How to Extract Text from PDF Files Quickly and Accurately

Extract Text from Scanned PDF: What’s So Difficult?

PDF files are designed to be editable; they are like digital papers, which include:

• Selectable Texts and fonts, and character maps
• Non-selectable scanned images
• And, tables and multi-column layouts

Yet, the complexity to extract data from PDF increases when they contain:

• Mixed languages and symbols
• Headers, watermarks, or hidden metadata
• Corrupted and encrypted pages
• Password protection security
• Text as images and other software limitations

This means that two PDF files can visually look the same, but they behave differently when extracting text. Below, we discuss some efficient ways for PDF text extraction without much trouble.

Reliable Ways to Extract Text from PDF

You can find some suitable free manual solutions in this section. But for them, a little technical knowledge and skill are required. Also, they can have some loopholes. On the safer side, we also discuss a professional tool here for a direct, clean, and secure extraction of textual data from the PDF files. Let’s proceed by following all the manual methods first.

Native Methods to Extract Content from PDF

Below are all the free solutions available for text extraction from PDF that you need to follow. Check their steps and use the one that goes well with your needs and availability.

Method 1: Copy and Paste Text from PDF

1. First, open your PDF file. Use Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. Or, you can choose to access it with a web browser. Say, Chrome.
3. Then, drag and highlight all the text that you want to extract.
4. Further, click Ctrl + C for Windows and Command + C for Mac to copy it.
5. Afterward, open any text editor application or MS Word document.
6. Finally, press Ctrl + V for Windows and Command + V for Mac to paste it.
7. Save your file, and you are done. Again, repeat the steps for all your PDF data.

Method 2: Extract Text from PDF with Adobe

1. Use the Adobe Acrobat Pro version.
2. Then, click on its Export PDF option.
3. Lastly, choose to save the content as TXT, DOC, or CSV.

Method 3: Extract Only Text from PDF Online

1. Use a PDF to Text Converter online.
2. After that, click Upload. Identify and open a PDF for text extraction.
3. Next, press Convert to start PDF to Text conversion. Wait for it to complete.
4. The file is automatically downloaded. If not, click Download to save it.

Method 4: Character Recognition to Extract Text from Scanned PDF

1. First, select an Optical Character Recognition software. Like Adobe Acrobat DC or an online OCR.
2. Then, start Acrobat or open the online service on the web and import the PDF.
3. Further, choose the OCR option to convert scanned images and data into text.
4. Wait and check the output for accuracy or corrections (if needed).
5. In the end, save the extracted PDF text data in your desired format.

Method 5: Commands to Extract Text from PDF

1. Foremost, ensure that you have Python installed on your system.
2. Next, start the command line terminal. Install the PyPDF2 library with the command:

   pip install PyPDF2

3. Further, in the same terminal, create a new Python script and import the library into it with:

   import PyPDF2

4. Afterward, use a built-in feature in Python to read the PDF in binary mode. Use the command:

   pdf_file = open(‘yourpdf.pdf’, ‘rb’)

5. Now, generate a PDF reader object:

   pdf_reader = PyPDF2.PDFFileReader(pdf_file)

6. Later, use the snippet to extract text from individual PDF pages:

   num_pdfpages = pdf_reader.numPages for page in range(num_pdfpages): page_pdfobj = pdf_reader.getPage(Page) print(page_pdfobj.extractText())

7. In the end, close the PDF with pdf_file.close().

Loopholes of the Manual Methods

• Copy-paste is ineffective for text that cannot be selected and for large documents.
• The formatting often breaks and is not ideal for complex layouts or tabular content.
• Paid version of Adobe Acrobat for full use, and even in the case of OCR, is needed.
• Internet connectivity is needed for online methods. Also, has risk and security concerns for crucial information.
• Users need good technical knowledge and skills for Python implementation.

How Tool Help Extract Text from PDF Files?

To ensure quick and accurate text extraction, especially from scanned PDFs or large file batches. Use the SysInfo PDF Extractor Tool since it can preserve text hierarchy, alignment, and other components. Additionally, it works with encrypted, password-protected, or corrupted PDFs and supports batch extraction. Moreover, save text and other data in many formats on Windows, Mac, or Linux OS with ease.

Steps to Extract Only Text from PDF

1. Utilize and open the smart tool after you install and run it.
2. Next, use the file/ folder icon. Choose and upload PDFs.
3. Further, check their preview with any of the given options.
4. After that, under Data Extraction Filter, select Text.
5. Opt for the format of choice to save, and also use Page Filter (optional).
6. Later, use the filter for previously migrated data (optional) and click Extract.
7. At last, choose your final saving destination and click Open >> OK.

Extract Text from PDF: Unique Cases where Precision Matters

Below are some of the specific cases where precision is most important during text extraction. This states why you must use the professional tool and not go for the manual methods.

Thus, these are business-critical requirements where accuracy is all to avoid major consequences.

Conclusion

To sum up, the ability to extract text from PDF isn’t just limited to copy-paste. But it all depends on the methods you choose to influence the format, content type, and extraction. The manual method is generally suitable for one or a few PDFs with less data. Instead, for scanned files, encrypted PDFs, or high-volume documents, a professional tool is your best bet. Moreover, it saves time and gives structured results. Try the demo version of automated software now for your convenience and evaluation.

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About The Author:

Suman Rawat

Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.