An easy-to-use automatic content converter, Able2Extract offers a few advanced features, but produces less-than-perfect end results and suffers from format compatibility quirks.
Easy to use: Able2Extract is very straightforward, thanks to its 3-step workflow -- select the document you want to convert, select the section you want converted, and then choose the desired output format. If you're new to the app, handy tooltips will guide you every step of the way.
Multiple output formats supported: Whether it's a straightforward PDF-to-Word conversion or one involving more obscure formats like AutoCAD, OpenOffice, or Publisher, the software has you covered.
Batch conversion: If you have several documents that you need converted in the same manner, you can have them processed with just a few clicks, thanks to the speedy built-in batch converter. The conversion speed is also nice -- a page per second on a Core i5 machine.
Limited number of input formats: The app can only process TXT or PDF files.
Unsatisfactory end results: Ease of use notwithstanding, the converted files leave much to be desired; virtually every conversion we tested had some glitches and weird artifacts splattered across it. Of the two supported input file formats, the TXT documents converted much more smoothly than the PDFs.
Microsoft Office dependency: While testing we discovered that you need Microsoft Office installed on your PC in order to convert files to most Office formats. Without Microsoft Office, attempting a conversion from PDF to Word, for example, will result in an error.
If you're looking for a nice balance between ease of use and end product quality, Able2Extract will fit the bill. While it is in no way a substitute for a real person making a duplicate of a document in a different format, the software gets it mostly right -- perfect for internal drafts where the visuals aren't a top priority.
Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of Able2Extract 9.0.5.
New features for Able2Extract Professional 15 include the ability to create PDFs from multiple files, merge batch converted and created PDFs into a single output file, batch convert PDFs to HTML, create blank PDF files, split a document into even parts, set Custom Excel properties for individual table structures. Other improvements include a revamped UI and new OCR languages (French, Spanish, and German), Dark theme support, useful infotips, faster PDF search function, a new hand tool for easier document navigation, and much more. This new version comes with a redesigned user interface. With a streamlined ribbon-style tabbed menu and side panel, Able2Extract offers access to the tools and options needed for major PDF tasks. A new Start Page lets users customize the appearance of the interface, set languages, access recent files and walkthrough tutorials.
Version 15.0 has support for Light and Dark themes. Users can switch between both themes to adapt to the lighting conditions of their workplace. It also has added support for different languages. Users can customize the interface to French, Spanish, and German. These languages are also supported in scanned PDF conversions. The advanced OCR engine can recognize special French, Spanish and German language characters. There is a newly added Batch PDF creator to create PDFs from multiple formats. Batch PDF conversion has also been improved with PDF to HTML conversion. Users can also refine the selection of files to batch convert with a new File Type filter. Both batch creation and conversion tools can batch merge results into a single file. The Custom Excel feature offers more flexibility, letting users set properties for each table structure. Able2Extract also has a new hand tool for easier navigation and the ability to split PDFs into even parts. New infotips help users learn about the PDF tools on the toolbar. Able2Extract Professional is a standalone application that does not require the Internet, Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Office to work.
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