PDF to CSV

Every once in awhile, we need to convert a document from one format to another. Sometimes the info in the document contains data that people need, and sometimes it is just text. For example, an XLS document develops from a spreadsheet and will have numbers and sometimes formulas that calculate those numbers. Not all data will translate, and formulas won't, if you want to convert it into a text file. When it comes to converting a PDF to CSV format, you'll be working with a 'PDF' or 'Adobe Systems Portable Document Format'. Many programs do not work with these documents automatically, and this type of conversion can need a two-step manual process.

convert pdf to csv

For many years, it was not easy to access the data in a PDF. Now, it's much easier. There are several programs that may open a PDF file and allow you to convert it to .DOC or .RTF or .TXT. These are all basic text document formats. People that want to convert a document to some .CSV format will probably want to put this data right into a table in a database or right into a spreadsheet. If you want to convert from a PDF to a CSV, you'll be taking data - perhaps names and addresses, and putting it right into a format that allows insertion right into a data program. Normally, the way in which most might do this, is to hire something to convert the data for them. This would involve a staff manually transferring the data from one application to another. However they do it, it may get quite expensive.



A different way to do it is to save to RTF then attempt to open in a spreadsheet program like Excel or OpenOffice. This can be a hit or miss process and can yield unpredictable results. Sometimes the information comes out right, quite often it doesn't. The most efficient way to do make a PDF to CSV conversion is to use a software program that was specifically designed for this purpose. It focuses on spreadsheet conversion such as PDF to CSV. One excellent program is CogniView's PDF2XL. Programs designed for a specific purpose can help to save hours of time and loads of frustration.



Converting information from one format to another is a key part of data management provided data has been managed. Different programs use different formats and moving financial reports to a Word processor is a common way to create a financial report that looks better than the conventional ones provided. Converting data from the PDF to CSV is not difficult and can be achieved with software like PDF2XL. Data conversion can be frustrating unless you possess the right tool for the job. Then, the reward makes it worthwhile.

pdf to csv