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Tables in PDF files

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Gogula Aryalingam on 17 Jan 2015 03:15:10

I have come across so many public data repositories that hold data in PDF format. Other websites have tables within documents such as annual reports etc., also in PDF format. A data source for PDFs or tables from PDFs would be awesome!

Administrator on 13 Apr 2019 00:56:11

The PDF connector is now generally available in the April release of Power BI Desktop. Learn more here: https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-desktop-april-2019-feature-summary/#pdf

Comments (284)
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jorge lopez on 06 Jul 2020 00:02:37

RE: Tables in PDF files

No funciona con la ultima actualización Octubre 2019

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Daniel Perelman on 05 Jul 2020 23:51:44

RE: Tables in PDF files

'@Anonymous There is no explicit limit on the number of columns. Please use the contact information given a few comments below by Ehren if you have PDFs where the PDF connector is not working as expected. Thank you.

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Power BI User on 05 Jul 2020 23:50:05

RE: Tables in PDF files

Is the PDF Connector limited to only handling 19 columns? In my tests it seems to be, but just wanted to clarify?

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Ricardo Diaz on 05 Jul 2020 23:49:33

RE: Tables in PDF files

Waiting for this TBA in Excel Vote for it here... https://excel.uservoice.com/forums/304921-excel-for-windows-desktop-application/suggestions/13611924-allow-powerquery-to-extract-data-from-pdf-tables

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DirkV on 05 Jul 2020 23:46:36

RE: Tables in PDF files

Super for Power BI, when available in Excel Get&Transform?

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Kawabata Yoshihiro on 05 Jul 2020 23:46:33

RE: Tables in PDF files

Complete NICE for PDF connector by Power BI Desktop

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Ehren von Lehe on 05 Jul 2020 23:44:07

RE: Tables in PDF files

To all those who have feedback to share about this feature, please send me a private message on the Power BI Community. We want to hear from you!

https://community.powerbi.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/33215

Ehren

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Mike Honey on 05 Jul 2020 23:41:40

RE: Tables in PDF files

A heads-up that while this feature kind-of worked in the November 2018 release, it was totally wrecked in the December 2018 update - the table and row detection broke to the point it was unusable.

The good news is the February 2019 update has fixed those problems and improved the detection of similar tables on subsequent pages - they are combined into one table. An odd new "feature" is that after detecting a table they leave you to manually add a Promoted Headers step - ideally that would be generated.

I've worked on many projects with multiple similar technologies over the years (Tabula was my previous fav). It's always a little messy due to the limitations of the PDF format. But I feel more confident tackling them in Power Query, with all it's glorious data transformation power at my fingertips.

Thanks Amanda and team!

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D L on 05 Jul 2020 23:41:33

RE: Tables in PDF files

We're looking for sharing features to be available to non-designers. That report consumers/viewers can use them when embedded, regardless of embed methods.

This feature would be most useful (for us) when this can be applicable outside the power bi app and the power bi service.

In the same light, export to PDF is most useful when its embedded, ie beyond Power BI app and beyond Power BI service.

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DirkV on 05 Jul 2020 23:40:35

RE: Tables in PDF files

When will this be available in Get & Transform in Excel?
Urgently needed.