Perl Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Extract Text from a PDF that Forbids Copying

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates a PDF that opens without a password but whose permissions do not allow copying text. The "text", "markdown", "search" and "tables" operations fail with that reason; "assess" always works. Loading the PDF with the OwnerPassword property set grants owner rights, and extraction works. Chilkat2 Perl

use strict;
use warnings;
use Chilkat2;

# This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
# See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

# The PDF used in this example (owner password: owner-secret; copying not permitted) is available at no_copy_permission.pdf

my $pdf = Chilkat2::Pdf->new;
my $json = Chilkat2::JsonObject->new;
my $jsonOut = Chilkat2::JsonObject->new;

# The PDF opens without a password.
my $success = $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/no_copy_permission.pdf');
if (!$success) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText, "\n";
    exit;
}

# Extracting text is refused, because the PDF's permissions do not allow copying.
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text', $json, $jsonOut);
if (!$success) {
    print 'Extraction refused: ', $pdf->LastErrorText, "\n";
}

# "assess" reports only counts and ratings, never text, so it is always allowed.
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('assess', $json, $jsonOut);
if (!$success) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText, "\n";
    exit;
}

print 'rating: ', $jsonOut->StringOf('quality.rating'), "\n";

# Load with the owner password to get owner rights, which include copying.
$pdf->OwnerPassword('owner-secret');
$success = $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/no_copy_permission.pdf');
if (!$success) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText, "\n";
    exit;
}

$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text', $json, $jsonOut);
if (!$success) {
    print $pdf->LastErrorText, "\n";
    exit;
}

print $jsonOut->StringOf('text'), "\n";

# Sample output:

# Extraction refused: ChilkatLog:
#   ExtractText:
#     ...
#       The PDF's permissions do not allow copying or extracting text (load it with the owner password to extract).
#     ...
# rating: good
# Visitor Leaflet
#
# Welcome to the harbor lighthouse. The tower is open on weekends from July to September.
#
# Please keep to the marked paths and do not climb on the breakwater.
#
# The lantern room is closed in high winds.