Converting PDF to TXT Using Python
In today’s information age, PDF files have become ubiquitous and a standard format for sharing and storing digital documents. As handy as they are, PDF files can sometimes be difficult to work with and often require the ability to edit or modify the content within the file.
Thankfully, Python offers a simple solution to this, allowing us to convert PDF files into simple text files that we can easily manipulate. In this article, we will guide you through the process of converting PDF files to TXT using Python.
Step 01: Creating a PDF file
The first step in the conversion process is to create a PDF file. This can be done using any standard word processing software such as Microsoft Word.
Once the document is ready, navigate to the print option and select Save as PDF. Alternatively, you can also use an online converter to create a PDF file.
This will generate a new file with the .pdf extension, which will be used in the conversion process.
Step 02: Installing PyPDF2
To convert the PDF file to a TXT file, we will use PyPDF2, a Python module that allows us to read and manipulate PDF documents.
To begin, we need to install this module using pip. Open up your terminal or command prompt and run the following command:
pip install PyPDF2
If you are using Anaconda, you can also use the Anaconda Prompt to install PyPDF2. Once installed, we are ready to start writing our script.
Step 03: Opening a new Python file for the script
We will now open a new Python file that we will use to convert the PDF to a TXT file. This can be done using any standard text editor or the Python IDLE.
Once opened, we can begin writing our script.
Script Code for Converting PDF to TXT
Creating file object variable
The first step in our script is to create a file object variable that we will use to open and read the PDF file. We will create a variable called pdfFileObject and use the built-in open() function to open the PDF file in read-binary mode (‘rb’).
This is necessary because PDF files are binary files and cannot be directly opened in text mode. pdfFileObject = open('example.pdf', 'rb')
Creating PdfFileReader object
Next, we will create a PdfFileReader object that we will use to read the PDF file and extract its contents. We will pass the pdfFileObject variable to the PdfFileReader() method to create a new PdfFileReader object.
We will then store the number of pages within the file in a variable called numPages. pdfReader = PyPDF2.PdfFileReader(pdfFileObject)
numPages = pdfReader.numPages
Storing number of pages within the file
We will now use a loop to iterate over each page in the PDF file. We will store each page’s extracted text as a new string variable called extractedText.
This is done using the extractText() method of the PdfFileReader object. We will then append the extracted text to a master string variable called text.
text = ""
for x in range(numPages):
pageObject = pdfReader.getPage(x)
extractedText = pageObject.extractText()
text += extractedText
Writing extracted text to a TXT file
The last step in our script is to write the extracted text to a TXT file. We will create a new file object variable called txtFileObject and use the built-in open() function to open a new file with the .txt extension in write mode (‘w’).
We will then use the write() method to write the extracted text to the file. Finally, we will close both the PDF file and the TXT file.
txtFileObject = open('example.txt', 'w')
txtFileObject.write(text)
pdfFileObject.close()
txtFileObject.close()
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve shown you how to convert PDF files to TXT files using Python. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily extract the contents of a PDF file for further use and manipulation.
This is particularly useful when working with large volumes of data and can help automate the process of extracting data. Whether you’re new to Python or an experienced programmer, this simple script can go a long way in simplifying your work.
Convert your PDF files to TXT files today, and start exploring the possibilities of this powerful programming language!
Output: Images of PDF file and converted TXT file
After writing our script to convert the PDF file to a TXT file, we can now test it out and see the results. In this section, we will cover how to generate images of both the PDF file and the converted TXT file for easier visualization and comparison.
Generating an Image of the PDF file
To generate an image of the PDF file, we can use an image capturing software such as Lightshot or Snipping Tool. Open the PDF file on your computer and select the pages you wish to capture.
Then, use the software to capture a screenshot of the selected pages. You can also choose to take a screenshot of the entire PDF file if you wish.
Once you have captured the screenshot, you can save it as an image file such as a PNG or JPEG. This image can be used for future reference or to compare it with the converted TXT file.
Generating an Image of the Converted TXT file
To generate an image of the converted TXT file, we need to open the file and take a screenshot of the contents. The converted TXT file can be opened using any standard text editor such as Notepad or Sublime Text.
Once we have opened the file, select all the contents of the file by pressing “Ctrl” + “A”. Then, use the image capturing software to take a screenshot of the selected text contents.
After taking the screenshot, you can save it in any image format of your choice such as PNG, JPEG, or BMP. This image can be used to compare with the original PDF file and also as a reference point for future use.
The Importance of Comparing the PDF file and Converted TXT file
Comparing the PDF file and the converted TXT file is important as it helps us verify that the conversion process was successful and that the contents of the original file have been accurately extracted. This is particularly useful when dealing with large files where it may be time-consuming to manually check each page’s contents.
When comparing the two files, we should look out for any missing information or inaccuracies in the converted TXT file that may have been lost during the conversion process. We should also make sure that the layout and formatting of the text have been maintained in the TXT file.
If we do notice any inaccuracies or issues, we can go back into our script and make the necessary changes. This iterative process can be repeated until we are confident that the conversion process has been successfully completed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, generating images of the PDF file and the converted TXT file is a useful way to visualize and compare the contents of both files. By doing so, we can verify that the conversion process has been successful and that the contents of the original file have been accurately extracted.
This is particularly useful when dealing with large volumes of data and can help automate the process of extracting data. Whether you’re new to Python or an experienced programmer, this simple script can go a long way in simplifying your work.
So why not try it out for yourself and start exploring the possibilities of this powerful programming language!
In summary, this article discussed the process of converting PDF files to TXT files using Python. We covered the steps involved in creating a PDF file, installing the PyPDF2 module, and writing a script to read and extract the contents of the PDF file.
Additionally, we discussed the importance of generating images of both the PDF file and the converted TXT file for verification purposes. It is essential to compare the two files to confirm accuracy and ensure all necessary data was correctly extracted.
By using Python to convert PDF files to TXT files, we can easily extract the contents of large volumes of data and automate the process of extracting data. Python provides a powerful tool to simplify our work and save valuable time and effort in dealing with complex data files.