How To Convert PDF to ODT and Preserve Formatting

In the realm of document management, the need to convert PDF files to ODT while preserving the original formatting is a common requirement. This article will guide you through several methods to achieve this, including using PDF Utilities, the pdf2odt script, LibreOffice, Calibre, and the pdftohtml command.

PDF Utilities (poppler-utils)

Poppler-utils is a package that provides a command-line tool called pdftotext which can extract text from a PDF file. You can install it using Synaptic or apt-get. Here’s how to use it:

pdftotext -layout input.pdf output.txt

In this command, -layout helps to maintain the original physical layout of texts. The success of the conversion, however, depends on how the PDF file was generated.

You can install poppler-utils by using the following command:

sudo apt-get install poppler-utils

pdf2odt Script

The pdf2odt script is a shell script that automates the conversion process. It takes PDF and image files as input and generates an ODT file that can be opened and edited in LibreOffice. The script is available on GitHub at pdf2odt. However, it’s important to note that this script converts the PDF pages into images, so the original text cannot be edited.

Using LibreOffice

LibreOffice, a powerful open-source office suite, has the capability to import PDF files. To use it, simply open the PDF file in LibreOffice. However, it will be opened as a drawing and can only be converted to one of the supported image formats, not as a Writer document. The formatting may not be preserved completely.

Using Calibre

Calibre is an ebook management software that can convert PDF files to various formats, including HTML and DOCX. Here’s how to use it:

1. Convert the PDF to HTML using Calibre.
2. Open the HTML file in LibreOffice Writer.
3. Save it as an ODT file.

The formatting conversion may vary depending on how the PDF was created.

pdftohtml Command

If you have the poppler-utils package installed, you can use the pdftohtml command to convert the PDF file to HTML. The command is as follows:

pdftohtml -noframes -q -s -c -i -p -noframes <filename>

In this command, -noframes omits the frames in the output, -q runs in quiet mode (no messages), -s generates a single HTML file, -c generates complex output, -i ignores images, and -p inserts page breaks. You can then open the HTML file in LibreOffice Writer and save it as an ODT file. However, the success of the formatting conversion depends on how the PDF was created.

In conclusion, while the success and accuracy of the conversion may vary depending on the complexity and formatting of the original PDF file, these methods provide a starting point for converting PDF files to ODT. It is recommended to test different methods and adjust the formatting as necessary to achieve the best results.