plug in for pdf?

I would be happy if there were a plug in to compare .pdf files.

Thank You

Rodolfo Giovanninetti

[Erik]

PDF comparisons are on the wishlist, but the format is quite complex and we don't have any immediate plans for a plug-in.

Are you looking for something that would extract and compare the plain text of a pdf? Or would you need to see changes in images or formatting?

I would like to compare the text part of two files. Right now, if I try to compare two .pdf files using file viewer, there are many differences that are not relevant to me.

Thank You again

Rodolfo Giovanninetti

[Erik]

If you have a program that converts pdf to text, you can compare pdf in the BC by creating a rule that performs external conversion.

Several pdf to text converters are listed at: http://www.globalpdf.com.
Sample rules that perform external conversions are available at: http://www.scootersoftware.com/morerules

[mdes]

See also the freeware PDF2TXT in Convert PDF To Text (http://www.pricelessware.org/2004/PL2004nTEXT.htm)

(I didn't try it)

[Erik]

PDF-to-Text is available at:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/morerules

This add-on rule uses Xpdf to extract the text from PDF documents so that BC2 can compare them.

[rodolfog]

I installed the plug in and I tested it. At first, I got an error, something about file not found, or something like this. I checked the rule, and I had to specify the full path for the executable. Now, I tried to compare two .pdf files, but one of these appears to be completely empty. I opened that file with acrobat reader, and the data is there, but when I use B.C. it shows only one of the two files.

Any hint?

Thank You

Rodolfo Giovanninetti


PDF-to-Text is available at:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/morerules

This add-on rule uses Xpdf to extract the text from PDF documents so that BC2 can compare them.

[Erik]

At first, I got an error, something about file not found, or something like this. I checked the rule, and I had to specify the full path for the executable.



Paths for External Conversion utilities can be relative to the folder containing BC2.exe. Is "PdfToText.exe" in a "PdfToText" subfolder of your BC2 folder?


Now, I tried to compare two .pdf files, but one of these appears to be completely empty. I opened that file with acrobat reader, and the data is there, but when I use B.C. it shows only one of the two files.



Xpdf only extracts the text within pdf files. My guess is that your file actually contains a picture of text. If you send me a copy of the file at support@scootersoftware.com, I can test it.

[Erik]

Actually, this PDF file doesn't have text copying permission so Xpdf won't extract its text. More information is available at:
http://www.foolabs.com/xpdf/cracking.html