Sample code for 30+ languages & platforms
PHP Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Exclude or Include Running Headers and Page Numbers

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates the "repeatedHeadersFooters" filter. Text repeated at the same position on most pages, such as a running header and "Page N of 4" footers, is left out by default; set the filter to "include" to keep it.

Chilkat PHP Downloads

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 four-page PDF used in this example is available at running_header.pdf

$pdf = new Pdf();
try {
    $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/running_header.pdf');

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

    // Every page has the header "Harbor Lighthouse Society - Annual Report 2026" at the top right
    // and "Page N of 4" at the bottom.  By default both are excluded, so the text of page 2 is just
    // its heading and paragraphs.
    $json->UpdateString('pages', '2');
    $pdf->ExtractText('text', $json, $jsonOut);
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage(), "\n";
    exit;
}

echo "---- default (repeated headers and footers excluded) ----\n";
echo $jsonOut->StringOf('text'), "\n";

// Include them.  The detection looks at the neighbouring pages even when only one page is
// selected, so a single page extracted on its own still loses its running head by default.
$json->UpdateString('repeatedHeadersFooters', 'include');
try {
    $pdf->ExtractText('text', $json, $jsonOut);
} catch (\Chilkat2\Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage(), "\n";
    exit;
}

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

// Sample output:

// ---- default (repeated headers and footers excluded) ----
// The Work
//
// The restoration society took ownership in 2021 with three goals: make the structure watertight, return the tower to public access, and relight the lantern with a historically accurate lens. The first two were met in the second season, and the lens arrived on loan in November.
//
// The spiral stair is original and is the most fragile part of the building. Twelve of the ninety-one treads were cracked or missing, and the central column had corroded badly at the second landing. The treads were cast from patterns taken off an intact tread.
// ---- repeatedHeadersFooters: include ----
// Harbor Lighthouse Society - Annual Report 2026
//
// The Work
//
// The restoration society took ownership in 2021 with three goals: ...
//
// The spiral stair is original and is the most fragile part of the building. ...
//
// Page 2 of 4