How to get a table out of a PDF
- Add the PDF. Drop it into the converter, or add several PDFs at once.
- Check each table. The preview shows a tab for every table found, with column letters and row numbers, just like the sheet you'll get.
- Download. Choose one sheet per table, one per page or everything on one sheet, as Excel or CSV.
How the tables are found
- Tables with grid lines are read from the lines themselves, so each value lands in the cell it was drawn in, even when it wraps onto several lines. A row that a page break cuts in two may need joining back, so check rows at page breaks against the PDF.
- Tables without lines are read from how the text lines up: the white space running down between columns, left-aligned text and right-aligned numbers.
- Header rows are recognised when they look different (bold or larger) or sit above columns of numbers and dates. They become a bold, frozen first row with filter buttons.
- Long tables that continue over several pages are joined into one, with the header kept once. Page headers and footers next to the table, such as page numbers, are kept out of it, and the file's notes say how many lines were moved.
- Wrapped text such as a long description stays in its cell instead of spilling into new rows.
- Values, not just text. Numbers, currency, percentages and dates are stored as values Excel can calculate with; codes such as 000481 keep their leading zeros.
Tips for the best result
- Check that the PDF has real text. Try selecting and copying a few words in your PDF viewer. If they paste as readable text, the converter can read them. If the whole page highlights as one picture, it is a scan; if the words paste as random symbols, the PDF's fonts have no proper character map and the converter will see the same symbols.
- Keep the text outside tables if you need it. Titles and notes aren't part of any table; tick “Also include the text that isn't in a table” to get them on their own sheet.
- Use one sheet per page for unusual layouts. If a page mixes several small tables, following the PDF page by page can be easier to work with.
Frequently asked questions
Can it find several tables on one page?
Yes. Each table gets its own sheet by default. Choose “Everything on one sheet” to stack them with a blank row between, or “One sheet per page” to follow the PDF.
What about tables without grid lines?
They work too. Columns are worked out from how the text lines up down the page, including right-aligned numbers and headers wider than their column.
Will merged header cells break the columns?
No. In a table with grid lines, a heading that spans several columns goes into the first of them, and a heading split over two lines is joined into one header cell.
Can I copy just one table?
Download the workbook and use the sheet you need, or choose CSV to get a separate file for each table.
Why did two tables side by side become one?
When two tables sit next to each other with their rows lined up, they look like one wide table. The values are all there, in separate columns, so you can move one table's columns to their own sheet in a few clicks.
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