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Tool to convert FROM PDF?

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draconic-hybrid
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Tool to convert FROM PDF?

Wasn't sure if this was the right forum or not, but I have a bunch of PDFs that I want to convert to something else so I can throw them on Google Docs and free up massive USB space. Anyone know of something freeware that I could use for this?

Patrick Patience
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If you're not asking for it portable...

Then this should do in the Off-Topic forum. But anyways, I think on SourceForge.net there's a project called PDF Tools that have tons of cool features like extrating text and images, and tons of other things. So a search for it.
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Bahamut
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Ghostscript

I don't know if it's portable, but:
http://ghostscript.com/awki

You'd have to go through the docs to figure out how to use the GS> prompt. I just use the CLI version anyway (much easier and much simpler).

GPL Ghostscript 8.60 (2007-08-01)
Copyright (C) 2007 Artifex Software, Inc.  All rights reserved.
Usage: gs [switches] [file1.ps file2.ps ...]
Most frequently used switches: (you can use # in place of =)
 -dNOPAUSE           no pause after page   | -q       `quiet', fewer messages
 -gx  page size in pixels   | -r  pixels/inch resolution
 -sDEVICE=  select device         | -dBATCH  exit after last file
 -sOutputFile= select output file: - for stdout, |command for pipe,
                                         embed %d or %ld for page #
Input formats: PostScript PostScriptLevel1 PostScriptLevel2 PostScriptLevel3 PDF
Default output device: display
Available devices:
   bbox bit bitcmyk bitrgb bj10e bj200 bjc600 bjc800 bmp16 bmp16m bmp256
   bmp32b bmpgray bmpmono bmpsep1 bmpsep8 cdeskjet cdj550 cdjcolor cdjmono
   declj250 deskjet devicen display djet500 djet500c eps9high eps9mid epson
   epsonc epswrite ibmpro ijs jetp3852 jpeg jpegcmyk jpeggray laserjet lbp8
   lj250 ljet2p ljet3 ljet3d ljet4 ljet4d ljetplus m8510 mswindll mswinpr2
   necp6 nullpage pbm pbmraw pcx16 pcx24b pcx256 pcxcmyk pcxgray pcxmono
   pdfwrite pgm pgmraw pgnm pgnmraw pj pjxl pjxl300 pkmraw png16 png16m
   png256 pngalpha pnggray pngmono pnm pnmraw ppm ppmraw ps2write psdcmyk
   psdrgb psmono pswrite pxlcolor pxlmono r4081 spotcmyk st800 stcolor
   t4693d2 t4693d4 t4693d8 tek4696 tiff12nc tiff24nc tiff32nc tiffcrle
   tiffg3 tiffg32d tiffg4 tiffgray tifflzw tiffpack tiffsep uniprint

Use the -sDEVICE= switch to convert. For example:

gswin32c -r300 -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=png16m -sOutputFile=somedocp%ld.png somedoc.pdf

That will convert each page of somedoc.pdf to PNG (16 million colors). %ld will replaced by each page number (page 1 will be somedocp1.png, page 2 will be somedocp2.png, etc.). If you need smaller files, decrease the resolution and/or use pnggray/pngmono if you can.
The pause and exit to GS> are annoying, but -dNOPAUSE and -dBATCH get rid of them.

Vintage!

wsm23
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Question

A PDF is basically a picture when you come down to it right?

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BuddhaChu
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No

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consul
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but it can be made into one

Like Buddha said, it is postscript thingy, but if you are just making an archive, I have imported .pdfs into my Paint Shop Pro and saved them as various image files. Maybe that can help if you can store those images somewhere online.

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grannyGeek
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How about an on-line service

claims to be a free service :

http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/12/convert-doc-xls-ppt-rtf-pdf-to-html.html

or, from Software995
---beware, all their stuff seems to be ad-ware that connects to the net --- this didn't bother me, I was offline using their Pdf Creation software, but delay for about 90 seconds during connection attempt was annoying ---
http://www.omniformat.com/faq.html

Roach
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An extreme case would be

An extreme case would be Scribus, which essentially is a DTP program, freeware, and can import PDF. Importing PDF is anything but trivial, but it can be done.

wsm23
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PDF as compression

So I think we can conclude that you basically wanted to use a program to compress your document files into a smaller size in the form of a pdf. Then convert them back to their original format at a later date. Am I right?

I think the bottom line is not at this time. Their might be in the future, but no such animal exists right now.

Portable Scribus exists, but is not really a clean editing tool for use with former word docs. It would be useless with spreadsheets.

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Life is about the journey not the destination!

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USBs Unite
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pdf to image

If you want to convert a pdf file to images, try PDF-XChange Viewer, it will convert a pdf to many image formats and its also a pdf viewer and editor. Great program as far as I can tell and you can get it portable too. I found the portable version on portablefreeware.com (don't know if I'm allowed to mention other sites offering similar services) but here is the direct link: http://www.portablefreeware.com/?q=PDF+XChange&m=Search. Hope this helps Smile

m-p-3
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Doesn't Google Docs now

Doesn't Google Docs now support converting PDF to other doctype?

bpmackow
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yes

yes it does

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein

My use of Google indicates that I am insane.

RANADHEER
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USE GIMP

hi draconic,
This is a late reply,(but i joined this site yesterday and hope this helps)
u can use gimp portable to convert pdf to image format, its easy. follow these steps
1. open gimp
2. drag and drop your pdf file, a pop up box will open
3. choose all pages or the page of your choice
4. select the mode to images (i did not try the layers mode any how)
5. now all your pages will be opened in different windows and choose to save them as jpg using the size (pixels/inches) to 2550 width and 3300 height.
6. enjoy it is now done.

Note: the size i choose was to obtain a best quality image( for text quality), and is not mandatory

regards,
Ranadheer

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