What extraction can and cannot do
PDFs come in two kinds. Text-based PDFs (created by Word, Google Docs, LaTeX and most reporting tools) contain real text — extraction is instant and accurate. Scanned PDFs are photographs of pages: they contain no text layer, so nothing can be extracted without OCR, which is on this site's roadmap.
Layout note: extraction preserves line structure, but multi-column documents may interleave. For pixel-perfect copies of a page, use PDF to JPG instead.
Common uses
- Copying quotes or clauses out of a contract for an email;
- Turning a report into notes you can paste into your own document;
- Checking whether a PDF is a scan before choosing another tool;
- Archiving the text of a paper alongside the original file.
Frequently asked questions
My PDF is a scan — what now?
An OCR tool is planned. Until then, converting pages to images with PDF to JPG and using any OCR app on your own device keeps the document fully private.
Is there a page or file limit?
No limit from us — extraction runs on your device. Very long documents simply take a few seconds more.
Can I extract from a password-protected PDF?
Not yet. Remove the protection with your own software first; an unlock tool is planned.