Converting a document from PDF to Markdown format

This guide demonstrates how to implement PDF to Markdown conversion while preserving document structure and formatting. The conversion is useful for managing document libraries, transitioning from PDF workflows to markdown processes, and automating content republishing.

Preparing the project

Register your license key to initialize the SDK. This only needs to happen once when your application starts, before any conversion operations. Refer to the getting started with .NET SDK guide for more details.

using GdPicture14;

LicenseManager licence = new LicenseManager();
licence.RegisterKEY(""); // Set your license key

The LicenseManager class handles SDK authentication and enables access to all conversion functionality. License registration ensures the document converter can access the complete range of PDF processing capabilities required for accurate text extraction and Markdown formatting.

Loading the PDF document

Create a document converter instance and load the source PDF file for processing.

using GdPictureDocumentConverter converter = new GdPictureDocumentConverter();
converter.LoadFromFile(@"input.pdf");

The GdPictureDocumentConverter class provides the core conversion functionality with automatic resource management through the using statement. The LoadFromFile method validates the input file, parses the PDF structure, and prepares the document for conversion.

This loading process handles PDF complexities including encrypted documents, multi-page layouts, embedded fonts, and complex formatting structures, so the subsequent conversion can accurately represent the original document content.

Converting to Markdown format

The core conversion operation transforms the loaded PDF content into structured Markdown format while preserving the document’s logical organization and formatting cues.

converter.SaveAsMarkDown(@"output.md");

The SaveAsMarkDown method analyzes the PDF content and identifies structural elements such as headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables. It preserves formatting where possible and translates document patterns into appropriate Markdown syntax, maintaining the document’s logical structure in clean, editable text format.

Conclusion

That’s all it takes to convert a PDF document to Markdown! The conversion extracts document structure and content while preserving hierarchy, creating clean, editable Markdown files for documentation platforms and content management systems.