How to Extract Text from a PDF and Save it as Plain Text

Extracting text from a PDF and saving it as plain text is an essential task for many users, especially when dealing with large documents or when you need to manipulate the text for further processing. This guide will explore various methods to accomplish this task, from simple methods like copy and paste to more advanced techniques involving Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

Copypaste Method for Simple Text-Based PDFs

For straightforward PDFs that contain primarily text, using the copypaste method is a quick and easy solution. Here’s how you can do it:

Open the PDF in a reliable PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or any other free reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader or ApowerPDF. Select the desired text using your mouse cursor. Right-click on the selected text and choose Copy. Open a text editor like Notepad or a word processing software like Microsoft Word. Paste the copied text into your chosen application and save it as a plain text file.

Export to Text for Searchable PDFs

For more complex PDFs that are searchable, you can directly export the text without the need for manual copypaste:

Open the PDF in your PDF reader. Look for options like Export to Text or Save As Text. This feature might vary based on your PDF reader. Popular readers like Adobe Acrobat Reader and Filemail provide such options. Follow the on-screen instructions to save the extracted text in the desired format.

Online Conversion Tools for All Types of PDFs

When dealing with any type of PDF, including scanned documents, online conversion tools can be incredibly helpful. Several free tools can be used for this purpose:

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To use these tools, follow these steps:

Upload your PDF to the chosen website. Select the desired text format for the converted file. Download the extracted text file.

Using Microsoft OneNote for OCR Extraction

OneNote, a powerful tool from Microsoft, also provides OCR capabilities to extract text from PDFs. Here’s how to use it:

Open OneNote. Click on Insert Files File Printout. Select the PDF you need to extract the text from. Right-click on the PDF page and choose Cut. Paste the copied text into a new or existing blank document in OneNote. Save the document as a text file.

Conclusion

The key to successfully extracting text from a PDF and saving it as plain text lies in understanding the nature of the PDF and choosing the appropriate method. Whether you opt for a copypaste method, use built-in export features, rely on online tools, or leverage the OCR capabilities of OneNote, the process is straightforward and can save you significant time and effort.