PowerShell 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. PowerShell

Add-Type -Path "C:\chilkat\ChilkatDotNet47-x64\ChilkatDotNet47.dll"

$success = $false

#  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-Object Chilkat.Pdf
$json = New-Object Chilkat.JsonObject
$jsonOut = New-Object Chilkat.JsonObject

#  The PDF loads without its password: the file's structure is readable, so properties such as
#  NumPages and the security settings are available...
$success = $pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf")
if ($success -eq $false) {
    $($pdf.LastErrorText)
    exit
}

#  ...but the content cannot be decrypted, so extracting text fails.
$success = $pdf.ExtractText("text",$json,$jsonOut)
if ($success -eq $false) {
    $("Cannot extract: " + $pdf.LastErrorText)
}

#  "assess" still works: it reports that a password is required and nothing else.
$success = $pdf.ExtractText("assess",$json,$jsonOut)
if ($success -eq $false) {
    $($pdf.LastErrorText)
    exit
}

$("passwordRequired: " + $jsonOut.BoolOf("quality.passwordRequired"))
$("rating: " + $jsonOut.StringOf("quality.rating"))

#  Set the password and load again.
$pdf.UserPassword = "secret"
$success = $pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf")
if ($success -eq $false) {
    $($pdf.LastErrorText)
    exit
}

$success = $pdf.ExtractText("text",$json,$jsonOut)
if ($success -eq $false) {
    $($pdf.LastErrorText)
    exit
}

$($jsonOut.StringOf("text"))

#  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.