PARSER GUIDES
Understanding PARSER
Learn the core concepts and how PARSER works
This page explains the main ideas behind PARSER and how the app is laid out. Once you know these basics, the rest of the guides will make more sense.
What is PARSER?
PARSER is a tool that reads your documents and pulls out specific information--such as invoice numbers, dates, amounts, and vendor names--into a structured format. You can then use that data in spreadsheets, send it by email, or connect it to other apps.
You don't need to write code or install anything extra. You work in your browser: create a parser, upload documents, and review or export the results.
guide-guides-understanding-digiparser-01-document-inbox-clean-seeded-docs-account.webpRequired PARSER view: PARSER app home / Document Inbox viewFuture alt text: PARSER app home / Document Inbox viewKey concepts
Teams
Everything in PARSER is organized by teams. A team is usually your firm or your organization. You and your colleagues belong to one or more teams. When you sign in, you pick which team you're working in. Each team has its own parsers, documents, and settings.
Parsers (document parsers)
A parser is a setup that tells PARSER:
- What kind of documents you're processing (e.g. invoices, receipts, purchase orders)
- What information to extract (the fields), such as "Invoice number", "Total amount", "Vendor name"
- How that information is organized (including tables for line items, etc.)
You create a parser once, then reuse it for all similar documents. For example, you might have an "Invoice Parser" for supplier invoices and a "Receipt Parser" for expense receipts.
You create parsers by clicking Create Document Parser or Add Parser (from the Parsers page). That takes you through a short setup where you name the parser, choose a document type, and add fields.
guide-guides-understanding-digiparser-02-create-document-parser-invoice.webpRequired PARSER view: Parsers list or Create Document Parser / Add ParserFuture alt text: Parsers list or Create Document Parser / Add ParserDocument classifiers
A Document Classifier sorts mixed document batches before extraction. You upload or email different kinds of documents together, and the classifier sends each document to the parser that should process it.
For example, one classifier can route:
- Invoices to an Invoice parser
- Bank statements to a Bank statement parser
- Purchase orders to a Purchase order parser
Classifiers do not extract data themselves. The target parser extracts the data after the document is routed.
Document Inbox
For each parser, the main place you work is the Document Inbox. This is where you:
- Upload PDFs, images, or Excel files
- See all documents you've sent for processing
- Open a document to view the original file and the extracted data side by side
- Filter and search your documents
When you select a parser in the sidebar, you're taken to its Document Inbox by default.
guide-guides-understanding-digiparser-03-document-inbox-clean-seeded-docs-account.webpRequired PARSER view: Document Inbox with document list and upload areaFuture alt text: Document Inbox with document list and upload areaFields and tables
Fields are the individual pieces of information you want from each document (e.g. "Invoice date", "Total", "Vendor"). You define these when you create or edit a parser.
Tables let you capture repeating rows of data, such as invoice line items (description, quantity, unit price, etc.). You set up a table in your parser and add columns for each value you need.
You configure and edit fields and tables under Fields & Tables in the parser's settings.
guide-guides-understanding-digiparser-04-fields-and-tables-invoice-schema.webpRequired PARSER view: Fields & Tables configurationFuture alt text: Fields & Tables configurationIntegrations
Integrations let you:
- Import documents automatically (e.g. via email or the API)
- Export extracted data to Google Sheets, email, Zapier, webhooks, or download as CSV/Excel
You set these up per parser in the Integrations tab of the parser settings.
Post Processing
Post Processing runs after PARSER extracts the data. You can use it to:
- Transform values (e.g. format dates, clean up numbers)
- Enrich data (e.g. match vendor names to IDs or add data from another parser using lookups)
- Validate data before it's exported
You configure this in the Post Processing tab of the parser settings.
Reviews & Approvals
When you use Reviews & Approvals, you can require that certain documents or extractions are reviewed by a team member before they're treated as final or exported. This helps keep data quality high when several people use the same parser.
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How the app is organized
When you're inside a team, the sidebar typically shows:
1. Create Document Parser - Starts the flow to add a new parser.
2. Document Classifiers - Opens the page for creating classifiers and routing mixed document batches.
3. Document Parsers - A list of your parsers. Click one to open it.
When you select a parser, you get links to:
- Document Inbox - Upload and work with documents (default view).
- Fields & Tables - Define what to extract.
- Integrations - Set up import and export.
- Post Processing - Add transforms and lookups.
- Reviews & Approvals - Configure review steps.
- Parser Settings - Other options for this parser (e.g. document type, email processing, splitting documents).
guide-guides-understanding-digiparser-05-fields-and-tables-invoice-schema.webpRequired PARSER view: Parser sidebar with Document Inbox, Fields & Tables, Integrations, etc.Future alt text: Parser sidebar with Document Inbox, Fields & Tables, Integrations, etc.- * *
Credits and processing
PARSER uses credits to process documents. Standard processing uses 1 credit per page. Optional features and higher-accuracy modes may use additional credits. If you run low, you'll see a message in the app; you can upgrade or buy extra credits depending on your subscription.
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What to do next
- Quick Start - Get your first parser up and running quickly.
- Working with Parsers - Create parsers and configure fields in more detail.
- Document Classifiers - Sort mixed document batches before extraction.
- Uploading Documents - Upload, view, and organize documents in the Document Inbox.