How can I convert a .pdf file to .xls? Is it possible at all?

Question

I've got a huge .pdf file that I need in excel for better crossovers.
Ideas?

Answer 1

Scansoft has two pieces of software which will do this but they are not that cheap.

PDF Converter ($49.99)
http://www.nuance.com/pdfconverter/standard/

Paperport ($99.99)
http://www.nuance.com/paperport/standard/

It isn't obvious from the blurb on their website that Paperport will convert documents to excel but as a long term user of this software I can assure you it will. Albeit you will need to reformat the columns in excel afterwards. That is to say change the column widths to display your information more presentably.

Paperport also converts to Word, FrontPage, Notepad and Powerpoint as well as other software which I don't have.

Brendan E

Brendan E

Answer 2

The only way you could do this, and it would be awkward, would be use character recognition software and use it either directly with the PDF file or scan the file in with a scanner and then put the contents from the software into a word document, then export it to Excel. You would end up with some errors, but it might be better than entering things from scratch, particularly if you have a very large file.

Answer 3

If you have Acrobat and not Acrobat reader you can take your pdf and do a page capture. this will allow you to select the text on the page and you can copy it over to excel. Other than that, you might be able to do a save as and play around with an intermediate format. Unfortunately I only have Acrobat Reader on my personal computer.

Answer 4

no that is not possible. .xls is an excel extension. .pdf is an dobe extension. what you can do is copy the contects of the pdf in to the excel files.