Convert PDF to text

I have a requirement to convert a PDF to txt format.

I tried to install a php solution using composer to install pdfparser.

While everything seems to be installed numerous attempts to run a test have so far failed.

So, two questions.


1. Does anyone have a recommended solution to achieve converting a pdf to text. I am after a php or native rpg ish solution. Not python please.

2. I have included the details of my faile attempt below just incase someone has done this and can spot my error.
I am using Siedens Community Edition PHP.

This was the install

-bash-5.2$ composer require smalot/pdfparser ./composer.json has been updated
Running composer update smalot/pdfparser
Loading composer repositories with package information
Updating dependencies
Lock file operations: 2 installs, 0 updates, 0 removals
- Locking smalot/pdfparser (v2.12.0)
- Locking symfony/polyfill-mbstring (v1.32.0)
Writing lock file
Installing dependencies from lock file (including require-dev)
Package operations: 2 installs, 0 updates, 0 removals
0 [>---------------------------] 0 [->--------------------------]
- Installing symfony/polyfill-mbstring (v1.32.0): Extracting archive
- Installing smalot/pdfparser (v2.12.0): Extracting archive
0/2 [>---------------------------] 0%
1/2 [==============>-------------] 50%
2/2 [============================] 100%
Generating autoload files
2 packages you are using are looking for funding.
Use the `composer fund` command to find out more!
Found 5 security vulnerability advisories affecting 1 package.
Run "composer audit" for a full list of advisories.
Using version ^2.12 for smalot/pdfparser
-bash-5.2$ ls
Hello-01.pdf composer.phar helloWorld.php installComposer.php
composer-setup.php don-01.pdf html2pdf-01.php testcmd.pdf
composer.json don02.pdf imagetest01.pdf vendor
composer.lock don03.pdf imagetest02.pdf
-bash-5.2$ more autoload.php

Which seems to not have any errors.

This Is my script for testing

<?php
require "/www/itmas01/includes/composer/vendor/smalot/pdfparser/alt_autoload.php";

// use \QOpenSys\pkgs\bin\vendor\Smalot\PdfParser\Parser;

$parser = new /www.itmas01/includes/composer/vendor/smalot/pdfparser/src/Smalot/PdfParser/Parser();
// $parser = new \QOpenSys\pkgs\bin\vendor\Smalot\PdfParser\Parser();
$pdf = $parser->parseFile('\home\MSDDCB\MSD_INV_000018814.PDF');
$text = $pdf->getText();

// echo $text;
print $text;

?>

And this is what happens when I try and run it

/QOpenSys/pkgs/bin/php -d display_errors=1 /www/itmas01/htdocs/common/pdf2text.php

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '/' in /www/itmas01/htdocs/common/pdf2text.php on line 6
$

Thanks
Don




Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne


Don Brown

Senior Consultant




P: 1300 088 400




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