The Good
* Straightforward and easy to use.
* Users are allowed to convert whole PDFs or a select range of pages.
* Supports batch processing.
* Supports drag + drop.
* Does not require Microsoft Office/Excel installed to use.

The Bad
* Poor conversion accuracy/output quality.
* Cannot convert encrypted PDFs.
* Overwrites existing image files of the same name and same format in the output folder without prompt.
* Attempts to install directly into C:/ partition by default as opposed to C:/Program Files.
* Users are not allowed to pick if they want .XLS or .XLSX output format.

Free Alternatives
Zamzar

For final verdict, recommendations, and full review please click here.

Ashraf  –  14 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+97)

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Installed on win7 64bit ultimate and works.
But it drops all pictures from the pdf and does not keep the layout.
to me it just copied all the text into a .xls file.
I think it should also caputre the graphics to be any use.

clive  –  14 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+27)

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Good old copy-paste works better than this software. The layout is really poor.

Anthony  –  14 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+22)

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@5:

Copy and paste does (in general) work from PDF to another file, unless:

(a) PDF is protected from doing copy/paste, or
(b) PDF doesn't contain text, as when it is made from a picture and OCR failed or wasn't used -- but then you ought to be able to copy the picture and paste it elsewhere, or
(c) your PDF reader doesn't support copy and paste

re: converting encrypted PDF: if it is encrypted and you DON'T know the password, you are right, it shouldn't work; but I think the issue is more about when you know the password (and therefore should have access to the content). Of course, if your password doesn't give you complete access to the PDF, conversion could fail.

Remember, PDF is primarily a page-layout format, not a text-manipulation format. That is the reason it is so hard to get text out of a PDF. The solution is easy: use PDF for page-layout (e.g. to send something to the printer), and use something more appropriate for text manipulation.

PDF is a print-only medium, with some hacks around for trying to make it handle text. Today's Giveaway is just such a hack. What is amazing is that it works at all; expecting it to work well, let alone with 100% accuracy, is unrealistic.

Terry  –  14 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+19)

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PDF To Excel Converter is a VB [Visual Basic] app that includes 1 VB support file [MSCOMCTL.OCX] in its program folder, & it registers it with Windows... that means that you can't move/remove that folder without breaking any other VB apps that use MSCOMCTL.OCX. There's an easy cure -- or fix if you already installed/uninstalled it... Chances are you already have this file in Windows system folder [32 bit Windows = Windows\System32 & in this case 64 bit = Windows\SysWOW64], & if not just copy it there. Download Regdrop [ http://goo.gl/OZjtZ ], put the un-zipped file on your desktop, & set it to run as admin in Vista/7 [rite=click -> Properties -> Compatibility]. Now using Windows' Explorer, drag MSCOMCTL.OCX on top of Regdrop.exe (clicking OK as nec.). Done. MSCOMCTL.OCX is registered where it should be -- as a bonus PDF to Excel Converter is now portable, so you can put it wherever you want, & it'll run on most any Windows PC as long as it has MSCOMCTL.OCX registered -- most do.

That out of the way [for those that want to or have tried it], PDF To Excel Converter reads the text in a PDF file & tries to divide that text into however many spreadsheet cells. It's not perfect, but if you read the reviews no PDF to spreadsheet app is -- IMHO it's more a matter of if it's useful to you & if not try Zamzar [ http://goo.gl/NC8L ] as Ashraf suggested, bearing in mind that mileage converting PDFs varies depending on the source PDF, how it was created, & with what app. Note that McAfee Site Advisor gives Zamzar an Orange rating due to 3 pop-ups.

Installing PDF to Excel Converter puts it's program folder [~11 MB, 17 files, 2 folders] in C:\ by default -- that location's frowned on, but it's more a best practice sort of thing than an ironclad rule. Installation also adds an uninstall key to the registry, & registers that VB file, which accounts for most of the recorded 134 registry entries that are changed when/if MSCOMCTL.OCX has already been installed.

mike  –  14 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+11)

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