The common reason why many choose to convert PDF to text is because text files are easier to edit and manage. It’s more efficient to do simple actions in a text file like cutting and pasting images than on a PDF. Also, there would be some instances when PDFs cannot be read or opened, and this is due to complicated software issues that may take time to resolve, causing delays on the user’s part. Considering these scenarios, text files are regarded as more accessible and is the main reason why PDFs are converted to text.
To answer those issues, here are several techniques that could help you to accurately convert your PDF file to text.
4 Efficient Techniques That Are Recommended
1. Dedicated Software
Afirstsoft PDF
Afirstsoft PDF is a user-friendly and AI-powered PDF to text converter. Aside from document conversion, Afirstosft has several key features. It allows its users to edit text or images, and convert PDF files to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even image formats. Its PDF organizer effectively adds, crops, rotates, or removes PDF pages. So with that, you no longer need to worry about missing out on important information in your document.
It doesn’t end there. You can summarize your document using its AI assistant while the AI chat tool will answer any question regarding your PDF. Aside from its AI features, one noticeable breakthrough in this tool is its OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature. Because of this, you can convert your scanned photo into a PDF file or into an editable text. Not only that, the integration of AI technology in Afirstsoft makes the entire PDF management limitless. Overall, Afirstsoft is a comprehensive PDF solution beneficial both to students, professionals, and business individuals.
Foxit PDF Editor
Meanwhile, Foxit is another tool to use in efficiently converting PDF to text. Its conversion feature allows you to convert and export PDF files to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, RTF, HTML, text, and even image formats. Foxit makes PDF sharing easy and flexible. It also has a Form Field Recognition that allows users to construct interactive PDF forms for data collection.
Interestingly, Foxit Editor also has a PDF organizer where you can manage and arrange your PDF pages. This feature also allows you to add a watermark to your document. But among all the features mentioned, Smart Redact is the stand-out feature of Foxit. This is useful for users who need to redact sensitive material from PDFs but are unsure of the precise terms to remove beforehand.
2. Built-In Features
Microsoft Word
On the other hand, Microsoft Word’s built-in PDF to text converter works quickly and easily. With just a click, your file can be saved in Word or PDF format. However, its built-in PDF to text converter has its limitations. This tool is ideal to use when you’re converting simple text-based PDF files. But when a PDF file includes graphics, images, tables, or charts, the converted file may not appear precisely as it did in the original document. Editing a PDF document in MS Word can also be challenging. Its built-in converter occasionally fails to recognize an element, causing the Word version to differ from the original PDF file. Nevertheless, Microsoft Word allows more than just text and image entry. Along with its PDF to text conversion feature, it also has an OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) which lets you attach data such as charts, pictures, etc. from other applications.
3. Online Tools
Smallpdf
When it comes to online tools, Smallpdf is an online PDF to text converter that makes working with PDFs even easier. It’s like a one-stop shop for editing and converting documents. Aside from converting PDF to text, Smallpdf can also turn documents into different formats such as Excel, PPT, or even JPG. Smallpdf’s features include compression, conversion, merging, dividing, editing, rotating, signing, and unlocking PDF documents.
PDF To Text Online
Moving on, PDF To Text is another online converter that’s easily accessible. Its system works fast and easily where you can just drop your file that needs to be converted, then PDF To Text will process it. Same with other software, you can use this tool to convert your document into different formats. Its conversion method is fully automated ensuring the safety and privacy of your document.
4. OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
Google Drive OCR
As we move forward with OCR, just by going to your Google Drive, you can convert your PDF file to text. The conversion process works as fast as just uploading and saving, however, there’s no guarantee that formatting can be kept with complex document content. Aside from PDF to text conversion, text can also be extracted from photographs using a technique called OCR (Optical Character Recognition). OCR can scan JPG and PNG files. For example, a PNG image attachment of an invoice containing a credit card number is sent to you by a customer. Google recognizes the credit card number, turns the picture attachment into text, and isolates the message.
Conclusion
Online PDF to text converters, software, and built-in converters all work best depending on the consumer’s needs and circumstances. Each of the tools has its own edge and advantages. If you’re in a hurry, online converters might work well for you. However, if you’re working on a high amount of documents, downloading a converter software such as Afirstsoft is the best option. Nevertheless, try experimenting with the best method suggested to find which works well, and which PDF to text converting tools best fit your needs.
