Tool Chains

How to build a chain

A chain is a list of tools that run one after another. You add your file or text once, and each tool works on the result of the one before it.

1. Create a chain

   Tap Create a chain, give it a name, then search for tools and tap each one to add it. Tools run from top to bottom, and the result of one is handed to the next.

   Every tool shows two small tags: what it takes in and what it gives out. The same tool can be used more than once.

2. Check that the steps connect

   The builder checks each pair of steps as you add them, so a broken chain is caught before you run it. A tool that cannot follow the one before it is marked, and you are asked before it is added.

   Green: fitsAmber: works, read the noteRed: cannot connect

   On a red step, tap Add a tool before this step. For example, PDF to Word turns a PDF into text so a text tool can follow it.

3. Set up each step (optional)

   Tap the gear on a step, while building the chain or on the chain page before you run it, to choose its options such as quality, size or page range. Your choices show on the step. You do not add a file there. The file comes from the chain.

   On any tool page, the small Chain button adds that tool to a chain you already have, or starts a new one.

4. Add your input and start

   The chain page tells you what the first tool accepts, for example PNG, JPG and WEBP images, or plain text. Add your file or text once and tap Start chain. It runs in the background and a progress bar shows which step is working.

5. Pause, look inside, change, continue

   Tap Pause, or switch on Pause after every step. Open any finished step to see exactly what it produced. You can edit text, swap a file, change a step setting or add a step, then continue from where it stopped. If a step fails, the chain stops right there with the reason, and you can fix it and retry that step.