"to convert the PDF (or Word doc, XLS, etc) remotely without the file ever touching the user's device"
This made me think that the site accepts a URL to a PDF/XLS/DOC file and returns PNG.
This made me think that the site accepts a URL to a PDF/XLS/DOC file and returns PNG.
Actually, that is basically what happens in the original context for this service.
If you take a look at
open a remote browser, then search for a PDF/XLS/DOC etc and then click on it, you'll see a dialog which says the file is transferred.
What's happening is the remote browser downloads the file to a temp directory in the cloud, then some software does a POST request with that file to the service (Simple PDF to PNG Server) and gets the viewing link back immediately, before the conversion has completed.
It then sends the viewing link back to the remote browser which opens a tab. The client can then view the document as images securely without the file ever touching their device.
Originally, I didn't intend to release this viewer as a separate thing/product/service.
If you use the viewer (without the remote browser) you do have to submit the file. I didn't make it to fetch them. I made it as a "secure document viewer" for the remote browser product.