Converting .pdf to word document

[umrdad]

OK I'm not a computer whiz (that's why I use mac ) here's my problem I need to convert an e-book that's in pdf format to word and I don't have adobe just preview since this book is 300+ pages I really don't want to do it one page at a time and there's also images, charts, tables, etc. in the book. Any ideas? am I screwed? or will I have to have adobe or something else?

[Blue Velvet]

I have to ask: just why exactly do you need to do this?

eBooks are usually locked down to protect from unauthorised duplication, content extraction and the like.

[umrdad]

I don't know if it was locked or not, it was a free download, the reason I need to do this is a friends father was in the korean conflict (east side of chosin when china intervened) he's been writing his memoirs and yes he's a windows user and getting along in years and not a computer whiz either. I burned a cd of the download but he's not been able to open it up to read it (I'm guessing that something isn't set right on his computer but I can't help w/that) but if I can convert it to word document then he shouldn't have any problem

[the Western zoo]

the easy solution seems to be: installing adobe acrobat reader on his coputer... it's free and reads pdf... Even for a total computer rookie it shouldn't be a problem as long as he's got an internet connection...

[superbovine]

Originally Posted by umrdad

OK I'm not a computer whiz (that's why I use mac ) here's my problem I need to convert an e-book that's in pdf format to word and I don't have adobe just preview since this book is 300+ pages I really don't want to do it one page at a time and there's also images, charts, tables, etc. in the book. Any ideas? am I screwed? or will I have to have adobe or something else?

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/21776

My guess you won't have enough permissions to do it. However if you have print permissions you can probably get around it. You may be able to convert the pdf to a ps file with ghost, but probably doubt because the security. however, if you have a windows machine and they give you rights to print. install a laser printer with ps support (hp color laser 8500). after that just print the pdf, but some place in the printing option direct to "Print to file" and it will dump it into a ps file. just copy that back over to your mac and preview will convert back to a unprotected pdf. after that use the software above to convert to word. although, if you a have windows machine simply googling to find some software to do that same thing would probably be the cheaper way to go.

[umrdad]

it looks like preview will allow me to print the book but I don't want to print 300+ pages (not concerned w/paper but we all know ink cartridges run out halfway through the job) what is ps? there's much I don't know how to do with a mac, and other than turning them on don't know squat about winders

[Fearless Leader]

ok here you go.
open it in preview.
then at the top click the "A"

then select all. then copy. and paste into word.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by the Western zoo

the easy solution seems to be: installing adobe acrobat reader on his coputer... it's free and reads pdf... Even for a total computer rookie it shouldn't be a problem as long as he's got an internet connection...

Quite.

Even if you select the text and copy to word you'll loose the pictures...

Surely it's not too much to ask to get him to head over to Adobe's website and install acrobat reader? Or if that doesn't work or he's on dialup why not try Foxit PDF Reader, it's highy rated on Download.com, only 1.2MB and doesn't even need to be installed to run on Windows.

[superbovine]

Originally Posted by umrdad

it looks like preview will allow me to print the book but I don't want to print 300+ pages (not concerned w/paper but we all know ink cartridges run out halfway through the job) what is ps? there's much I don't know how to do with a mac, and other than turning them on don't know squat about winders

ps is a postscript file. if you didn't follow my post then you probably shouldn't be doing it.

[umrdad]

I really appreciate everyone's input rokem especially. . . .kinda hated losing the pics but the text and references were more important. . . .also see getting PDF2Offfice in the very near future looks like it will solve many problems w/file conversions

[Macky-Mac]

Originally Posted by umrdad

I really appreciate everyone's input rokem especially. . . .kinda hated losing the pics but the text and references were more important. . . .also see getting PDF2Offfice in the very near future looks like it will solve many problems w/file conversions

everybody should have the ability to read pdf files......it's a simple and free download to get adobe reader.......the whole concept of having to convert a file to a word document is just backwards

[mfacey]

I think Adobe Acrobat Professional will allow you to do this. Not 100% sure though. Even so, its ridiculous someone in this day and age can't open a pdf. Its as good as an industry standard by now. Every computer should have the software to open pdfs, just download it.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by umrdad

I really appreciate everyone's input rokem especially. . . .kinda hated losing the pics but the text and references were more important. . . .also see getting PDF2Offfice in the very near future looks like it will solve many problems w/file conversions

Seriously why don't you just install the software to read pdf's (Foxit PDF Reader doesn't even need installing on any version of Windows from Windows 95.) just download it and burn it onto a CD and run it, it's an essential computer program, you need one to read many online documents too....

Why do you want to spend upwards of $60 to convert to Office? (the cost of PDF2Office) It's a total waste of money as far as I can see, especially as the software to read PDF's is free and almost certainly a smaller download too...

[Fearless Leader]

Glad i could be some help.
Is their some reson you couldn't put the file on the cd with foxit? If i remember correctly its just an .exe and could be run right off the cd.

Edit: opps I didn't read the earlier post...

[fonzbear2000]

This should be of interest: http://www.ehow.com/how_4794405_conv...ument-mac.html

[Make Seyin]

Using Apple's built-in "Automator" scripting application, you can make a simple drag-and-drop application to extract formatted text from any PDF file.
1.Open the PDF file in a reader, for example in standard Adobe Reader.
2.Switch to the text selection tool.
3.Select the desired part of the text and copy it to the clipboard.
4.Run MS Word or any other editor and paste the text into it.
This is the simplest way to work out converting PDF to Word.
Maybe what mentioned above is not useful for you, i personally share you with a article about
How to convert PDF to Word, you just need to follow the easy guide.
Cheers.

[superbovine]

Originally Posted by Make Seyin

Using Apple's built-in "Automator" scripting application, you can make a simple drag-and-drop application to extract formatted text from any PDF file.

You know this thread is from 2005?

[brainwave89]

I couldn't resist even though it is a vintage post.

http://pdftoword.com/

[ChanelCinq]

Originally Posted by Fearless Leader

ok here you go.
open it in preview.
then at the top click the "A"
Attachment 49042
then select all. then copy. and paste into word.

Wow that was easy. I am such a dork. Was not even thinking the harder way would be Word to PDF. Thanks. I was trying to rearrange info by subject from a 48 page study PDF.

[snakemonwu]

I search some PDF to word tip in Google, and fond this topic. Last week, I read article about the risk of online conversion service, so, I spend time to register an account and replay this thread, in order to tell more people about the risk of online conversion.

All online conversion sites need users to upload their documents to server, and online services will send converted files by your emails, it is sometimes the case that your file will arrive hours or even days afterwards, that article is too long. People can read more from this article: how to convert PDF to MS word on Mac for safe.

Hope the moderator can approve my reply and let more people knows this fact, stop converting your document online, it is dangerous.