GetPageTextArea Method (GdPicturePDF)

In This Topic

Returns the text, regardless if visible or hidden, contained within a specific area of the current page of the loaded PDF document. You have to specify the required page area as a rectangle. This rectangle is defined by its top left coordinates and by its width and height in inches.

Just to inform you, that you can use the GuessPageTextRotation method to determine if all text is rotated on the current page.

Syntax

Visual Basic
C#
Delphi
JScript
Managed Extensions for C++
C++/CLI

'Declaration
 
Public Function GetPageTextArea( _
   ByVal Left As Single, _
   ByVal Top As Single, _
   ByVal Width As Single, _
   ByVal Height As Single _
) As String

public string GetPageTextArea( 
   float Left,
   float Top,
   float Width,
   float Height
)

public function GetPageTextArea( 
    Left: Single;
    Top: Single;
    Width: Single;
    Height: Single
): String;

public function GetPageTextArea( 
   Left : float,
   Top : float,
   Width : float,
   Height : float
) : String;

public: string* GetPageTextArea( 
   float Left,
   float Top,
   float Width,
   float Height
)

public:
String^ GetPageTextArea( 
   float Left,
   float Top,
   float Width,
   float Height
)

Parameters

Left: The horizontal (X) coordinate of the top left point of the rectangle in inches.
Top: The vertical (Y) coordinate of the top left point of the rectangle in inches.
Width: The width of the rectangle in inches.
Height: The height of the rectangle in inches.

Return Value

The text contained within the specified area of the currently selected page as a string. The GetStat method can be subsequently used to determine if this method has been successful.

Remarks

This method is only allowed for use with non-encrypted documents.

It is recommend to use the GetStat method to identify the specific reason for the method's failure, if any.

Please consider using the GuessPageTextRotation method to determine the possible text rotation on the current page.

Example

How to extract text from the certain page's area of all pages in the PDF document to a text file.

VB.NET
C#

Dim caption As String = "Example: GetPageTextArea"
Dim gdpicturePDF As New GdPicturePDF()
Dim status As GdPictureStatus = gdpicturePDF.LoadFromFile("test.pdf", False)
If status = GdPictureStatus.OK Then
    Dim text_file As New System.IO.StreamWriter("text_area_from_pages.txt")
    Dim pageCount As Integer = gdpicturePDF.GetPageCount()
    status = gdpicturePDF.GetStat()
    If status = GdPictureStatus.OK Then
        Dim message As String = Nothing
        Dim page_text As String = Nothing
        For i As Integer = 1 To pageCount
            status = gdpicturePDF.SelectPage(i)
            If status = GdPictureStatus.OK Then
                page_text = gdpicturePDF.GetPageTextArea(1, 1, 5, 2)
                status = gdpicturePDF.GetStat()
                If status = GdPictureStatus.OK Then
                    message = "Page: " + i.ToString() + " Status: " + status.ToString()
                    MessageBox.Show(message, caption)
                    text_file.WriteLine(message)
                    text_file.WriteLine(page_text)
                End If
            Else
                MessageBox.Show("The SelectPage() method has failed with the status: " + status.ToString(), caption)
            End If
        Next
    Else
        MessageBox.Show("The GetPageCount() has failed with the status: " + status.ToString(), caption)
    End If
    text_file.Close()
Else
    MessageBox.Show("The file can't be loaded.", caption)
End If
gdpicturePDF.Dispose()

string caption = "Example: GetPageTextArea";
GdPicturePDF gdpicturePDF = new GdPicturePDF();
GdPictureStatus status = gdpicturePDF.LoadFromFile("test.pdf", false);
if (status == GdPictureStatus.OK)
{
    System.IO.StreamWriter text_file = new System.IO.StreamWriter("text_area_from_pages.txt");
    int pageCount = gdpicturePDF.GetPageCount();
    status = gdpicturePDF.GetStat();
    if (status == GdPictureStatus.OK)
    {
        string message = null;
        string page_text = null;
        for (int i = 1; i <= pageCount; i++)
        {
            status = gdpicturePDF.SelectPage(i);
            if (status == GdPictureStatus.OK)
            {
                page_text = gdpicturePDF.GetPageTextArea(1,1,5,2);
                status = gdpicturePDF.GetStat();
                if (status == GdPictureStatus.OK)
                {
                    message = "Page: " + i.ToString() + " Status: " + status.ToString();
                    MessageBox.Show(message, caption);
                    text_file.WriteLine(message);
                    text_file.WriteLine(page_text);
                }
            }
            else
            {
                MessageBox.Show("The SelectPage() method has failed with the status: " + status.ToString(), caption);
            }
        }
    }
    else
    {
        MessageBox.Show("The GetPageCount() has failed with the status: " + status.ToString(), caption);
    }
    text_file.Close();
}
else
{
    MessageBox.Show("The file can't be loaded.", caption);
}
gdpicturePDF.Dispose();

Reference

GdPicturePDF Class
GdPicturePDF Members
GetPageCount Method
SelectPage Method
GetPageText Method
GetPageTextWithCoords(String) Method
GuessPageTextRotation Method
SetTextExtractionOptions Method