read text from pdf

[PaulG.]

Is there a way to read text from a pdf file using LabVIEW? I've been trying using ActiveX but not getting very far.

[Fnavarrensis]

Hi Paul,

I found a similar forum with swveral solutions, see if any fits your needs.

Read text from PDF files:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Read-text-in-pdf-files/m-p/975808/highlight/true#M437420

I would recommend trying ptcoverter, which transfers a PDF to a text file, then, do the reading.

Have a nice day!

[PaulG.]

I searched and read through must of what NI has already before I posted the question. I saw this and a lot of other "solutions". I was hoping someone had something a little less clunky. Even a simple access to pdfdoc > SaveAs > Text would probably solve my problem.

[RChoudhary]

hello PaulG

https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-2163

you can try the above attached link and if you are not able to open or read a pdf document uding ActiveX then there is some problem in adobe reader, you might need to update your adobe reader to higher version.

[RChoudhary]

Hi PaulG,

can you tell what is the error or problem coming while trying to read pdf with activeX.

[PaulG.]

I'm not having any problems opening a PDF document. I want to get the text out of it.

[RChoudhary]

Hi PaulG,

sorry i am not getting you, you want the text in what format, means you want it to be displayed on front panel in indicator or is it something else.

[PaulG.]

Yes. I can open the PDF file but cannot get the text from the PDF file into a string control.

[jcarmody · Accepted solution]

I posted something on the Light Side a few years ago - http://lavag.org/topic/12228-pdf-extract-text/?p=73553

I was trying to read serial numbers from a directory full of pdf test reports.  It worked.

[PaulG.]

I'm linked to the pdfbox dll in the vi but no methods are listed in the constructors. I can't change anything in the  vi. Like I said I was hoping for something a little less clunky. Incidentally this has to be written in 8.5. I hope this is not part of the problem. Thanks anyway for your help.