Converting PDF to Word

[dailypress]

Hello all,

I had my designer add nice images and graphics to the background of a PDF file (for my e-book).

Each page has a different layout. Basically my designer created several TIF files and then converted them into 1 single PDF.

My book is now on Amazon, but in order to publish the e-book version I will need the Word version.

Any recommendations on how to convert a 40MB PDF file to a Word?

Please note I am using lots of pictures and graphs.

thanks in advance,
DP

[not2easy]

There are several software programs that can take care of the task, have you done a search? I know that Nuance makes at least one converter. I have seen free online converters, but for anything you weren't planning to share I think I would rather pay a few bucks.

[phranque]

if your pdf consists entirely of image files then all of the text will have to go through an OCR process.

[lucy24]

all of the text will have to go through an OCR process

That seems redundant. It has to have started out as text, unless you created it by photographing a pre-existing book written by someone else.

Have you had a fight with your designer? All the original files (pre-PDF) should still exist somewhere.

[dailypress]

Yes, I found a few websites listed and recommended by one of the publishing companies.

All the original files (pre-PDF) should still exist somewhere.

Yes, he has all the TIF and Photoshop files. Although he's combined all the layers into one background image and then added the text into another layer. (to protect the details of the drawing and images)

What im thinking is that the PDF to Word converter basically extracts the text. However, I would like the background images to also be on there.

Am I better off, copy pasting the images onto word and then adding text? Or do you recommend any specific software. It's about 200 pages. I'm trying to save myself some time and redundant effort (if that's possible)

So how would I go about doing this?

[Leosghost]

Unless he has locked the PDF files ..you should be able to separate out the text in acrobat ( not the reader, you need the reader /writer ) anyway..( or use another PDF writer / reader software if you don't have acrobat )..nitro maybe..or foxit..then paste the extracted text you get into word..over the background..

You'll need to look into ebook protection , unless you are giving it away with a right to copy , redistribute, resell license..some programs use passwords, some use time stamps, some use number of times read, some have anti copy, some have combos of all of those..some even lock ebooks to mac addresses and require the books to be opened on machines which are connected to your server..

If you are looking into protecting your PDFs..I recommend LockLizard ( the most expensive ) ..CopySafe ( more reasonable pricing ..and very effective ) foxit also make a secure PDF system ..but as they decided not to use a phone number that I can dial from outside the USA without incurring high international phone charges ( an 866 number..and 8anything numbers are not in any of my "plans" )..then I have no idea of their charges..

[Emmadoll]

You can find lots of software for the PDF to Word conversion, for some you have to pay large amount. While on the other hand, you can't satisfy yourself for the work done by free or cheap softwares. So I recommend you to manually do your work instead of wasting your time in search of such softwares.

[dailypress]

Thanks guys,

Yes, I think Ill have to do it manually. I tried the few sites listed and it gave me an error saying that it was saved as images and that I would need to upgrade to another software in order to detect and extract the text.

So, I give up. And as Emmadoll says Ill do it myself.

I have the TIF files. Do I copy paste the images on to the whole page on MS Word and then add text to another layer on the same page?

Or does it not matter if there is White space on the pages? Does the text and background image have to be in different layers?

tnx

[outland88]

Adobe Acrobat is a program to convert to PDF from an original created with a variety of programs Word being the top one. Images in the PDF are one form of copy protection and will hender a Word conversion by purchasers with ill intent. If you have the original PDF Acrobat X allows the conversion to Word. What did you create the PDF from?

My bad old thread.