Convert PDF to Excel on Mac Using Preview
Mac OS doesn't have a native application that can directly convert PDF to Excel. However, Preview emerges as an excellent manual but feasible method. Preview can convert a PDF to Excel by copying the data from a PDF and pasting it into the Excel spreadsheet. Besides this, Preview can also convert PDF to JPG format without losing quality. While it does work, the process is time-consuming, mainly when reformatting the table. Additionally, it does not work with scanned PDFs.
Find out how to convert PDF to Excel on Mac for free using Preview.
Step 1: Right-click the PDF file. Select Open With and choose Preview. Then, use the mouse to highlight the text you wish to extract
Step 2: Copy the selected text and paste it into a plain text editor. For example, use TextEdit, choose Format, and tap Make Plain Text. Next, save your file as a .txt file.
Step 3: Now, open Excel and navigate to File. Click Open and select the .txt file.
Excel will launch the Text Import Wizard. You must select Delimited if commas or tabs separate the data. Additionally, define the delimiters based on the data's structure.
Step 4: Finish the wizard, and the data will be automatically displayed in an Excel sheet. That's how you can convert the PDF to Excel in your Mac and Excel.
Adobe Acrobat Pro for Converting PDF to Excel on Mac
If you are an Adobe Acrobat user or have the budget to purchase the expensive Pro plan, Adobe can be a worthy tool for you. Adobe Acrobat Pro stands out as a reliable, premium PDF to Excel converter on Mac. It features a powerful 'Export PDF' function that can convert your PDF documents to various formats, including Excel, Image, PowerPoint, Word, and HTML. Unlike the Mac's native (Preview) tool, it also has OCR to convert a scanned PDF to Excel. Additionally, it can view, create, export, sign, and redact PDFs, among other functions.
Find out how to convert a PDF to Excel on Mac using Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Step 1: Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro on your Mac computer.
Step 2: Hover the cursor over Tools in the top address bar. Select Export PDF on the main page.
Step 3: You can choose from various exported formats. Tap Spreadsheet and select a version of Excel.
Step 4: Click the Gear icon and modify the desired settings for Excel. Click OK to convert and export the PDF to Excel on Mac.
Free PDF to Excel Converter for Mac: SwifDoo PDF Online
SwifDoo PDF Online is another efficient, free, and convenient web-based service. It allows you to change a PDF to an Excel file on Mac OS without requiring any software. This quick online tool makes it pretty easy to convert PDFs into Excel, Word, PowerPoint, DWG, JPG, and HTML formats. SwifDoo also supports conversion to other formats while preserving the original layout and formatting. The platform is user-friendly, accessible from any browser, and perfect for occasional file conversions on a Mac.
Here's how to convert PDF to Excel on Mac online for free using the SwifDoo PDF Online Converter.
Step 1: Open the SwifDoo PDF Online Converter on your web browser.
Step 2: Select PDF to Excel on the main screen to extract and convert PDF files.
Step 3: Click Choose File to select your desired PDF document for conversion. SwifDoo PDF will automatically analyze the uploaded file and start the conversion.
Step 4: Click Download to turn the PDF into an Excel spreadsheet within a few moments.
Import PDF into Excel on Mac to Convert
If you prefer not to rely on any third-party tools and services, Microsoft Excel can be beneficial to convert a PDF file to Excel on a Mac. With this method, you can paste data from a PDF into Excel and also insert a PDF into Excel as an image or URL. This method is especially suitable for PDFs with tables. So, it gets easier to insert the PDF into an Excel sheet. Newer versions of Excel, especially Excel 365, offer improved built-in features for handling this kind of task efficiently.
Here's how you can extract data from a PDF to Excel on Mac computers.
Step 1: Launch a new spreadsheet.
Step 2: Move to the Data tab in the top menu bar. Select Get Data from the secondary menu bar at the extreme left.
Step 3: Next, click the dropdown menu and select From File. Then, choose From PDF.
Step 4: Choose the table you wish to insert. Then, tap the Load button to export the data from the PDF. This is how you can import the PDF data into Excel on Mac as an Excel table.
Bonus: A Top Efficient PDF Editor for Mac
If you need to make edits to PDF data, for example, update specific numbers or insert diagrams, no need to convert PDF to Excel on your Mac. SwifDoo PDF for Mac is a lightweight and fast PDF editor software that enables you to interact with PDF files effortlessly. It allows you to add additional text and sticky notes, as well as modify the original text within your PDF. It won't change anything else in the file.
Also, with SwifDoo PDF Mac editor, you are able to attach images, edit the existing images, and make hyperlinks. The desktop application supports block, line, paragraph, and more editing modes. It allows you to modify text properties, just as you would in Word. Moreover, the software is designed with PDF password protection and decryption features.
As a pure PDF viewer, it offers multiple reading modes for optimal user experience and allows searching page numbers to navigate instantly. If the document pages need to be reoragnized, you can reorder, rotate, and delete certain pages.
Final Wrap Up
Converting PDF files to Excel can be a challenging task. The trouble doubles, especially when the formatting is lost. However, we assume that converting PDFs to Excel doesn't have to be complicated. There are several effective ways to convert a PDF file on a Mac. Whether you prefer using built-in tools, online services, or premium software, we have discussed the process of using each method.
Opt for a tool that provides reliable output, fast processing, and a smooth user experience. Or try the web-based SwifDoo PDF Online for on-the-fly, accurate conversion.