PDF to Excel

Convert a PDF to a spreadsheet

Columns in a PDF are not columns — they are text that happens to line up. This finds those alignments, turns them into a grid, and writes a workbook with one sheet per page.

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The column gap is how far apart two pieces of text must sit to count as separate columns. Widen it if one column is splitting in two; narrow it if two columns are being merged. A ruled table converts almost perfectly; a free-form layout will not.

How to convert a pdf to a spreadsheet

  1. 1

    Drop in the PDF

    It is parsed locally. Statements, invoices, reports and exported tables all work best.

  2. 2

    Pick a format

    An .xlsx workbook with a sheet per page, or CSV files if you are feeding the data straight into something else.

  3. 3

    Tune the column gap

    This is how far apart two pieces of text must sit to count as separate columns. Widen it if one column is splitting in two, narrow it if two are being merged.

  4. 4

    Download and check

    Open it and confirm the columns landed where you expect before relying on the numbers.

How the columns are found

Every text fragment's left edge is collected across the page, and edges within the gap threshold of each other are treated as one column. Each fragment is then assigned to the nearest column. A ruled table with consistent alignment converts almost perfectly; a free-form layout will not.

Rows come from baselines

Fragments whose baselines sit within half a line height of each other are treated as the same row, which handles superscripts and mixed font sizes within a line. A cell that wraps onto two lines becomes two rows — merge them afterwards.

Check the numbers

This reads what is drawn on the page. It cannot tell a total from a subtotal, and it does not know that a column is currency. Treat the output as a fast transcription to verify, not as an authoritative import.

Questions

The column gap. Too small and every slightly-offset fragment starts a new column; too large and neighbouring columns merge. Try a few values — the conversion is quick.

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