Rust Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Extract Text from a Two-Column PDF

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates how multi-column pages are read. By default the columns are detected and each column is read top to bottom before the next ("columns": "auto"); "columns": "none" reads the full page width line by line, which interleaves the columns. The quality report tells how many columns were found. Rust

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

// The two-column PDF used in this example is available at two_column_article.pdf

let pdf = chilkat::Pdf::new();
if pdf.load_file("qa_data/pdf/two_column_article.pdf").is_err() {
    println!("{}", pdf.last_error_text());
    return;
}

let json = chilkat::JsonObject::new();
let json_out = chilkat::JsonObject::new();

// With the default options the columns are detected, and the text of the left column
// comes before the text of the right column.
if pdf.extract_text("text", &json, &json_out).is_err() {
    println!("{}", pdf.last_error_text());
    return;
}

println!("Columns detected: {}", json_out.int_of("quality.pages[0].columns"));
println!("Reading order: {}", json_out.string_of("quality.pages[0].readingOrderSource").unwrap_or_default());
println!("{}", json_out.string_of("text").unwrap_or_default());

// "none" switches column detection off: the page is read across its full width, line by line,
// so each output line holds a line of the left column followed by a line of the right column.
// This is rarely wanted, but it shows what the detection does.
let _ = json.update_string("columns", "none");
let _ = json.update_string("layout", "lines");
if pdf.extract_text("text", &json, &json_out).is_err() {
    println!("{}", pdf.last_error_text());
    return;
}

println!("---- columns: none ----");
println!("{}", json_out.string_of("text").unwrap_or_default());

// Sample output (abbreviated):

// Columns detected: 2
// Reading order: visual
// The Harbor Lighthouse, Season Two
// 
// The harbor lighthouse was built in 1874 to mark the entrance to the inner channel. It operated continuously until 1968, ...
// 
// The restoration society took ownership in 2021 with three goals: ...
// ...
// The lantern room frame was stripped, primed and repainted in the original dark green. ...
// ...
// ---- columns: none ----
// The Harbor Lighthouse, Season Two
// The harbor lighthouse was built in 1874 to The lantern room frame was stripped, primed
// mark the entrance to the inner channel. It and repainted in the original dark green. New
// ...