From time to time, we need to convert a document in one format to another. Sometimes the info in the document contains data that people need, and sometimes it is only text. For example, an XLS document develops from a spreadsheet and will have numbers and sometimes formulas that calculate those numbers. Not all data will translate, and formulas won't, if you want to convert it right into a text file. When it comes to converting a PDF to CSV format, you will be working with a 'PDF' or 'Adobe Systems Portable Document Format'. Many programs do not work with these documents by default, and this type of conversion can need a two-step manual process.
For many years, it was not easy to access the data in a PDF. Now, it is much easier. There are several programs that may open a Pdf and allow you to convert it to .DOC or .RTF or .TXT. These are all basic text document formats. People that want to convert a document to a .CSV format will probably want to put this data into a table in a database or into a spreadsheet. If you want to convert from the PDF to a CSV, you will be taking data - perhaps names and addresses, and putting it right into a format that allows insertion right into a data program. Normally, the way in which most might do this, is to hire something to convert the data for them. This would involve an employee manually transferring the data from one application to another. However they do it, it can get quite expensive.
Another way to do it is to save to RTF then try to open in a spreadsheet program like Excel or OpenOffice. This is a hit or miss process and may yield unpredictable results. Sometimes the information comes out right, quite often it doesn't. The most efficient method of doing make a PDF to CSV conversion is by using a software program which was specifically designed for this purpose. It specializes in spreadsheet conversion such as PDF to CSV. One excellent program is CogniView's PDF2XL. Programs created for a specific purpose can save hours of time and loads of frustration.
Converting information in one format to another is a key part of data management provided data has been managed. Different programs use different formats and moving financial statements to a Word processor is a common way to create a financial are convinced that looks better than the conventional ones provided. Converting data from the PDF to CSV is not difficult and can be done with software like PDF2XL. Data conversion can be frustrating unless you possess the right tool for the job. Then, the reward causes it to be worthwhile.