How can I copy text from pdf file to Pages or Word?

I recently changed to Lion. When I try to copy pdf text from either Preview or Adobe reader into either Pages or Microsoft Word I get all undecipherable characters. This did not happen in previous OSX versions. Is there a fix?

I have found that some pdf's are "protected" so that it is not possible to copy text. Does this happen to all your pdfs, or just some?
If it is just some of the pdfs, then this might help:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20040622214927503
charlie

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How can I copy text from PDF and include the source filename in the pasted selection?

I'm a biologist and frequently cut-and-paste notes from PDFs of scientific articles. I name all of the PDF articles with their PubMed ID, a short unique identifier (e.g. 19397482.pdf). When I take notes, I will select a few sentences from the PDF and then paste them into a text editor for later reference.
Can anyone suggest a method or script that would allow me to paste the copied text with the Pubmed filename included in a single action? I would want the pasted output it to look something like this, with the filename appended to the end:
Of the transcripts that were significantly different, there was a greater number of transcripts that were down-regulated in the IVC embryos (380) than the number of transcripts that were up-regulated (208). [20668257.pdf]
This would really help me to properly cite information sources during the writing process. I know there are bibliography managers that might be able to do something like this, but I prefer to read the PDF articles directly in Preview and select the text as I am reading.
Thanks very much for any suggestions / ideas.
jjw

To copy and paste in a single action:
tell application "Preview" to activate
tell application "System Events" to tell process "Preview"
    -- Get the PubMed ID:
    get the title of the front window
    set thePubMedID to word 1 of result
    -- Copy the selected text to the clipboard:
    keystroke "c" using {command down} -- ⌘C
    delay 0.25 -- adjust if necessary
    -- Add the PubMed ID to the contents of the clipboard:
    set theNotes to the clipboard
    set the clipboard to (theNotes & space & "[" & thePubMedID & ".pdf]")
end tell
tell application "Notational Velocity" to activate
tell application "System Events"
    -- Paste the contents of the clipboard to the end of the Notational Velocity document
    key code 125 using command down -- ⌘↓
    keystroke return & return
    keystroke "v" using {command down} -- ⌘V
end tell

How can I copy text from one card to another while creating cards using Iphoto?

I created two cards with different pictures using Iphoto on Macnotebook.
I want to use the same text message.
How can I copy text from one card to another?

select the text and copy (edit menu ==> copy) tehn gpo to the next card and paste
LN

Can't Copy Text From PDF Within Gmail Preview

Hi,
If I click on a pdf attachment while inside gmail, I get the expected preview window of that PDF. However, I can't copy text from it. If I press Command-C, it just makes a beeping noise letting me know nothing is being copied. If I select text and right-click, there's no 'copy' option. Also, in the top toolbar, Copy is greyed out in the Edit menu. However, if I just hold down Command-C for a couple seconds the text will copy anyways (while hearing a dozen audible beeps). I can copy text without issue using Firefox from the same PDF attachment preview inside Gmail.
Thanks for any help.
Yosemite 10.10.1
Safari Version 8.0 (10600.1.25.1)

Having same issue as well. I've had this problem pre-Yosemite and it seems to be Safari related. Copy to clipboard in Gmail preview works fine in Chrome & Firefox, just not Safari. As you indicated if you hold ctrl-c long enough it will eventually copy, just forces you to listen to the series of annoying bongs.
Also there's no copy to clipboard in the context menu as illustrated below:
http://i.imgur.com/adyyJO4.png
Pretty annoying really, I'm not about to download a dozen attached PDFs to copy to clipboard, so now I'm sitting in the Delta lounge with my laptop bonging away as I wait for Safari to copy to clipboard and everyone looks at me like I'm a moron.
NOTE: No I do not have acrobat or any other software loaded besides vanilla Safari. This has gone on on my MBP, Mac Pro and now this brand new MBP I got Monday as a company upgrade, it literally has nothing installed on it at the moment.

How can i copy text from web link title in safari

Hi. How can i copy text to clipboard from web link title in safari in ios 7? Thank you
Like this:
http://photouploads.com/images/01wkw.jpg

Once you have selected text, there will be blue circular buttons on the corners. Get the ones on the end and move them in towards the text that you want to copy. The problem that you seem to be facing where you are is that this text is a hyperlink. Because of that reason, you will have a difficult time tapping on the text without activating the link. I'm not sure you will be able to do that.

Help: Copy text from PDF to AI or MS Word

Hello,
I'm new to this boards so, if topics like this were brought up I'm sorry and be glad, if someone can redirect me to it.
I've also searched for solution throu google and did not find anything that would fix this so I came here as my last option
I have recived a PDF document from a company about pad printing. I'd like to copy some text from this PDF to Illustrator/Word so I could edit some things. I could retype all but document has over 55 pages and I'm leaning thowards easyer solutions than retyping everything.
The issue I have is when I try to copy text from this document: http://rapidshare.com/files/384536794/one_page.pdf.html
all I get is some encrypted symbols...
If any1 could direct me to some guide or post solution how I could get text from this document to AI/MS Word I'd appreachiate it.
TY in Advance.
Stefan
Sorry for my bad english.

I don't know why you wanna use rapidshare for reference, would you know there were many problem about them? Actually I hate rapidshare.
You can use Acobat to your work easily, as this way has been suggested, I would introduce you another free approach.
1. Download AnyBizSoft PDF to Word Converter, which is a totally free desktop applicaiton.
2. Install and launch the app.
3. Import PDF files. You can add many files at a time as well as choose the certain page of a file.
4.Set output folder and click Convert
Word done and hope that I provide some assistance.

How can i copy text from a pdf while in firefox?

i no longer seem to be able to highlight and copy text from a pdf, while in firefox 33.0, using adobe to view pdfs.
how do i turn on the select tool, so i can do this?

When viewing a PDF with a browser you are using a browse add-on (Adobe's, Firefox's, or some other provider).
An add-on is not the desktop application; add-ons do not provide the full functionality of the desktop application (Reader or Acrobat).
To have full use of all Comment and Drawing Markup tools save the PDF to the local machine's HDD.
Launch Adobe Reader XI (pre-XI releases do not have the full set of these tools).
Open the PDF. Annotate as desired.
Be well...

Copying text from PDF files in another language

When I try to copy text from a PDF file which is written in Greek - the minute I paste it into another document, the text cannot be recognized so comes out as a jumbled mess. How an I solve this problem??

Into what other document type? Word? Do you have a Greek font selected when you paste? Or a Unicode font?

How can i copy text from a website without getting blue formatting?

I can't seem to get rid of the blue background when I copy text from a website and paste it into a Word doc.
Any suggestions?

Use an intermediate application to "strip" the copy elements of their extraneous/unwanted data. Paste the original copy into a text-only application like TextEdit, then copy the text itself from that paste. Then, paste the text into your Word document.

How can I copy text from a PDF document in bb pbk?

I've tried to copy a text from a PDF document but adobe reader doesn't give me that option. How can I do it? or there is a better reader for PDF that allows to copy, make bookmarks, to highlights?

If the PDF is not an IMAGE, you can using a free program called PDF-XChange Viewer from Tracker Software. If the PDF was done as an image then you will not be able to select the text.
Bold 9000 on Rogers Network - Company BES
Playbook 16G WiFi Only

Can not copy text from pdf with unicode font embedded.

Hello,
I have a pdf with unicode font embedded in it. The pdf has no restrictions. When i try to copy some text text fro m pdf and then paste itin word, the text is not the same which i copied from the pdf. it changes.
I have tried multiple softwares which converts pdf to word or pdf to excel. but none can do my job. what should be the problem? Kindly guide me.
Thanks & Regards-
rashmi

Thanks for your prompt reply.
As i said i have the font installed on my system. for your reference,
following is the link to the pdf file. also the second link is the link to
the fonts used. Kindly help me to sort this issue.
https://www.yousendit.com/download/T2dkcHBEVEh0QTIwYjhUQw
https://www.yousendit.com/download/T2dkcHBFQXBrYUJYd3NUQw

How can I read content from PDF file stored in Oracle 9i XMLDB

Hi Friends:
Now I have met one question that I don`t know how to read some String , for example "Hello", from the PDF file stored in the Oracle 9i XMLDB, I have stored that PDF file into the XMLDB now, any suggestions are appriciated . Thank you in advance.

You may be able to do something with Oracle Text. The following shows how to get an HTML rendiditon of a binary document. I think you can also get plain text instead of HTML
set echo on
spool xfilesUtilties.log
connect sys/&1 as sysdba
grant ctxapp to &2
connect &2/&3
begin
ctxsys.ctx_ddl.create_policy(policy_name=>'XFILES_HTML_GENERATION', filter=>'ctxsys.auto_filter');
end;
create or replace package xfiles_internal_11010
authid definer
as
function renderAsHTML(sourceDoc BLOB) return CLOB;
end;
show errors
create or replace package body xfiles_internal_11010
as
function renderAsHTML(sourceDoc BLOB)
return CLOB
as
html_content CLOB;
begin
dbms_lob.createTemporary(html_content,true,DBMS_LOB.SESSION);
ctx_doc.policy_filter(policy_name => 'XFILES_HTML_GENERATION',
                        document => sourceDoc,
                        restab => html_content,
                        plaintext => false);
return html_content;
end;
end;
show errors
create or replace package xfiles_utilities_11010
authid current_user
as
HOME_FOLDER   constant varchar2(700) := xdb_constants.HOME_FOLDER;
PUBLIC_FOLDER constant varchar2(700) := xdb_constants.PUBLIC_FOLDER;
function renderAsHTML(sourceFile VARCHAR2) return CLOB;
function transformToHTML(xmldoc XMLType, xslPath VARCHAR2) return CLOB;
end;
show errors
create or replace package body xfiles_utilities_11010
as
function renderAsHTML(sourceFile VARCHAR2)
return CLOB
as
begin
return xfiles_internal_11010.renderAsHTML(xdburitype(sourceFile).getBLOB());
end;
function transformToHTML(xmldoc XMLType, xslPath VARCHAR2)
return CLOB
as
html clob;
begin
select xmldoc.transform(xdburitype(xslPath).getXML()).getClobVal()
    into HTML
    from dual;
return html;
end;
end;
show errors
grant execute on xfiles_utilities_11010 to public
create or replace public synonym xfiles_utilities for xfiles_utilities_11010
quitMessage was edited by:
mdrake

How can I copy text from Pages and paste as Unicode?

I notice that if I write a Pages document on my iMac (this is Pages 09 running under OSX Mavericks 10.9.1) and copy text that contains characters from the "Mac Roman" character set (like the Greek letter pi for example, and some other mathematical symbols), if I paste it into a text file on a PC (I'm running the Mac with Windows via Parallels), then these characters don't show up correctly. If they were copied as Unicode characters then I don't think the problem would exist. I thought that Pages used Unicode, but it doesn't apparently apply to stuff that gets onto the Mac clipboard. I do know that if I export a whole Pages document it is possible for it to be exported in Unicode, but I just want to copy small bits of text like mathematical formulae and paste them into Unicode-compliant applications. Is this possible? There's nothing in the Pages Preferences to suggest that it is. Is there any solution to this?
TIA

Tom, I'm sorry I think I have wasted your time. My initial experiments seemed to show that what I was trying to do didn't work, but now it all seems to work. No idea why. I think there is a problem somewhere, but not where I thought it was. I think what may be happening is that when the Mac clipboard sees some Mac Roman text, it converts and stores it in Unicode form, so things work as long as the receiving app is Unicode aware - or Parallels is doing the job for me, or Pages is. Good if this is true. The only issue then would be that, if a program for the PC is looking for characters by their encodings, it will have to use the Unicode ones to find things, whereas the equivalent code on a Mac will have to look for the Mac Roman encodings as well as Unicode.
Just to explain, I am not using a specialised mathematical formula editor, but I do expect my user to use the math symbols easily accessible on the Mac keyboard, particularly the Greek letter pi (lower case), division sign, less than or equal to, greater than or equal to, square root. The user can type text directly or paste it in from another application. On the PC side I am not using Microsoft Word but a program I'm developing that can create fields into which I can put text, similar I suppose to NotePad. Just to be able to be cross-platform, I expect users to use the built-in Windows Character Viewer or similar to make the same symbols accessible as in the Mac version.
If everyone was using Unicode the problem (if there is one) wouldn't exist.
I may well come back with a similar issue in the future, but my original issue, although the description was given in good faith, seems to be wrong. So I'm saying the problem is solved.

How can I copy texts from my phone to my computer

I have an LG VN251 phone with Verizon Wireless. My ex is filling up my text mailbox and I do not want to delete them because frankly I might need them as evidence if I have to involve authorities to get her to stop contacting me. How can I save or copy them to my PC?

photosteve We understand how important protecting these messages are for you. Based on the device you have, the best options would to either try and email the texts or you can have them subpoenaed by law enforcement.
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How can I hide text on pdf file?

I have a few invoices that I need to hide/blur the values. How can I do that?
Thank you in advance.

There is not much you can do with Adobe Reader, except perhaps using the free form pen under markups, to erase some text.
With Acrobat you could delete some text portions. But to blur I guess you would need something like Photoshop.

How can I copy text from pdf file to Pages or Word?

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