PDFs are ubiquitous in digital document management, but their rigid formatting often makes them less than ideal for content that needs to be easily edited, updated, or integrated into modern workflows. Markdown (.md), on the other hand, offers a lightweight, human-readable syntax perfect for web publishing, documentation, and version control. In this guide, we'll explore how to leverage the Spire.PDF for Python library to perform single or batch conversions from PDF to Markdown in Python efficiently.

• Why Convert PDFs to Markdown?
• Python PDF Converter Library – Installation
• Convert PDF to Markdown in Python
• Batch Convert Multiple PDFs to Markdown in Python
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Why Convert PDFs to Markdown?

Markdown offers several advantages over PDF for content creation and management:

• Version control friendly: Easily track changes in Git
• Lightweight and readable: Plain text format with simple syntax
• Editability: Simple to modify without specialized software
• Web integration: Natively supported by platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and static site generators (e.g., Jekyll, Hugo).

Spire.PDF for Python provides a robust solution for extracting text and structure from PDFs while preserving essential formatting elements like tables, lists, and basic styling.

Python PDF Converter Library - Installation

To use Spire.PDF for Python in your projects, you need to install the library via PyPI (Python Package Index) using pip. Open your terminal/command prompt and run:

pip install Spire.PDF

To upgrade an existing installation to the latest version:

pip install --upgrade spire.pdf

Convert PDF to Markdown in Python

Here’s a basic example demonstrates how to use Python to convert a PDF file to a Markdown (.md) file.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

# Create an instance of PdfDocument class
pdf = PdfDocument()

# Load a PDF document
pdf.LoadFromFile("TestFile.pdf")

# Convert the PDF to a Markdown file
pdf.SaveToFile("PDFToMarkdown.md", FileFormat.Markdown) 
pdf.Close()

This Python script loads a PDF file and then uses the SaveToFile() method to convert it to Markdown format. The FileFormat.Markdown parameter specifies the output format.

How Conversion Works

The library extracts text, images, tables, and basic formatting from the PDF and converts them into Markdown syntax.

• Text: Preserved with paragraphs/line breaks.
• Images: Images in the PDF are converted to base64-encoded PNG format and embedded directly in the Markdown.
• Tables: Tabular data is converted to Markdown table syntax (rows/columns with pipes |).
• Styling: Basic formatting (bold, italic) is retained using Markdown syntax.

Output:

Batch Convert Multiple PDFs to Markdown in Python

This Python script uses a loop to convert all PDF files in a specified directory to Markdown format.

import os
from spire.pdf import *

# Configure paths
input_folder = "pdf_folder/"
output_folder = "markdown_output/"

# Create output directory
os.makedirs(output_folder, exist_ok=True)

# Process all PDFs in folder
for file_name in os.listdir(input_folder):
    if file_name.endswith(".pdf"):
        # Initialize document
        pdf = PdfDocument()
        pdf.LoadFromFile(os.path.join(input_folder, file_name))
        
        # Generate output path
        md_name = os.path.splitext(file_name)[0] + ".md"
        output_path = os.path.join(output_folder, md_name)
        
        # Convert to Markdown
        pdf.SaveToFile(output_path, FileFormat.Markdown)
        pdf.Close()

Key Characteristics

• Batch Processing: Automatically processes all PDFs in input folder, improving efficiency for bulk operations.
• 1:1 Conversion: Each PDF generates corresponding Markdown file.
• Sequential Execution: Files processed in alphabetical order.
• Resource Management: Each PDF is closed immediately after conversion.

Output:

Need to convert Markdown to PDF? Refer to: Convert Markdown to PDF in Python

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is Spire.PDF for Python free?

A: Spire.PDF offers a free version with limitations (e.g., maximum 3 pages per conversion). For unlimited use, request a 30-day free trial for evaluation.

Q2: Can I convert password-protected PDFs to Markdown?

A: Yes. Use the LoadFromFile method with the password as a second parameter:

pdf.LoadFromFile("ProtectedFile.pdf", "your_password")

Q3: Can Spire.PDF convert scanned/image-based PDFs to Markdown?

A: No. The library extracts text-based content only. For scanned PDFs, use OCR tools (like Spire.OCR for Python) to create searchable PDFs first.

Conclusion

Spire.PDF for Python simplifies PDF to Markdown conversion for both single file and batch processing.

Its advantages include:

• Simple API with minimal code
• Preservation of document structure
• Batch processing capabilities
• Cross-platform compatibility

Whether you're migrating documentation, processing research papers, or building content pipelines, by following the examples in this guide, you can efficiently transform static PDF documents into flexible, editable Markdown content, streamlining workflows and improving collaboration.

PDFs are widely used in reports, invoices, and digital forms due to their consistent formatting across platforms. However, their fixed layout makes editing difficult without specialized tools. For developers looking to edit PDF using Python, Spire.PDF for Python provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use solution. This Python PDF editor enables you to modify PDF files programmatically—changing text, replacing images, adding annotations, handling forms, and securing files—without relying on Adobe Acrobat or any external software.

In this article, we will explore how to use Spire.PDF for Python to programmatically edit PDFs in Python applications.

• Why Use Python and Spire.PDF to Edit PDF Documents?
• Getting Started with Spire.PDF for Python
• How to Edit an Existing PDF Using Spire.PDF for Python
  • Edit PDF Pages and Structure with Python
  • Edit PDF Content with Python
  • Manage PDF Security with Python
  • Edit PDF Properties with Python
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why Use Python and Spire.PDF to Edit PDF Documents?

Python is a highly versatile programming language that provides an excellent platform for automating and managing PDF documents. When it comes to edit PDF Python tasks, Spire.PDF for Python stands out as a comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for all your PDF manipulation needs.

Benefits of Using Python for PDF Editing

• Automation and Batch Processing: Streamline repetitive PDF editing tasks efficiently.
• Cost-Effective: Reduce manual work, saving time and resources when you Python-edit PDF files.
• Integration: Seamlessly incorporate PDF editing into existing Python-based systems and workflows.

Advantages of Spire.PDF for Python

Spire.PDF for Python is a standalone library that enables developers to create, read, edit, convert, and save PDF files without relying on external software. As a trusted Python PDF editor, it offers powerful features such as:

• Text and Image Editing
• Annotations and Bookmark Management
• Form Field Handling
• Security Settings (Encryption and Permissions)
• Conversion to Word, Excel, HTML, and Images

To learn more about these specific features, visit the Spire.PDF for Python tutorials.

With its intuitive API design, Spire.PDF makes it easier than ever to edit PDF files in Python quickly and effectively, ensuring a smooth development experience.

Getting Started with Spire.PDF for Python

Installation:

To install Spire.PDF for Python, simply run the following pip command:

pip install spire.pdf

Alternatively, you can install Free Spire.PDF for Python, a free version suitable for small projects, by running:

pip install spire.pdf.free

You can also download the library manually from the links.

Basic Setup Example:

The following example demonstrates how to create a simple PDF using Spire.PDF for Python:

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfFont, PdfBrushes, PdfFontFamily, PdfFontStyle

# Create a new PDF document
pdf = PdfDocument()
# Add a new page to the document
page = pdf.Pages.Add()
# Create a font
font = PdfFont(PdfFontFamily.TimesRoman, 28.0, PdfFontStyle.Bold)
# Create a brush
brush = PdfBrushes.get_Black()
# Draw the string using the font and brush
page.Canvas.DrawString("Hello, World", font, brush, 100.0, 100.0)
# Save the document
pdf.SaveToFile("output/NewPDF.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result: The generated PDF displays the text "Hello, World" using Times Roman Bold.

With Spire.PDF installed, you're now ready to edit PDFs using Python. The sections below explain how to manipulate structure, content, security, and metadata.

How to Edit an Existing PDF Using Spire.PDF for Python

Spire.PDF for Python provides a simple yet powerful way to edit PDF using Python. With its intuitive API, developers can automate a wide range of PDF editing tasks including modifying document structure, page content, security settings, and properties. This section outlines the core categories of editing and their typical use cases.

Edit PDF Pages and Structure with Python

Structure editing lets you manipulate PDF page order, merge files, or insert/delete pages—ideal for document assembly workflows.

• Insert or Delete Pages

Use the Pages.Insert() and Pages.RemoveAt() methods of the PdfDocument class to insert or delete pages at specific positions.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfPageSize, PdfMargins, PdfPageRotateAngle

# Load a PDF document
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("Sample.pdf")

# Insert and delete pages
# Insert at beginning
pdf.Pages.Insert(0, PdfPageSize.A4(), PdfMargins(50.0, 60.0), PdfPageRotateAngle.RotateAngle90)
# Delete second page
pdf.Pages.RemoveAt(1)

# Save the document
pdf.SaveToFile("output/InsertDeletePage.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

• Merge Two PDF Files

The AppendPage() method allows you to combine PDFs by inserting pages from one document into another.

Code Example

import os
from spire.pdf import PdfDocument

# Specify the PDF file path
pdfPath = "PDFs/"
# Read the PDF file names from the path and add them to a list
files = [pdfPath + file for file in os.listdir(pdfPath) if file.endswith(".pdf")]

# Load the first PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile(files[0])
# Iterate through the other PDF files
for i in range(1, len(files)):
    # Load the current PDF file
    pdf2 = PdfDocument()
    pdf2.LoadFromFile(files[i])
    # Append the pages from the current PDF file to the first PDF file
    pdf.AppendPage(pdf2)

# Save the merged PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/MergePDFs.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

You may also like: Splitting PDF Files with Python Code

Edit PDF Content with Python

As a Python PDF editor, Spire.PDF supports a variety of content-level operations, including modifying text, images, annotations, and interactive forms.

• Replace Text in a PDF

The PdfTextReplacer class can be used to find and replace text from a page. Note that precise replacement may require case and layout-aware handling.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfTextReplacer, ReplaceActionType, Color

# Load the PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("Sample.pdf")

# Iterate through the pages
for i in range(pdf.Pages.Count):
    page = pdf.Pages.get_Item(i)
    # Create a PdfTextReplacer object
    replacer = PdfTextReplacer(page)
    # Set the replacement options
    replacer.Options.ReplaceType = ReplaceActionType.IgnoreCase
    # Replace the text
    replacer.ReplaceAllText("drones", "ROBOTS", Color.get_Aqua()) # Setting the color is optional

# Save the merged PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/ReplaceText.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

• Replace Images in a PDF

Spire.PDF for Python provides the PdfImageHelper class to help you replace images in a PDF file with ease. By retrieving image information from a specific page, you can use the ReplaceImage() method to directly substitute the original image with a new one.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfImageHelper, PdfImage

# Load the PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("Sample.pdf")

# Get a page
page = pdf.Pages.get_Item(0)

# Create a PdfImageHelper instance
imageHelper = PdfImageHelper()
# Get the image info of the first image on the page
imageInfo = imageHelper.GetImagesInfo(page)[0]
# Load a new image
newImage = PdfImage.FromFile("Image.png")
# Replace the image
imageHelper.ReplaceImage(imageInfo, newImage)

# Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/ReplaceImage.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

• Add Comments or Notes

To add comments or notes with Python, use the PdfTextMarkupAnnotation class and add it to the page’s AnnotationsWidget collection.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfTextFinder, PdfTextMarkupAnnotation, PdfRGBColor, Color

# Load the PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("Sample.pdf")

# Get a page
page = pdf.Pages.get_Item(0)

#Create a PdfTextFinder instance and set the options
finder = PdfTextFinder(page)
finder.Options.Parameter.IgnoreCase = False
finder.Options.Parameter.WholeWord = True
# Find the text to comment
text = finder.Find("redefining entire industries")[0]

# Get the bound of the text
bound = text.Bounds[0]

# Add comment
commentText = ("This is a powerful expression, but a bit vague. "
                "You might consider specifying which industries are "
                "being redefined and how, to make the claim more "
                "concrete and credible.")
comment = PdfTextMarkupAnnotation("Commenter", commentText, bound)
comment.TextMarkupColor = PdfRGBColor(Color.get_Yellow())
page.AnnotationsWidget.Add(comment)

# Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/CommentNote.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

• Edit or Read Form Fields

Spire.PDF for Python allows you to programmatically fill out and read form fields in a PDF document. By accessing the FieldsWidget property of a PdfFormWidget object, you can iterate through all interactive form elements, such as text boxes, combo boxes, and checkboxes, and update or extract their values.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfFormWidget, PdfComboBoxWidgetFieldWidget, PdfCheckBoxWidgetFieldWidget, PdfTextBoxFieldWidget

# Load the PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("EmployeeInformationForm.pdf")

forms = pdf.Form
formWidgets = PdfFormWidget(forms).FieldsWidget

# Fill the forms
for i in range(formWidgets.Count):
    formField = formWidgets.get_Item(i)
    if formField.Name == "FullName":
        textBox = PdfTextBoxFieldWidget(formField)
        textBox.Text = "Amanda Ray Thompson"
    elif formField.Name == "DateOfBirth":
        textBox = PdfTextBoxFieldWidget(formField)
        textBox.Text = "01/01/1980"
    elif formField.Name == "Gender":
        comboBox = PdfComboBoxWidgetFieldWidget(formField)
        comboBox.SelectedIndex  = [ 1 ]
    elif formField.Name == "Department":
        formField.Value = "Human Resources"
    elif formField.Name == "AgreeTerms":
        checkBox = PdfCheckBoxWidgetFieldWidget(formField)
        checkBox.Checked = True

# Read the forms
formValues = []

for i in range(formWidgets.Count):
    formField = formWidgets.get_Item(i)
    if isinstance(formField, PdfTextBoxFieldWidget):
        formValues.append(formField.Name + ": " + formField.Text)
    elif isinstance(formField, PdfComboBoxWidgetFieldWidget):
        formValues.append(formField.Name + ": " + formField.SelectedValue)
    elif isinstance(formField, PdfCheckBoxWidgetFieldWidget):
        formValues.append(formField.Name + ": " + str(formField.Checked))

# Write the form values to a file
with open("output/FormValues.txt", "w") as file:
    file.write("\n".join(formValues))

# Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/FilledForm.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

Explore more: How to Insert Page Numbers to PDF Using Python

Manage PDF Security with Python

PDF security editing is essential when dealing with sensitive documents. Spire.PDF supports encryption, password protection, digital signature handling, and permission settings.

• Add a Password and Set Permissions

The Encrypt() method lets you secure a PDF with user/owner passwords and define allowed actions like printing or copying.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfEncryptionAlgorithm, PdfDocumentPrivilege, PdfPasswordSecurityPolicy

# Load the PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("EmployeeInformationForm.pdf")

# Create a PdfSecurityPolicy object and set the passwords and encryption algorithm
securityPolicy = PdfPasswordSecurityPolicy("userPSD", "ownerPSD")
securityPolicy.EncryptionAlgorithm = PdfEncryptionAlgorithm.AES_128

# Set the document privileges
pdfPrivileges = PdfDocumentPrivilege.ForbidAll()
pdfPrivileges.AllowPrint = True
pdfPrivileges.AllowFillFormFields  = True
# Apply the document privileges
securityPolicy.DocumentPrivilege = pdfPrivileges

# Encrypt the PDF with the security policy
pdf.Encrypt(securityPolicy)

# Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/EncryptedForm.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result

• Remove the Password from a PDF

To open a protected file, provide the user password when calling LoadFromFile(), use Decrypt() to decrypt the document, and save it again unprotected.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument

# Load the encrypted PDF file with the owner password
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("output/EncryptedForm.pdf", "ownerPSD")

# Decrypt the PDF file
pdf.Decrypt()

# Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/DecryptedForm.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Recommended for you: Use Python to Add and Remove Digital Signature in PDF

Edit PDF Properties with Python

Use Spire.PDF to read and edit PDF metadata and viewer preferences—key features for document presentation and organization.

• Update Document Metadata

Update metadata such as title, author, or subject via the DocumentInformation property of the PDF document.

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument

# Load the PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("EmployeeInformationForm.pdf")

# Set document metadata
pdf.DocumentInformation.Author = "John Doe"
pdf.DocumentInformation.Title = "Employee Information Form"
pdf.DocumentInformation.Producer  = "Spire.PDF"

# Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/EditProperties.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

• Set View Preferences

The ViewerPreferences property allows you to customize the viewing mode of a PDF (e.g., two-column layout).

Code Example

from spire.pdf import PdfDocument, PdfPageLayout, PrintScalingMode

# Load the PDF file
pdf = PdfDocument()
pdf.LoadFromFile("EmployeeInformationForm.pdf")

# Set the viewer preferences
pdf.ViewerPreferences.DisplayTitle = True
pdf.ViewerPreferences.HideToolbar = True
pdf.ViewerPreferences.HideWindowUI = True
pdf.ViewerPreferences.FitWindow = False
pdf.ViewerPreferences.HideMenubar = True
pdf.ViewerPreferences.PrintScaling = PrintScalingMode.AppDefault
pdf.ViewerPreferences.PageLayout = PdfPageLayout.OneColumn

# Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output/EditViewerPreference.pdf")
pdf.Close()

Result:

Similar topic: Change PDF Version Easily with Python Code

Conclusion

Editing PDFs using Python is both practical and efficient with Spire.PDF for Python. Whether you're building automation tools, editing digital forms, or securing sensitive reports, Spire.PDF equips you with a comprehensive suite of editing features—all accessible via clean and simple Python code.

With capabilities that span content editing, form interaction, document structuring, and security control, this Python PDF editor is a go-to solution for developers and organizations aiming to streamline their PDF workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I edit a PDF using Python?

A: Yes, Python offers powerful libraries like Spire.PDF for Python that enable you to edit text, images, forms, annotations, and even security settings in a PDF file.

Q: How to edit a PDF using coding?

A: By using libraries such as Spire.PDF for Python, you can load an existing PDF, modify its content or structure programmatically, and save the changes with just a few lines of code.

Q: What is the Python library for PDF editor?

A: Spire.PDF for Python is a popular choice. It offers comprehensive functionalities for creating, reading, editing, converting, and securing PDF documents without the need for additional software.

Q: Can I modify a PDF for free?

A: Yes, you can use the free edition of Spire.PDF for Python to edit PDF files, although it comes with some limitations, such as processing up to 10 pages per document. Additionally, you can apply for a 30-day temporary license that removes all limitations and watermarks for full functionality testing.

PostScript, developed by Adobe, is a page description language known for its high-quality graphics and text rendering capabilities. By converting PDF to PostScript, you can have a precise control over complex graphics, fonts and colors when printing brochures, magazines, advertisements, or other materials.

PCL, on the other hand, is a printer control language developed by Hewlett-Packard. It is designed to be efficient and easy for the printers to interpret. Converting PDF to PCL ensures compatibility with a large number of printers and also optimizes the printing speed for text-heavy documents such as academic reports, letters, or contracts.

This article will demonstrate how to convert PDF to PS or PDF to PCL in Python using Spire.PDF for Python.

• Convert PDF to PostScript in Python
• Convert PDF to PCL in Python

Install Spire.PDF for Python

This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python. It can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.

pip install Spire.PDF

If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows

Convert PDF to PostScript in Python

Converting PDF to PS can improve the quality of the printed output. Spire.PDF for .NET allows you to load a PDF file and then converting it to PS format using PdfDocument.SaveToFile(filename: string, FileFormat.POSTSCRIPT) method. The following are the detailed steps.

• Create a PdfDocument instance.
• Load a PDF file using PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
• Save the PDF file to PostScript format using PdfDocument.SaveToFile(filename: string, FileFormat.POSTSCRIPT) method.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

# Specify the input and output file paths
inputFile = "input1.pdf"
outputFile = "PdfToPostScript.ps"

# Create a PdfDocument instance
pdf = PdfDocument()

# Load a PDF document
pdf.LoadFromFile(inputFile)

# Convert the PDF to a PostScript file
pdf.SaveToFile(outputFile, FileFormat.POSTSCRIPT)
pdf.Close()

Convert PDF to PCL in Python

Converting PDF to PCL can ensure faster printing speed. By using the PdfDocument.SaveToFile(filename: string, FileFormat.PCL) method, you can save a loaded PDF file as a PCL file. The following are the detailed steps.

• Create a PdfDocument instance.
• Load a PDF file using PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
• Save the PDF file to PCL format using PdfDocument.SaveToFile(filename: string, FileFormat.PCL) method.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

# Specify the input and output file paths
inputFile = "input1.pdf"
outputFile = "ToPCL\\PdfToPcl.pcl"

# Create a PdfDocument instance
pdf = PdfDocument()

# Load a PDF document
pdf.LoadFromFile(inputFile)

# Convert the PDF to a PCL file
pdf.SaveToFile(outputFile, FileFormat.PCL)
pdf.Close()

Get a Free License

To fully experience the capabilities of Spire.PDF for Python without any evaluation limitations, you can request a free 30-day trial license.

Converting a PDF to grayscale reduces file size by removing unnecessary color data, turning the content into shades of gray. This is especially useful for documents where color isn’t critical, such as text-heavy reports or forms, resulting in more efficient storage and faster transmission. On the other hand, linearization optimizes the PDF’s internal structure for web use. It enables users to start viewing the first page while the rest of the file is still loading, providing a faster and smoother experience, particularly for online viewing. In this article, we will demonstrate how to convert PDF files to grayscale or linearized PDFs in Python using Spire.PDF for Python.

• Convert PDF to Grayscale in Python
• Convert PDF to Linearized in Python

Install Spire.PDF for Python

This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.

pip install Spire.PDF

If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows

Convert PDF to Grayscale in Python

Converting a PDF document to grayscale can be achieved by using the PdfGrayConverter.ToGrayPdf() method. The detailed steps are as follows.

• Load a PDF document using the PdfGrayConverter class.
• Convert the PDF document to grayscale using the PdfGrayConverter.ToGrayPdf() method.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

# Specify the input and output PDF file paths
inputFile = "Sample.pdf"
outputFile = "Output/ConvertToGrayscale.pdf"

# Load a PDF document using the PdfGrayConverter class
converter = PdfGrayConverter(inputFile)
# Convert the PDF document to grayscale
converter.ToGrayPdf(outputFile)

Convert PDF to Linearized in Python

To convert a PDF to linearized, you can use the PdfToLinearizedPdfConverter.ToLinearizedPdf() method. The detailed steps are as follows.

• Load a PDF document using the PdfToLinearizedPdfConverter class.
• Convert the PDF document to linearized using the PdfToLinearizedPdfConverter.ToLinearizedPdf() method.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

# Specify the input and output PDF file paths
inputFile = "Sample.pdf"
outputFile = "Output/ConvertToLinearizedPdf.pdf"

# Load a PDF document using the PdfToLinearizedPdfConverter class
converter = PdfToLinearizedPdfConverter(inputFile)
# Convert the PDF document to a linearized PDF
converter.ToLinearizedPdf(outputFile)

Open the result file in Adobe Acrobat and check the document properties. You will see that the value for "Fast Web View" is set to "Yes", indicating that the file has been linearized.

Apply for a Temporary License

If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.

Handling PDF documents using bytes and bytearray provides an efficient and flexible approach within applications. By processing PDFs directly as byte streams, developers can manage documents in memory or transfer them over networks without the need for temporary file storage, optimizing space and improving overall application performance. This method also facilitates seamless integration with web services and APIs. Additionally, using bytearray allows developers to make precise byte-level modifications to PDF documents.

This article will demonstrate how to save PDFs as bytes and bytearray and load PDFs from bytes and bytearray using Spire.PDF for Python, offering practical examples for Python developers.

• Create a PDF Document and Save It to Bytes
• Load a PDF Document from Bytes

Install Spire.PDF for Python

This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.

pip install Spire.PDF

If you are unsure how to install, please refer to: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows

Create a PDF Document and Save It to Bytes and Bytearray

Developers can create PDF documents using the classes and methods provided by Spire.PDF for Python, save them to a Stream object, and then convert it to an immutable bytes object or a mutable bytearray object. The Stream object can also be used to perform byte-level operations.

The detailed steps are as follows:

• Create an object of PdfDocument class to create a PDF document.
• Add a page to the document and draw text on the page.
• Save the document to a Stream object using PdfDocument.SaveToStream() method.
• Convert the Stream object to a bytes object using Stream.ToArray() method.
• The bytes object can be directly converted to a bytearray object.
• Afterward, the byte streams can be used for further operations, such as writing them to a file using the BinaryIO.write() method.

from spire.pdf import *

# Create an instance of PdfDocument class
pdf = PdfDocument()

# Set the page size and margins of the document
pageSettings = pdf.PageSettings
pageSettings.Size = PdfPageSize.A4()
pageSettings.Margins.Top = 50
pageSettings.Margins.Bottom = 50
pageSettings.Margins.Left = 40
pageSettings.Margins.Right = 40

# Add a new page to the document
page = pdf.Pages.Add()

# Create fonts and brushes for the document content
titleFont = PdfTrueTypeFont("HarmonyOS Sans SC", 16.0, PdfFontStyle.Bold, True)
titleBrush = PdfBrushes.get_Brown()
contentFont = PdfTrueTypeFont("HarmonyOS Sans SC", 13.0, PdfFontStyle.Regular, True)
contentBrush = PdfBrushes.get_Black()

# Draw the title on the page
titleText = "Brief Introduction to Cloud Services"
titleSize = titleFont.MeasureString(titleText)
page.Canvas.DrawString(titleText, titleFont, titleBrush, PointF(0.0, 30.0))

# Draw the body text on the page
contentText = ("Cloud computing is a service model where computing resources are provided over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. "
               "It is a type of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. "
               "Cloud computing is typically offered througha subscription-based model, where users pay for access to the cloud resources on a monthly, yearly, or other basis.")
# Set the string format of the body text
contentFormat = PdfStringFormat()
contentFormat.Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Justify
contentFormat.LineSpacing = 20.0
# Create a TextWidget object with the body text and apply the string format
textWidget = PdfTextWidget(contentText, contentFont, contentBrush)
textWidget.StringFormat = contentFormat
# Create a TextLayout object and set the layout options
textLayout = PdfTextLayout()
textLayout.Layout = PdfLayoutType.Paginate
textLayout.Break = PdfLayoutBreakType.FitPage
# Draw the TextWidget on the page
rect = RectangleF(PointF(0.0, titleSize.Height + 50.0), page.Canvas.ClientSize)
textWidget.Draw(page, rect, textLayout)

# Save the PDF document to a Stream object
pdfStream = Stream()
pdf.SaveToStream(pdfStream)

# Convert the Stream object to a bytes object
pdfBytes = pdfStream.ToArray()

# Convert the Stream object to a bytearray object
pdfBytearray = bytearray(pdfStream.ToArray())

# Write the byte stream to a file
with open("output/PDFBytearray.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(pdfBytearray)

Load a PDF Document from Byte Streams

Developers can use a bytes object of a PDF file to create a stream and load it using the PdfDocument.LoadFromStream() method. Once the PDF document is loaded, various operations such as reading, modifying, and converting the PDF can be performed. The following is an example of the steps:

• Create a bytes object with a PDF file.
• Create a Stream object using the bytes object.
• Load the Stream object as a PDF document using PdfDocument.LoadFromStream() method.
• Extract the text from the first page of the document and print the text.

from spire.pdf import *

# Create a byte array from a PDF file
with open("Sample.pdf", "rb") as f:
    byteData = f.read()

# Create a Stream object from the byte array
stream = Stream(byteData)

# Load the Stream object as a PDF document
pdf = PdfDocument(stream)

# Get the text from the first page
page = pdf.Pages.get_Item(0)
textExtractor = PdfTextExtractor(page)
extractOptions = PdfTextExtractOptions()
extractOptions.IsExtractAllText = True
text = textExtractor.ExtractText(extractOptions)

# Print the text
print(text)

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PDF (Portable Document Format) files are widely used for sharing and distributing documents due to their consistent formatting and broad compatibility. However, when it comes to presentations, PowerPoint remains the preferred format for many users. PowerPoint offers a wide range of features and tools that enable the creation of dynamic, interactive, and visually appealing slideshows. Unlike static PDF documents, PowerPoint presentations allow for the incorporation of animations, transitions, multimedia elements, and other interactive components, making them more engaging and effective for delivering information to the audience.

By converting PDF to PowerPoint, you can transform a static document into a captivating and impactful presentation that resonates with your audience and helps to achieve your communication goals. In this article, we will explain how to convert PDF files to PowerPoint format in Python using Spire.PDF for Python.

Install Spire.PDF for Python

This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.

pip install Spire.PDF

If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows

Convert PDF to PowerPoint in Python

Spire.PDF for Python provides the PdfDocument.SaveToFile(filename:str, FileFormat.PPTX) method to convert a PDF document into a PowerPoint presentation. With this method, each page of the original PDF document will be converted into a single slide in the output PPTX presentation.

The detailed steps to convert a PDF document to PowerPoint format are as follows:

• Create an object of the PdfDocument class.
• Load a sample PDF document using the PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
• Save the PDF document as a PowerPoint PPTX file using the PdfDocument.SaveToFile(filename:str, FileFormat.PPTX) method.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

# Create an object of the PdfDocument class
pdf = PdfDocument()
# Load a sample PDF document
pdf.LoadFromFile("Sample.pdf")

# Save the PDF document as a PowerPoint PPTX file
pdf.SaveToFile("PdfToPowerPoint.pptx", FileFormat.PPTX)
pdf.Close()

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If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.

TIFF is a popular image format used in scanning and archiving due to its high quality and support for a wide range of color spaces. On the other hand, PDFs are widely used for document exchange because they preserve the layout and formatting of a document while compressing the file size. Conversion between these formats can be useful for various purposes such as archival, editing, or sharing documents.

In this article, you will learn how to convert PDF to TIFF and TIFF to PDF using the Spire.PDF for Python and Pillow libraries.

• Convert PDF to TIFF in Python
• Convert TIFF to PDF in Python

Install Spire.PDF for Python

This situation relies on the combination of Spire.PDF for Python and Pillow (PIL). Spire.PDF is used to read, create and convert PDF documents, while the PIL library is used for handling TIFF files and accessing their frames.

The libraries can be easily installed on your device through the following pip command.

pip install Spire.PDF
pip install pillow

Convert PDF to TIFF in Python

To complete the PDF to TIFF conversion, you first need to load the PDF document and convert the individual pages into image streams using Spire.PDF. Subsequently, these image streams are then merged together using the functionality of the PIL library, resulting in a consolidated TIFF image.

The following are the steps to convert PDF to TIFF using Python.

• Create a PdfDocument object.
• Load a PDF document from a specified file path.
• Iterate through the pages in the document.
  • Convert each page into an image stream using PdfDocument.SaveAsImage() method.
  • Convert the image stream into a PIL image.
• Combine these PIL images into a single TIFF image.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

from PIL import Image
from io import BytesIO

# Create a PdfDocument object
doc = PdfDocument()

# Load a PDF document
doc.LoadFromFile("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\Input.pdf")

# Create an empty list to store PIL Images
images = []

# Iterate through all pages in the document
for i in range(doc.Pages.Count):

    # Convert a specific page to an image stream
    with doc.SaveAsImage(i) as imageData:

        # Open the image stream as a PIL image
        img = Image.open(BytesIO(imageData.ToArray())) 

        # Append the PIL image to list
        images.append(img)

# Save the PIL Images as a multi-page TIFF file
images[0].save("Output/ToTIFF.tiff", save_all=True, append_images=images[1:])

# Dispose resources
doc.Dispose()

Convert TIFF to PDF in Python

With the assistance of the PIL library, you can load a TIFF file and transform each frame into distinct PNG files. Afterwards, you can utilize Spire.PDF to draw these PNG files onto pages within a PDF document.

To convert a TIFF image to a PDF document using Python, follow these steps.

• Create a PdfDocument object.
• Load a TIFF image.
• Iterate though the frames in the TIFF image.
  • Get a specific frame, and save it as a PNG file.
  • Add a page to the PDF document.
  • Draw the image on the page at the specified location using PdfPageBase.Canvas.DrawImage() method.
• Save the document to a PDF file.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

from PIL import Image
import io

# Create a PdfDocument object
doc = PdfDocument()

# Set the page margins to 0
doc.PageSettings.SetMargins(0.0)

# Load a TIFF image
tiff_image = Image.open("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\TIFF.tiff")

# Iterate through the frames in it
for i in range(tiff_image.n_frames):

    # Go to the current frame
    tiff_image.seek(i)
    
    # Extract the image of the current frame
    frame_image = tiff_image.copy()

    # Save the image to a PNG file
    frame_image.save(f"temp/output_frame_{i}.png")
    
    # Load the image file to PdfImage
    image = PdfImage.FromFile(f"temp/output_frame_{i}.png")

    # Get image width and height
    width = image.PhysicalDimension.Width
    height = image.PhysicalDimension.Height

    # Add a page to the document
    page = doc.Pages.Add(SizeF(width, height))

    # Draw image at (0, 0) of the page
    page.Canvas.DrawImage(image, 0.0, 0.0, width, height)

# Save the document to a PDF file
doc.SaveToFile("Output/TiffToPdf.pdf",FileFormat.PDF)

# Dispose resources
doc.Dispose()

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If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.

PDF is an ideal file format for sharing and archiving. If you are working with text files, you may find it beneficial to convert them to PDF files for enhanced portability, security and format preservation. In this article, you will learn how to convert TXT files to PDF in Python using Spire.PDF for Python.

Install Spire.PDF for Python

This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.

pip install Spire.PDF

If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows

Convert TXT to PDF with Python

Spire.PDF for Python allows to convert text files to PDF by reading the text content from the input TXT file, and then drawing it onto the pages of a PDF document. Some of the core classes and methods used are listed below:

• PdfDocument class: Represents a PDF document model.
• PdfTextWidget class: Represents the text area with the ability to span several pages.
• File.ReadAllText() method: Reads the text in the text file into a string object.
• PdfDocument.Pages.Add() method: Adds a page to a PDF document.
• PdfTextWidget.Draw() method: Draws the text widget at a specified location on the page.

The following are the detailed steps to convert TXT to PDF in Python:

• Read text from the TXT file using File.ReadAllText() method.
• Create a PdfDocument instance and add a page to the PDF file.
• Create a PDF font and brush objects.
• Set the text format and layout.
• Create a PdfTextWidget object to hold the text content.
• Draw the text widget at a specified location on the PDF page using PdfTextWidget.Draw() method.
• Save the PDF file using PdfDocument.SaveToFile() method.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

def ReadFromTxt(fname: str) -> str:
    with open(fname, 'r') as f:
        text = f.read()
    return text

inputFile = "input.txt"
outputFile = "TextToPdf.pdf"

# Get text from the txt file
text = ReadFromTxt(inputFile)

# Create a PdfDocument instance
pdf = PdfDocument()

# Add a page
page = pdf.Pages.Add()

# Create a PDF font and PDF brush
font = PdfFont(PdfFontFamily.TimesRoman, 11.0)
brush = PdfBrushes.get_Black()

# Set the text alignment and line spacing
strformat = PdfStringFormat()
strformat.LineSpacing = 10.0
strformat.Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Justify

# Set the text layout 
textLayout = PdfTextLayout()
textLayout.Break = PdfLayoutBreakType.FitPage
textLayout.Layout = PdfLayoutType.Paginate

# Create a PdfTextWidget instance to hold the text content
textWidget = PdfTextWidget(text, font, brush)

# Set the text format
textWidget.StringFormat = strformat

# Draw the text at the specified location on the page
bounds = RectangleF(PointF(0.0, 20.0), page.Canvas.ClientSize)
textWidget.Draw(page, bounds, textLayout)

# Save the result file
pdf.SaveToFile(outputFile, FileFormat.PDF)
pdf.Close()

Apply for a Temporary License

If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.

XPS, or XML Paper Specification, is a file format developed by Microsoft as an alternative to PDF (Portable Document Format). Similar to PDF, XPS is specifically designed to preserve the visual appearance and layout of documents across different platforms and devices, ensuring consistent viewing regardless of the software or hardware being used.

Converting PDF files to XPS format offers several notable benefits. Firstly, XPS files are fully supported within the Windows ecosystem. If you work in a Microsoft-centric environment that heavily relies on Windows operating systems and Microsoft applications, converting PDF files to XPS guarantees smooth compatibility and an optimized viewing experience tailored to the Windows platform.

Secondly, XPS files are optimized for printing, ensuring precise reproduction of the document on paper. This makes XPS the preferred format when high-quality printed copies of the document are required.

Lastly, XPS files are based on XML, a widely adopted standard for structured data representation. This XML foundation enables easy extraction and manipulation of content within the files, as well as seamless integration of file content with other XML-based workflows or systems.

In this article, we will demonstrate how to convert PDF files to XPS format in Python using Spire.PDF for Python.

Install Spire.PDF for Python

This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.

pip install Spire.PDF

If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows

Convert PDF to XPS in Python

Converting a PDF file to the XPS file format is very easy with Spire.PDF for Python. Simply load the PDF file using the PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method, and then save the PDF file to the XPS file format using the PdfDocument.SaveToFile(filename:str, fileFormat:FileFormat) method. The detailed steps are as follows:

• Create an object of the PdfDocument class.
• Load the sample PDF file using the PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
• Save the PDF file to the XPS file format using the PdfDocument.SaveToFile (filename:str, fileFormat:FileFormat) method.

from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *

# Specify the input and output file paths
inputFile = "sample.pdf"
outputFile = "ToXPS.xps"

# Create an object of the PdfDocument class
pdf = PdfDocument()
# Load the sample PDF file
pdf.LoadFromFile(inputFile)

# Save the PDF file to the XPS file format
pdf.SaveToFile(outputFile, FileFormat.XPS)
# Close the PdfDocument object
pdf.Close()

Apply for a Temporary License

If you'd like to remove the evaluation message from the generated documents, or to get rid of the function limitations, please request a 30-day trial license for yourself.