pdf-extract

Extract text from PDF files using the pdftotext utility.

Updated Apr 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/ViewWay/openclaw-skills --skill pdf-extract-viewway
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: pdf-extract
Source: https://github.com/ViewWay/openclaw-skills/tree/main/pdf-extract
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ViewWay/openclaw-skills --skill pdf-extract-viewway

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Extract text from PDF files for AI processing. This skill enables AI models to access the textual content of PDFs without manual copying, facilitating downstream analysis and ingestion.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Extract text from PDFs using the pdftotext utility.
  • Support selecting specific pages or ranges for text extraction.
  • Integrate into AI workflows for document ingestion, indexing, and content search.

Quick Start

Provide a PDF document to convert its content into plain text for AI processing.

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 files for AI workflows?

You can extract text from PDF files by providing the document to this tool, which converts the content into plain text for AI processing. This enables AI models to access textual content without manual copying, facilitating downstream analysis and ingestion.

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

Yes, the skill supports optional page range extraction, allowing you to extract text from specific pages or ranges in a PDF. This enables targeted document ingestion and content analysis without processing the entire file.

Does the PDF text extraction tool work with varying document layouts?

Yes, the tool works with PDFs of varying layouts and page counts. It uses the pdftotext utility from the poppler-utils package to reliably deliver plain text for tasks such as document indexing and content search.

What is the best way to convert PDFs to plain text for data ingestion?

The best way to convert PDFs to plain text for data ingestion is using a tool powered by the pdftotext utility. It directly extracts the textual content, making it immediately available for AI document ingestion and indexing workflows.

Do I need poppler-utils installed to extract text from PDFs?

Yes, you need poppler-utils installed because the skill relies on the pdftotext tool from that package to extract text from PDF files. This dependency ensures accurate text extraction for your AI processing workflows.

Why use pdftotext for PDF document processing instead of other methods?

Using pdftotext for PDF document processing ensures reliable extraction of plain text across varying layouts. It provides a straightforward mechanism to access textual content for AI workflows without manual copying or complex parsing logic.