DataFlex Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Extract PDF to Markdown

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates the "markdown" operation, which returns the PDF's content as Markdown: headings (inferred from the font sizes when the PDF is not tagged), bold and italic, bullet and numbered lists, links, and ruled tables. Markdown output is well suited to AI and search pipelines. DataFlex

Use ChilkatAx-win32.pkg

Procedure Test
    Boolean iSuccess
    Handle hoPdf
    Variant vJson
    Handle hoJson
    Variant vJsonOut
    Handle hoJsonOut
    String sTemp1

    Move False To iSuccess

    //  This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
    //  See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

    //  The PDF used in this example is available at markdown_features.pdf

    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatPdf)) To hoPdf
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoPdf))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoPdf
    End
    Get ComLoadFile Of hoPdf "qa_data/pdf/markdown_features.pdf" To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatJsonObject)) To hoJson
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoJson))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoJson
    End
    Get Create (RefClass(cComChilkatJsonObject)) To hoJsonOut
    If (Not(IsComObjectCreated(hoJsonOut))) Begin
        Send CreateComObject of hoJsonOut
    End

    //  The "markdown" operation uses the same options as "text" (pages, reading order, filters, clean-up)
    //  plus its own options (see the pdf_extract_markdown_options example).  The defaults convert everything.
    Get pvComObject of hoJson to vJson
    Get pvComObject of hoJsonOut to vJsonOut
    Get ComExtractText Of hoPdf "markdown" vJson vJsonOut To iSuccess
    If (iSuccess = False) Begin
        Get ComLastErrorText Of hoPdf To sTemp1
        Showln sTemp1
        Procedure_Return
    End

    //  The Markdown of all pages is in the "markdown" member.
    Get ComStringOf Of hoJsonOut "markdown" To sTemp1
    Showln sTemp1

    //  The quality report says where the headings came from: "structure" for a tagged PDF,
    //  "inferred" when they were recognized from the font size and weight, or "none".
    Get ComStringOf Of hoJsonOut "quality.pages[0].structure.headings" To sTemp1
    Showln "Headings: " sTemp1

    //  Sample output:

    //  <!-- page 1 -->
    //  
    //  # Field Guide to Backyard Birds
    //  
    //  This short guide covers the birds most often seen at a suburban feeder in the eastern United States. The **bold** names are species you can expect in every season; the *italic* names are winter visitors only.
    //  
    //  ## What to Watch For
    //  
    //  - Size relative to a sparrow or a robin
    //  - Beak shape: thick for seed eaters, thin for insect eaters
    //  - Wing bars and tail markings seen in flight
    //  
    //  ## Getting Started
    //  
    //  1. Hang the feeder where it can be seen from a window.
    //  2. Fill it with black oil sunflower seed, which almost every species takes.
    //  3. Keep a notebook by the window and write down the date of each first sighting.
    //  
    //  For regional checklists and recordings of each song, see the [online bird atlas](https://www.example.com/birds).
    //  
    //  ## Common Visitors
    //  
    //  | Species | Size | Season | Preferred Food |
    //  | --- | --- | --- | --- |
    //  | Northern Cardinal | Robin | All year | Sunflower seed |
    //  | Black-capped Chickadee | Sparrow | All year | Sunflower seed, suet |
    //  | Dark-eyed Junco | Sparrow | Winter | Millet on the ground |
    //  | Downy Woodpecker | Sparrow | All year | Suet |
    //  
    //  Headings: inferred


End_Procedure