Скачать или смотреть How to Efficiently Parse Data from pdftotext Output Files Using VBA

Learn how to extract structured information such as SKU and Quantity from text files generated by pdftotext in Excel using VBA.
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Parsing Data from pdftotext Output Files Using VBA

Are you tired of manually extracting information from text files generated by PDF conversion tools like pdftotext? Do you want to automate the process of parsing crucial details such as order numbers, shipping information, and item quantities? If so, you've come to the right place!

In this guide, we will explore how to efficiently parse data from .txt files created using pdftotext, specifically targeting the extraction of SKU and Quantity data through Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

Understanding the Problem

When you convert a PDF to a text file using pdftotext, the output can be messy and unstructured. This makes it challenging to extract specific details programmatically. For instance, a sample output might look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this output, you may want to extract:

The SKU (e.g., VAT5M)

The quantity (e.g., 1)

The Solution: Using VBA to Extract Required Data

Step 1: Setting Up the Extraction

We need to create a VBA function that will parse the text string and extract the SKU and Quantity. Here’s a simple implementation of how to achieve this.

Step 2: Using Regular Expressions

Regular expressions (regex) are perfect for this task. They allow you to define patterns for the text you need to retrieve. Below is a comprehensive VBA snippet that demonstrates how to perform the extraction:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Explanation of the Code

Setting up Regular Expressions:

We create a RegExp object and configure it to ignore case and search globally.

The regex pattern ([A-Z0-9]+ )\s*(\d+ ) of \d+ is designed to match a sequence of uppercase letters and digits (SKU) followed by quantity information.

Executing the Regex:

The code checks if any matches exist in the targeted cell (e.g., A1), and if so, it proceeds to extract them.

Looping through Matches:

Using a loop, we print out each SKU and its corresponding quantity.

Conclusion

Extracting SKU and Quantity from text files output by pdftotext can be efficiently handled with VBA, particularly through the use of regular expressions. This approach allows for scalable and reusable code, which minimizes manual data entry and errors.

Give this method a try, and take the frustration out of data parsing for your PDF outputs!

Let's wrap it up! If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to comment below!