Convert PDF to text
Get the words out of a PDF as plain text, ready to paste wherever you need it. Paragraphs stay in one piece, and pages set in two columns are read column by column.
How to use it
- Pick your PDF, or drop it onto the box.
- TeddyPDF pulls out the text at once.
- Download the plain text file.
What the text file contains
The words from every page appear in reading order, with a marker showing where each new page starts. Headings, paragraphs and straightforward two-column layouts are handled. Tables are written out with a tab between each column, so they drop tidily into a spreadsheet when pasted.
When there is no text to take
Some PDFs are made from scanned pages. These contain images of words rather than the words themselves, so there is nothing to extract, and the page will say so. In that case, run the file through Make PDF searchable first so the words can be read.
Questions and answers
Can I paste tables into a spreadsheet?
Yes. Table columns are separated by tabs in the text file, so they line up in separate cells when you paste them into a spreadsheet.
Why does it say there is no text in my PDF?
The file is most likely made of scanned pages, which hold pictures of words. Use Make PDF searchable to read the words first.
Are two-column pages kept in the right order?
Yes. Simple two-column layouts are read one column at a time, so the text follows the order you would read it in.
Does TeddyPDF upload my file?
No. Your browser does all the work, on your own device. Before it opens your file, this page shuts off its own ability to send or fetch anything, and your browser holds it to that. Try it: once the page has loaded, turn off your Wi-Fi and the tool still works. How the lock works.