Anyone know how to convert a pdf table into a table in Word or HTML?

BasilC · 08-03-2003, 08:52 PM

I'm trying to convert Internet train timetables into a form which will work with iSilo. A lot of UK online timetables are in pdf format, which is a real pain.

I try selecting the text and copying it into Word or Excel, but no joy, it gets completely garbled.

Anyone know of an alternative. I thought about saving it as an image and then running a sophisticated OCR against it, like Textbridge Pro, but I suspect that's an expensive program and I'm not sure it would work anyway

Alexander Turcic · 08-04-2003, 03:45 AM

I recommend using Gemini (see post http://www.turcic.com/forums/showthr...=1772#post1772) which is the only one that can specifically convert pdf tables to html. It is not cheap though

BasilC · 08-04-2003, 07:30 PM

Thanks, Alex, I might give it a go.

Last night I downloaded a trial version of ABBYY FineReader 6.0 Professional , which is an optical character recognition program which can convert pdf files.

I tried it on a sample timetable, but it didn't make a very good job of it. The problem seems to be that it's actually working on the basis of an image of the pdf page, and this particular image is very misleading as to where the column dividers are. However, I haven't read the extensive instructions and tutorials, so there might be a way to improve the performance.

palmtungsten · 10-04-2003, 02:16 AM

Not sure if this would work, but if you have documents to go premium edition (from dataviz, http://www.dataviz.com/products/docu...ogo/index.html) it has pdf support, just drag and drop the pdf file to DTG window and the conversion is automatic, and you'll be able to read the pdf file on your palm.

Good luck!

Novelwriter · 07-16-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BasilC

I'm trying to convert Internet train timetables into a form which will work with iSilo. A lot of UK online timetables are in pdf format, which is a real pain.

I try selecting the text and copying it into Word or Excel, but no joy, it gets completely garbled.

Anyone know of an alternative. I thought about saving it as an image and then running a sophisticated OCR against it, like Textbridge Pro, but I suspect that's an expensive program and I'm not sure it would work anyway

Here is a quick and easy (FREE) online way to convert files:

http://www.convertpdftoword.net/

carlobee · 07-20-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novelwriter

Here is a quick and easy (FREE) online way to convert files:

http://www.convertpdftoword.net/

i've been using this too. i'll recommend this one.

EricDP · 06-25-2010, 01:33 AM

What happens if you use Calibre?

Poppa1956 · 06-25-2010, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricDP

What happens if you use Calibre?

It ain't pretty. Unless there's some trick to it I could learn by reading the manual.

08-03-2003, 08:52 PM	#1
BasilC Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 60 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London England Device: Palm Tungsten T3	Anyone know how to convert a pdf table into a table in Word or HTML? I'm trying to convert Internet train timetables into a form which will work with iSilo. A lot of UK online timetables are in pdf format, which is a real pain. I try selecting the text and copying it into Word or Excel, but no joy, it gets completely garbled. Anyone know of an alternative. I thought about saving it as an image and then running a sophisticated OCR against it, like Textbridge Pro, but I suspect that's an expensive program and I'm not sure it would work anyway

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Table of Contents - html to Mobi problem	thames	Calibre	3	06-02-2010 08:24 PM
Sideway Table in ePub (Rotate table/text)	Lapiz	ePub	3	01-29-2010 02:11 PM
Forget coffee table books-- how about a kitchen table book?	ardeegee	Lounge	10	12-02-2009 01:00 PM
Problem with converting very simple HTML file with table	frabjous	Calibre	3	09-18-2009 03:36 PM
html table handling in v0.4.124	Seabound	Calibre	9	01-06-2009 12:08 AM

08-04-2003, 03:45 AM	#2
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I recommend using Gemini (see post http://www.turcic.com/forums/showthr...=1772#post1772) which is the only one that can specifically convert pdf tables to html. It is not cheap though

08-04-2003, 07:30 PM	#3
BasilC Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 60 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London England Device: Palm Tungsten T3	Thanks, Alex, I might give it a go. Last night I downloaded a trial version of ABBYY FineReader 6.0 Professional , which is an optical character recognition program which can convert pdf files. I tried it on a sample timetable, but it didn't make a very good job of it. The problem seems to be that it's actually working on the basis of an image of the pdf page, and this particular image is very misleading as to where the column dividers are. However, I haven't read the extensive instructions and tutorials, so there might be a way to improve the performance.

10-04-2003, 02:16 AM	#4
palmtungsten Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 18 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: United States Device: Palm Tungsten T2	Not sure if this would work, but if you have documents to go premium edition (from dataviz, http://www.dataviz.com/products/docu...ogo/index.html) it has pdf support, just drag and drop the pdf file to DTG window and the conversion is automatic, and you'll be able to read the pdf file on your palm. Good luck!

06-25-2010, 01:33 AM	#7
EricDP Groupie Posts: 165 Karma: 339490 Join Date: May 2010 Device: nook, BlackBerry	What happens if you use Calibre?

Advert

Advert