How to Convert a PDF to Text in Make

Have you ever found yourself needing to extract text from a PDF document? You’re not alone! PDF to text conversion is a common challenge that many professionals face daily. According to Adobe, over 2.5 trillion PDF documents are created annually, making the need for efficient conversion solutions more crucial than ever. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through converting PDF files to text using Make (formerly Integromat), a powerful automation platform that simplifies this task. Whether you’re handling business documents, academic papers, or personal files, we’ve got you covered with proven methods and expert tips!

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Step-by-Step PDF to Text Conversion Process

Step 1: Create Your Folder

Before we dive in, make sure you have your PDF file ready and stored in a dedicated folder. This will help keep everything organized and make it easier to follow throughout the process.

Here is what my PDF looks like :

Next, let’s create a new folder in your Google Drive. Name it ‘PDF to Text’ – this will be our workspace for the upcoming steps.

Step 2: Create Your Scenario

Now it’s time to set up your workflow scenario – this is where the magic happens! Let’s create a step-by-step process that will streamline your work.

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Step 3: Add Your First Module

Let’s start with your first module. Select ‘Download a File’ from the Google Drive options. When the settings open:

Look for the ‘Enter a File ID’ field
Instead of typing manually, click on ‘Select from the list’ for more straightforward navigation
Under File ID, browse to your folder (in my case, I named mine ‘pdfs’)
Finally, select your PDF file (I’m using one named ‘test’)

Pro tip: Using ‘Select from the list’ is much easier than copying and pasting file IDs manually!

Step 4: Upload The File

For your second module, we’ll need to set up the ‘Upload a File’ function in Google Drive. This will help us store our processed files in the right place.

Now comes an important step! After selecting your folder location and adding your preferred file name, here’s the key part you don’t want to miss:

Look for and click on ‘Show advanced settings’
Under the conversion options, make sure to set ‘Convert a File’ to Yes
In the format field, select ‘application/vnd.google-apps.document’

Pro tip: That last setting is super important – it ensures your PDF will be converted into an editable Google Doc format!

Step 5: Save And Run

Great! Now that everything’s set up, click ‘Save’ to store your settings, then hit ‘Run’ to see your scenario in action. Your PDF will transform into an editable document in just a moment!

Step 6: Result

If everything worked correctly, you should now see a new Google Doc file in your designated folder. This is your PDF transformed into an editable document – ready for you to work with!

And voilà! Here’s what your newly converted file should look like. Pretty neat, right? You’ve just transformed a static PDF into an editable document you can easily work with. I hope this makes your workflow much smoother!

How Does This PDF Text Conversion Help You?

Converting PDFs to text makes your documents easier to edit, share, and analyze. Instead of manually copying content from a PDF, you can quickly extract text and work with it in Google Docs or other formats. This is especially useful for businesses, students, and researchers who need to edit contracts, reports, or academic papers.

Automating this process with Make saves time and reduces errors. You no longer have to retype information or worry about formatting issues. Once converted, your text is searchable, allowing you to find key details quickly. Plus, it improves accessibility, enabling screen readers to read the content aloud for visually impaired users.

This method also benefits businesses that handle large volumes of PDFs, such as invoices, legal documents, or client reports. By converting them to text, you can integrate the data into other workflows, making it easier to organize and analyze.

Overall, using Make for PDF-to-text conversion streamlines your work, boosts productivity, and ensures accuracy. Whether for personal or professional use, this simple automation makes handling PDFs much more efficient. Try it today and experience the benefits!

Conclusion

Converting PDFs to text doesn’t have to be complicated! With Make’s powerful features and the guidance provided in this article, you’re now equipped to handle PDF conversions efficiently. Remember to test your scenarios thoroughly and implement our discussed best practices. Ready to start converting your PDFs? Jump into Make and begin creating your first PDF to text conversion scenario today!

FAQs

How do I convert a PDF to text only?

To extract text from a PDF, you can use tools like Make, Adobe Acrobat, or online converters. Upload your file and choose the “Text” format to get a plain text version.

How do I convert a PDF to a text-based PDF?

Use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools like Adobe Acrobat, Google Drive, or Make. These convert scanned PDFs into searchable, text-based PDFs while keeping the original layout.

How do I convert PDF text to Word?

You can convert a PDF to Word using Make, Adobe Acrobat, Google Docs, or online converters. Upload your PDF and select an editable version in Word (.docx) format.

How to Convert a PDF to Text in Make