Basically the security settings are so that I cannot copy and paste from a document... Is this the case with all PDF readers? Is there a trick to taking out extract from a document?

Use the "select text" button so that the hand changes to a cursor and then you can select whatever and copy it.

Unfortunately some documents have a security setting so that you cannot do this. I really am too lazy to go to the effort of typing everything out word for word.

If you can print and have Scanner with OCR, just print it out and use your scanner to digitise the text. Otherwise you'd have to crack PDF security to enable copying etc.

Try an open-source PDF viewer, chances are they might not honour the security settings:

You need both GhostView and GSview.

FoxitReader bypasses some security stuff in PDF's like document expiration, worth a shot.

Update: I just tried foxit with a protected doc and it obeys the copying permissions :o(

last edited by Rodolphe at 15:00:24 08/Feb/06

try installing Ghostscript and GSview (see parabol's post), open the PDF with GSview --> File --> convert --> use pdfwrite as the device and convert it. Then open the new PDF with adobe reader and you should be able to copy and past, it worked for me anyways. as far as i could see gsview doesn't allow you to copy text :/

i personally would print the pdf to file and then convert it back to a pdf

i can do this for you if you are super stuck and really dont want to retype, because i care

what do you use to convert it back ??

ps2pdf, a unix tool;

if u want me to do it for you billy
shoot it here

dave.broughton@gmail.com

last edited by Spook at 15:44:28 08/Feb/06

well, that was a tricky little pdf

my unix tools even obeyed permission and wouldnt let me re-author

our registered acrobat was able to turn off permissions so i could copy text

hope that works for you billy

i haven't tested it yet, but changing the extension to .ps and sending it though distiller should work methinks.

http://www.pdf-analyzer.com/

last edited by natslovR at 21:40:11 08/Feb/06

You're a good man Spook. Just remember, I wouldn't do the same for you.