Basic Problem: For this PDF: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsrLaUgt0KCLhXtP-jYDd4Z0ujKQ?e=xSu2ZR
I am unable to convert/Save manually as plain text using Adobe Acrobat XI standard or the batch conversion script (below). The generated file is blank.
Full problem: As part of my attempts to batch convert PDFs to text, I have run into a strange error where acrobat XI returns the following:
Disappointingly clicking ok generates the text file blank.
The following script to loop through PDF files and convert them to text files using acrobat: It works fine for most PDFs except ones with figures like above.
Sub LoopThroughFiles()
Dim StrFile As String
Dim pdfPath As String
StrFile = Dir("C:\temp\PDFs\")
fileRoot = "C:\temp\PDFs\"
If Right(fileRoot, 1) <> "\" Then fileRoot = fileRoot & "\" 'ensure terminating \
Do While Len(StrFile) > 0
Debug.Print StrFile
pdfPath = fileRoot & StrFile
Debug.Print pdfPath
success = ConvertPdf2(pdfPath, fileRoot & StrFile & ".txt")
StrFile = Dir
On Error Resume Next
Loop
End Sub
'returns true if conversion was successful (based on whether `Open` succeeded or not)
Function ConvertPdf2(pdfPath As String, textPath As String) As Boolean
Dim AcroXApp As Acrobat.AcroApp
Dim AcroXAVDoc As Acrobat.AcroAVDoc
Dim AcroXPDDoc As Acrobat.AcroPDDoc
Dim jsObj As Object, success As Boolean
Set AcroXApp = CreateObject("AcroExch.App")
Set AcroXAVDoc = CreateObject("AcroExch.AVDoc")
success = AcroXAVDoc.Open(pdfPath, "Acrobat") '<<< returns false if fails
If success Then
Application.Wait (Now + TimeValue("0:00:2")) 'Helps PC have some time to go through data, can cause PC to freeze without
Set AcroXPDDoc = AcroXAVDoc.GetPDDoc
Set jsObj = AcroXPDDoc.GetJSObject
jsObj.SaveAs textPath, "com.adobe.acrobat.plain-text"
AcroXAVDoc.Close False
End If
AcroXApp.Hide
AcroXApp.Exit
ConvertPdf2 = success 'report success/failure
End Function
The error appears to be jsObj.SaveAs textPath, "com.adobe.acrobat.plain-text" If instead I use jsObj.SaveAs textPath, "com.adobe.acrobat.accesstext" the text file is generated but for my needs it is important the file generates is in the plain text format.
The reason for this can be seen below in a different PDF. These are the different types of text files generated:
Plain text (extends as sentences in the horizontal direction - this is required):
Access Text: (creates more of a body of text - this separated sentences by carriage return and is problematic)
I reckon this is a lost cause for these sorts of PDFs; disappointing, though, as many of the PDFs I need to convert are in this format. Appear to have been plagued with issues trying to solve this one.
Anyway just wondered if it may be possible to disable the popup message, and maybe this will allow the plain-text write to occur?
Alternatively can't think of much else.
