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Resolved convert pdf files to word

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by dispatch trophy, 2012/05/18.

  1. 2012/05/18
    dispatch trophy Contributing Member

    dispatch trophy Inactive Thread Starter

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    I would like to convert pdf files to Word or OpenOffice.

    The reason is that pdf files are often scanned from books. meaning that the the pages of the source books are not the same pages as the pdf.

    This wastes a lot of space and paper in printing. But pdf files cannot be edited, so I want to convert the file into an editable format.

    any suggestions appreciated.
     
    dispatch trophy,
    #1
  2. 2012/05/19
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    PDF docs are set that way so that they can't be copied or altered.

    Google pdf files converted to Word or OpenOffice and look at the second hit. For some reason it won't go to that link when I paste it here.

    [Admin: this link?] Converting PDF to MS Word
     
    MrBill,
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  4. 2012/05/19
    dispatch trophy Contributing Member

    dispatch trophy Inactive Thread Starter

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    This link apparently is an OpenOffice extension. I downloaded it but could not figure out how to use it on the first try.


    This seems to say the best to way is to select and copy the text of the pdf using that function in the pdf then paste it into a Word or OpenOffice file.
     
    dispatch trophy,
    #3
  5. 2012/05/19
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    You need Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

    Note though that ...


    Comparison of optical character recognition software
     
    SpywareDr,
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  6. 2012/05/19
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    I have a Downloaded PDF of Huawei Ideos FAQ's Manual on my Desktop.
    I open the PDF and scroll to the Section/Page I want, then highlight the info/page, Right click > Copy > Open MSW 2007 > Paste and I can then do what I want with it. Cheers Neil.;)
     
    retiredlearner,
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  7. 2012/05/20
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    There are two different types of PDF files:

    1) The first is one that was actually created in a PDF editor, much like you would create a Word document.

    2) The second type is a picture of a page stored inside a PDF file.

    With the first type, the actual typed text is stored inside the PDF so it's easy to copy it out. With the second, it's not ... simply because the text isn't really there. It's only a picture of the text.

    So, with the second type you need OCR software to 'look' at that page to try and figure out what might be characters (and what's not). As it's scanning the page, it stores each character it thinks it 'sees' into an editable file for you.

    (That's why the software is named "Optical Character Reader ").
     
    SpywareDr,
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