PHP ActiveX Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Exclude or Include Running Headers and Page Numbers

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates the "repeatedHeadersFooters" filter. Text repeated at the same position on most pages, such as a running header and "Page N of 4" footers, is left out by default; set the filter to "include" to keep it. PHP ActiveX

<?php

$success = 0;

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

//  The four-page PDF used in this example is available at running_header.pdf

$pdf = new COM("Chilkat.Pdf");
$success = $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/running_header.pdf');
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

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

//  Every page has the header "Harbor Lighthouse Society - Annual Report 2026" at the top right
//  and "Page N of 4" at the bottom.  By default both are excluded, so the text of page 2 is just
//  its heading and paragraphs.
$json->UpdateString('pages','2');
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text',$json,$jsonOut);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

print '---- default (repeated headers and footers excluded) ----' . "\n";
print $jsonOut->stringOf('text') . "\n";

//  Include them.  The detection looks at the neighbouring pages even when only one page is
//  selected, so a single page extracted on its own still loses its running head by default.
$json->UpdateString('repeatedHeadersFooters','include');
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text',$json,$jsonOut);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

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

//  Sample output:

//  ---- default (repeated headers and footers excluded) ----
//  The Work
//  
//  The restoration society took ownership in 2021 with three goals: make the structure watertight, return the tower to public access, and relight the lantern with a historically accurate lens. The first two were met in the second season, and the lens arrived on loan in November.
//  
//  The spiral stair is original and is the most fragile part of the building. Twelve of the ninety-one treads were cracked or missing, and the central column had corroded badly at the second landing. The treads were cast from patterns taken off an intact tread.
//  ---- repeatedHeadersFooters: include ----
//  Harbor Lighthouse Society - Annual Report 2026
//  
//  The Work
//  
//  The restoration society took ownership in 2021 with three goals: ...
//  
//  The spiral stair is original and is the most fragile part of the building. ...
//  
//  Page 2 of 4

?>