PDF to Excel

[excel_training_wheels]

Can you open a PDF file and have the data in the PDF parse to Excel columns? Is that possible?

 

[Tazguy37]

Looks like there are several 3rd party utilities out there to do this. A Google search will turn up more.

 

[NateO]

Well, it's nowhere near perfect, but here's what I do:

http://www.utteraccess.com/forums/showflat.php?Number=775546

I end up adding to the code, as nulls don't parse properly, etc... You really need to keep your eye on the beginning and end result and adjust in your procedure... PDF files really chafe my soul, as mentioned here:

http://www.mrexcel.com/board2/viewtopic.php?p=849696#849696

I think it's pretty unfortunate that I'll probably be seeing more of them in the future... Why Microsoft, why?! People who know better do not create PDF files...

 

[XL-Dennis]

I think it's pretty unfortunate that I'll probably be seeing more of them in the future... Why Microsoft, why?! People who know better do not create PDF files...

Although I fully agree with Your opinion I can only conclude that there exist a majority that demand it...

However, the real paradox is that there exist users who ask how to decompile PDF-files

 

[NateO]

Hi Dennis.

I certainly agree; Demand -> Supply. I studied Economics pretty heavily @ University and am a firm believer in Classic Econ. acting as a driver...

It's not just a matter of the odd user wanting to convert the PDF to a useable format... Here's what I think I'm looking at:

Database Administrator A needs to set up reporting functionality, snapshots or PDFs, so they can e-mail them out, right?

Here's the problem: The same DB Administrators either don't have the foresight to understand that I, as an analyst, need to take the critical data they're sending me and roll that up in my own Database to then cut it 6 different ways for both my and my colleagues analysis and understanding... I mean, I get 500 pages of PDF nonsense with mission-critical data each month, and that's just one report!

Or, they have a very nasty sense of humor... And, to be honest, I think it's the former...

In my opinion, PDFs, more so when you only have the reader, are good for one thing: The Circular File (trash).

So, when Microsoft introduces functionality to properly coerce a PDF to a Spreadsheet, I'll be impressed.

 

[XL-Dennis]

Nate

Database Administrator A needs to set up reporting functionality, snapshots or PDFs, so they can e-mail them out, right?

That's right and I also know that some DB/A save copies as well and insist to have e-mail confirmations from all recipients on a nearly daily basis.

I mean, I get 500 pages of PDF nonsense with mission-critical data each month, and that's just one report!

Before the IT-era printed reports had the same size and structure. I still wonder how many trees went directly into the recycle-bin The only advantage was when people realized that the local kinden garten was happy to recieve all the papers as the backside was clean :wink:

For some reasons, don't ask me why, it seems that report-creator believe that their output is the end of the value added chain.

With some customers I've been able to invite every co-worker involved in the chain of information and discuss these specific aspects.

In most of the cases we've been able to solve the issues. In some cases with simple textfiles, in other cases with Excel-files and in some rarely cases with XML-files. In one case we solved it by setting up a web services in their intranet and then hook Excel-files to it via VBA.

In one particular case we completely failed as the SQL Server Administrator managed to buy a new version of Adobe softwares and just continued to create his beloved PDF-files

From a more MSFT-perspective I find it confusing as so far they have pushed for the XML-file format and all its advantage with portability etc and all of the sudden Save To PDF... will be directly availably in Excel 12

For contracts, productinformation etc the PDF-file format is excellent but for distribution of input datanumbers it's total unacceptabel.

But don't ever inform Your DB/A about Crystal Reports!!!!