Split PDF by Text in JavaScript using PDF.co Web API

Source Code

Open your text editor and create a JavaScript file with the following code:

const https = require("https");
const fs = require("fs");
const axios = require("axios");

// The authentication key (API Key).
// Get your own by registering at https://app.pdf.co
const API_KEY = "********************";

// Source PDF file to split
const SourceFileUrl = "https://bytescout-com.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files/demo-files/cloud-api/pdf-split/multiple-invoices.pdf";
// Split Search String
const SplitText = "invoice number";

// Prepare request to `Split PDF By Text` API endpoint
const queryPath = "https://api.pdf.co/v1/pdf/split2";

// JSON payload for API request
const jsonPayload = {
    searchString: SplitText,
    url: SourceFileUrl,
    async: true
};

// Send POST request using axios
axios.post(queryPath, jsonPayload, {
    headers: {
        "x-api-key": API_KEY,
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
})
    .then(response => {
        const data = response.data;
        if (!data.error) {
            console.log(`Job #${data.jobId} has been created!`);
            checkIfJobIsCompleted(data.jobId, data.url);
        } else {
            // Service reported an error
            console.log(data.message);
        }
    })
    .catch(error => {
        console.error("Error during API request:", error.message);
    });

function checkIfJobIsCompleted(jobId, resultFileUrlJson) {
    const queryPath = "https://api.pdf.co/v1/job/check";

    // JSON payload for API request
    const jsonPayload = {
        jobid: jobId
    };

    // Send POST request using axios
    axios.post(queryPath, jsonPayload, {
        headers: {
            "x-api-key": API_KEY,
            "Content-Type": "application/json"
        }
    })
        .then(response => {
            const data = response.data;
            console.log(`Checking Job #${jobId}, Status: ${data.status}, Time: ${new Date().toLocaleString()}`);

            if (data.status === "working") {
                // Check again after 3 seconds
                setTimeout(() => {
                    checkIfJobIsCompleted(jobId, resultFileUrlJson);
                }, 3000);
            } else if (data.status === "success") {
                // Fetch the result files
                axios.get(resultFileUrlJson)
                    .then(res => {
                        const respJsonFileArray = res.data;
                        let part = 1;

                        respJsonFileArray.forEach((url) => {
                            const localFileName = `./part${part}.pdf`;
                            const file = fs.createWriteStream(localFileName);
                            https.get(url, (response2) => {
                                response2.pipe(file).on("close", () => {
                                    console.log(`Generated PDF file saved as "${localFileName} file."`);
                                });
                            });
                            part++;
                        });
                    })
                    .catch(err => {
                        console.error("Error fetching result files:", err.message);
                    });
            } else {
                console.log(`Operation ended with status: "${data.status}".`);
            }
        })
        .catch(error => {
            console.error("Error during job status check:", error.message);
        });
}

Install Axios Module

Next, install the axios module for file upload. Type the “npm install axios” in the Terminal.

PDF.co API Key

On line 7, add your API key inside the double quote. You can get the PDF.co API Key from your dashboard.

Source and Destination Files

• On line 10, replace the SourceFile variable with the URL to your PDF.
• You can enter the split search string in line 12.

Run the Program

• Save your JavaScript file as index.js.
• Open a terminal, navigate to the project directory, and run: node index.js