Import PDF to Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Import PDF to Google Sheets

Importing PDF files into Google Sheets is a common task for professionals who need to analyze data trapped within static documents. This guide explores various methods to convert PDF files into editable Google Sheets formats.

Convert PDF to Google Sheets

Converting PDFs directly into Google Sheets is not straightforward due to the PDF format's complexity. However, there are several methods to achieve this conversion, each suitable for different types of PDF documents.

Method 1: Using Google Docs

This method is ideal for PDFs with simple data structures. Follow these steps:

1. Upload your PDF file to Google Drive.
2. Open the PDF with Google Docs.
3. The PDF will be converted to a Google Doc format. Copy the necessary data.
4. Paste the copied data into a new Google Sheets document.

Method 2: Using CSV Conversion

For PDFs that are more complex or contain multiple pages, converting to CSV first might be more effective:

1. Upload the PDF to Google Drive and open it with Google Docs.
2. Convert the document to plain text, then use 'Find and Replace' to format it as CSV.
3. Download the text file and save it as a CSV file.
4. Open a new Google Sheets document and import the CSV file.

Method 3: Using Third-party Tools

Several online tools and services like Nanonets and Parserr offer PDF to Google Sheets conversion. These tools can automate the extraction of text and tables from PDFs directly into Google Sheets, making them suitable for handling multiple files or complex data structures.

Looking to automate your document conversion process? Check out how Bardeen can automate tasks within Google Sheets for a more efficient workflow.

Extract Data from PDF to Google Sheets

For extracting specific data from PDFs to Google Sheets, you can:

• Use Lido, which provides built-in PDF to Sheets conversion. It requires creating an account and uploading the PDF to extract data.
• Utilize formulas like '=EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF()' in Lido for automated data extraction from PDFs stored in Google Drive.
• Consider automation platforms like Nanonets, which offer workflows to convert PDFs into Google Sheets format using APIs and webhooks for a seamless integration into your data processing pipeline.

Discover more about automating Google Sheets and enhance your productivity with Bardeen.

Each method has its advantages, depending on the complexity of the PDF document and the specific data extraction needs. For simple conversions, Google Docs might suffice, but for more complex or bulk conversions, third-party tools provide a more robust solution.

Explore our collection of Google Sheets automations and discover how Bardeen can revolutionize your workflow.

While the article above has shown you how to manually import PDFs into Google Sheets, there's an innovative way to automate similar tasks using Bardeen. Automating data extraction and conversion processes saves time, reduces errors, and increases efficiency, especially when dealing with large volumes of data or needing to perform tasks regularly.

Here are some examples of how Bardeen's playbooks can automate tasks related to handling PDFs and website content within Google Sheets:

1. Save full-page PDF screenshots to Google Drive from website links in a Google Sheet: Automatically capture and store full-page PDFs from a list of web links in Google Sheets, streamlining content archiving or competitor analysis.
2. Download full-page PDF screenshots of websites from links in a Google Sheet: This playbook simplifies the process of gathering website information by downloading full-page PDFs directly from web links listed in Google Sheets, perfect for market research or documentation purposes.
3. Copy all Github issues to Google Sheets: For developers and project managers, this playbook offers a seamless way to track GitHub issues by copying them into a Google Sheets document, facilitating better project tracking and issue management.