PDF or Portable Document Format is the go-to solution for digital document storage, sharing, and transfer. It is a reliable format that ensures the data’s integrity and prevents anyone from tampering with the file’s content. However, there are times when we need to extract the PDF content in a text format for editing, analysis, or repurposing. This is where PDF to Text converters come in handy. In this blog post, we will explore How to convert from PDF to Text, how it works, and some of the best PDF to text converters available in the market.
There are two primary methods of converting a PDF file to a text file: using a PDF to Text converter or Copying and Pasting the text manually. While the first option is more convenient, it requires that you install third-party software. On the other hand, the second option requires a lot of time and effort, especially when it comes to scanning long PDF documents. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the different methods of converting PDF to text.
Method 1: Using Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is one of the most popular PDF software programs worldwide. Besides the normal print function, Acrobat has a feature that allows you to save a PDF to other file formats, including text. To achieve this conversion, open the PDF file in Acrobat, click the ‘File’ menu and select ‘Save As Other.’ From here, choose ‘Text’ as the output format and select a filename and destination. Once you click ‘Save’, Acrobat converts the PDF to a text file that you can edit in your preferred Text Editor or Microsoft Office.
Method 2: Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is a complex process that scans and identifies text from images, including PDF files. This conversion method is ideal when dealing with PDF files with images that contain text that a simple ‘copy and paste’ method cannot capture. OCR processes the images and converts the text into an editable format. There are several OCR software applications available in the market, including Adobe Acrobat Pro, ABBYY FineReader, and OmniPage Ultimate. These applications use OCR technology to recognize characters and save the information in a text file.
Method 3: Using Online PDF to Text Converters
Another way to extract text from a PDF is to use an online converter. These are web-based applications that allow you to upload your PDF file and then select the output format as ‘text.’ Online PDF converters are easy to use and ideal for quick conversions, but they may have some restrictions in terms of the file sizes they can accommodate. Some of the best online converters include Smallpdftools, Online-Convert, and Zamzar.
Method 4: Command Line
For more advanced users, command-line interface applications offer a more robust solution for PDF to text conversion. Command-line applications offer more customizable options in terms of page selection, font conversion, and other conversion parameters. Examples of command-line interfaces include XPDF and Ghostscript.
Conclusion:
PDF to text conversion is an essential aspect of digital document management. It helps you extract vital information from PDF documents for analysis, editing, and repurposing. While there are several methods to convert PDF content into text, we recommend using Adobe Acrobat or OCR software for better results. If you are looking for quick solutions, Online PDF converters are also available. For advanced users, command-line interface applications offer more customization options. Ultimately, choose the method that suits your preferences and workflow to make the conversion process as seamless as possible.