Importing Data from PDF Files

Excel Help for Importing Data From Pdf Files in Developing Business Administration Solutions

Importing Data From Pdf Files

Rate this: (4.2/5 from 24 votes)

	Business Spreadsheets has developed a free Excel program to extract and import PDF data into Excel which can be downloaded and used without restriction. There is a common need to extract and import specific data from PDF files into Excel. Since Excel does not natively support the reading of PDF content, utilities are needed to convert the PDF file content for the Excel format. Several commercial applications accomplish this; however it is often the case where only specific data is required to be imported from multiple PDF files into one structured format. We created such an application by using VBA code in conjunction with an open source PDF to Text conversion utility, which can be found at Foolabs. [Download the free PDF data import Excel program here] The program relies on the conversion utility (included in the download) and all PDF files to reside in the same directory as the Excel application. Text or data to extract are defined in the Control sheet by specifying start text, end text and multiple replacements routines with wildcard support. This enables flexibility to obtain comparable data from multiple PDF files based on patterns independent of different PDF file structures. As many extraction rules as required can be set in order to create a table of information imported by extraction rule and PDF file name. Information on how to set up rules is available within the Excel application with a help icon and cell comments. The VBA code is commented and open for modification. Any improvements or new features to the code are welcome to be posted here so that we can update the download version to the benefit of everyone.
	Excel Business Forums Administrator
	Posted by Excel Helper on 17 Jan 2011

Replies - Displaying 11 to 20 of 88

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	Start Text and new line as end text Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) In this case it looks like "Total Due" should be the start text and the end text a new line. Otherwise, if you want the invoice number then use that as a pattern and then multiple wild card replacements to remove everything between that and the amount.
	Excel Business Forums Administrator
	Posted by Excel Helper on 01 Jun 2014

	Multiple Text Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) Its Reflecting like this , A B C 1 IE0100110681 Invoice Number IE0100110681 IE0100110681 Invoice Number IE0100110681 Total Due 7,250.00 IE0100120921 Invoice Number: IE0100120921 IE0100120921 Invoice Number: IE0100120921 2 3 So Now what i need to do ? I dont need it to Come in two Line... Could you please aso help me whcih a eg if Input ?
	Posted by vijethbangera on 01 Jun 2014

	Multiple text patterns Rate this: (4.3/5 from 3 votes) In response to this latest post: If there are multiple start texts with similar pattern, we can just specify multiple rows for extraction rules each with different start text. To limit the extraction we need to accommodate all cases in the end text (perhaps including a space) and multiple replace pairs with wild cards * to remove any unwanted content.
	Excel Business Forums Administrator
	Posted by Excel Helper on 01 Jun 2014

Help needed Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) Hi, I would need tow help here. 1) For me replacement text is not working fine. For Eg: My start text is :Receiving Office Engagement Number" which is simlier in most of the PDF .but few PDF have as "Receiving office codeblock" or "Engagement Number" SO it is not piking for those PDFs. How do i put the replacements ? 2)My PDF has Number is multiples palce. Eg: Number ;ABC123 is in several place in my PDF si the out put is giving 3 to 4 lines.So i would need it to pick only once. How do i change the code ? Regards, Vijeth

Posted by vijethbangera on 01 Jun 2014

	file name is lower case but still not working... Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) Dear admin, I already changed the file name to lowercase but I am sorry...the result is still empty. For your advice. Thank you. neo.
	Posted by neoxman on 15 May 2014

	File extension in upper case Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) The error is due to the file extension in upper case. The file name is test4.PDF. It works if we save the files as test4.pdf or change the VBA code to lower case the file extension: VBA Code: 'get collection of pdf files While strFile <> ""    If LCase(Right(strFile, 4)) = ".pdf" Then         colFiles.Add strFile    End If   strFile = Dir Wend
	Excel Business Forums Administrator
	Posted by Excel Helper on 14 May 2014

Re.: Personal Details From File Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) Dear Admin, I did follow your suggestion but it's still empty. Now I am sharing with you my rule definition: Start Text End Text Replacement Pairs PERSONAL INFORMATION  STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES  PERSONAL INFORMATION,|STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES,   I also share the excel file with you, so you can review: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B822d4OBtHm5ckN2Z3FzUnNNX2s/edit?usp=sharing For your advice - thanks a lot. neo.

Posted by neoxman on 14 May 2014

	Personal details from file Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) From the PDF on Google drive, it seems that you need to have "PERSONAL INFORMATION" as the start text and "STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES" as the end text which would get everything in between. You can also then replace these strings in the replacement pairs.
	Excel Business Forums Administrator
	Posted by Excel Helper on 14 May 2014

Please help - it seems not be able to read my pdf file Rate this: (3/5 from 1 vote) Hi there, Firstlty, I would like to thank you for a really nice tool. I have tried it with your test files successfully but it doesn't work for for my own pdf file - The result is always empty...I already put the pdf file on the same folder like you said. My pdf is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B822d4OBtHm5Mi1hM0dMaW1LMzg/edit?usp=sharing I tried different rules like your instructions but the result is always empty...Could you please review my case and give me your advice? Thanks a lot. Neo.

Posted by neoxman on 14 May 2014

	Yes Sir Spaces do matter Rate this: (4/5 from 2 votes) Thanks for the tip, I actually went back and counted all the spaces between the % and the following number 10.0. I found 7 spaces so I inserted them in the 'Replacement Pairs' and that seems to fix the issue. Thanks again.
	Posted by bunjaby on 09 May 2014

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