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USING IRONPDF

Topics Covered in Tutorial

  • IronPDF
  • Steps to Create PDF Files Programmatically
  • Step 1: Create a C# Project
  • Step 2: Install the IronPDF Library
    • Method 1: NuGet Package Manager
    • Method 2: NuGet Package Manager Console
    • Method 3: Using the DLL File
  • Step 3: Add the IronPDF Namespace
  • Step 4: Convert PDF to Text
    • Output
  • Conclusion

IronPDF

IronPDF is a .NET library for PDF generation. It is a native .NET library and does not rely on external DLL or other tools. IronPDF is a cross-platform library written in C# and .NET that offers all the functionality required to work with PDF documents. It contains document rendering, form editing, text extraction, file encryption as well as other features. All of these operations can be performed through an intuitive API that has been extensively tested on various platforms such as Windows Forms, WPF, ASP.NET MVC, etc.

The current release of IronPDF provides simple access to these features:

Read-only access to the document internals (view, navigation, annotations):

Access to the metadata and document properties (title, keywords, author, subject):

IronPDF also contains some additional helper classes that help with converting HTML documents into fully formatted PDF files with text extraction. IronPDF provides very simple APIs to convert PDF to a text file.

Let's start with how to use the IronPDF library to convert a PDF document to a Text file.

Steps to Convert PDF Document to Text File

The first step is to create a C# project in Visual Studio. You can choose any C# Application template according to your needs. For simplicity purposes, this tutorial will use the Console Application template. You can use an already existing C# project for converting PDF to TXT files.

Step 1: Create a C# Project

Create a C# project in Visual Studio or open an existing project. The latest version of Visual Studio is recommended for smooth working. Follow the given steps to create a C# Project in Visual Studio.

  1. Open Visual Studio.
  2. Select C# Console Application template or open an existing project.
  3. Give a proper name to the project.
  4. Select the .NET Framework version 6.0. This is the latest and most stable framework of .NET, but you can choose any other .NET Framework according to your needs.

Step 2: Install the IronPDF Library

IronPDF also features an easy installation process which speeds up development time as well as reduces confusion. The IronPDF library offers multiple ways to install:

  • Using NuGet Package Manager
  • Using NuGet Package Manager Console
  • By DLL File

Method 1: NuGet Package Manager

To use NuGet Package Manager, follow the given steps to open the Package Manager Tab.

Open the C# project and click on Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Manage NuGet Packages for the solution.

C# Convert PDF to Text (Code Example), Figure 0: Navigate to the NuGet Package Manager Navigate to the NuGet Package Manager

  • Now go to the Browse tab and search for IronPDF.
  • Select IronPDF from the search results and click on Install. This will install the IronPDF library allowing the project to be used with the IronPDF library.

C# Convert PDF to Text (Code Example), Figure 1: IronPdf package from the search result of the NuGet Package Manager IronPdf package from the search result of the NuGet Package Manager

Method 2: NuGet Package Manager Console

Installation of the IronPDF library with Package Manager Console is the easiest way. Follow these simple steps:

  • Open the Package Manager Console.
  • Write the following line in the console and hit enter. This will immediately install the IronPDF library.
Install-Package IronPdf

C# Convert PDF to Text (Code Example), Figure 2: The installation progress shown in the NuGet Package Manager Console UI The installation progress shown in the NuGet Package Manager Console UI

Method 3: Using a DLL file

You can download the IronPDF DLL file from the Iron Software website. Once the download is complete, use it in your project as a reference.

Visit the IronPDF installation guide for a more detailed installation guide.

Installation for the IronPDF library is now complete. The following steps will guide you to convert a PDF file into a text file.

Step 3: Add the IronPDF Namespace

To use IronPDF, it is necessary to add the IronPDF namespace to every code file. Write the following line of code at the top of every related code file. It will enable you to use the features of IronPDF in your program.

using IronPdf;
using IronPdf;
Imports IronPdf
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Step 4: Convert the PDF Document to a Text file

Now we have to convert the PDF file to a TXT file or extract only text. So, write the following sample code into your code file:

using IronPdf;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Extracting image and text content from PDF Document

        // Open a 128-bit encrypted PDF
        using PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("encrypted.pdf", "password");

        // Get all text to put in a search index
        string allText = pdf.ExtractAllText();

        // Display the extracted text in the console
        Console.WriteLine(allText);
    }
}
using IronPdf;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Extracting image and text content from PDF Document

        // Open a 128-bit encrypted PDF
        using PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("encrypted.pdf", "password");

        // Get all text to put in a search index
        string allText = pdf.ExtractAllText();

        // Display the extracted text in the console
        Console.WriteLine(allText);
    }
}
Imports IronPdf

Imports System



Friend Class Program

	Shared Sub Main()

		' Extracting image and text content from PDF Document



		' Open a 128-bit encrypted PDF

		Using pdf As PdfDocument = PdfDocument.FromFile("encrypted.pdf", "password")

	

			' Get all text to put in a search index

			Dim allText As String = pdf.ExtractAllText()

	

			' Display the extracted text in the console

			Console.WriteLine(allText)

		End Using

	End Sub

End Class
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

First, open the PDF document using the FromFile function from the PdfDocument class. In the parameters, pass the file name and password (if any). After that, use the ExtractAllText function to extract all text from the PDF file and store it in a variable named allText. Following that, display the output text in the console.

Output

C# Convert PDF to Text (Code Example), Figure 3: The extracted text from the PDF document The extracted text from the PDF document

This is the output text extracted by the IronPDF. It is the same text as seen on the PDF file, showcasing that the accuracy of IronPDF is very precise.

Conclusion

This article shows how to easily extract text from PDF files using IronPDF .NET PDF library. This was accomplished with only writing a few lines of code and with a high percentage of accuracy. Additionally, IronPDF also has many useful features such as HTML to PDF conversion, PDF formatting tools, and numerous more core PDF features that are imperative for PDF editing. IronPDF also eliminates the dependency on Adobe Acrobat.

IronPDF is free for development purposes and also offers a free trial for production testing. IronPDF provides a variety of pricing plans that you can get according to your needs. The price of IronPDF is relatively significantly less than its competitors. With pricing variation from individual to large companies, it proves to be a compelling purchase with impressive performance.

C# Convert PDF to Text (Code Example), Figure 4: The pricing plans for Iron Software's Suite The pricing plans for Iron Software's Suite

In addition, Iron Software offers a suite of five Iron Software packages for the price of just two. Please visit the Iron Software licensing details for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IronPDF?

IronPDF is a .NET library for PDF generation and manipulation, offering features such as document rendering, form editing, text extraction, file encryption, and more, all accessible through an intuitive API.

How do I install a library to work with PDFs in a C# project?

You can install IronPDF using the NuGet Package Manager, NuGet Package Manager Console, or by adding the DLL file to your project.

Can I use the library for free?

IronPDF is free for development purposes and offers a free trial for production testing.

How can I convert a PDF to a text file using a library?

To convert a PDF to a text file using IronPDF, open the PDF with the PdfDocument.FromFile function and use the ExtractAllText function to extract the text.

What are the steps to convert a PDF to TXT using C#?

The steps include creating a C# project, installing the IronPDF library, adding the IronPDF namespace to your code, and using the ExtractAllText function to extract text from a PDF.

What programming environments support the library?

IronPDF is supported in various .NET environments such as Windows Forms, WPF, and ASP.NET MVC.

How accurate is the text extraction using the library?

IronPDF provides high accuracy in text extraction, ensuring the output text is the same as seen in the PDF file.

What additional features does the library offer?

Besides text extraction, IronPDF offers PDF generation, encryption, form handling, and HTML to PDF conversion, among other features.

What are the pricing options for the library?

IronPDF offers various pricing plans suitable for individuals to large companies, and it is priced significantly less than its competitors.

Is the library cross-platform?

Yes, IronPDF is a cross-platform library written in C# and .NET that does not rely on external tools.

Chipego
Software Engineer
Chipego has a natural skill for listening that helps him to comprehend customer issues, and offer intelligent solutions. He joined the Iron Software team in 2023, after studying a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. IronPDF and IronOCR are the two products Chipego has been focusing on, but his knowledge of all products is growing daily, as he finds new ways to support customers. He enjoys how collaborative life is at Iron Software, with team members from across the company bringing their varied experience to contribute to effective, innovative solutions. When Chipego is away from his desk, he can often be found enjoying a good book or playing football.