Acrobat
Five ways to copy text from a PDF document.
Whether you’re dealing with scanned images, PDFs, or protected files, learn how to extract text efficiently and streamline your workflow.
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How to manually copy text from PDF
How to copy text from a PDF using a PDF editor online
How to copy text from scanned PDF documents and images using the OCR PDF tool
How to copy text from a protected PDF
How to copy text from PDF OCR to Word converter
How to manually copy text from PDF?
Copying text from a PDF is common, whether you need information for academic research, content creation, legal purposes, or just for reference. Thankfully, for simple, well-structured PDFs, you can often copy text from PDF OCR manually. Let us explore how to copy text in PDF documents using the following:
- Adobe Acrobat desktop application
- Microsoft Word, and
- Google Documents
How to copy text in PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat desktop application.
- Launch the Adobe Acrobat desktop app.
- Open the PDF file containing the text you want to copy.
- Navigate to the ‘Select Tool’ option in the toolbar and click on it to activate the text selection mode.
- Click and drag your cursor to select the desired text passage within the PDF, even across multiple pages if needed. Then right-click within the selection, choose ‘copy’ from the Edit menu, and your text will be copied.
- Now, you can paste this information into your desired document.
How to copy text in PDF document using Microsoft Word.
While Microsoft is not the ideal solution for every PDF, it can be a handy tool for copying text from simple, well-structured PDFs. Here is how to copy PDF text using Microsoft Word:
- Open the Word application on your desktop.
- Navigate to the ‘File’ option and select ‘Open’. In the file explorer window, browse your target PDF document and click ‘Open’.
- Word will attempt to convert the PDF into an editable Word document. Depending on the complexity of the PDF, this process may take a few minutes.
- If the conversion is successful, you can see the PDF content within the Word document. Using the manual copy-paste method, you can freely highlight and copy any text you need.
How to copy text in PDF files using Google Documents.
Google Documents offers a convenient way to extract text from PDFs, even scanned ones. Here is how to copy PDF text using Google Docs:
- Head over to your Google Drive and upload the PDF document from which you want to copy the text.
- Right-click on the uploaded PDF file and select the ‘open with’ option.
- Google Docs will import the PDF content into a new Google Document.
- Once the conversion is completed, you can see the extracted text within the Google Document.
How to copy text from a PDF using a PDF editor online.
Need to copy some text from a PDF but don't have any software installed? An online PDF editor can help. Here is how you can copy text from PDFs online:
- Open your web browser and search for an online PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat.
- Upload your PDF files or drag and drop them in the designated drop zone.
- After Acrobat uploads the file, sign in to proceed.
- You can now copy text as desired or add comments, sticky notes, and highlight sections.
- Once you are done editing, download the annotated file or share it with anyone through a link.
How to copy text from scanned PDF documents and images using the OCR PDF tool.
How often have you encountered a scanned PDF or an image file where the text is just an image and cannot be copied? Adobe Acrobat Online has a built-in solution called Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which can transform these uncooperative files into searchable and editable documents. Learn how to copy text from a PDF image using the Acrobat OCR PDF tool online:
How to copy text from a PDF image.
Step 1: Launch Adobe Acrobat online services and open the image-only PDF you want to convert.
Step 2: Access the ‘OCR PDF’ tool under ‘Convert’.
Step 3: Select the PDF and wait for Acrobat to upload it.
Step 4: Once done, Adobe will automatically recognise the text within, which you can now copy.
Step 5: Sign in to download your newly converted file or perform other editing functions using Acrobat.
How to copy text from a protected PDF.
While a password creates a security barrier, there are still ways to access the text within the document:
- Launch the Adobe Acrobat application and open the password-protected PDF document.
- Navigate to the file menu on the top toolbar and click on ‘Properties’.
- Now click on the security tab.
- Use the provided dropdown menu and select ‘No Security’
- A prompt will appear requesting the password.
- Enter the correct password and click ‘OK’ to confirm the password.
- Finally, save the document to make the changes.
By removing the password, you can highlight and copy the desired text.
How to copy text using the PDF to Word converter.
Copying text from PDFs into a Word document is simple. Here is how to do it using Adobe Acrobat:
- Again, go to Acrobat online on your browser and navigate to the PDF to Word converter page.
- Upload your PDF file and sign in to continue.
- Acrobat will convert your file to an editable DOCX file.
- Now you can download this Word document and continue selecting the text.
Your toolkit for PDF text extraction.
This guide presents five quick and efficient methods to copy text in PDF documents - from simple PDFs to scanned PDF documents. Now, you know how to extract the information you need from every type of PDF.
Remember, the ideal method depends on the specific PDF you are working with. Using Adobe Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs might be efficient for basic PDFs. An online PDF editor or Adobe Acrobat’s OCR might be helpful for scanned PDFs.
Frequently asked questions
Why am I unable to copy text from a PDF?
There are three main reasons why you can not copy text from a PDF:
- The PDF might be a scanned image, making the text a non-selectable picture.
- The PDF creator might have restricted copying to prevent unauthorised edits.
- The PDF might be password protected, requiring the password to unlock text selection.
How can I copy text from a PDF on my mobile device?
Copying text on mobile PDFs depends on your choice of application. Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to highlight and copy text from regular PDFs. For scanned PDFs, some apps offer built-in OCR or integrate with OCR services to convert images to text for copying.
How accurate is OCR when copying text from a scanned PDF?
OCR accuracy in scanned PDFs can vary depending on factors like scan quality and font type. Modern OCR is quite good, achieving accuracy rates above 90% for clear scans and standard fonts. However, complex layouts, handwritten text, or poor-quality scans can reduce accuracy, introducing errors in the copied text.
How can I ensure the copied text from a PDF retains hyperlinks?
Simply copying and pasting text from a PDF typically won't preserve hyperlinks. Most PDF readers and editors treat copied text as plain text, stripping away any embedded links. If retaining hyperlinks is crucial, you should explore alternative methods like copying the link location within the PDF or using specialised tools designed to extract hyperlinks alongside text.
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