Suggestions for PDF converter for windows10.

[efhmc]

I need to convert some old pdf files to Excel. Thanks.

[Alsteen]

1. Open in Word

Open the file in Word. Cut and paste into Excel. Done.

[LuvLoogie]

2. A PDF of what?

Can whoever sent you a PDF resend as a spread sheet or CSV file?

[efhmc]

3. I was only able to scan a copy of an old excel spread sheet as a pdf to my new computer.

I can spend time recreating it but was hoping to just download it as a viable file. Thanks for trying to help me. I think the writing is on the wall and I just need to recreate it.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. Here are some suggestions.....

Advanced PDF Converter 6.0 ($30, free trial)

Link: http://www.advancedpdfconverter.com/products/pdfconverter.html

PDF Converter Elite 5 ($100, free 7-day trial)

Link: https://www.pdfconverter.com/products/

Apparently, you can convert files on-line for free here: https://www.pdfconverter.com/

Nitro PDF ($160, free trial)

Link: https://www.gonitro.com/

Nitro is the only one of these I have used but that was back in the 90s. It definitely is a very comprehensive package.

Perhaps you can do some searching and find user reviews for these products.

Sorry, but the only PDF software I use nowadays is Adobe's free reader and Nitro's free PrimoPDF "print-to-PDF" converter.

Best of luck!

KY......

[Make7]

5. There are free online converters (if you don't have data privacy concerns).

Example: https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-to-excel/

Otherwise, you could use a free OCR program to convert the data to plain text and paste it into Excel with the text import wizard. (Be sure to first read their privacy policy about your data.)

Examples: http://jocr.sourceforge.net/ , http://www.paperfile.net/


These examples are not endorsements, just some brainstorming from a simple Google search.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. I wouldn't hold out much hope

Scanned images rendered to pdf are basically pictures.
You may be able to paste the image into a word or excel document but it will probably remain a picture.
Any embedded formulas will be invisible.

[CloudWatcher]

7. At least some scanners use OCR

When I scan documents to PDF, the scanning software of course saves the image. But then it also sends the image to some optical-character-recognition software and saves the extracted text in the PDF as well.

This lets me copy/paste the text from a PDF into another document. It usually gets it right, but I have to review the text that has been pasted to be sure.

It also lets the Spotlight search feature of macOS let me search my computer for PDFs that contain a text string of interest (I assume "PowerToys" in Windows is the same).

Of course this only works to recover the text in the image, not anything hidden.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

8. Absolutely correct

OCR usually renders well depending on the quality of the source and resolution of the scanner. (Review and correction is advisable.)
I inferred there were embedded formulas. Every spreadsheet I have has embedded formulas. If I didn't need the formulas I could use Word and insert a table. Word has better formatting than excel.

[efhmc]

9. Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I bit the bullet and remade the spread sheel in Excel.