Convert PDF table data to Excel

[cajun-bob]

Greetings all,

I am working on a project involving several dozen PDF files containing some
data in tables. I would like to be able to convert those PDF tables to Excel
so that I can work with the data in Excel spreadsheets.

The PDF files are located on several research websites that all happen to
use PDF.

I have Windows Vista Ultimate and I have a DELL Inspiron 9400. Presently I
am using Adobe Reader 8.1 to read the PDF files.

The simpler the solution, the better - as I am not as computer literate as I
should be.

Thanks.

Bob

 

[Jaleel]

Hi,

There are many softwares available in the market for converting PDF to
Excel, Word, Power Point etc. Try to purchase "Able2Extract" or "ABBYY Fine
Reader". Both are working fine.

Regards,

Jaleel

 

[cajun-bob]

Hi Jaleel,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I will follow-up on your suggestion.

Much appreciated!

Bob

 

[Fanie]

Dear Bob,

This precisely that what I am trying to do also without resorting to buying
((I can't afford the software) an external software to convert Pdf table into
Excel. Did you manage to get any solution using the Excel "text to column"
functinality. if so, could you urgently share with us?

Your assistance will be highly appreciated.

Regards,

Fanie G

 

[Fanie]

Dear Jaleel,

We appreciate your reponse, unfortunately your answer was tangently not
helpful in solving the problem. What Bob wanted was a manual explanation of
coping Pdf table and converting into an Excel table without purchasing a
software.

Having said that, there are majority of excel users who are still
hamstringed with the same proble, including myself.

Regards,

 

[jaf]

Hi Fanie,
You should be able to use Acrobat Readers selection tool to select the table. Then copy & paste into Excel.

John

 

[Fanie]

Canjun Bob,

Suprisingly, after I rephrased the question on USENET I managed yesterday
(it was frankly Public Holiday here in South Africa) to come-up with the
solution toward your problem.

To take you through process, here are the instructions:

Firstly, After opening your adobe file go to the "Tool Menu" and under
"Select & Zoom" you select the "Select tool" there after highlight all your
content in the Adobe file that has table. Thereafter paste on the first
"Cell" on the left hand corner of Excel. Unfortunately the data in Excel will
appear jumble and disorganized.

Thereafter, for all the words/title/headings insert a semicolon ( in front
of them (but not on each words). And then select the first column (being A)
in excel (and not all columns) and go to "Data Menu" and seclect undernearth
"Text to Colum" submenu" and select "delimit" thereafter press next and
select ONLY "Semicolon" sections and press finished. You will noticed that
the words/title/headings have each been allocated on the first column.

For number or figures, select the second column (being B) reapeat the same
process in excel but under the Text to Colum" submenu use the "space" option
(and not the Semicolon option) under the delimit section. You will notice
that the data (figures/number) will start arranging themselves in an orderly
form. But more importantly make sure that your (figures/number) don't have
spaces in between or else the whole data will apprear in one column (for
example 1 000 000.00 should be expressed as 1,000,000.00 and not like the
former)

I hope this answer your question.

But should you encouter problems, you can contact me at: +27 72 043 6779

Fanie