How to Extract Text from Scanned PDF in Python using PDF.co Web API

Step 1: Install the Request Module

First, let’s start by installing the request module to manage new packages written in Python. To do that, type python -m pip install request in your command line.

Step 2: Open Visual Studio Code Editor

Next, open the Visual Studio Code Editor. Let’s use this editor to execute the Python code. You can also use your favorite editor in Python.

Then, add the Python sample code. You can copy/download the sample code here.

Step 3: Setup Python Code

Now, let’s set up the Python code.

• In line 6, add your PDF.co API Key inside the quote. You can get the API Key by logging in or signing up at PDF.co.
• In line 12, input the scanned PDF file name. You can get the sample scanned PDF here.
• In line 18, enter your preferred file name of the extracted text from the scanned PDF.

Since we’re done setting up the Python code, let’s save the file and click the Run button to execute the program.

Step 4: Run Program Result

Once the PDF extraction using Python runs successfully, go to the Python program folder to view the output.

Step 5: Extracted Text Output

This is the extracted text from the scanned PDF document using Python.