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Getting Started

Smart Certificates automates the creation and delivery of personalized certificates based on Google Form™ submissions. This guide walks you through the setup and configuration process.

Launch the Add-On

In the Google Form editor:

  1. Click the Add-ons icon (puzzle piece).
  2. Select Smart Certificates from the list.
  3. Click Open from the popup.

Open Add-On

Background Changes on First Launch

Upon initial launch, Smart Certificates will configure your form automatically:

  • ✅ Enables “Make this a quiz”
    Ensures scoring is enabled for pass/fail conditions.
    Quiz

  • ✅ Enables “Collect email addresses”
    Ensures responses are associated with a verifiable email.
    Email

🧰 Usage Instructions

Configure Add-On

Click the Configure button to begin.
config

📝 Prepare Your Form

Follow the guided steps and save all settings.
Prepare Form

🪪 Certificate Settings

Certificate Demo

  • Certificate Template – Select a Google Slides™ template for certificate generation.
  • Placeholder Mapper – Use the ➕ button to map form fields to placeholders (e.g., {{Full Name}}). These placeholders are also usable in email content.
  • Certificate Name – Dynamic naming using placeholders.
  • Destination Folder – Select a Google Drive™ folder to store the certificates.
  • Output File Format – Choose between PDF or Image.
  • Date Format – Select a date format that will appear on the certificate.
  • Next to Save – Click “Next” after completing this section.
📬 Mail Settings

Mail Demo

  • Sender Name – Appears in the “From” field of the recipient’s inbox.
  • CC / BCC – Add recipients to be copied or blind-copied.
  • Mail Subject (Pass/Fail) – Customize the subject line depending on the outcome.
  • Mail Body (Pass/Fail) – Customize the body content for both pass and fail scenarios.
  • Save Mail Settings – Save the configuration to apply during certificate delivery.

✅ Summary

  • Review your configuration and Save it to finalize setup.
    Summary

⚙️ How the Add-On Works

Once the form is submitted:

  1. Smart Certificates calculates the score.

  2. If the user passes, a personalized certificate is:

    • Generated using your template
    • Filled with mapped placeholders
    • Emailed to the respondent

  3. If the user fails, a custom failure email is sent (no certificate).

🎨 Template Gallery Feature

How to Use

  1. Open the Gallery in Certificate Settings
    Gallery Button

  2. Choose a template and click the copy button
    Gallery

  3. A new tab will open — click “Make a Copy” to save it to your Drive
    New Tab

  4. Return to the add-on and select the copied file using the file picker

⚠️ Restricted Question Types (Do Not Use for Quiz Scoring)

Smart Certificates does not support quiz scoring with the following question types:

  1. Paragraph
  2. Checkbox Grid
  3. Multiple Choice Grid
  4. Date
  5. Time
  6. Linear Scale