How to Extract Text from PDF Files with Google Apps Script?

PDF files have been around since the late 1980s. They are used to store documents with text and images in a way that allows them to be viewed on a variety of devices. PDFs are also a great way to share files across platforms, including using Google apps such as Gmail and Google Docs, but they can be difficult for some people to read because of their format.

Extracting text from PDFs is an easy process with Google Apps Script! In this tutorial, we’ll show you how we did it here at Mention using our code examples below:

What is a PDF File?

A PDF file is a document format that contains text and images. It can be created from any application that supports the PDF format, including Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop.

PDFs are often used in government or business settings because they’re stable, predictable and easy to share across platforms (you don’t need a specific program installed on your computer). You might have seen them before: they look like regular office documents but have “pdf” as part of their file name or icon. You can open these types of files directly in your browser, provided you have installed Adobe Reader (or another PDF reader) on your computer first!

Why Extract Text from a PDF File?

The first step to extracting text from a PDF file is to convert it to an editable file format. You can do this by opening the PDF in Google Docs and then converting it to either HTML or plain text. The next step is to use a text editor like Notepad++, which will allow you to edit any changes that need to be made before saving them back as an updated version of your original document.

Extracting Text from a PDF with Google Apps Script

You can use the Google Apps Script Extractor to extract text from PDF files. It’s a simple script that you can customize to your needs, and it takes only a few minutes to set up.

The first thing you need is the file containing your PDFs. You could upload one at this point, but if you have multiple files then it’s easier just to import them all into one spreadsheet:

• Click File > Import > Spreadsheet…
• Choose “Sheet1” from this menu; this will be our primary spreadsheet where we’ll store all of our extracted text. Then click OK in order for Google Sheets (which is what we’re using) not only as an interface for working with spreadsheets but also as an engine which allows us access via scripts like this one!

As you saw in the example, there are many ways to use this script. You can use it to extract text from any PDF file on your computer or even on the internet.

If you have any questions or would like me to walk through the steps in more detail, please leave a comment below!

I hope this tutorial helped you learn how to extract text from PDF files with Google Apps Script. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out in the comments section below!

Certainly! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to extract text from PDF files using Google Apps Script:

1. Access Google Apps Script: Go to your Google Drive and open a new Google Apps Script project by clicking on “New” > “More” > “Google Apps Script”. This will open the Google Apps Script editor in a new tab.
2. Create a New Script File: In the Google Apps Script editor, click on “File” > “New” > “Script File” to create a new script file. Name the file according to your preference, for example, “ExtractTextFromPDF”.
3. Import the Required Libraries: In the script file, use the Libraries menu to import the required libraries for accessing and manipulating PDF files. You can use the PDF-Library library by clicking on “Resources” > “Libraries” and entering the library ID of the PDF-Library. Make sure to choose the latest version of the library.
4. Write the Code: In the script file, write the following code to extract text from PDF files:

function extractTextFromPDF() {  // Provide the PDF file ID or URL  var pdfFile = DriveApp.getFileById("PDF_FILE_ID");  // Open the PDF file  var pdf = PDF.open(pdfFile);  // Extract the text from the PDF  var text = pdf.extractText();  // Log the extracted text  Logger.log(text);}

Replace PDF_FILE_ID with the ID or URL of the PDF file you want to extract text from.

5. Save and Run the Script: Save the script by clicking on “File” > “Save”. Then, click on the “Play” button ▶️ in the toolbar to run the script.
6. Authorize the Script: If prompted, authorize the script by clicking on the “Continue” button and granting the necessary permissions to access your Google Drive files.
7. View the Extracted Text: After running the script, open the “View” menu in the Google Apps Script editor and select “Logs”. You should see the extracted text from the PDF file printed in the logs.

By following these steps, you will be able to extract text from PDF files using Google Apps Script. You can further customize the code to save the extracted text to a Google Sheet, send it via email, or perform other operations as needed.

FAQ

1. Q: What is Google Apps Script?
   • A: Google Apps Script is a scripting language and cloud-based platform that allows users to automate and extend Google products such as Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs. It is based on JavaScript and can be used to create custom functions, workflows, and add-ons for Google Apps.
2. Q: Can I extract text from a PDF file using Google Apps Script?
   • A: Yes, you can extract text from PDF files using Google Apps Script with the help of third-party libraries such as the PDF-Library. The library provides functions for opening, processing, and extracting text from PDF files within a Google Apps Script project.
3. Q: How do I install the PDF-Library in Google Apps Script?
   • A: To use the PDF-Library in Google Apps Script, you need to add it as a library from the Libraries menu. You can search for the PDF-Library by entering its library ID (1WVTinyhkAKHhQ-DxE31lG8RA305mGwqq) and select the latest version of the library. Once added, you can use the library’s functions in your script.
4. Q: What functions does the PDF-Library provide for extracting text from PDF files?
   • A: The PDF-Library provides functions such as PDF.open(), PDF.getPage(), and PDF.extractText() for accessing and processing PDF files. Specifically, the PDF.extractText() function can be used to extract text from a PDF file by converting the PDF page content into text format.
5. Q: Do I need special permissions to extract text from a PDF file using Google Apps Script?
   • A: Yes, you need to grant the necessary permissions to your Google Apps Script project to access and process PDF files. Specifically, you may need to authorize the script to access your Google Drive files and accept additional OAuth scopes. This authorization process may require the user to sign in to their Google Account and authorize the script.
6. Q: Can I extract text from multiple PDF files using Google Apps Script?
   • A: Yes, you can extract text from multiple PDF files using Google Apps Script by iterating over a list of PDF files and using the PDF.extractText() function on each file. You can use other Google Apps Script functions such as DriveApp to retrieve a list of PDF files from your Google Drive.
7. Q: Can I extract text from a specific page in a PDF file using Google Apps Script?
   • A: Yes, you can extract text from a specific page in a PDF file using Google Apps Script with the help of the PDF.getPage() function. This function allows you to retrieve a specific page from the PDF file and apply the PDF.extractText() function to extract text from that page only.
8. Q: How can I save the extracted text from a PDF file in Google Sheets using Google Apps Script?
   • A: To save the extracted text from a PDF file in Google Sheets using Google Apps Script, you can use SpreadsheetApp functions to create a new sheet in your Google Sheets document and write the extracted text to the sheet. After extracting the text, you can use SpreadsheetApp functions like getRange() and setValue() to add the text data to the sheet.
9. Q: Can I use Google Apps Script to extract text from password-protected PDF files?
   • A: No, Google Apps Script cannot extract text from password-protected PDF files since the PDF-Library does not provide functions for decrypting encrypted or password-protected PDF files. To extract text from password-protected PDF files, you will need to use alternative tools or APIs that support decryption or password cracking.
10. Q: Are there any limitations or performance issues when extracting text from PDF files using Google Apps Script?
    • A: Yes, there may be limitations and performance issues when extracting text from PDF files using Google Apps Script. The PDF-Library may have limitations on the size or complexity of the PDF files it can handle, and the processing time for large PDF files may be slower. It is recommended to test the script with sample PDF files and monitor the execution time and output for any errors or issues.