Convert PDF file to CSV - does that work?

If you receive databases or tables in a PDF file, you can also convert them into a CSV file. We show you how this works in this practical tip.

Convert PDF file to CSV

The easiest way to convert PDFs to CSV files is with spreadsheet applications like MS Office Excel or OpenOffice Calc.

1. Open the respective PDF in the program "Adobe Reader Standard" or "Adobe Reader Professional".
2. Then select "File" -> "Save as ..." -> "Text ..." from the menu bar. Now save the file at any location.
3. Now switch to a spreadsheet program such as Excel or Calc.
4. Click on "File" -> "Open" in the menu bar and select the previously created text file.
5. Now a so-called "import assistant" opens. With this you can set how the text file should be imported. This depends on the type of PDF. Just follow the steps of the wizard and click on "Finish" in the last step.
6. Now you can adjust the file in Excel or Calc if necessary. To finally convert the file, click on "File" -> "Save As" in the menu bar and select the file type "Windows CSV" in the next window.
7. You have successfully converted the file to a CSV file.

Tip: Read also how you can merge several CSV files.