How to send a PDF file to a WhatsApp user from shell script

This article shows you how to send a document (e.g. a PDF file, an MP4 file, a WAV file, etc.) to a registered WhatsApp user from a shell script.

Before the recipient can receive your WhatsApp message, she MUST register with the WhatsMate WA Gateway. Instructions are available on the official site. Unregistered users will never receive messages from the Gateway.

To send a WhatsApp message containing a PDF document from a shell script, do this:

1. First, learn how to send a simple text message on the official site.
2. With the above knowledge, you can now download our sample code.
3. Locate the file bash/send-pdf-individual.sh.
4. Study the script and customize the TODO/FIXME lines.
   • Among other things, put down YOUR OWN number as the recipient. You can’t send messages to strangers because we are against SPAMMERS.
5. Change to the directory containing the script: cd bash
6. Run the script to send yourself the first image: ./send-pdf-individual.sh

Happy coding :)