Hmmm.. I hadn't thought of that possibility. Since my last message, I downloaded and installed a newer V3.0 of Foxit. I still can't copy text from the US Army Corps of Engineers files. BUT I found a PDF map of Antarctica in my chart folder, and I was able to copy and paste usable text from that. So you were right, Foxit does have the capability. I have now read, as you say, that some PDF files are protected:

"preventing the file from editing (changing), printing, selecting text and graphics (and copying them into the Clipboard)"

It's not asking for any passwords. I looked at the properties - Security tab of the PDF files I'm trying to use, and it appears that I should have all permissions. But I've never been there before and not sure what I'm doing. The info the USACE is publishing is meant for public use, but almost prohibitively time consuming to use. Thanks for your help, Bob
      


>From: Hugh Vandervoort <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: [PCSOFT] Extract text from PDF
>I know some documents are protected. Have you got a link to one you can't
>copy?
>
>On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 3:46 PM, Bob Lendrim <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Hello Hugh,
>> When I try to copy text with Foxit, it tells me I need the professional
>> version. I reinstalled Acrobat V9.x, and so far have been able to clip the
>> text as an image, but not as text. The US Army Corps of engineers publishes
>> public data for navigation. They publish it in PDF and DGN files. Neither
>> one makes it easy.
>>
>
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