Choose your PDF Connect extension:
  • PDF Connect - Embedded PDF
  • PDF Connect - PDF Button
  • PDF Connect - PDF List

4. Configure Settings

Use the right panel to customize:

• Display Options: Show/hide titles, descriptions
• Styling: Colors, sizes, spacing
• Behavior: Download settings, popup behavior
• Mobile: Responsive settings

Multi-Extension Strategy

You can add multiple PDF extensions to the same template for different purposes:

Example: Product Template

• Embedded PDF in main content area → Primary product manual
• PDF Button in sidebar → Optional warranty information
• PDF List at bottom → Related resources and downloads

Example: Collection Template

• PDF List at top → Collection catalog and buying guides
• PDF Button in header → Quick access to size guides

Best Practices

Content Organization

1. Strategic Linking: Link PDFs to the most relevant page types
2. Consistent Naming: Use clear, descriptive PDF titles
3. Regular Updates: Keep linked PDFs current and relevant
4. Mobile Testing: Always test PDF display on mobile devices

Performance Optimization

1. Selective Embedding: Use embedded PDFs sparingly to maintain page speed
2. Optimize PDF Size: Compress PDFs before uploading
3. Strategic Placement: Position PDF extensions where they add most value
4. Loading Strategy: Use buttons/lists for optional content

User Experience

1. Clear Purpose: Make it obvious why each PDF is valuable
2. Easy Access: Don't bury important PDFs in hard-to-find locations
3. Mobile-First: Ensure excellent mobile experience
4. Fast Loading: Optimize for quick page loads

Template Management

1. Consistent Styling: Use similar settings across templates for brand consistency
2. Strategic Variety: Use different display styles for different content types
3. Regular Review: Periodically review which templates have PDF extensions
4. Usage Analytics: Monitor which PDFs are accessed most frequently

Troubleshooting

PDFs Not Showing

1. Check Linking: Ensure PDFs are linked to the correct page type
2. Verify Template: Confirm you're adding extensions to the right template
3. Review Settings: Check extension visibility and display settings
4. Test Mobile: Some issues only appear on mobile devices

Performance Issues

1. PDF Size: Large embedded PDFs can slow page loading
2. Multiple Extensions: Too many extensions can impact performance
3. Mobile Optimization: Ensure responsive settings are configured
4. Browser Compatibility: Test across different browsers

Theme Compatibility

1. Modern Themes: PDF Connect works with all modern Shopify themes
2. App Extension Support: Ensure your theme supports app extensions
3. Custom Code: May require developer assistance for heavily customized themes
4. Version Updates: Keep theme and app updated for best compatibility

This publishing workflow gives you complete control over how and where PDFs appear in your store while maintaining the flexibility to adapt as your needs change.