PDF to text

[arnis]

Is there a way to extract all text from PDF documents so I can index the text and make my PDF documents search-able or maybe someone knows a good freeware indexer/search engine which I could download and install. I could use Win2000 or Linux platforms.

-Arnis

[yelvington]

This can be done with Ghostscript. My company has used it to develop a highly automated system for decomposing very complex large-format newspaper advertising into jpeg "adlets," while routing the corresponding text into a searchable classified-ad database. The lets big automobile ads, for example, become part of an online searchable classifieds database, with each car individually searchable.

Example:

http://classifieds.augustachronicle.com/classifieds-bin/classifieds?tp=AUGUSTA+GA&tl=2&temp_type=ALT_DETAIL&classification=CLASSIFIEDS&property=augusta+ga&adid=5862215