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How to Copy a Table from PDF to Google Docs (2024 Guide)

In this article, we will show you how to copy a table from PDF to Google Docs. Simply follow the steps below.

How to Copy a Table from PDF to Google Docs

Unfortunately, copying a table from a PDF file to Google Docs directly is not as easy as simply copying and pasting.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to copy a table from PDF to Google Docs using Lido, a powerful tool for managing and automating spreadsheet tasks. You can sign up for a free account here.

Method 1: Using the PDF Importer Tool

Here's how you can extract a table from a PDF file using the PDF Importer tool in Lido:

Step 1: Create a New Lido Spreadsheet

Log in to your Lido account and create a new, blank spreadsheet by clicking on "New file." This will be your workspace for managing and storing the extracted table data.

how to copy a table from pdf to google docs

Step 2: Access the PDF Importer Tool

Go to the File menu at the top of the Lido interface and select "Import from PDF." This tool is specifically designed to pull data, such as tables, from PDF files into your spreadsheet.

Step 3: Upload Your PDF

Select the "Click to upload" button within the PDF Importer tool to browse and select the PDF file you want to extract tables from. Ensure you choose the correct file with the necessary data.

Step 4: Select and Extract the Table

Once the PDF is uploaded, a preview will appear. Use this preview to select the area containing the table you wish to extract. Adjust the selection box by dragging the blue corners to cover the entire table, then click "Extract data" to start the extraction process.

Step 5: Insert the Extracted Table

Verify that the extracted table is correct and that all relevant data is captured. If everything looks good, click "Insert at active cell" to place the table into the spreadsheet at the selected cell. Otherwise, click "Back" to return to the selection phase.

Step 6: Copy the Table to Google Docs

Highlight the entire table in your Lido spreadsheet, then right-click and select "Copy," or use the shortcut Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac). Open your Google Docs document, navigate to the desired location, right-click, and select "Paste," or use the shortcut Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). This will copy the extracted table from Lido to Google Docs.

Method 2: Using the EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF Formula

This method uses Lido’s custom formula EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF to extract tables from a PDF.

Step 1: Upload Your PDF to Google Drive

Log in to your Google Drive and upload the PDF containing the tables you want to extract. Make sure the PDF is accessible online so that Lido can retrieve it directly from Google Drive.

Step 2: Create a New Lido Spreadsheet

Open a new, blank spreadsheet in Lido by clicking on "New file" in the Files page. This will be your workspace for the table data you are about to extract from the PDF.

Step 3: Add a New Worksheet

Click the plus (+) button to add a new worksheet to your spreadsheet. This new sheet will be used to input the formula and display the extracted data.

Step 4: Enter the EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF Formula

In the new worksheet, go to cell A1 and begin typing the EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF formula: "=EXTRACTTABLESFROMPDF(". This formula will identify and extract table data from the specified PDF.

Step 5: Link Your Google Account

Click "Add Credential" then "Connect to Google Drive" and follow the instructions to link the Google account where the PDF is uploaded. This step is essential as it allows Lido to access your Google Drive and the PDF file.

Step 6: Select the PDF File

After linking your account, press the comma key to move to the next part of the formula. Click "Select a file" to open a dialog box with your Google Drive files.

Locate and select the PDF from which you want to extract tables, linking it directly to the formula in your spreadsheet.

Step 7: Finalize the Formula

Type ",Sheet1!B2)" to specify where the extracted data should be placed, indicating that the data should go into worksheet Sheet1, starting at cell B2. Press ENTER to complete the formula.

Step 8: Execute the Formula

Right-click on cell A1 where the formula is entered and select "Run action" from the context menu. This will execute the formula and begin extracting table data from the PDF to Sheet1.

Step 9: Copy the Table in Sheet1 to Google Docs

Finally, you can highlight the entire table in your Lido spreadsheet, then right-click and select "Copy," or use the shortcut Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac). Open your Google Docs document, navigate to the desired location, right-click, and select "Paste," or use the shortcut Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). This will effectively copy the extracted table from Lido to Google Docs.

We hope that you now have a better understanding of how to copy a table from PDF to Google Docs.

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