To extract text from a PDF, you can use an AI extraction tool like Lido. Pull specific fields with Lido's Data Extractor, or copy whole sections and tables with the PDF Table Extractor, then export the text to Excel. Both methods work on digital and scanned PDFs.
In this tutorial, we will walk you through two ways to extract text from a PDF using Lido. Use Method 1 to pull specific pieces of text into columns, or Method 2 to copy a section or table exactly as it appears.
Lido is the best way to extract text from a PDF because its AI reads each document the way a person would. Lido finds the right text in any layout without templates or setup, reads scanned PDFs with built-in OCR, and places every value in its own column instead of one long block of text.
This method is best when you want specific pieces of text, such as dates, names, or amounts, in their own columns.
Before you start, make sure you have the PDF you want to extract text from saved on your computer.
If you don't have a Lido account yet, you can create one for free here.
Once you're logged in, create a New File.
Select the Extract Data button at the top of the sheet.
Upload your file by dragging and dropping it into Lido, or click to browse. Lido will automatically analyze the file for you.
For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be using a sample bank statement.
Enter a column name for each piece of text you want to pull from your PDF. For a bank statement, that might be Date, Amount, and Description. For a contract, it might be Party Names, Start Date, and Payment Terms.
You can also add extra instructions if you'd like (this is optional), such as extracting each transaction as its own row. Once done, click Process All Files.
Check the extracted text to make sure everything looks correct. You can edit any cell, rename columns, or remove data you don't need.
Click Export to Excel to download your extracted text as a spreadsheet file.
This method is best when you want to copy a section or table of text exactly as it appears in the PDF. It also avoids the problem of table data coming out jumbled when you copy and paste.
Log into Lido and create a New File.
Click on Tools in the top menu and select the PDF Table Extractor. This tool reads the text in your PDF and keeps tables and columns in place.
Drag and drop your file into Lido, or click to upload. Digital PDFs, scanned PDFs, and photos of paper documents all work.
Drag the selection box over the section or table you want to extract. If the same layout repeats on every page, check Apply selection to all pages. Then click Extract Data.
Review the extracted text to make sure it includes everything you need. You can go back to adjust your selection. When you're satisfied, click Insert at Active Cell to add it to your spreadsheet.
You can edit and format the cells however you need. Adjust column widths, format dates and numbers, or reorganize the content to suit your workflow.
Click Export to Excel at the top to download the extracted text as a spreadsheet file.
If you only need a few lines of text, these free options may be enough:
Copy and paste: Open the PDF, highlight the text, and copy it. This is the fastest option, but it only works on digital PDFs and breaks tables into one long line of text.
Google Docs: Upload the PDF to Google Drive, right-click it, and choose Open with, then Google Docs. Google reads the text for you, even on scanned PDFs, but complex layouts and tables often come out messy.
Adobe Acrobat Pro: Use the Scan & OCR tool to turn a scanned PDF into one with selectable text. It's accurate, but it requires a paid subscription and still doesn't keep tables organized when you copy them.
Free online OCR tools: Sites like Smallpdf and PDF24 pull text from scanned PDFs in a few clicks. They work for simple, one-off files, but your document is uploaded to a third-party server. For regular or sensitive work, compare dedicated data extraction tools for PDFs instead.
Now that you know how to extract text from a PDF, you can pull the information you need without retyping it by hand.
Upload your PDF to Lido and specify the fields you need, such as dates, names, or amounts. Lido extracts the text into a spreadsheet that you can export to Excel. No templates or coding required.
Your PDF is most likely a scanned image, so there is no real text to select. You need a tool with OCR (software that reads text from images), like Lido or Google Docs, to pull the text out.
Yes. Lido includes built-in OCR that reads scanned and photographed documents. Upload the scan, and Lido extracts the same text as from a digital PDF.
Copy and paste and basic OCR tools usually break tables into one long line of text. Lido keeps each value in its own column, so your tables stay organized when you export them to Excel.
Use the Data Extractor when you want specific pieces of text, like dates or names, in their own columns, or when you're processing many PDFs at once. Use the PDF Table Extractor when you want to copy a section or table exactly as it appears.
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