Send PDF Files over WhatsApp from Shell Script - Complete Guide

Automate WhatsApp document sharing using the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API

Posted on January 12, 2018   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: February 12, 2026  

Automate WhatsApp Document Sharing with Shell Scripts

Looking to automate PDF delivery, document notifications, or file sharing directly from your terminal? This guide walks you through sending PDF files to WhatsApp users using a simple shell script and the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API. Perfect for system administrators, developers, and automation enthusiasts who want to integrate document delivery into their WhatsApp messaging workflows.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A WhatsMate WA Gateway account - Required for API access
  2. Recipient registration - Each recipient must register with the Gateway first
  3. Basic shell scripting knowledge - Familiarity with terminal commands
  4. PDF file ready - Have the document you want to send available locally
  5. Base64 utility - The base64 command must be available on your system

⚠️ Important: Recipients must register with the WhatsMate WA Gateway before they can receive messages. Unregistered users will not receive any messages from the Gateway. Registration instructions are available on the official WhatsMate site.

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to send your first PDF document to a WhatsApp user from a shell script:

1. Copy the Script Template

Start by copying the following source code into your script file:

2. Configure a few Parameters

Customize these key parameters in the script:

  • Line 12: Replace YOUR_OWN_INSTANCE_ID_HERE with your WhatsApp gateway instance ID
  • Lines 13-14: Update YOUR_OWN_CLIENT_ID_HERE and YOUR_OWN_SECRET_HERE with your Client ID and Secret
  • Line 17: Replace 12025550108 with the target phone number (including the country code)
  • Line 18: Replace ../assets/subwaymap.pdf with the path to your PDF file
  • Line 19: Replace map.pdf with the desired filename for the document
  • Line 20: Replace You will find it handy. with an optional caption for your PDF

3. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your script:

chmod 755 send-whatsapp-pdf.sh

4. Send Your PDF Document

Run the script to deliver your PDF to WhatsApp:

./send-whatsapp-pdf.sh

🔧 Common Use Cases

This automation approach is ideal for:

  • Automated report delivery - Send daily/weekly PDF reports to WhatsApp
  • Document sharing automation - Deliver invoices, receipts, or contracts via WhatsApp
  • System documentation - Share configuration files or logs as PDF documents
  • Educational content - Distribute learning materials or tutorials through WhatsApp
  • Integration with document generation - Combine with scripts that create PDFs for WhatsApp delivery

🚀 Get Started Today

Ready to automate your document sharing over WhatsApp? You’ll need a trial account to access the API. Sign up for a 2-week trial and start sending PDF files within minutes!

Next Steps: Once you’ve mastered basic PDF sending, explore advanced features like sending images or group messages through the WhatsMate WA Gateway API documentation.