PHP Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Extract Text from a Password-Protected PDF

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates extracting text from a PDF that requires a password to open. The PDF loads without the password (its structure can be read), but the "text" operation fails because the content cannot be decrypted; "assess" reports that a password is required. With the UserPassword property set before loading, extraction works normally. Chilkat2 PHP

<?php

use Chilkat2\JsonObject;
use Chilkat2\Pdf;

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

// The PDF used in this example (user password: secret) is available at encrypted_user_password.pdf

$pdf = new Pdf();
$json = new JsonObject();
$jsonOut = new JsonObject();

// The PDF loads without its password: the file's structure is readable, so properties such as
// NumPages and the security settings are available...
try {
    $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf');
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage(), "\n";
    exit;
}

// ...but the content cannot be decrypted, so extracting text fails.
try {
    $pdf->ExtractText('text', $json, $jsonOut);
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo 'Cannot extract: ', $e->getMessage(), "\n";
}

// "assess" still works: it reports that a password is required and nothing else.
try {
    $pdf->ExtractText('assess', $json, $jsonOut);
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage(), "\n";
    exit;
}

echo 'passwordRequired: ', ($jsonOut->BoolOf('quality.passwordRequired') ? 'true' : 'false'), "\n";
echo 'rating: ', $jsonOut->StringOf('quality.rating'), "\n";

// Set the password and load again.
$pdf->UserPassword = 'secret';
try {
    $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf');

    $pdf->ExtractText('text', $json, $jsonOut);
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage(), "\n";
    exit;
}

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

// Sample output:

// Cannot extract: ChilkatLog:
//   ExtractText:
//     ...
//       The PDF is encrypted and could not be opened (wrong or missing password); its text cannot be read.
//     ...
// passwordRequired: true
// rating: none
// Board Minutes (Confidential)
//
// The board met on 3 November 2026. Present: the chair, the treasurer and four members. The treasurer reported that spending for the season came in under budget.
//
// The meeting closed at 8.45 p.m.