Many accounting software solutions can only display a single PDF file per invoice. That's why eConnect offers the ability to automatically generate a PDF from e-invoice data and merge attachments into one clear document.

When you receive an e-invoice (XML) without an accompanying PDF, the platform can automatically generate a PDF based on the invoice data in the XML. This ensures you always have a visually readable version of every invoice, regardless of how it was delivered.

Three modes are available, configurable at account level:

The setting is managed by eConnect support. Get in touch if you want to change the mode.

A useful option is to place the eConnect-generated PDF at the front of the document. This way, the user always sees the same standardized layout, regardless of the original invoice layout from the supplier. This is especially useful for organizations that receive many invoices from different suppliers and want a uniform view in their approval process.

For invoices that arrive together with specifications, packing slips or other documents, you can have everything merged into a single PDF. This is essential for ERP systems that can only process one PDF file per invoice in their approval workflow.

The merge order is:

1. The generated PDF (or the original invoice PDF)
2. All additional attachments

Alternatively, you can choose to send attachments as separate files instead of merging them. The right choice depends on what your software can handle.

PDF merge is especially valuable in these situations:

• Your software displays only one PDF per invoice and you need attachments in the approval process.
• You receive invoices with separate specification documents that you want to view together.
• You want a uniform invoice view regardless of the supplier.

Suppliers can also embed a PDF within the UBL invoice itself (as a base64 attachment in the AdditionalDocumentReference element). This is a Peppol-supported method that allows suppliers to send both structured data and the visual PDF in a single file. eConnect processes this correctly and makes the embedded PDF available as an attachment.

Want to adjust the PDF settings for your account? Contact support.

• Document classification: how the system determines document type
• Conversion task: the process from start to finish
• Submitting purchase invoices by email
• Downloading the XML invoice