PDF to MS Word conversion

sshatz · 10-25-2007, 03:41 PM

I am looking for a way to convert PCL or PDF documents into MS Word compatible format, preserving the original document’s formatting (including logo and signature), and I must be able to invoke this from the Linux command line.

I've done some research and surprisingly, no one has seemingly written such a program for Linux, nor has one been ported over from Windows. Does anyone know of a such a program or can someone suggest an alternative or even more round-about method for accomplishing the same thing?

My goal is to generate a PCL file under Linux, convert it to Word format, store it in a Windows-based document database, and let users retreive that file for subsequent editing in MS Word. The only part of this process that I haven't figured out is the PCL to Word conversion. However, since I already have a way to convert PCL to PDF, a PDF to Word conversion could also work.

Thank you.

pixellany · 10-25-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshatz

I am looking for a way to convert PCL or PDF documents into MS Word compatible format....
I've done some research and surprisingly, no one has seemingly written such a program for Linux, nor has one been ported over from Windows.

Is there such a thing for Windows?? I've never heard of this for ANY platform....there may be a reason.

sshatz · 10-25-2007, 04:02 PM

There are many PDF to Word conversion programs for Windows, with at least a few of them supporting command line invocations. When I do a Google search, these are some of the first ones I find:

http://www.pdfonline.com/easyconverter/index.htm

http://www.verypdf.com/pdf2word/index.html

http://www.digitalriver.com/v2.0-img..._overview.html

http://www.investintech.com/prod_featuresList_a2e.htm

Alas, I cannot seem to find any similar programs for Linux.

pixellany · 10-25-2007, 04:10 PM

I am humbled by your knowledge of Windows......

Seriously, have you tried any of these with WINE or CrossOver?

sshatz · 10-25-2007, 04:21 PM

No. I hadn't thought about WINE or Crossover. How would that work? My Linux application is running outside of the WINE environment. It produces a PCL or PDF file. Then what? If WINE and one of the above command line accessible PDF to Word conversion programs were running, how would my program be able to invoke it?

pixellany · 10-25-2007, 04:58 PM

My guess is that you would have to write the file and then have the convertor open it. But first, see if any of them will run.
WINE is free and may already be installed.
CrossOver has a 30-day free trial.