Extract tabular data from a PDF

This example demonstrates how to extract tables from a PDF document using the Nutrient Document Converter Services (DCS) API. The extracted table can be returned as an Excel spreadsheet or JSON file.

Prerequisites

Nutrient Document Converter Services (DCS) running and accessible.
Appropriate service license for using the table extraction functionality.
Implemented OpenService() and CloseService() helpers.

Sample code

/// <summary>
        /// Extract tabular data from a PDF.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="ServiceURL">URL endpoint for the PDF Converter service.</param>
        /// <param name="sourceFileName">Source filename.</param>
        /// <param name="targetFolder">Target folder to receive the output file.</param>
        /// <param name="outputFileType">XLSX or JSON.</param>
        /// <param name="languages">List of languages.</param>
        static void TestTableExtract(string ServiceURL, string sourceFileName, string targetFolder, string outputFileType, string languages = "eng")
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"Extracting attachments from {sourceFileName}");

            DocumentConverterServiceClient client = null;
            // Create an `OpenOptions` instance with minimum properties needed for file identification.
            OpenOptions openOptions = new OpenOptions();
            openOptions.FileExtension = Path.GetExtension(sourceFileName);
            openOptions.OriginalFileName = Path.GetFileName(sourceFileName);

            // Create a `TableExtractionSettings` object.
            TableExtractionSettings settings = new TableExtractionSettings();
            settings.DPI = "300";
            settings.SeparateTables = BooleanEnum.True;
            settings.EnableOrientationDetection = BooleanEnum.True;
            settings.EnableSkewDetection = BooleanEnum.True;
            settings.RenderFormFields = BooleanEnum.True;
            settings.OutputFileType = outputFileType;
            settings.OCRLanguage = languages;

            try
            {
                // Determine the source file and read it into a byte array.
                byte[] sourceFile = File.ReadAllBytes(sourceFileName);

                // Open the service and configure the bindings.
                client = OpenService(ServiceURL);

                // Carry out the conversion.
                BatchResult result = client.ExtractTables(sourceFile, openOptions, settings);

                if(result != null)
                {
                    // Create the target folder if it does not exist.
                    if (!Directory.Exists(targetFolder))
                    {
                        Directory.CreateDirectory(targetFolder);
                    }
                    Console.WriteLine($"Output to: {targetFolder}");

                    // Get the filename.
                    string filename = result.FileName;
                    Console.WriteLine(filename);
                    // Write the result to a file.
                    File.WriteAllBytes(Path.Combine(targetFolder, filename), result.File);
                }
                else
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("No result returned");
                }
            }
            finally
            {
                if (client != null)
                {
                    CloseService(client);
                }
            }
        }