Automation - How to download and save multiple pdf statements?

jgallcash

KingL2 said:

jgallcash said:

KingL2 said:

Have you done this already?  I have some thoughts, but won't spend the time typing it out if you have already done the job.  Also - what operating system.

I've been building up the courage to do this for about three months.  There's been some useful advice above which I'm looking into, but I've not yet acted upon, so please do share any thoughts you might have.

My operating system is Windows but have Android phone/tablet too if that opens any other avenues

OK, I'll make a post later.  Is the default filenames of the pdfs that your bank delivers somehow meaningful? (at least sequential)

The statements on my joint account have an 8 digit reference that's not sequential unfortunately.

My credit card ones do though. They download as 2022 - 02-01 statement, 2022 - 01-01 statement etc

KingL2

If the served filenames aren't sequential, an autodownloader won't help you, you'll have to download each one individually and 'save as' with a sequential prefix, (whether is is just a simple 001, 002, 003 (then rename those later with BRU, as above) or prefixing with YYYYMM for each download).

I'm sure you know this already, but you can choose in browser settings (1) 'always download to the same directory and use the default filenames given to you' or (2) 'prompt me each download for a save folder and filename'.  You can choose the second one and add a sequential prefix to each file as you download it.

The keystroke sequence to do this would be

mouseover the link
right click
k ;  (save linK as) (Chrome)
[home] ;   (go to the start of the filename)
manually-key-in-your-prefix
[enter] ; commit to the save

We could make a script in Autohotkeys to replicate this sequence, which would save you some keystrokes (you could also have the option to copy the final filename from Column E in my spreadsheet and paste that in the file-save dialog box as the downloaded filename). You would still need to manually do the mouseover part for each statement and tap a key to invoke the rest.

But to be honest, it might well take longer to set it up and fine-tune it than it would just to do the downloads and renaming manually.  Shout if you want to explore a AutoHotkeys method.

jgallcash

KingL2 said:

If the served filenames aren't sequential, an autodownloader won't help you, you'll have to download each one individually and 'save as' with a sequential prefix, (whether is is just a simple 001, 002, 003 (then rename those later with BRU, as above) or prefixing with YYYYMM for each download).

I'm sure you know this already, but you can choose in browser settings (1) 'always download to the same directory and use the default filenames given to you' or (2) 'prompt me each download for a save folder and filename'.  You can choose the second one and add a sequential prefix to each file as you download it.

The keystroke sequence to do this would be

mouseover the link
right click
k ;  (save linK as) (Chrome)
[home] ;   (go to the start of the filename)
manually-key-in-your-prefix
[enter] ; commit to the save

We could make a script in Autohotkeys to replicate this sequence, which would save you some keystrokes (you could also have the option to copy the final filename from Column E in my spreadsheet and paste that in the file-save dialog box as the downloaded filename). You would still need to manually do the mouseover part for each statement and tap a key to invoke the rest.

But to be honest, it might well take longer to set it up and fine-tune it than it would just to do the downloads and renaming manually.  Shout if you want to explore a AutoHotkeys method.

Super helpful couple of posts. Thanks so much. 

It's worth doing the ground work now because I'm going to be saving them all in the future at the end of the tax year too.  Setting a system up now is going to be helpful down the line

KingL2

edit : I think that you could use Bulk rename utility to prefix them with the 'date created' field, which would put them in sequential order as long as you downloaded them in sequential order. I'm not sure, but I doubt that an autodownloader would give them different 'date created' metadata, so you would still have to download them manually/individually, but you could skip the prefixing part and have BRU do that later.

400ixl

All of the banks I have, I can go in and configure custom statements where I set the start and end date (worst case is years worth). Could be easier than trying to download lots of monthly statements.

k_man

On-the-coast said:

You're describing a classic "software engineers dilemma!"
For approximately 100 links from a typical bank, it's going to take  you around half a minute each to save them in the right place.
Say 1 hour if you allow for a few mistakes and a much needed tea break.
Now... the question your typical techie will ask him/herself is "can i automate this task in less than an hour?"...
... well can they?
What normally happens is that they spend an hour google / chatting / experimenting, and then do it manually anyway. However if this is a task that is going to repeat itself every week/month, or perhaps one that contained 10,000 links they would try and find a way.
Most banks do not make this task easy in my experience - so in your case i'd go with manual - for what sounds like a one-off, and a managably small list of PDF's
Good luck!

I suspect the total effort by all parties in the thread has now surpassed the manual effort for the one of job!

forgotmyname

Program called ReNamer Lite maybe useful also.

Good for renaming files in bulk.

GDB2222

k_man said:

On-the-coast said:

You're describing a classic "software engineers dilemma!"
For approximately 100 links from a typical bank, it's going to take  you around half a minute each to save them in the right place.
Say 1 hour if you allow for a few mistakes and a much needed tea break.
Now... the question your typical techie will ask him/herself is "can i automate this task in less than an hour?"...
... well can they?
What normally happens is that they spend an hour google / chatting / experimenting, and then do it manually anyway. However if this is a task that is going to repeat itself every week/month, or perhaps one that contained 10,000 links they would try and find a way.
Most banks do not make this task easy in my experience - so in your case i'd go with manual - for what sounds like a one-off, and a managably small list of PDF's
Good luck!

I suspect the total effort by all parties in the thread has now surpassed the manual effort for the one of job!

This is a very useful thread though. I’m bookmarking it.