In this article, we will show you how to use AI to extract data from PDF files with Lido. Simply follow the steps below!
Extracting data from PDF files can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially when dealing with large volumes of documents. AI-powered tools can streamline this process.
In this guide, we will use AI to extract data from PDF files. Lido is a new spreadsheet tool designed to make data extraction from PDF files easier using AI. You can create a free account here: https://www.lido.app/go/signup.
To extract data from PDF files using AI, we will use Lido's PDF Importer tool. This method is particularly useful for extracting specific sections of a PDF, allowing you to select and pull only the parts you need rather than processing the entire document.
Sign in to your Lido account, go to the Files section, and select "New file" to start a fresh spreadsheet. This will be used for organizing and analyzing data extracted from your PDF.
Open your new spreadsheet, click on the "File" menu at the top, and select "Import from PDF" from the dropdown list.
Click on the "Click to Upload" button in the importer tool, then select your PDF file from your device, or simply drag and drop it into the upload area.
Once your PDF is uploaded, an interface will appear where you can highlight the specific section of the PDF you want to extract. Adjust the selection box by dragging the blue corners to cover the needed data, then click "Extract data" to begin the extraction.
The PDF Importer tool uses AI to extract text and data from your PDF and turns it into a structured format in your spreadsheet.
Check the extracted data in the preview window to confirm its accuracy and completeness. Text will be separated into individual cells, while tables will be formatted as structured data. If both text and tables are detected, only tables will be extracted.
Once satisfied, click "Insert at active cell" to add the data to your spreadsheet. To extract any additional data, click "Back" and repeat the steps.
In this method, we'll use Lido's custom IMPORTPDF formula to pull data from a PDF file. This formula extracts data from the entire PDF using AI, making it ideal when you need to capture all the information within the document, not just specific sections.
Log into your Google Drive account, click "New," and choose "File upload" to add your PDF. This step allows Lido to access your file online for data extraction.
Now, sign in to your Lido account, head to the Files section, and click "New file" to start a new spreadsheet. This will help you organize the data extracted from your PDF.
In your Lido spreadsheet, click the plus (+) icon to create a new worksheet.
Go to Sheet2 and in cell A1, enter "=IMPORTPDF(GOOGLEDRIVEFILE" without the quotation marks to link your Lido spreadsheet to your Google Drive account.
Click "Add Credential" then "Connect to Google Drive" and follow the prompts to connect the Google account that stores your PDF. This setup lets Lido access your file, so make sure to complete all the steps correctly.
Once your Google account is linked, press the comma key to continue the formula. Then, click "Select a file" to browse your Google Drive files.
Locate and choose the PDF you uploaded to Google Drive. This will link the selected file to your spreadsheet formula.
Close the parentheses after the Google Drive URL and type "Sheet1!B2" to define the starting point for the extracted data, beginning at cell B2 in Sheet1. The complete formula will be:
=IMPORTPDF(GOOGLEDRIVEFILE(<email>,"<drive-credential>"),<output-cell>)
Press ENTER.
Click on the three-dot menu in cell A1 and choose "Run action" from the context menu.
Go to Sheet1 to review the data that’s been converted. Make sure all information is complete and accurate.
We hope you now have a better understanding of using AI to extract data from PDF files with Lido.