IDENTIFIERS STAY TEXT
Keep leading zeros when exporting a PDF table to Excel
A product code such as 00123 is an identifier, not the number 123. PdfTableKit writes the proofread grid to XLSX as text so leading zeros and formula-like strings stay literal. The tradeoff is explicit: quantities and amounts also start as text.
Why a leading zero can disappear
Spreadsheet apps can interpret digit-only input as a number when pasting or importing it. A numeric cell does not preserve the original identifier spelling. Keep identifier columns as text before any conversion. A display format that pads zeros does not recover an unknown original code length.
What this export stores
The grid values are written as XLSX text cells. The examples below describe storage behavior, not extraction accuracy. You must first verify that the PDF text was placed in the correct row and column.
| Grid value | XLSX behavior | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 00123 | Text: 00123 | Every identifier digit matches the source |
| 1.50 | Text: 1.50 | Convert intentionally if arithmetic is needed |
| =1+1 | Literal text, not an executable formula | It should remain the original string |
Check the code in the grid before export
Select a page with a real text layer, extract it and compare the identifiers with the source preview. Correct missing digits, extra spaces or split cells manually. Keeping a wrong code as text still preserves a wrong code. Scanned or image-only tables are outside this tool.
Download XLSX and inspect the saved value
After editing, refresh XLSX and download the workbook. Select the identifier cell in your spreadsheet application and confirm its value, not only its visual formatting. Keep a separate copy of the unmodified export before converting any columns.
Prepare amounts for calculations separately
Do not expect SUM to treat text amounts as numeric cells automatically. After proofreading, convert only the intended amount or quantity columns using your spreadsheet application and the correct decimal locale. Keep IDs, postal codes and reference numbers as text. PdfTableKit does not perform a financial reconciliation or guarantee totals.
Repeat the export check with a fictional sample
Open the sample PDF in the extractor, edit one cell to 00123 and another to =1+1, refresh XLSX, then check the downloaded workbook. These synthetic values exercise the literal-text export path without disclosing any customer document.
Questions
Are quantities and prices exported as real numbers?
No. This version writes the grid as text. Convert appropriate columns deliberately in your spreadsheet app after proofreading.
Will text beginning with = execute as a formula?
The XLSX export writes it as literal text, with no formula element. This describes this export path, not arbitrary later copy/paste or a different file format.
Can formatting restore zeros that were already lost?
Only if you independently know the original code and its required length. Compare the original PDF; do not guess missing digits.
Does this support OCR or handwriting?
No. The table must already have selectable text. Literal-text XLSX storage does not add OCR or guarantee recognition quality.