Rust 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. Rust

// 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

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

// The PDF loads without its password: the file's structure is readable, so properties such as
// NumPages and the security settings are available...
if pdf.load_file("qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf").is_err() {
    println!("{}", pdf.last_error_text());
    return;
}

// ...but the content cannot be decrypted, so extracting text fails.
if pdf.extract_text("text", &json, &json_out).is_err() {
    println!("Cannot extract: {}", pdf.last_error_text());
}

// "assess" still works: it reports that a password is required and nothing else.
if pdf.extract_text("assess", &json, &json_out).is_err() {
    println!("{}", pdf.last_error_text());
    return;
}

println!("passwordRequired: {}", json_out.bool_of("quality.passwordRequired"));
println!("rating: {}", json_out.string_of("quality.rating").unwrap_or_default());

// Set the password and load again.
pdf.set_user_password("secret");
if pdf.load_file("qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf").is_err() {
    println!("{}", pdf.last_error_text());
    return;
}

if pdf.extract_text("text", &json, &json_out).is_err() {
    println!("{}", pdf.last_error_text());
    return;
}

println!("{}", json_out.string_of("text").unwrap_or_default());

// 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.