Xbase++ 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. Xbase++

LOCAL nSuccess
LOCAL oPdf
LOCAL oJson
LOCAL oJsonOut

nSuccess := 0

//  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

oPdf := CreateObject("Chilkat.Pdf")
oJson := CreateObject("Chilkat.JsonObject")
oJsonOut := CreateObject("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...
nSuccess := oPdf:LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf")
IF (nSuccess == 0)
    ? oPdf:LastErrorText
    oPdf:destroy()
    oJson:destroy()
    oJsonOut:destroy()
    RETURN
ENDIF

//  ...but the content cannot be decrypted, so extracting text fails.
nSuccess := oPdf:ExtractText("text", oJson, oJsonOut)
IF (nSuccess == 0)
    ? "Cannot extract: " + oPdf:LastErrorText
ENDIF

//  "assess" still works: it reports that a password is required and nothing else.
nSuccess := oPdf:ExtractText("assess", oJson, oJsonOut)
IF (nSuccess == 0)
    ? oPdf:LastErrorText
    oPdf:destroy()
    oJson:destroy()
    oJsonOut:destroy()
    RETURN
ENDIF

? "passwordRequired: " + Str(oJsonOut:BoolOf("quality.passwordRequired"))
? "rating: " + oJsonOut:StringOf("quality.rating")

//  Set the password and load again.
oPdf:UserPassword := "secret"
nSuccess := oPdf:LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/encrypted_user_password.pdf")
IF (nSuccess == 0)
    ? oPdf:LastErrorText
    oPdf:destroy()
    oJson:destroy()
    oJsonOut:destroy()
    RETURN
ENDIF

nSuccess := oPdf:ExtractText("text", oJson, oJsonOut)
IF (nSuccess == 0)
    ? oPdf:LastErrorText
    oPdf:destroy()
    oJson:destroy()
    oJsonOut:destroy()
    RETURN
ENDIF

? oJsonOut: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.

oPdf:destroy()
oJson:destroy()
oJsonOut:destroy()