PDF to text

jblitereader · 07-27-2010, 10:30 AM

Could anyone recommend a program that converts pdf to text that doesn't insert line breaks right smack in the middle of sentences? And I want to be able to convert hundreds of files at a time.

Been using nitro, but the damn thing still insert line breaks where the page breaks are. It does a fine job at recognizing paragraphs, but when the text goes from one page to the next the program inserts a line break.

Many thanks.

Ken Maltby · 07-27-2010, 08:44 PM

Don't know if this is a real answer, but the new JBL 0.16b BETA has PDF reflow.

Luck;
Ken

jblitereader · 07-27-2010, 10:31 PM

I would still like to convert all my pdf ebooks to text. Did you know that pdf format was created by the devil? There were much human sacrifices involved.

JSWolf · 07-27-2010, 10:43 PM

There is no program available that will take your PDF and convert it to text without errors. The only way to fix the errors is take the converted text and a/b compare with the original PDF and fix the errors. Otherwise, you are out of luck.

frabjous · 07-28-2010, 12:06 AM

A pitch for the freebies: have you tried pdfreflow, or calibre, or Abiword?

No don’t expect perfection from any of these. PDF was meant as an output format, not an input format, and hence doesn’t contain the necessary semantic mark-up, and so all these conversions rely on somewhat imperfect algorithms for “guessing” document structure based on layout, which is not easy to do.

They can all do batch jobs, since they can all do their work from the commandline. Probably best to settle on a tool before getting into details about batch conversions, however.

I stand by my belief that PDF is still the best ebook format there is; it’s just not the best for distribution.

AnemicOak · 07-28-2010, 12:11 AM

I have good luck with Acrobat Pro 9 converting to HTML. Never tried it for plain text if that's what you're wanting as I want to keep formatting intact and TXT can't do that. If it's plain text you're after I think Acrobat Reader will export/save as that, but I don't know what kind of job it does. It's really dependent on how the PDF was created and from what kind of source.

jblitereader · 07-28-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I have good luck with Acrobat Pro 9 converting to HTML. Never tried it for plain text if that's what you're wanting as I want to keep formatting intact and TXT can't do that. If it's plain text you're after I think Acrobat Reader will export/save as that, but I don't know what kind of job it does. It's really dependent on how the PDF was created and from what kind of source.

Can it convert a bunch of pdf files to html at a time or do you have to do it manually one at a time? I'm willing to settle with html.

JSWolf · 07-28-2010, 02:34 AM

Even Acrobat 9 generates errors.

switchman2210 · 07-28-2010, 11:34 AM

I use PDF Converter Pro from Nuance. My version is a little old. I have version 4 while version 6 is the most current version. Version 7 should be out in August according to a representative I talked to. This is a pay product, but worth the price I feel.

Attached is a sample that I just made. I have a paper I downloaded from the web that I converted so you can see the results.

http://www.nuance.com/

jblitereader · 07-28-2010, 11:44 AM

You are right. Nuance is a good converter. But then I tried changing the font around and it didn't take me long to notice the weakness.

switchman2210 · 07-28-2010, 11:52 AM

Can you upload a sample of a document you want to convert.

AnemicOak · 07-28-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Even Acrobat 9 generates errors.

Again, depending on the source PDF. Example; I've had very good luck recently with PDF's that started out as Word documents and created with Distiller.

AnemicOak · 07-28-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingenzyme

Can it convert a bunch of pdf files to html at a time or do you have to do it manually one at a time? I'm willing to settle with html.

You can do multiple files. You don't have to settle for HTML, if you really want plain text it'll do it (RTF too). I think Adobe has a demo you can download on their site to see if it works for your files, but I don't know if it's "limited" in any way (the actual program is pretty expensive to buy).

If you have an example file and you want to upload it I can run it through the exporter for you to see how it does (provided there aren't copyright issues).

mike_bike_kite · 07-28-2010, 12:26 PM

I can't understand why there aren't simple post processors to process the text. Take the text output and join the lines together unless they end in a full stop, a question mark or a double quote.

You may need to remove page numbers if present and any chapter titles that appear at the top of each page. I managed to get this far but then found there were various funny characters in the text to represent double ll's etc and these need to be converted.

My aim was to finally generate HTML and then use the chapter titles to create a TOC. I got halfway there

but considering how clever tools like Calibre are, it surprised me that this wasn't done automatically.

mike_bike_kite · 07-28-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

If you have an example file and you want to upload it I can run it through the exporter for you to see how it does (provided there aren't copyright issues).

It's a PDF so I suspect there just might be copyright issues. Luckily the same problem occurs with just about any PDF on the web so you could just download any PDF and then try converting that. Remember to delete it after testing though!

07-27-2010, 10:30 AM	#1
jblitereader Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 1312 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: jetbook lite	PDF to text Could anyone recommend a program that converts pdf to text that doesn't insert line breaks right smack in the middle of sentences? And I want to be able to convert hundreds of files at a time. Been using nitro, but the damn thing still insert line breaks where the page breaks are. It does a fine job at recognizing paragraphs, but when the text goes from one page to the next the program inserts a line break. Many thanks.

07-28-2010, 12:06 AM	#5
frabjous Wizard Posts: 1,213 Karma: 12890 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	A pitch for the freebies: have you tried pdfreflow, or calibre, or Abiword? No don’t expect perfection from any of these. PDF was meant as an output format, not an input format, and hence doesn’t contain the necessary semantic mark-up, and so all these conversions rely on somewhat imperfect algorithms for “guessing” document structure based on layout, which is not easy to do. They can all do batch jobs, since they can all do their work from the commandline. Probably best to settle on a tool before getting into details about batch conversions, however. I stand by my belief that PDF is still the best ebook format there is; it’s just not the best for distribution. Last edited by frabjous; 07-28-2010 at 12:08 AM.

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07-27-2010, 08:44 PM	#2
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,466 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Don't know if this is a real answer, but the new JBL 0.16b BETA has PDF reflow. Luck; Ken

07-27-2010, 10:31 PM	#3
jblitereader Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 1312 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: jetbook lite	I would still like to convert all my pdf ebooks to text. Did you know that pdf format was created by the devil? There were much human sacrifices involved.

07-27-2010, 10:43 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,556 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	There is no program available that will take your PDF and convert it to text without errors. The only way to fix the errors is take the converted text and a/b compare with the original PDF and fix the errors. Otherwise, you are out of luck.

07-28-2010, 12:11 AM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I have good luck with Acrobat Pro 9 converting to HTML. Never tried it for plain text if that's what you're wanting as I want to keep formatting intact and TXT can't do that. If it's plain text you're after I think Acrobat Reader will export/save as that, but I don't know what kind of job it does. It's really dependent on how the PDF was created and from what kind of source.

07-28-2010, 02:34 AM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,556 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Even Acrobat 9 generates errors.

07-28-2010, 11:44 AM	#10
jblitereader Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 1312 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: jetbook lite	You are right. Nuance is a good converter. But then I tried changing the font around and it didn't take me long to notice the weakness.

07-28-2010, 11:52 AM	#11
switchman2210 Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 416 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Black PRS-650 with lighted cover & Kindle DX.	Can you upload a sample of a document you want to convert.

07-28-2010, 12:26 PM	#14
mike_bike_kite Digitally confused Posts: 500 Karma: 1500000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: London, UK Device: KPW, K2i, Nexus 7 32gb, Kobo Mini	I can't understand why there aren't simple post processors to process the text. Take the text output and join the lines together unless they end in a full stop, a question mark or a double quote. You may need to remove page numbers if present and any chapter titles that appear at the top of each page. I managed to get this far but then found there were various funny characters in the text to represent double ll's etc and these need to be converted. My aim was to finally generate HTML and then use the chapter titles to create a TOC. I got halfway there but considering how clever tools like Calibre are, it surprised me that this wasn't done automatically.

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