---
title: "Getting Started with PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce"
description: "Create WooCommerce PDF invoices: install, first setup of the Invoice document, triggers, emails, numbering, layout and Free vs Pro."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/introduction-and-overview-for-pdf-invoices-plugin/"
updated: "2026-10-05"
category: Getting Started
tags:
  - "PDF Invoices & Packing Slips Generator"
---

# Getting Started with PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce

[PDF Invoices & Packing Slips Generator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/pdf-invoicing-for-woocommerce/) creates PDF invoices for your orders from an HTML template you control, with your numbering, header, logo and footer. Configure it at **WPFactory > PDF Invoicing** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > PDF Invoicing**). The Invoice document is ready to use as soon as you activate it.

## What it does

PDF Invoicing adds a PDF Invoicing box to each order, where you create, view, download, print or delete the order's documents. Documents can be created manually or automatically on an order event, attached to WooCommerce emails, and shown to customers under My Account. The free version handles one document (the Invoice); Pro adds packing slips, credit notes and any other document types you define.

| Feature area | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Document automation** | Generate PDFs manually from the order edit screen, or automatically on new order, on payment complete, on checkout order processed, on a chosen order status, or on partial refund. |
| **Customer communication** | Attach documents to WooCommerce emails, and let customers view them under **My Account > Orders**. |
| **Customization and branding** | Control page orientation, format, and top, left and right margins, add a header image, header and footer text, colors, fonts, and a page background or foreground image. |
| **Numbering and sequencing** | Build custom, sequential, or date-based numbering with shortcodes, backed by a per-document counter you can view and reset. |
| **Advanced content** | Use a large shortcode set for dynamic content, conditional logic (`[if]`), item loops (`[each_item]`), multi-language text (`[translate]`), and a developer filter for custom values. |

## Install and activate

1. Free: go to **Plugins > Add New**, search for **PDF Invoices & Packing Slips Generator for WooCommerce** by WPFactory, then install and activate it.
2. Pro: download **PDF Invoices & Packing Slips Generator for WooCommerce Pro** from your WPFactory account, upload the ZIP at **Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin** and activate it. When Pro is active, the free version stops loading. WooCommerce must be active.

For more detail, see [Installation and Activation](https://wpfactory.com/docs/installation/).

## First setup

1. Go to **WPFactory > PDF Invoicing**. On the **General** section, confirm **PDF Invoicing** > **Enable plugin** is ticked (on by default).
2. Open the **Doc: Invoice** section. **Enable/Disable** is on and the **Title** is `Invoice` by default.
3. In **Create**, keep **Manually** (the default) or add a trigger such as **On payment complete** or **On order status Completed**.
4. In **Emails**, pick the WooCommerce emails that should carry the PDF, for example Completed order (none by default).
5. Optionally tick **My account** > **Enable** so customers can view the PDF in My Account > Orders (off by default), then save changes.
6. Open an order. In the **PDF Invoicing** box, create the invoice and view it. With the default **Number format** `INV-[doc_counter format="%06d"]`, the first invoice is numbered like INV-000001.

 ![WPFactory > PDF Invoicing > Doc: Invoice section, top options (Enable/Disable, Title, Create, Emails, Number format, My ](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/introduction-and-overview-for-pdf-invoices-plugin-1.png)

See [General settings configuration](https://wpfactory.com/docs/general-settings-configuration/) and [document-specific configuration](https://wpfactory.com/docs/document-specific-configuration/).

## Main features

### Create and manage invoices

Each order has a **PDF Invoicing** box with create, view, download, print and delete actions, and the Orders list shows the document too. See [create and manage PDF invoices](https://wpfactory.com/docs/create-manage-woocommerce-pdf-invoices/).

### Bulk view and download

The **Bulk actions** option adds **View PDFs** and **Download PDFs** to **Orders > Bulk actions** (Download PDFs is on by default). See [bulk view and download PDF invoices](https://wpfactory.com/docs/bulk-view-download-pdf-invoices/).

### Email attachments and My Account

Attach the PDF to any WooCommerce email with the **Emails** option, and let customers download it from My Account. See [attach PDF invoices to emails](https://wpfactory.com/docs/attach-pdf-invoices-to-woocommerce-emails/) and [PDF invoices in My Account](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-pdf-invoices-my-account/).

### Numbering and counters

**Number format** accepts shortcodes, and the **Counters** section shows and resets each document's counter. See [invoice number format and counters](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-invoice-number-format-counters/).

### Layout, logo, header and footer

Page Options set orientation (Portrait by default), format (A4 by default) and margins. Header Options add a header image, title and text; Footer Options add footer HTML content. There is no footer image and no bottom margin option. See [add a logo, header and footer](https://wpfactory.com/docs/add-logo-header-footer-to-pdf-invoices/), [layout and styling](https://wpfactory.com/docs/layout-and-styling-customization/) and [page background or watermark](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pdf-page-background-and-watermark/).

### Template content and shortcodes

The **HTML content** field under Content Options is the document template. Shortcodes fill in order data, and `[if]`, `[each_item]` and `[translate]` add logic, item loops and multilingual text. See the [shortcode reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/shortcode-reference/), [conditional content and item loops](https://wpfactory.com/docs/conditional-content-in-pdf-invoices/) and [multilingual PDF invoices](https://wpfactory.com/docs/multilingual-pdf-invoices/).

### Multiple document types (Pro)

Raise **Total documents** on the General section to add a **Doc:** section for each extra document, such as a packing slip or credit note, each with its own counter. See [multiple PDF document types](https://wpfactory.com/docs/multiple-pdf-document-types/).

### Advanced and developers

The General section's Advanced Options cover the shortcode prefix, custom TCPDF config, Print.js and **View PDFs in a new tab**. See [advanced TCPDF configuration](https://wpfactory.com/docs/advanced-tcpdf-configuration/) and [hooks and filters](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pdf-invoicing-developer-hooks-filters/).

## Free vs Pro

The free version generates one document type (the Invoice), with all of its layout, content, numbering, email, My Account, and bulk-action options. The only Pro feature is more than one document type.

| Feature | Free | Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Invoice document with all layout, content, numbering, email, My Account and bulk options | Yes | Yes |
| All shortcodes, counters and developer filters | Yes | Yes |
| More than one document type (Total documents above 1) | No (read-only, 1) | Yes |

## FAQ

### Why is no invoice created for new orders?

The default **Create** value is **Manually**. Add an automatic trigger, such as On payment complete, in the Doc: Invoice section.

### Why is the invoice not attached to the order email?

The **Emails** option is empty by default. Select the emails that should carry the PDF, and make sure the invoice is created before that email is sent, for example with a matching Create trigger.

### Can I add a packing slip in the free version?

No. Total documents is fixed at 1 in the free version. You can rename the one document, but running an invoice and a packing slip together needs Pro.

### How do I put the year in the invoice number?

Use `[current_time datetime_format="Y"]` in **Number format**, for example `INV-[current_time datetime_format="Y"]-[doc_counter format="%04d"]`. There is no `[Y]` shortcode.

**Prefer watching? This short video summarizes the article in just a few minutes.**

[How to Automatically Generate PDF Invoices and Packing Slips in WooCommerce](https://www.youtube.com/embed/d8GUtUH7-qc?feature=oembed)

### Get started

The Invoice document is free. [PDF Invoices & Packing Slips Generator for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/pdf-invoicing-for-woocommerce/) Pro adds packing slips, credit notes and any other document types, each with its own settings and counter. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/pdf-invoicing-for-woocommerce/).

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [PDF Invoicing support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/pdf-invoicing-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [PDF Invoice Shortcode Attributes and Placeholders Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pdf-invoice-shortcode-attributes-reference/)
- [How to Reset a PDF Invoicing Settings Section](https://wpfactory.com/docs/reset-pdf-invoicing-settings/)