# Bulk PDF to Text from a List of URLs

**Use case:** 

Paste a list of PDF links and get the plain text of every document in one dataset, in reading order, with title, author, page count and creation date. Scanned pages are read with OCR, failed links get a clear error and cost nothing, and duplicate URLs are processed once. Choose a page range to keep runs small. Export to CSV, JSON or Excel.

## Input

```json
{
  "urls": [
    "https://arxiv.org/pdf/1706.03762",
    "https://arxiv.org/pdf/1810.04805",
    "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2005.14165"
  ],
  "keepItemFields": true,
  "outputFormat": "text",
  "extractTables": true,
  "outputPerPage": false,
  "ocr": "auto",
  "ocrLanguages": [
    "eng"
  ],
  "ocrDpi": 200,
  "pages": "1-2",
  "maxPagesPerDocument": 200,
  "maxFileSizeMb": 50,
  "concurrency": 2,
  "dedupe": true
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "url": {
    "label": "URL",
    "format": "link"
  },
  "fileType": {
    "label": "Type",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "pageCount": {
    "label": "Pages",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "pagesProcessed": {
    "label": "Processed",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "ocrPages": {
    "label": "OCR pages",
    "format": "array"
  },
  "charCount": {
    "label": "Characters",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "truncated": {
    "label": "Truncated",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "title": {
    "label": "Title",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "author": {
    "label": "Author",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "creationDate": {
    "label": "Created",
    "format": "date"
  },
  "text": {
    "label": "Text / Markdown",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "error": {
    "label": "Error",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "processedAt": {
    "label": "Processed at",
    "format": "date"
  }
}
```

## How it works

### 1. Sign up on Apify or log in

The PDF & Image to Text: Bulk, Markdown, Tables, OCR Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Bulk PDF to Text from a List of URLs". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/0BDSsXOS2vRFmUtmq) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Bulk PDF to Text from a List of URLs" task

The PDF & Image to Text: Bulk, Markdown, Tables, OCR Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like PDF or image URLs, keep the item's original fields, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Bulk PDF to Text from a List of URLs" output

Monitor the progress in real time. You will be notified as soon as your dataset is complete and ready for review. Each result includes data such as URL, type, pages, and more.

### 4. Integrate into your workflow

The final output is delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel format, ready to be plugged into your workflow. You can also [run the "Bulk PDF to Text from a List of URLs" task via API](https://apify.com/charlesmarkette/pdf-image-to-text-markdown-ocr.md).

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [PDF & Image to Text: Bulk, Markdown, Tables, OCR](https://apify.com/charlesmarkette/pdf-image-to-text-markdown-ocr.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/charlesmarkette/pdf-image-to-text-markdown-ocr.md) to learn more, explore other use cases, and run it yourself.


## How to integrate an Actor?

This Task's input is already configured above. Use it as-is rather than inventing a new one.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For full API examples (JavaScript, Python, CLI, MCP, OpenAPI), see this Task's Actor page: https://apify.com/charlesmarkette/pdf-image-to-text-markdown-ocr.md

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).