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Q: How, as an end-user, extract marked text out of PDF?

Forum Index > Collaboration & Commenting > Q: How, as an end-user, extract marked text out of PDF?
2009-09-01 05:00:08
PMB
Registered: Sep 1 2009
Posts: 3

Hi everyone,

As an end-user of PDF files, I usually use the mark-up highlight text tool in order to summarize the PDF files that I read.

As I am in the process of extracting that knowledge to a single topic oriented Word file, I have hit a snatch. I cannot figure the daylights out how to extract those marked text from PDF to Word.

I tried to export the comments but that just results in a word doc with comments in the margin. I just want to copy it as plain new text as a batch and not having to select/drag every highlighted sentence one by one.

Does anyone have an answer for me? Maybe its a simple one but checking how to reference books on acrobat or a quick scan on this forum hasn't yielded an answer yet

Thanks in advance for any tips/help.
Kind regards,

Perry

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro Extended 9.0, Windows
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2009-09-01 09:26:53
#1
try67
Expert
Registered: Oct 30 2008
Posts: 2398
It's not so simple... Did you check the option to copy the selected text into Highlight, Cross-out and Underline comment pop-ups (under Preferences - Commenting)? If so, then a simple comment summary script (like this one: http://try67.blogspot.com/2008/11/acrobat-create-comments-summary-txt-pdf.php) will do.
If not, it's still possible, but requires a more advanced script.

- AcrobatUsers Community Expert - Contact me personally at try6767 [at] gmail [dot] com
Check out my custom-made scripts website: http://try67.blogspot.com

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2009-09-01 10:54:21
#2
PMB
Registered: Sep 1 2009
Posts: 3
Hi Try67,
Thnx for your respons.
I have indeed already checked the option 'copy selected text into... pop-ups'.
However, this is no good since Adobe will only spit it out as an PDF file. I want it in a word file so I can re-edit it + I really want only the text and not all the reference material surrounding it.
You example of the TXT file is a bit more in the right direction.

But if I understand your respons right, it means Adobe itself does not support this. Which I find unbelieveable considering the amount of information that is presentedin PDF these days. I guess I will have to look online for other programs that do fulfill the need.
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2009-09-01 11:28:44
#3
gkaiseril
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
You can save a PDF file as a text type file or Word Doc. The formatting will need some work. There are also 3rd party products that can convert PDF's to Word Docs along with the formatting.

Acrobat can support some of the actions that you want, but you will have to write some code to produce the documents or purchase a product that extends the features of Acrobat.

It is interesting that a subset of the PDF format standard is being used as an international standard for the archiving of documents.

George Kaiser

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