In today’s digital age, file formats play a vital role in transferring and sharing information between individuals or organizations. PDF and Excel are two of the most commonly used file formats for various purposes. While PDF is best suited for sharing files that cannot be edited, Excel is used to store and analyze data. In this article, we will explore how to convert PDF to Excel and Excel to PDF using various methods.
Converting PDF to Excel
Converting PDF to Excel is a task that is required frequently, especially in finance and accounting. Many tools are available to perform this conversion, both online and offline. Let’s explore some of the popular methods below:
Method 1: Using Adobe Acrobat Professional
Adobe Acrobat Professional is a paid software that allows you to edit and convert PDF files among several other things. It has excellent features to convert PDF to Excel. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Professional.
- Click on “Export PDF” in the right-hand pane.
- Select “Spreadsheet” as the file type and choose “Microsoft Excel Workbook” as the format.
- Click on “Export” and save the converted Excel file with a new name and location.
Method 2: Using Online Converter Tools
Several online tools are available that allow free conversion of PDF files to Excel. Here are some popular online tools you can use:
The process to convert your PDF to Excel using an online tool is similar in most cases, here are the general steps to follow:
- Upload your PDF file to the converter website.
- Select “Excel” as the output format.
- Enter your email address, and some tools will ask you to enter a captcha to prevent bots.
- Click on “Convert,” and the converted Excel file will be sent to your email address.
Method 3: Using Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel has built-in features to import data from PDF files. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open Microsoft Excel.
- Click on “Data” in the menu bar.
- Select “From File” and choose the PDF file you wish to convert.
- Follow the prompts to select the data you want to import and click on “Finish.”
Converting Excel to PDF
Converting Excel to PDF is straightforward, and there are several ways to do it. Let’s explore some of them below:
Method 1: Using Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel has built-in features to export Excel files to PDF, follow these steps:
- Open the Excel file you wish to convert to PDF.
- Click on “File” in the menu bar.
- Select “Export.”
- Choose “Create PDF/XPS Document” at the bottom of the dropdown list.
- Select the desired options, such as optimizing for standard publishing online or printing, and click on “Publish.”
- Save the new PDF file with a different name and location.
Method 2: Using Adobe Acrobat Professional
Adobe Acrobat Professional can also convert Excel files to PDF with few easy steps:
- Open Adobe Acrobat Professional.
- Click on “Create PDF” in the right-hand pane.
- Select “Single File” and “Microsoft Excel Workbook” as the file type.
- Click on “Create” and save the converted PDF file with a new name and location.
FAQ
1. Can I convert a scanned PDF to Excel?
Unfortunately, converting a scanned PDF to Excel is not a straightforward process as there is no text in the document to convert. However, you can use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to convert scanned PDFs. OCR is a process in which the software recognizes the text from scanned images and converts it to editable text. Adobe Acrobat provides OCR as part of its paid services, and some online tools also offer OCR.
2. What should I do if the Excel file has multiple sheets?
If your Excel file has multiple sheets, you have to select the sheets you wish to convert to PDF or Excel. During the export process, you will be prompted to select the sheets in question. You can also save them individually as PDF files and combine them later using Adobe Acrobat or any other PDF editing software.
Conclusion
Converting PDF to Excel and Excel to PDF is a vital task that most of us encounter frequently. Using the Adobe Acrobat Professional software or online conversion tools, we can easily convert PDF to Excel, and Microsoft Excel and Adobe Acrobat Professional can be used to convert Excel to PDF. With the necessary tools and knowledge, you can convert these file formats in no time.
