pdf-extract

Extract text from PDF documents using the pdftotext tool.

Updated Apr 7, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/zhangyanbo2007/openclaw --skill pdf-extract-zhangyanbo2007
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: pdf-extract
Source: https://github.com/zhangyanbo2007/openclaw/tree/main/workspace-fox-avatar/skills/pdf-extract
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/zhangyanbo2007/openclaw --skill pdf-extract-zhangyanbo2007

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Extracting text from PDFs can be tedious and error-prone. This Skill automates converting PDFs into plain text suitable for AI processing and downstream workflows.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Text extraction: Convert PDF documents to plain text using the pdftotext utility.
  • Page-range support: Extract text from specific pages or ranges, enabling targeted processing.
  • Batch processing: Process multiple PDFs efficiently in automated pipelines (e.g., ingesting large document sets for indexing).

Quick Start

Run pdf-extract on a PDF to obtain its plain text.

Frequently Asked Questions about pdf-extract

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I extract text from PDF documents for AI processing?▼

To extract text from PDF documents for AI processing, you can use this Skill to automate converting PDFs into plain text. It leverages the pdftotext utility to parse PDF streams into a format ready for AI-driven text analysis.

Does pdf-extract support batch processing for large document sets?▼

Yes, pdf-extract supports batch processing for large document sets. You can process multiple PDFs efficiently within automated pipelines, which is ideal for ingesting large volumes of documents for content indexing.

Can I extract text from specific pages or ranges in a PDF?▼

Yes, you can extract text from specific pages or ranges in a PDF. This Skill offers page-range support, enabling targeted processing so you can isolate and convert only the exact sections you need into plain text.

Do I need poppler-utils to convert PDFs to plain text?▼

Yes, you need poppler-utils installed to convert PDFs to plain text with this tool. The Skill specifically requires the pdftotext binary from the poppler-utils package to parse PDF streams accurately.

What is the best way to automate PDF text extraction for content indexing?▼

The best way to automate PDF text extraction for content indexing is using a dedicated command-line utility like pdftotext. This Skill automates that process, turning PDF documents into ready-to-use plain text for downstream workflows.

What are the limitations of using pdftotext for PDF text extraction?▼

A limitation of using pdftotext for PDF text extraction is that it focuses strictly on parsing text streams. It does not handle complex layout reconstruction or image-based OCR, making it best suited for standard text-heavy PDF documents.