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Excel is an essential tool in the business world, providing a powerful way to organize, analyze, and share data. However, it can be time-consuming to manually extract data from spreadsheets, especially for large datasets. That’s where Excel spreadsheet extractors come in.
These tools allow you to quickly and easily extract data from Excel files, saving you time and effort. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to the top 8 Excel spreadsheet extractors available today, and provide a comprehensive comparison to help you choose the best one for your needs.
Video Tutorial:
What is an Excel Spreadsheet Extractor?
An Excel spreadsheet extractor is a software tool that allows you to extract data from Excel files. These tools can help you to improve your productivity by automating the process of data extraction, saving you time and effort.
These tools come with a range of features, from simple spreadsheet extractors that allow you to extract data from Excel files, to more advanced tools that offer features like data filtering and manipulation.
Whether you’re a business owner, data analyst, or just someone who works with spreadsheets on a regular basis, an Excel spreadsheet extractor can be a useful tool to have in your arsenal.
Top 8 Excel Spreadsheet Extractors
Top 1: PDFelement
PDFelement is a powerful PDF editor that also offers an Excel spreadsheet extractor. This tool can extract tables and data from both native and scanned PDF files, and can export the data to Excel, CSV, or other formats.
PDFelement’s Excel extractor is easy to use, with an intuitive interface that allows you to select the areas you want to extract and preview the results before exporting. It also offers a range of editing tools, allowing you to clean up the extracted data before exporting it to Excel.
Pros:
- Can extract data from both native and scanned PDF files.
- Easy to use and intuitive interface.
- Offers editing tools to clean up extracted data.
Cons:
- PDFelement is primarily a PDF editor, and the Excel extractor is not its main feature.
- The price may be relatively high for users who only need the Excel extractor.
Top 2: Able2Extract Professional
Able2Extract Professional is a comprehensive PDF editor that also offers a powerful Excel spreadsheet extractor. This tool can extract tables and data from PDF files and export them to Excel, CSV, or other formats.
Able2Extract Professional’s Excel extractor offers a range of customization options, allowing you to select the areas you want to extract, choose the output format, and even convert non-tabular data into tabular data. It also offers a unique feature called "custom Excel templates," which allows you to tailor the output to your exact needs.
Pros:
- Comprehensive PDF editor with a powerful Excel extractor.
- Offers a range of customization options.
- Custom Excel templates allow you to tailor the output to your exact needs.
Cons:
- Able2Extract Professional is primarily a PDF editor and may not be suitable for users who only need the Excel extractor.
- The price may be relatively high for users who only need the Excel extractor.
Top 3: Tabula
Tabula is a free, open-source tool for extracting data from PDF files. It is designed specifically for extracting tables from PDF files and offers a simple, easy-to-use interface.
Tabula’s Excel extractor allows you to select the tables you want to extract and export them to CSV, Excel, or JSON format. It also offers a range of customization options, allowing you to choose the output format, the delimiter, and even the table structure.
Pros:
- Free and open-source.
- Designed specifically for extracting tables from PDF files.
- Easy to use and intuitive interface.
Cons:
- May not offer the same level of customization and features as other paid tools.
- Only extracts tables, and not other types of data.
Top 4: Omnipage
Omnipage is a powerful OCR (optical character recognition) tool that can extract data from both scanned and native PDF files. It offers a range of features, including data extraction, document conversion, and more.
Omnipage’s Excel extractor allows you to extract data from tables in PDF files and export them to Excel, CSV, or other formats. It also offers a range of customization options, including the ability to choose the output format, delimiter, and more.
Pros:
- Designed specifically for OCR and can extract both scanned and native PDF files.
- Offers a range of features beyond data extraction.
- Offers a range of customization options.
Cons:
- Omnipage is primarily an OCR tool and may not be suitable for users who only need the Excel extractor.
- The price may be relatively high for users who only need the Excel extractor.
Top 5: PDF Table Extractor
PDF Table Extractor is a simple, easy-to-use tool for extracting tables from PDF files. It offers a range of customization options, including the ability to select the areas you want to extract and the output format.
PDF Table Extractor’s Excel extractor can export data to Excel, CSV, or XML format. It also offers a batch processing feature, allowing you to extract data from multiple PDF files at once.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use.
- Offers a range of customization options.
- Batch processing feature allows you to extract data from multiple PDF files at once.
Cons:
- May not offer the same level of customization and features as other paid tools.
- Only extracts tables, and not other types of data.
Top 6: Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat DC is a comprehensive PDF editor that also offers a powerful Excel spreadsheet extractor. It can extract data from both native and scanned PDF files and export them to Excel, CSV, or other formats.
Adobe Acrobat DC’s Excel extractor offers a range of customization options, allowing you to select the areas you want to extract and choose the output format. It also offers some editing tools, allowing you to clean up the extracted data before exporting.
Pros:
- Comprehensive PDF editor with a powerful Excel extractor.
- Offers a range of customization options.
- Editing tools allow you to clean up the extracted data.
Cons:
- The price may be relatively high for users who only need the Excel extractor.
- The user interface may be more complex than some other tools.
Top 7: PDF Converter Elite
PDF Converter Elite is a comprehensive tool for working with PDF files. It offers a range of features, including PDF editing, document conversion, and more.
PDF Converter Elite’s Excel extractor can extract tables from PDF files and export them to Excel, CSV, or other formats. It also offers a range of customization options, including the ability to select the areas you want to extract and choose the output format.
Pros:
- Comprehensive PDF tool with a range of features.
- Excel extractor offers a range of customization options.
- Can extract tables from both native and scanned PDF files.
Cons:
- May not offer the same level of customization and features as some other paid tools.
- The price may be relatively high for users who only need the Excel extractor.
Top 8: GcPDFTableExtractor
GcPDFTableExtractor is a free, open-source tool for extracting tables from PDF files. It can export data in Excel, CSV, or other formats and offers a range of customization options, including the ability to select the areas you want to extract.
GcPDFTableExtractor’s Excel extractor is easy to use, with an intuitive interface that allows you to preview the extracted data before exporting.
Pros:
- Free and open-source.
- Offers a range of customization options.
- Easy to use and intuitive interface.
Cons:
- May not offer the same level of customization and features as some other paid tools.
- Only extracts tables, and not other types of data.
Comprehensive Comparison Table
| Software | Free Trial | Price | Ease-of-use | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDFelement | Yes, limited | $129 per year | Easy to use | High |
| Able2Extract Professional | Yes, limited | $149.95 per year | Easy to use | High |
| Tabula | Free | N/A | Easy to use | High |
| Omnipage | No | $499.99 per year | Moderately easy to use | High |
| PDF Table Extractor | Yes, limited | $29.95 per year | Easy to use | High |
| Adobe Acrobat DC | Yes, limited | $14.99 per month | Moderately easy to use | High |
| PDF Converter Elite | Yes, limited | $99.95 per year | Moderately easy to use | High |
| GcPDFTableExtractor | Free | N/A | Easy to use | High |
Our Thoughts
After considering all the factors, we believe that Able2Extract Professional is the best Excel spreadsheet extractor on offer. It is a comprehensive PDF editor that offers a range of features beyond data extraction, and its Excel extractor is powerful yet easy to use.
However, for users who only need an Excel extractor, PDFelement and Tabula are both excellent options. PDFelement offers a range of editing tools, allowing you to clean up the extracted data before exporting, while Tabula is a free, open-source tool that is easy to use and offers a range of customization options.
FAQs
Q1: Is it legal to extract data from a PDF file?
A: Yes, it is legal to extract data from a PDF file as long as you have the right to access the information in the file. If the data is copyrighted or otherwise protected, you may need permission from the owner to extract it.
Q2: Can I extract data from a scanned PDF file?
A: Yes, some Excel spreadsheet extractors offer OCR (optical character recognition) technology, which allows them to extract data from scanned PDF files.
Q3: Can I customize the output format when extracting data?
A: Yes, most Excel spreadsheet extractors allow you to choose the output format, including Excel, CSV, XML, and more.
Q4: Is it possible to extract data from non-tabular PDF files?
A: Yes, some Excel spreadsheet extractors offer the ability to convert non-tabular data into tabular data, allowing you to extract data from a wide range of PDF files.
Q5: Do I need any special skills to use an Excel spreadsheet extractor?
A: No, most Excel spreadsheet extractors are designed to be easy to use, with an intuitive interface that allows you to select the areas you want to extract and preview the results before exporting.