PHP Extension Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+
PHP Extension
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 Extension Downloads
<?php
include("chilkat.php");
$success = false;
// 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 CkPdf();
$success = $pdf->LoadFile('qa_data/pdf/running_header.pdf');
if ($success == false) {
print $pdf->lastErrorText() . "\n";
exit;
}
$json = new CkJsonObject();
$jsonOut = new CkJsonObject();
// 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');
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text',$json,$jsonOut);
if ($success == false) {
print $pdf->lastErrorText() . "\n";
exit;
}
print '---- default (repeated headers and footers excluded) ----' . "\n";
print $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');
$success = $pdf->ExtractText('text',$json,$jsonOut);
if ($success == false) {
print $pdf->lastErrorText() . "\n";
exit;
}
print '---- repeatedHeadersFooters: include ----' . "\n";
print $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
?>