Replace Legacy PDF Download URLs
Introduction
Gravity PDF v3.0 was released in 2013 and reached end of life in 2017. It served PDFs from a URL built out of query strings:
https:/?gf_pdf=1&fid=1&lid=10&template=zadani.php
Version 4.0 replaced it with a shorter endpoint, and we kept the old URL working so links that had already gone out didn't break. These legacy links will be removed in Gravity PDF 7.0, and any PDFs still accessed using them will stop working.
How to Tell if You're Affected
Gravity PDF lists the affected form IDs in three places, and each ID links straight to that form's PDF settings:
- The Gravity PDF section of the Gravity Forms System Status page, under
Forms -> System Status. - The WordPress Site Health screen, under
Tools -> Site Health. - A dismissible notice on the Gravity PDF admin screens.
A form is listed for either of two reasons:
- A legacy URL is detected in the form object. Gravity PDF searches the form's settings, its confirmations and its notifications for one.
- A legacy URL has been served for that form. Gravity PDF logs the legacy PDF endpoint and will display a deprecation notice in the system report for 30 days
What Replaces It
You don't write the new URL by hand. Gravity PDF builds it for you through the [gravitypdf] shortcode or a PDF merge tag, which is also how you get signed links that expire. The v3 URL had no equivalent.
Translating an Old URL
If you need to work out which PDF an existing link points at, the query string tells you:
| v3 parameter | What it means |
|---|---|
fid | The Gravity Forms form ID |
lid | The entry ID. v3 accepted a comma-separated list here, but only the first entry was used |
template | The template file the PDF uses. Gravity PDF reads this to work out which of the form's PDFs you meant |
aid | Which PDF to use when the form has several sharing that template |
download | Present when the link should download the file rather than display it |
So ?gf_pdf=1&fid=1&lid=10&template=zadani.php&download=1 is a download link for entry 10 of form 1, using whichever active PDF on that form is built on Zadani.
Open Forms -> Settings -> PDF on that form to find the matching PDF. The PDF list shows the ready-made shortcode for each one, which you can copy straight into your confirmation or page.
Where to Look for Old Links
The System Status page finds the links stored on your forms. Everywhere else needs a manual search:
- Pages and posts that link to a PDF. Searching your site content for
gf_pdfwill find most of them. - Custom code: themes, snippets, or plugins that build a download URL by hand.
- Other systems you've integrated with, such as a CRM or a help desk that stores a link against a record.
- Emails already delivered. You can't change those, and their links will break in 7.0. If that matters, resend the important ones with a new link before you update.
When you've replaced the links you control, generate a PDF through the new shortcode or merge tag to check it works, then reload the System Status page.
Help and Support
If you are unable to locate a legacy download link, or you're unsure how to upgrade correctly, get in touch and we'll help you work it out.