How to extract the text of a PDF to a .txt file: a step-by-step guide

Drop the PDFs anywhere on the page, or press Add files. The text is read as each file loads - the list says how many words it found. Every page is chosen to begin with; click or drag on the thumbnails to narrow it down, or use the bar above them (odd, even, every Nth, page numbers such as "3-7").

A scan without a text layer has no text to give - the list says so and points at OCR - make a PDF searchable. After OCR, it extracts like any other file.

• Paragraphs - the lines of a block are joined into one paragraph and hyphenated breaks are mended: prose that reflows in an editor.
• Lines - every line on its own row, as on the page: the choice for tables, forms and addresses.

Between pages puts a heading such as "--- Page 3 ---", a blank line, or nothing between the pages' text.

Switch the view above the thumbnails from Pages to Text to read what will come out, page by page, under the current settings.

Press Save as TXT. The line under the button counts the pages and words. One .txt file per PDF is saved to your device at once - several together as a ZIP. A text file holds characters and line breaks only: no fonts, bold or pictures. If the document should keep looking like a document, use PDF to Word instead.

Above the file list, Apply to decides how several files are handled. Under Selected file each file has its own pages and settings; under All files one rule by page position and one set of settings are used for every file. Copy to the other files gives the settings on screen to the other files.

Without an account, and with a free one, you can convert two files in a run, each up to 15 MB. With Pro there is no limit on the number or the size, and you can save your settings as a preset.

• Keep the look as well? PDF to Word.
• Only the tables, as a spreadsheet? PDF to Excel.
• A scan with no text layer? OCR - make a PDF searchable.