Send PDF Files to WhatsApp Groups in Python 2 - Legacy Guide

Automate WhatsApp group document sharing using the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API (Python 2)

Posted on February 1, 2026   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: March 12, 2026  

⚠️ Python 2 is Deprecated - Use Python 3 Instead

Important Note: Python 2 reached end-of-life on January 1, 2020, and is no longer maintained. This guide is provided for legacy systems only. For new projects, we strongly recommend using our Python 3 version which includes modern Python practices and ongoing support.

Automate WhatsApp Group Document Sharing with Python 2 (Legacy)

Need to integrate WhatsApp group PDF sharing into legacy Python 2 applications for report distribution or automated documentation delivery? This legacy guide shows you how to deliver PDF files to WhatsApp groups using Python 2 and the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API. Only use this guide if you’re maintaining legacy Python 2 systems. For all new development, use Python 3.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A WhatsMate WA Gateway Forever Green account - Required for group messaging API access
  2. Group setup - Create a WhatsApp group with a unique name and add the gateway
  3. Python 2.7 installed - Legacy Python version (end-of-life)
  4. Required Python packages - requests library (installation instructions included)
  5. PDF file ready - Have the document you want to send available locally

⚠️ Important: You need a Forever Green account to send messages to WhatsApp groups. The gateway must be added to your WhatsApp group before it can send messages. Sign up for a Forever Green account to enable group messaging capabilities.

📄 Document Requirements: The script supports PDF files and other document types (MP4, WAV, etc.). Ensure your file is accessible and not corrupted before sending.

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to send your first PDF document to a WhatsApp group from a legacy Python 2 script:

1. Prepare Your WhatsApp Group

Before coding, set up your WhatsApp group:

  1. Create a new group in WhatsApp with a unique name (the API won’t work if the name isn’t unique)
  2. Add the secret gateway number to the group
  3. Send a “Hi” message (or any message) in the group from your personal WhatsApp account - this helps the gateway silently recognize the new group in the background

2. Install Required Package

Install the requests library if you don’t have it already:

pip install requests

3. Copy the Python 2 Source Code

Start by copying the following legacy Python 2 source code into your script:

4. Configure Key Parameters

Customize these essential parameters in the Python 2 code:

  • Lines 8-10: Replace YOUR_GATEWAY_INSTANCE_ID_HERE, YOUR_OWN_ID_HERE, and YOUR_OWN_SECRET_HERE with your Forever Green credentials
  • Line 13: Specify your group name (must be unique)
  • Line 14: Replace ../assets/subwaymap.pdf with the path to your PDF file
  • Line 15: Replace anyname.pdf with the desired filename for the document
  • Line 16: Replace "You will find it useful" with an optional caption for your PDF

5. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your Python script:

chmod 755 send-pdf-group.py

6. Send Your PDF Document

Run the script to deliver your PDF to the WhatsApp group:

./send-pdf-group.py

Alternative execution method (without making executable):

python send-pdf-group.py

🔧 Common Use Cases (Legacy Systems)

This Python 2 integration is for legacy systems only and is ideal for:

  • Legacy enterprise applications - Maintain WhatsApp group PDF sharing in existing Python 2 business systems
  • Older automation scripts - Support scheduled tasks sending reports in legacy Python 2 environments
  • System migration projects - Maintain functionality during transition from Python 2 to Python 3
  • Legacy monitoring tools - Integrate with older system monitoring applications that generate PDF logs
  • Historical codebases - Support maintenance of Python 2 code that cannot be immediately upgraded

🚀 Get Started Today (For Legacy Systems Only)

Ready to maintain WhatsApp group PDF sharing in your legacy Python 2 applications? You’ll need a Forever Green account to access the group messaging API. Sign up for a Forever Green account to enable group messaging capabilities.

⚠️ Important Reminder: Python 2 is no longer supported. Consider migrating to Python 3 for security updates, new features, and ongoing community support.

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

Migration Recommendation: For long-term maintainability and security, plan your migration to Python 3 using our Python 3 WhatsApp group PDF sending guide.