Manipulating and analyzing data usually involves Microsoft Excel. However, the source data that needs to be processed and perused doesn’t necessarily come in the Excel file format.
As a consequence, most Excel users are often faced with the need to export data into Excel before they can do anything with it.
In most cases this means converting PDF to Excel, because PDF is the number one file format for archiving, storing and exchanging documents. As a result, there are many PDF converters on the market. Some are free online tools, some commercial desktop tools, and others simple mobile apps with limited free availability and in-app purchases. Overall, there is no shortage of PDF to Excel conversion software and solutions.
However, what do you do when you need to export tabular data from a non-PDF file formats to Excel? For example, when you have tabular data in Word or PowerPoint. Or even worse, when you have an image file. In this case, a regular PDF converter software is not going to help. One workaround that would work would be to generate a PDF, import that PDF into a PDF converter and then finally convert it to Excel. So it’s doable, but such a hassle.
Luckily, there is a more elegant, faster and smarter way to convert your tabular data into Excel. It involves Able2Extract Professional: a dedicated, feature-rich PDF solution which allows for total PDF file management from creating, converting and editing PDF to filling out and submitting PDF forms and performing PDF OCR. And, finally, it can convert any printable file into Excel.
Export Any Printable Format to Excel with Able2Extract Pro
Converting tabular data to Excel with Able2Extract is easy, fast, and, most importantly, accurate.
When you start up the software, navigate to the Open icon in the command toolbar which looks just like a regular folder. Locate and select the non-PDF file on your hard drive that you wish to convert to Microsoft Excel. Click on the Open button:
Once your file is opened in the Able2Extract interface, just select the table or other content that you want to convert to Excel. You can select the table by clicking on the Area icon in the main toolbar and then using your mouse to highlight it as shown below.
Having made your selection, navigate to the Excel icon that is located just to the right of the select Area icon. In the Convert to Excel dialog, choose between Automatic and Custom conversion option.
As seen on the image of the dialog above, the Automaticconversion option generates Excel output based on the table structure of the selected table from the original document. It basically means that it transfers the selected table to Excel as is.
The Custom conversion option allows you to modify your table structure before the actual conversion and also to preview your output. You choose this option when you want to add or remove rows, rearrange columns, replot tables, remove header or footer, manage named table structures, etc. It’s a great option for complex and messy tables that would require lots of cleaning and organizing in Excel.
Once you’ve made your choice and clicked on the Convertbutton, Able2Extract will first ask you where you want to save the Excel spreadsheet. The default option is in the folder of the original document, so if you want to change it, specify the right location.
The conversion process usually takes around a few seconds. Able2Extract automatically opens the converted file, so you can get started with your data manipulation or analysis right away.
To summarize, this method lets you convert all sorts of file formats into Excel as long as they are printable. Most common example formats include Word, PowerPoint, PNG, JPEG and TIFF.
On top of that, you can also convert image (scanned) PDFs to Excel thanks to the OCR technology that Able2Extract utilizes.
Did you know you could transfer different files into Excel that easily? Let us know in the comments below!
