VB.NET 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. VB.NET

Dim success As Boolean = False

'  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

Dim pdf As New Chilkat.Pdf
Dim json As New Chilkat.JsonObject
Dim jsonOut As New 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 = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  ...but the content cannot be decrypted, so extracting text fails.
success = pdf.ExtractText("text",json,jsonOut)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine("Cannot extract: " & pdf.LastErrorText)
End If


'  "assess" still works: it reports that a password is required and nothing else.
success = pdf.ExtractText("assess",json,jsonOut)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.WriteLine("passwordRequired: " & jsonOut.BoolOf("quality.passwordRequired"))
Debug.WriteLine("rating: " & jsonOut.StringOf("quality.rating"))

'  Set the password and load again.
pdf.UserPassword = "secret"
success = pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


success = pdf.ExtractText("text",json,jsonOut)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.WriteLine(jsonOut.StringOf("text"))

'  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.