Create a Parser
Learn how to create your first Parser in PerfectParser — name it, upload a sample document, and let the AI detect your data fields automatically.
A Parser is your custom data extractor. You set up one Parser per document type, for example, one for supplier invoices and a separate one for delivery notes. Once set up, you can run hundreds of documents through it with a single click.
Step 1: Open the Parsers list
- Sign in to your PerfectParser dashboard.
- Click Parsers in the left-hand sidebar.
- Click the New Parser button in the top-right corner.
Step 2: Name your Parser
Give your Parser a clear, descriptive name so you can identify it later.
| Good name | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Vendor Invoices (EU) | Specific to document type and region |
| Purchase Orders: Acme Corp | Specific to supplier |
| Bank Statements (GBP) | Specific to currency/format |
Use a name that reflects the document type and any distinguishing detail (e.g. supplier name, country, or format). You can always rename it later.
Step 3: Choose how your files are organized
Select how the Parser should read your files under the How are files organized? dropdown:
| Settings Mode | What It Does | Best Used For | Real-World Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Document Per File (One Result Per File) | Scans the entire file from front to back to extract one single set of master information. | Documents where all pages belong to the exact same transaction, person, or case. | Multi-page Invoices: A 3-page invoice from a supplier with terms, billing summary, and line items spanning multiple pages, where you want to extract a single overall total. Bank Statements: A 5-page monthly statement where you just want the overall starting balance, ending balance, and total fees. Loan Applications: A multi-page bundle of forms filled out by a single applicant. |
| One Document Per Page (One Result Per Page) | Looks at each page individually. It completely forgets what it saw on page 1 before it reads page 2. | Scanned "bulk packets" or bundled files where independent documents were combined into one PDF for convenience. | Merged Supplier Invoices: A single scanned PDF containing invoices from 15 different vendors (one vendor invoice per page) merged together into a single file. Daily Delivery Slips: A single 50-page PDF from a delivery truck where every single page is a separate proof-of-delivery receipt from a different customer. Employee Expense Receipts: A packet where an employee taped 10 different taxi and restaurant receipts onto 10 blank pages and scanned them together. |
Step 4: Upload a sample document
Upload one document that is representative of the files you want to process. PerfectParser uses this sample to automatically suggest the right data fields.
- Accepted formats: PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG
- Best results: use a real document with typical content (not a blank template)
Step 5: Let the AI detect your fields
Once you upload the sample, PerfectParser reads it and automatically suggests a list of data fields it found, such as Invoice Number, Total Amount, and Vendor Name.
Click Continue to review and refine those fields in the next step.