pdf-parse

Pure javascript cross-platform module to extract texts from PDFs.

Important update

This repositary is a fork of https://gitlab.com/autokent/pdf-parse. The original is not maintained anymore and has mutliple issues, refer https://gitlab.com/autokent/pdf-parse/-/issues/24. This fork aims to patch these issues and republish the package.

Similar Packages

• pdf2json buggy, no support anymore, memory leak, throws non-catchable fatal errors
• j-pdfjson fork of pdf2json
• pdf-parser buggy, no tests
• pdfreader using pdf2json
• pdf-extract not cross-platform using xpdf

Installation

npm install pdf-parse-fork

Basic Usage - Local Files

const fs = require("fs");
const pdf = require("pdf-parse");

let dataBuffer = fs.readFileSync("path to PDF file...");

pdf(dataBuffer).then(function (data) {
	// number of pages
	console.log(data.numpages);
	// number of rendered pages
	console.log(data.numrender);
	// PDF info
	console.log(data.info);
	// PDF metadata
	console.log(data.metadata);
	// PDF.js version
	// check https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/getting_started/
	console.log(data.version);
	// PDF text
	console.log(data.text);
});

Basic Usage - HTTP

You can use crawler-request which uses the pdf-parse

Exception Handling

const fs = require("fs");
const pdf = require("pdf-parse");

let dataBuffer = fs.readFileSync("path to PDF file...");

pdf(dataBuffer)
	.then(function (data) {
		// use data
	})
	.catch(function (error) {
		// handle exceptions
	});

Extend

• v1.0.9 and above break pagerender callback changelog
• If you need another format like json, you can change page render behaviour with a callback
• Check out https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/

// default render callback
function render_page(pageData) {
	//check documents https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/
	let render_options = {
		//replaces all occurrences of whitespace with standard spaces (0x20). The default value is `false`.
		normalizeWhitespace: false,
		//do not attempt to combine same line TextItem's. The default value is `false`.
		disableCombineTextItems: false,
	};

	return pageData.getTextContent(render_options).then(function (textContent) {
		let lastY,
			text = "";
		for (let item of textContent.items) {
			if (lastY == item.transform[5] || !lastY) {
				text += item.str;
			} else {
				text += "\n" + item.str;
			}
			lastY = item.transform[5];
		}
		return text;
	});
}

let options = {
	pagerender: render_page,
};

let dataBuffer = fs.readFileSync("path to PDF file...");

pdf(dataBuffer, options).then(function (data) {
	//use new format
});

Options

const DEFAULT_OPTIONS = {
	// internal page parser callback
	// you can set this option, if you need another format except raw text
	pagerender: render_page,

	// max page number to parse
	max: 0,

	//check https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/getting_started/
	version: "v1.10.100",
};

pagerender (callback)

If you need another format except raw text.

max (number)

Max number of page to parse. If the value is less than or equal to 0, parser renders all pages.

version (string, pdf.js version)

check pdf.js

• 'default'
• 'v1.9.426'
• 'v1.10.100'
• 'v1.10.88'
• 'v2.0.550'

default version is v1.10.100
mozilla.github.io/pdf.js

Test

• mocha or npm test
• Check test folder and quickstart.js for extra usages.

Support

I use this package actively myself, so it has my top priority. You can chat on WhatsApp about any infos, ideas and suggestions.

Submitting an Issue

If you find a bug or a mistake, you can help by submitting an issue to GitLab Repository

Creating a Merge Request

GitLab calls it merge request instead of pull request.

• A Guide for First-Timers
• How to create a merge request
• Check Contributing Guide

License

MIT licensed and all it's dependencies are MIT or BSD licensed.