PHP ActiveX Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Extract Text from a Password-Protected PDF

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates extracting text from a PDF that requires a password to open. The PDF loads without the password (its structure can be read), but the "text" operation fails because the content cannot be decrypted; "assess" reports that a password is required. With the UserPassword property set before loading, extraction works normally. PHP ActiveX

<?php

$success = 0;

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

//  The PDF used in this example (user password: secret) is available at encrypted_user_password.pdf

$pdf = new COM("Chilkat.Pdf");
$json = new COM("Chilkat.JsonObject");
$jsonOut = new COM("Chilkat.JsonObject");

//  The PDF loads without its password: the file's structure is readable, so properties such as
//  NumPages and the security settings are available...
$success = $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf');
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

//  ...but the content cannot be decrypted, so extracting text fails.
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text',$json,$jsonOut);
if ($success == 0) {
    print 'Cannot extract: ' . $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
}

//  "assess" still works: it reports that a password is required and nothing else.
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('assess',$json,$jsonOut);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

print 'passwordRequired: ' . $jsonOut->BoolOf('quality.passwordRequired') . "\n";
print 'rating: ' . $jsonOut->stringOf('quality.rating') . "\n";

//  Set the password and load again.
$pdf->UserPassword = 'secret';
$success = $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf');
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text',$json,$jsonOut);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

print $jsonOut->stringOf('text') . "\n";

//  Sample output:

//  Cannot extract: ChilkatLog:
//    ExtractText:
//      ...
//        The PDF is encrypted and could not be opened (wrong or missing password); its text cannot be read.
//      ...
//  passwordRequired: true
//  rating: none
//  Board Minutes (Confidential)
//  
//  The board met on 3 November 2026. Present: the chair, the treasurer and four members. The treasurer reported that spending for the season came in under budget.
//  
//  The meeting closed at 8.45 p.m.

?>