Automator won't convert pdf to word

I found directions on-line for converting a pdf file to a Word document, followed the directions precisely, using the Automator application. It all seemed to go according to the directions, except that when I opened the rich-text document, there was nothing in it. What do I need to do to fix the problem? Here are the directions that I used:
1
In an open Finder window, select"Applications" in your window Side Bar and scroll down to theAutomator application.Double-click the "Automator" application to launch it.
2
Select "Custom" in the upper-left corner ofthe new "Automator" window that opens, and then click"Choose" in the lower-right corner to begin constructing your"Automator" PDF-to-text application.
3
In the new "Automator" window, click"PDFs" in the first column under Actions, and then double-click"Extract PDF Text" in the second column. A new option dialogue boxwill open to the right of the columns. Click the "Rich Text" radiobutton. Make any changes, if you wish, to where the new file will be savedusing the "Save File to:" pop-up menu and the name of the new file inthe "Output File Name" options.
4
Click "File" in the Mac Menu Bar and dragthe cursor to "Save As" in the File menu. Release the mouse and a"Save As Dialogue" window will appear. Click the "FileFormat" button and select "Application." Enter a name for yournew PDF-to-text"application in the "Save As" field. Use"PDF to text" or any name that's easy for you to remember. Click "Save" to save theapplication. Quit "Automator."
5
Single-click the PDF file to convert it to a Rich Texttext file you wish to use in Word, and drag and drop the file on top of thePDF-to-text application that you just created. Release the mouse and thePDF-to-text application will automatically convert the PDF file to a Rich Textfile.
6
To open the file in Word or any other word processingapplication, click and select the new Rich Text file created by the PDF-to-textapplication; then drag and drop the file on your Word application icon. Releasethe mouse and the text file will open in Word, with its text formatting intact.

Not all PDFs contain text.  Some contain only images of text.  (I receive a few newsletters in this format.)
Quick test.  Open your PDF in Preview.  Can you select a few words by highlighting them?  If so, there's text that you can extract; if not, it's an image and that Automator workflow won't help you.

Similar Messages

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    William B. Kohn, Esq.
    General Counsel
    Paul V. Profeta & Associates, Inc.
    769 Northfield Avenue
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    West Orange, New Jersey 07052
    (973) 325 - 1300
    (973) 325 - 0376 (Facsimile)
    [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

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