VB.NET Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Extract Tables from a PDF

See more PDF Text Extraction Examples

Demonstrates the "tables" operation, which returns the tables detected on the pages as rows and cells. Each cell has its row and column (counted from 0), its row and column span, and its text. VB.NET

Dim success As Boolean = 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 is available at price_list.pdf

Dim pdf As New Chilkat.Pdf
success = pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/price_list.pdf")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


Dim json As New Chilkat.JsonObject
Dim jsonOut As New Chilkat.JsonObject

'  The "tables" operation returns the tables found on the selected pages.
'  Tables are recognized by their drawn cell borders.
success = pdf.ExtractText("tables",json,jsonOut)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(pdf.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


Debug.WriteLine("Number of tables: " & jsonOut.IntOf("count"))

'  Used to build each row of output.
Dim sbRow As New Chilkat.StringBuilder
Dim currentRow As Integer
Dim row As Integer
Dim j As Integer
Dim count_j As Integer

Dim i As Integer = 0
Dim count_i As Integer = jsonOut.SizeOfArray("tables")
While i < count_i
    jsonOut.I = i
    Debug.WriteLine("Table on page " & jsonOut.IntOf("tables[i].page") & ": " & jsonOut.IntOf("tables[i].rows") & " rows x " & jsonOut.IntOf("tables[i].columns") _
         & " columns, detected by " & jsonOut.StringOf("tables[i].detectedBy"))

    '  The cells are listed row by row.  Print each row as its cells separated by " | ".
    currentRow = -1
    sbRow.SetString("")
    j = 0
    count_j = jsonOut.SizeOfArray("tables[i].cells")
    While j < count_j
        jsonOut.J = j
        row = jsonOut.IntOf("tables[i].cells[j].row")
        If (row <> currentRow) Then
            If (currentRow >= 0) Then
                Debug.WriteLine(sbRow.GetAsString())
            End If

            currentRow = row
            sbRow.SetString("  ")
        Else
            sbRow.Append(" | ")
        End If

        sbRow.Append(jsonOut.StringOf("tables[i].cells[j].text"))
        j = j + 1
    End While
    Debug.WriteLine(sbRow.GetAsString())
    i = i + 1
End While

'  The cells of the first table as JSON:
jsonOut.EmitCompact = False
Debug.WriteLine(jsonOut.Emit())

'  Sample output:

'  Number of tables: 1
'  Table on page 1: 8 rows x 5 columns, detected by ruled
'    Code | Product | Unit | Price | In Stock
'    HT-101 | Claw hammer, 16 oz | each | $18.00 | 24
'    HT-102 | Adjustable wrench, 10 in | each | $14.50 | 31
'    HT-103 | Screwdriver set, 6 piece | set | $22.00 | 12
'    HT-104 | Tape measure, 25 ft | each | $9.75 | 40
'    HT-105 | Utility knife | each | $6.20 | 58
'    HT-106 | Pliers, needle nose | each | $11.00 | 19
'    HT-107 | Hand saw, 20 in | each | $21.40 | 8
'  {
'    "count": 1,
'    "tables": [
'      {
'        "page": 1,
'        "detectedBy": "ruled",
'        "rows": 8,
'        "columns": 5,
'        "cells": [
'          {
'            "row": 0,
'            "col": 0,
'            "rowSpan": 1,
'            "colSpan": 1,
'            "text": "Code"
'          },
'          {
'            "row": 0,
'            "col": 1,
'            "rowSpan": 1,
'            "colSpan": 1,
'            "text": "Product"
'          },
'          ...
'        ]
'      }
'    ],
'    "quality": {
'      "rating": "good",
'      ...
'    }
'  }