| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | PDF conversion Thread poster: Barnaby Capel-Dunn
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| PDF Conversion - pitfalls and limits | Sep 15, 2003 |
[quote]corinne durand wrote:
Barnaby Capel-Dunn wrote:
Well, I never thought I would trigger such an interesting discussion!
What does seem to emerge from our exchanges is that, where editing PDF documents is concerned, there is no such thing as a free lunch. If you want a solution which saves you time, it seems that you have to be prepared to pay something. The question is "how much?".
Hello!
A few months ago I read somewhere about this PDF converter called Midas Extractor. I downloaded the free trial version at the time, however I never got it to workon my system , but I think that is due to my software rather than theirs. The link is the following http://www.surefiresoftware.com/midas/features.php
Anyway, the price mentioned for the full version is cheaper than the other products mentioned here, if someone wants to try it, could they tell us how efficient it is?
Corinne
Dear Corinne,
If it's simply a question of extracting text at a very basic level, then the software you mention may well fit the bill. (Another application of this sort is PDF2Text: http://www.traction-software.co.uk/pdf2text/index.html
This seems a little more sophisticated and costs about $50. At least you can download it for free and see whether it measures up to your requirements.
But remember that the whole purpose of the exercise is to save time (and thus money). If the software is so limited and/or so complicated that one actually ends up spending MORE time, then your hard-earned money is ill spent! Besides, Acrobat Reader's own copy and paste features might prove just as effective for basic needs - at no charge!
All the best
Barnaby
| | | | chance (X)
French to Chinese
+ ...
| A quick trial for Midas extractor | Sep 15, 2003 |
It works only for the extract of text in occidental characters, but cannot extract the graphics. Similar to Adobe Reader 6.0 “Save as text format”, and also lost the original format.
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chance wrote:
It works only for the extract of text in occidental characters, but cannot extract the graphics. Similar to Adobe Reader 6.0 “Save as text format”, and also lost the original format.
Thanks for your feedback!
| | | | | Agree with Chance | Sep 15, 2003 |
I also downloaded Midas program and I obtained the same results.
What a shame!
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sylver 
Local time: 10:02
English to French
No. That's not a joke. PDF means Portable Document Format. It is not a format intended for editing at all, but to display the same way on every machine and at press time. In other words, it is not a format that we should have to translate at all.
PDFs are mostly made from other document formats (usually DTP formats). Therefore, whenever you get a PDF, chances are that somebody has the very same document, with the right formating, in an editable format such as Framemaker, Qua... See more No. That's not a joke. PDF means Portable Document Format. It is not a format intended for editing at all, but to display the same way on every machine and at press time. In other words, it is not a format that we should have to translate at all.
PDFs are mostly made from other document formats (usually DTP formats). Therefore, whenever you get a PDF, chances are that somebody has the very same document, with the right formating, in an editable format such as Framemaker, QuarkX, Pagemaker,...or even Word!
THIS is the document you should translate and work with. PDF files are great as a reference but not as source files. Hell. PDF is precisely made to avoid editing!Beside, a lot of PDFs are made in such a way that a large part of the "text" is actually picture, and won't export as text unless you OCR it, no matter which program you use.
Whenever you get a large file in PDF format (I wouldn't bother for a couple pages) DO ASK for the original file, explaining your customer that it will be cheaper/faster that way. Try it. Few people create their docs straight in Acrobat, so an other format will usually be available. Often a customer think that PDF is better to work with because it looks all nice,... and has the very same document in Word format available. It's not sadism, just a matter of education.
PDF files are hardly any better then hard copies and should be charged extra, big time. As reference however, they are great, but not as source file. That's format misuse.
I hope I don't sound too pedantic, but really, working with a pdf can be a pain, and the best way to handle it is to get the original source doc.
Hell, pdf? What's next? Stone engraved manuals? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 04:02
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
+ ...
| To the point, Sylver! | Sep 22, 2003 |
That's what I had in mind but your saved me the effort.
Customers should realise, that only CAT-compatible formats like Word-docs or rtf should be sent to translators, since only CAT garantees some degree of persistence in terminology. But those secretaries don't know anything, so they believe in pdf.
By the way, when extracting whole pages of text in Acrobat Reader headings, pagenumbers and inscriptions are not in the right order but what you get is a mess. And because of the linebr... See more That's what I had in mind but your saved me the effort.
Customers should realise, that only CAT-compatible formats like Word-docs or rtf should be sent to translators, since only CAT garantees some degree of persistence in terminology. But those secretaries don't know anything, so they believe in pdf.
By the way, when extracting whole pages of text in Acrobat Reader headings, pagenumbers and inscriptions are not in the right order but what you get is a mess. And because of the linebreaks you can hardly use any CAT-tool at all.
But I rather translate from PDF than direktly in Pagemaker or some other dtp-program, since I really don't like to spend thousends of euros on software.
If someone finds a tool, that extracts text without additional linebreaks, I'll buy it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:02
German to English
+ ...
| Stone-engraved manuals | Sep 22, 2003 |
If stone-engraved manuals (SEM format) appear, you can be sure that:
1. Software developers will produce conversion utilities for SEM > MS Word conversion
2. Translators will discuss SEM > Word conversion utilities in places such as ProZ
3. Translators will feel obliged to obtain such software in order to provide their customers with "good service"
4. Customers will remain ignorant
5. A translator somewhere in the Rhineland will te... See more If stone-engraved manuals (SEM format) appear, you can be sure that:
1. Software developers will produce conversion utilities for SEM > MS Word conversion
2. Translators will discuss SEM > Word conversion utilities in places such as ProZ
3. Translators will feel obliged to obtain such software in order to provide their customers with "good service"
4. Customers will remain ignorant
5. A translator somewhere in the Rhineland will test SEM2Text for Windows on Crossover Office on SuSE 7.1, and will bore the socks of his colleagues with the results
Marc ▲ Collapse
| | | | chance (X)
French to Chinese
+ ...
| I enjoy the wisdom. :) | Sep 22, 2003 |
MarcPrior wrote:
If stone-engraved manuals (SEM format) appear, you can be sure that:
1. Software developers will produce conversion utilities for SEM > MS Word conversion
2. Translators will discuss SEM > Word conversion utilities in places such as ProZ
3. Translators will feel obliged to obtain such software in order to provide their customers with "good service"
4. Customers will remain ignorant
5. A translator somewhere in the Rhineland will test SEM2Text for Windows on Crossover Office on SuSE 7.1, and will bore the socks of his colleagues with the results
Marc
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Mónica Machado
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:02
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Still regarding PDF Converter from Scan Soft | Oct 15, 2003 |
Hello,
Still on this, I wonder if anybody has tested this PDF Converter by Scansoft ?
http://www.scansoft.com/pdfconverter/sysreqs.asp
If so, could you please share your experience with it.
I know that most translators are against new software but sometimes we can't just choose the work we get. Well, we might end up with the e-mail box e... See more Hello,
Still on this, I wonder if anybody has tested this PDF Converter by Scansoft ?
http://www.scansoft.com/pdfconverter/sysreqs.asp
If so, could you please share your experience with it.
I know that most translators are against new software but sometimes we can't just choose the work we get. Well, we might end up with the e-mail box empty.
Thanks for your help
Regards
Mónica Machado (MIL)
English into European Portuguese Translator
Member of APT and IOL & Associate Member of ITI
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
http://monicamachado.planetaclix.pt ▲ Collapse
| | | | Pat Jenner (X)
Local time: 02:02
German to English
+ ...
| I've tried it | Oct 16, 2003 |
Having just struggled with a massive PDF file (tiny font, loads of tables) I was spurred on to buy this software. I've tried it on half a dozen files, and it has worked on about half of them. When it does work it produces an editable Word document. Whether or not it works seems to depend on whether the PDF file contains a 'text layer' (don't know what that is). It's very straightforward to use, and I would say that it's worth a try if you get a lot of stuff in PDF.
mmachado wrote:
Hello,
Still on this, I wonder if anybody has tested this PDF Converter by Scansoft ?
http://www.scansoft.com/pdfconverter/sysreqs.asp
If so, could you please share your experience with it.
I know that most translators are against new software but sometimes we can't just choose the work we get. Well, we might end up with the e-mail box empty.
Thanks for your help
Regards
Mónica Machado (MIL)
English into European Portuguese Translator
Member of APT and IOL & Associate Member of ITI
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
http://monicamachado.planetaclix.pt
| | | | Mónica Machado
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:02
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Thanks - I might try it to see... | Oct 16, 2003 |
Hi Pat,
Thanks. I might try this to see how it works with my files.
Thanks for sharing your experience
Best regards,
Mónica Machado (MIL)
English into European Portuguese Translator
Member of APT and IOL & Associate Member of ITI
... See more Hi Pat,
Thanks. I might try this to see how it works with my files.
Thanks for sharing your experience
Best regards,
Mónica Machado (MIL)
English into European Portuguese Translator
Member of APT and IOL & Associate Member of ITI
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
http://monicamachado.planetaclix.pt ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mónica Machado
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:02
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| PDF Coverter | Oct 24, 2003 |
Hello,
I have tried this PDF Converter with my PDF files. This tool is excellent for text and tables. Text comes really neat even if original has a fancy presentation (columns, etc.) and as in PDF. Can't say the same about graphics. Some graphics weren't converted and some were partially converted.
Anyway, for large files this is certainly a helpful tool and since it isn't expensive I think it was just a fair investment.
Best regards,
Mónica Machado... See more Hello,
I have tried this PDF Converter with my PDF files. This tool is excellent for text and tables. Text comes really neat even if original has a fancy presentation (columns, etc.) and as in PDF. Can't say the same about graphics. Some graphics weren't converted and some were partially converted.
Anyway, for large files this is certainly a helpful tool and since it isn't expensive I think it was just a fair investment.
Best regards,
Mónica Machado (MIL)
English into European Portuguese Translator
Member of APT and IOL & Associate Member of ITI
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
http://monicamachado.planetaclix.pt ▲ Collapse
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Mónica Machado
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:02
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| PDF converter by Scansoft vs Abby Fine Reader 7 | Oct 29, 2003 |
Hi,
I noticed this is a subject with interest for many of us. Having tried several softwares on PDF conversion, I am posting here my experience and my results just in case you also need to convert PDFs into RTF/Word format.
I have tried both the new PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft and the Abby Fine Reader 7. Both softwares are ok but they offer different results. Please see below:
PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft
1) It is associated to Word... See more Hi,
I noticed this is a subject with interest for many of us. Having tried several softwares on PDF conversion, I am posting here my experience and my results just in case you also need to convert PDFs into RTF/Word format.
I have tried both the new PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft and the Abby Fine Reader 7. Both softwares are ok but they offer different results. Please see below:
PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft
1) It is associated to Word and it works as such - so you don't have a different program just a sort of plug-in for Word that connects PDF to Word.
2) Good results for text and simple tables. If you only convert text and simple tables this is a good program. Graphics are somehow converted but I didn't get a good result on my documents.
3) Pictures are kept as JPEG or other image file and if there is text in it you can't edit it.
4) Conversion is simple and fast.
5) It is a converter and isn't a OCR program.
6) Not a very expensive tool.
Abby Fine Reader 7
1) It is a OCR program that you can use to convert electronic PDF files as well.
2) I haven't tried it as a OCR yet so can't say anything about results together with a scanner.
3) Conversion is simple and faster than with the PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft. I have converted several large documents to try it (documents over 200 pages).
4) I got wonderful results for text and simple tables conversion - slightly better than the results from PDF Converted by Scan Soft. For instance, Fine Reader 7 converted index and headers and footers that looked just as in the original.
5) Complex/larger tables were also converted ok and only small amendments will be necessary.
6) As for graphics I got similar results using both systems.
7) Pictures are kept as JPEG or other image file and if there is text in it you can't edit it.
8 ) It has a language feature and will correct any misconversion according to the language selected.
9) You can try this free for 15 days.
I already had bought the PDF converter by Scansoft when I found the Abby Fine Reader 7, but if the later proves to be a good OCR program as well I might consider the investment.
There is another tool I have tried and with which I got results similar to those of Fine Reader 7. It is called Drake and you can try it free at http://www.bcltechnologies.com/document/products/drake/drake.htm
The Drake software proved well (similar to Fine Reader) and I got excellent results in the conversion of pictures. Graphics didn't convert well. Another minus is that this is very expensive to buy and is a plug-in so there isn't much you can do with it except PDF conversion to RTF.
Also, please note my opinion is just that. Results might vary according to files converted. I have converted the same files with these 3 programs to be sure about the results but any other experiences you might have will also be appreciated.
Best regards,
Mónica Machado (MIL)
English into European Portuguese Translator
Member of APT and IOL & Associate Member of ITI
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
http://monicamachado.planetaclix.pt
[Edited at 2003-10-30 08:36]
[Edited at 2003-10-30 08:37] ▲ Collapse
| | | | chance (X)
French to Chinese
+ ...
| Thank you Mónica ! | Oct 29, 2003 |
For your detailed information.
| | | | Anja Evans
Germany
Local time: 03:02
English to German
mmachado wrote:
Hi,
I noticed this is a subject with interest for many of us. Having tried several softwares on PDF conversion, I am posting here my experience and my results just in case you also need to convert PDFs into RTF/Word format.
I have tried both the new PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft and the Abby Fine Reader 7. Both softwares are ok but they offer different results. Please see below:
PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft
1) It is associated to Word and it works as such - so you don't have a different program just a sort of plug-in for Word that connects PDF to Word.
2) Good results for text and simple tables. If you only convert text and simple tables this is a good program. Graphics are somehow converted but I didn't get a good result on my documents.
3) Pictures are kept as JPEG or other image file and if there is text in it you can't edit it.
4) Conversion is simple and fast.
5) It is a converter and isn't a OCR program.
6) Not a very expensive tool.
Abby Fine Reader 7
1) It is a OCR program that you can use to convert electronic PDF files as well.
2) I haven't tried it as a OCR yet so can't say anything about results together with a scanner.
3) Conversion is simple and faster than with the PDF converter for MS Word by ScanSoft. I have converted several large documents to try it (documents over 200 pages).
4) I got wonderful results for text and simple tables conversion - slightly better than the results from PDF Converted by Scan Soft. For instance, Fine Reader 7 converted index and headers and footers that looked just as in the original.
5) Complex/larger tables were also converted ok and only small amendments will be necessary.
6) As for graphics I got similar results using both systems.
7) Pictures are kept as JPEG or other image file and if there is text in it you can't edit it.
8 ) It has a language feature and will correct any misconversion according to the language selected.
9) You can try this free for 15 days.
I already had bought the PDF converter by Scansoft when I found the Abby Fine Reader 7, but if the later proves to be a good OCR program as well I might consider the investment.
There is another tool I have tried and with which I got results similar to those of Fine Reader 7. It is called Drake and you can try it free at http://www.bcltechnologies.com/document/products/drake/drake.htm
The Drake software proved well (similar to Fine Reader) and I got excellent results in the conversion of pictures. Graphics didn't convert well. Another minus is that this is very expensive to buy and is a plug-in so there isn't much you can do with it except PDF conversion to RTF.
Also, please note my opinion is just that. Results might vary according to files converted. I have converted the same files with these 3 programs to be sure about the results but any other experiences you might have will also be appreciated.
Best regards,
Mónica Machado (MIL)
English into European Portuguese Translator
Member of APT and IOL & Associate Member of ITI
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
http://monicamachado.planetaclix.pt
[Edited at 2003-10-30 08:36]
[Edited at 2003-10-30 08:37]
I have Abby Fine Reader Professional as well and you can edit Text in pictures if you select the text part within the picture as a text field.
I just love Abby. It's easy to use for PDF as well as for scans etc
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