PythonPDF Library Source Code License

PythonPDF Library is a tool for extracting information from PDF documents. Unlike other PDF-related tools, it focuses entirely on getting and analyzing text contents and PDF construction. PythonPDF Library allows one to obtain the exact location of text in a page, as well as other information such as fonts or lines. It includes a PDF converter that can transform PDF files into other text formats (such as HTML). It has an extensible PDF parser that can be used for other purposes than text analysis.

PythonPDF Library is a Python library and utility that reads and writes PDF files:

• PythonPDF Library is tested and works on Python 2.6, 2.7, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, and 3.6.
• Operations include subsetting, merging, rotating, modifying metadata, etc.
• The fastest pure Python PDF parser available.
• Has been used for years by a printer in pre-press production.
• Can be used with rst2pdf to faithfully reproduce vector images.
• Can be used either standalone, or in conjunction with your application to reuse existing PDFs in new ones.
• Written entirely in Python.
• Parse, analyze, and convert PDF documents.
• PDF-1.7 specification support. (well, almost)
• CJK languages and vertical writing scripts support.
• Various font types (Type1, TrueType, Type3, and CID) support.
• Basic encryption (RC4) support.
• PDF to HTML conversion (with a sample converter web app).
• Outline (TOC) extraction.
• Tagged contents extraction.
• Reconstruct the original layout by grouping text chunks.
• Extracting document information (title, author, …).
• Splitting documents page by page.
• Merging documents page by page.
• Cropping pages.
• Merging multiple pages into a single page.
• Encrypting and decrypting PDF files.

PythonPDF will faithfully reproduce vector formats without rasterization, so the rst2pdf package has used PythonPDF for PDF and SVG images by default since March 2010.

PythonPDF can also be used in conjunction with your application, in order to re-use portions of existing PDFs in new PDFs created with any PDF software.

PythonPDF library comes with several examples that show more operations to PDF files.

All examples
The examples directory has a few scripts which use the library. Note that if these examples do not work with your PDF, please feel free send this PDF file to us, we will analyze this PDF file and come back to you asap.

• 4up.py will shrink pages down and place 4 of them on each output page.
• alter.py shows an example of modifying metadata, without altering the structure of the PDF.
• booklet.py shows an example of creating a 2-up output suitable for printing and folding (e.g on tabloid size paper).
• cat.py shows an example of concatenating multiple PDFs together.
• extract.py will extract images and Form XObjects (embedded pages) from existing PDFs to make them easier to use and refer to from new PDFs (e.g. with or rst2pdf).
• poster.py increases the size of a PDF so it can be printed as a poster.
• print_two.py Allows creation of 8.5 X 5.5" booklets by slicing 8.5 X 11" paper apart after printing.
• rotate.py Rotates all or selected pages in a PDF.
• subset.py Creates a new PDF with only a subset of pages from the original.
• unspread.py Takes a 2-up PDF, and splits out pages.
• watermark.py Adds a watermark PDF image over or under all the pages of a PDF.
• rl1/4up.py Another 4up example, using canvas for output.
• rl1/booklet.py Another booklet example, using canvas for output.
• rl1/subset.py Another subsetting example, using canvas for output.
• rl1/platypus_pdf_template.py Another watermarking example, using canvas and generated output for the document. Contributed by user asannes.
• rl2 Experimental code for parsing graphics. Needs work.
• subset_booklets.py shows an example of creating a full printable pdf version in a more professional and pratical way.

By being Pure-Python, it should run on any Python platform without any dependencies on external libraries. It can also work entirely on StringIO objects rather than file streams, allowing for PDF manipulation in memory. It is therefore a useful tool for websites that manage or manipulate PDFs.