
Excel Extract Text from File: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you looking to extract text from files using Excel? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through the process of extracting text from various file types, including PDFs, images, and more. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to successfully extract text from files in Excel.
Understanding the Process
Before diving into the specifics of extracting text from files in Excel, it’s important to understand the process. Essentially, you’ll be using Excel’s built-in features or third-party add-ins to convert the text from the file into a format that Excel can recognize and manipulate.
Here’s a brief overview of the steps involved:
- Open the file you want to extract text from in Excel.
- Use the appropriate tool or feature to convert the text into a format that Excel can read.
- Copy the extracted text and paste it into an Excel worksheet.
- Format the text as needed.
Extracting Text from PDF Files
PDF files are one of the most common types of files that users want to extract text from. Excel has a built-in feature that allows you to do this. Here’s how:
- Open the PDF file in Excel.
- Go to the “File” menu and select “Open.” Choose the PDF file you want to extract text from.
- Excel will automatically convert the PDF into an image. You’ll see a message asking if you want to convert the PDF to an image. Click “Yes.”
Step Action 1 Open the PDF file in Excel. 2 Go to the “File” menu and select “Open.” Choose the PDF file you want to extract text from. 3 Excel will automatically convert the PDF into an image. You’ll see a message asking if you want to convert the PDF to an image. Click “Yes.” - Once the PDF is converted to an image, you can use the “Text Box” feature to extract the text. To do this, go to the “Insert” tab and click on “Text Box.” Then, click and drag to create a text box on the image.
- With the text box selected, go to the “Text Box” menu and click on “Edit Text.” This will allow you to select and copy the text from the image.
- Paste the extracted text into a new Excel worksheet.
Extracting Text from Image Files
Images can also contain text, and Excel can help you extract it. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the image file in Excel.
- Go to the “File” menu and select “Open.” Choose the image file you want to extract text from.
- Excel will automatically convert the image into a picture. You’ll see a message asking if you want to convert the image to a picture. Click “Yes.”
Step Action 1 Open the image file in Excel. 2 Go to the “File” menu and select “Open.” Choose the image file you want to extract text from. 3 Excel will automatically convert the image into a picture. You’ll see a message asking if you want to convert the image to a picture. Click “Yes.” - Once the image is converted to a picture, you can use the “Text Box” feature to extract the text