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Insert a Swiss QR Bill on a Custom Page Number in Power Automate (4-Action Dropbox Flow with PDF4me)

· 21 min read
Sankalp Mishra
SEO and Content Writer

Most Swiss QR-bill tutorials put the payment slip on page 1 (or append it to the end). Real invoices often need it somewhere in the middle: a 10-page contract pack where the QR-bill belongs right after the summary, or a quarterly statement where the slip should follow the cover page. The PDF4me Power Automate connector handles that in one action via Paging Options = custom plus a Page Number field. This guide walks through the exact run captured in the canvas: /pdf4metest/sample/10 page.pdf becomes a Swiss-compliant file with the QR-bill inserted as page 3, then uploaded to /pdf4meoutput with a guid-prefixed name so re-runs do not collide. 4 actions, zero code, runs in seconds.

The flow at a glance
1. Manually trigger a flow
Manual trigger for testing. Swap for any storage trigger in production.
2. Dropbox Get file content
Reads /pdf4metest/sample/10 page.pdf with Infer Content Type Yes.
3. PDF4me Barcode - Create SwissQR Bill
Output Format Type PNG (try PDF for hybrid). Paging Options custom, Page Number 3. All payment fields filled.
4. Dropbox Create file
Writes to /pdf4meoutput. File Name built from guid() plus headers/FileName so every run lands as a unique file.
The short version

Four Power Automate actions. Manually trigger starts the flow. Dropbox Get file content reads /pdf4metest/sample/10 page.pdf with Infer Content Type set to Yes. PDF4me Barcode - Create SwissQR Bill appends a Swiss Payment Standards compliant QR-bill page with Output Format Type PNG (in this run; pick PDF for the hybrid container, plus JPEG and Tiff available), IBAN CH4431999123000889012, Amount 5253531, Currency CHF, Reference Type QRR, Language English, Seperator Line LineWithScissor, Creditor Var Schneider AG (S address, biel 2501), Ultimate Debtor Pia-Maria Rutschmann-Schnyder (S address, biel 9400), Reference 210000000003139471430009017, plus full AV1 and AV2 alternative scheme parameters. Under Advanced parameters: Paging Options custom and Page Number 3. Dropbox Create file writes to /pdf4meoutput with File Name built from guid() + headers/FileName for uniqueness. Output: a Swiss-bank-scannable file in the archive folder.

Three things that decide whether your output is bank-scannable AND lands on the right page

First, the IBAN must start with CH or LI and be 21 characters max. For QRR Reference Type, the IBAN must be a QR-IBAN, not a standard IBAN. Second, when Reference Type is QRR, the Reference is a 27-digit numeric with a mod-10 check digit. If you do not have one, switch to SCOR or NON. Third, Paging Options + Page Number only apply when Output Format Type is PDF. Image format types (PNG, JPEG, Tiff) ignore both because the output is a standalone slip image, not a multi-page document.

Common real-world questions this solves​

People search this exact problem with phrasings like:

  • "How do I insert a Swiss QR bill on a specific page of my PDF in Power Automate?" Use Output Format Type PDF, Paging Options custom, and Page Number with the 1-based page index (3 in this guide).
  • "Can I output the Swiss QR as a PNG image instead of a PDF page?" Yes. Set Output Format Type to PNG, JPEG, or Tiff and the action returns a standalone image of the slip alone, ignoring Paging Options.
  • "How do I make sure my output file name does not collide on re-runs?" Use a guid() Power Automate expression in the File Name field of the Dropbox upload, optionally concatenated with headers/FileName from the PDF4me output.
  • "What goes under Advanced parameters in the Power Automate action?" Four fields: Page Number, Paging Options, File Content (source PDF), File Name. Click Show all on Advanced parameters to expose them.
  • "Will Swiss banks scan a PNG-format QR-bill?" Yes. the QR encoding is identical across PDF and image outputs. PNG is the right choice for inline email or web-embedded slips; PDF for full invoice + slip delivery.

What you are building​

A reusable 4-action Power Automate flow that produces a Swiss-bank-scannable invoice with the QR-bill on whatever page you choose. Same flow handles the standalone-image case (skip the source PDF, switch Output Format Type to PNG / JPEG / Tiff) for email-embedded payment reminders.

Power Automate flow canvas with four actions: Manually trigger a flow, Dropbox Get file content, Barcode - Create SwissQR Bill, Dropbox Create file.

Four actions, top to bottom. Manual trigger keeps the flow easy to test; swap for any storage trigger in production.

What you need​

  • Power Automate account with a flow open. Open Power Automate.
  • PDF4me API key. Get your API key. Sign in to the PDF4me Connect connector the first time you drop the action.
  • Dropbox with /pdf4metest/sample as the source folder and /pdf4meoutput as the destination. Any storage works: SharePoint, OneDrive, Dataverse map the same way.
  • An invoice PDF. Download the 10-page sample from the screenshots to follow along exactly.
  • Swiss payment data: CH or LI IBAN (max 21 chars), Amount, Currency (CHF or EUR), full Creditor + Ultimate Debtor name/address blocks. Full field reference in the action docs.

Quick reference: the 4 fields that decide the output​

Output Format Type
PDF (hybrid), PNG, JPEG, or Tiff. Picks the container of the populated output.
Paging Options
first, last, add at end, or custom. PDF Output Format Type only.
Page Number
1-based page index. Required when Paging Options is custom; ignored otherwise. Set to 3 in this run.
File Content + File Name
The source PDF, mapped from a previous action. Skip both for a standalone QR-slip from payment data alone.

Build the flow​

Action 1: Manually trigger a flow​

Manual trigger for testing. In production swap for Dropbox When a file is created, SharePoint When a file is created, OneDrive When a file is created, Outlook When a new email arrives, Recurrence, or Webhooks depending on your AR pipeline.

Action 2: Dropbox - Get file content​

Pull the source invoice from your input folder.

FieldValue used in this run
File/pdf4metest/sample/10 page.pdf
Infer Content TypeYes
Power Automate Dropbox Get file content action with File /pdf4metest/sample/10 page.pdf and Advanced parameter Infer Content Type Yes.

Action 3: PDF4me Barcode - Create SwissQR Bill​

The action that does the work. Search for PDF4me in the action picker and pick Barcode - Create SwissQR Bill. The action has the payment fields in the main panel and 4 fields under Advanced parameters (Paging Options, Page Number, File Content, File Name). Configure:

GroupFieldValue
OutputOutput Format TypePNG
PaymentIBANCH4431999123000889012
PaymentAmount5253531
PaymentCurrencyCHF
PaymentReference TypeQRR
PaymentLanguage TypeEnglish
PaymentSeperator LineLineWithScissor
CreditorCreditor NameVar Schneider AG
CreditorCreditor Address TypeS
CreditorCreditor: Address Line 1Var Schneider AG
CreditorCreditor: Address Line 223
CreditorCreditor PostalCode2501
CreditorCreditor Citybiel
DebtorUltimate Debtor NamePia-Maria Rutschmann-Schnyder
DebtorUltimate Debtor AddressTypeS
DebtorUltimate Debtor: Address Line 1Grosse Marktgasse
DebtorUltimate Debtor: Address Line 233
DebtorUltimate Debtor PostalCode9400
DebtorUltimate Debtor Citybiel
Ref/MsgReference210000000003139471430009017
Ref/MsgUnstructured MessageInstruction of 15.09.2019
Ref/MsgBilling InfoS1/01/20170309/11/10201409/20/14000000/22/36958/30/CH106017086/40/1020/41/3010
Ref/MsgAV1 ParametersName AV1: UV;UltraPay005;12345
Ref/MsgAv2 ParametersName AV2: XY;XYService;54321
AdvancedPaging Optionscustom
AdvancedPage Number3
AdvancedFile ContentFile Content (from Action 2)
AdvancedFile Nameabc.pdf

Action 4: Dropbox - Create file​

Save the populated file with a unique guid-prefixed name so re-runs do not collide.

FieldValue used in this run
Folder Path/pdf4meoutput
File Nameguid() + headers/FileName (concat expression for a unique-per-run name)
File ContentFile Content (from Action 3 dynamic content)
Power Automate Dropbox Create file action with Folder Path /pdf4meoutput, File Name built from guid() and headers/FileName expression, and File Content dynamic content from the PDF4me Create SwissQR Bill action.

The guid() expression in File Name guarantees a unique name on every run. Concatenating headers/FileName from the PDF4me output preserves the original invoice name inside the new filename.

Save and click Test. The Swiss-bank-scannable file lands in /pdf4meoutput.

Get your API KeyFull action reference

The 4 Output Format Type choices, side by side​

PDF
Hybrid output: QR-bill page inserted into your source invoice. Most common for outgoing AR. Uses Paging Options + Page Number.
PNG
Standalone raster image of the QR-bill slip. Best for inline email embeds and web previews. Ignores Paging Options.
JPEG
Compressed raster image. Smaller file size than PNG. Still bank-scannable.
Tiff
Lossless raster archive format. Use when the recipient needs print-grade quality.

Troubleshooting​

QR-bill landed on the wrong page
Check Paging Options. custom uses Page Number. first puts the slip as the new page 1. last appends at the end. Only applies when Output Format Type is PDF.
Page Number is greyed out / ignored
Paging Options is something other than custom. Switch Paging Options to custom and the Page Number field becomes active.
QR-bill page is blank or unreadable
IBAN is invalid (must start with CH or LI, max 21 chars) or Currency is something other than CHF / EUR. Both are hard requirements of the Swiss Payment Standards.
Bank rejects a QRR reference
QRR references must be 27 digits with a mod-10 check digit. If you do not have one, switch Reference Type to SCOR (ISO 11649) or NON and leave Reference empty.
Create file writes an empty file
File Content on Action 4 is not bound to the PDF4me File Content output. Click the field and re-pick the dynamic content from Action 3.
Want a standalone QR slip without a source invoice
Skip Action 2 (Get file content). On Action 3, leave File Content and File Name empty under Advanced parameters and the action returns a standalone Swiss QR-bill in the chosen Output Format Type.

When to use this pattern​

Slip on a specific mid-document page
Quarterly statement where the QR-bill belongs right after the cover page. Contract pack with the slip after the summary.
Inline email PNG payment reminders
Output Format Type PNG, skip the source PDF, embed the slip image directly in an Outlook Send email body.
High-volume AR archival
guid()-prefixed Dropbox upload makes every run uniquely addressable for downstream search and audit.
Subscription billing
QR-IBAN plus QRR Reference identifies the customer or contract every recurring run.

FAQ​

How do I insert the Swiss QR-bill on a specific page in Power Automate?+
Click Show all on Advanced parameters in the PDF4me Barcode - Create SwissQR Bill action. Set Paging Options to custom, then set Page Number to the 1-based page index where the QR-bill should land (3 in this guide). Output Format Type must be PDF for Paging Options to take effect.
What is the difference between Paging Options values first, last, add at end, and custom?+
first inserts the QR-bill as the new page 1 (everything else shifts down by one). last appends at the very end of the source PDF. add at end is a functional alias for last. custom uses the Page Number field to insert at a specific 1-based position.
Why does the QR-bill not move when I change Paging Options?+
Output Format Type is set to PNG, JPEG, or Tiff. Image formats ignore Paging Options because the output is a standalone slip image, not a multi-page document. Switch Output Format Type to PDF.
Can I generate a Swiss QR-bill image (PNG) without a source invoice?+
Yes. Set Output Format Type to PNG (or JPEG / Tiff). Skip the File Content and File Name fields under Advanced parameters. The action returns a standalone QR-bill image you can embed inline in an Outlook email or display on a web page.
Why use guid() in the Dropbox Create file File Name?+
It guarantees every run lands as a unique file in /pdf4meoutput so re-runs do not silently overwrite previous outputs. Concatenating headers/FileName from the PDF4me output keeps the original invoice name inside the new filename for traceability.
My IBAN starts with DE / FR / IT, can I still use this?+
No. Swiss QR-bills are scoped to CH and LI IBANs only. For European SEPA payments with non-Swiss IBANs use the Generate EPC QR Code for SEPA action instead.
Address Type S vs K, which one should I pick?+
S (Structured) is the modern default and the recommended choice for new integrations. PostalCode and City go in separate fields; Address Line 1 / 2 carries the street. K (Combined) puts the full address into two free-text Address Line fields and leaves PostalCode and City empty.
Same flow in Make, Zapier, or n8n?+
Yes. The same PDF4me Create Swiss QR Bill action is available on all four platforms with identical parameters. See the cross-platform comparison at the bottom of the action reference page.

Get started​

Get your API KeyPDF4me ConnectAction reference