# Convert PDF links to Markdown, with OCR and RAG chunks

**Use case:** 

Turns the PDF links you list into clean Markdown or plain text with headings, lists, links and tables kept, plus title, author and dates. Scanned pages are read with OCR. Choose one row per PDF, page or chunk; chunks carry page numbers and are ready for embeddings. Swap in your own PDF links and run it on a schedule or through the API.

## Input

```json
{
  "urls": [
    {
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/1706.03762"
    }
  ],
  "outputFormat": "markdown",
  "outputRows": "chunk",
  "chunkSize": 1000,
  "chunkOverlap": 150,
  "ocrMode": "auto",
  "ocrLanguages": [
    "eng"
  ],
  "maxPagesPerDocument": 100,
  "removeHeadersFooters": true
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "type": {
    "label": "Row",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "url": {
    "label": "PDF",
    "format": "link"
  },
  "title": {
    "label": "Title",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "author": {
    "label": "Author",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "pageCount": {
    "label": "Pages",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "wordCount": {
    "label": "Words",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "ocrPages": {
    "label": "OCR pages",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "status": {
    "label": "Status",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "errorCode": {
    "label": "Error",
    "format": "text"
  }
}
```

## How it works

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

The PDF Text Extractor 📄 (Markdown, OCR & metadata) Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Convert PDF links to Markdown, with OCR and RAG chunks". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/2pIu4OvPs3k8dvPL7) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Convert PDF links to Markdown, with OCR and RAG chunks" task

The PDF Text Extractor 📄 (Markdown, OCR & metadata) Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like PDF links, text format, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Convert PDF links to Markdown, with OCR and RAG chunks" 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 row, PDF, title, 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 "Convert PDF links to Markdown, with OCR and RAG chunks" task via API](https://apify.com/tagadanar/pdf-text-extractor.md).

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [PDF Text Extractor 📄 (Markdown, OCR & metadata)](https://apify.com/tagadanar/pdf-text-extractor.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/tagadanar/pdf-text-extractor.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/tagadanar/pdf-text-extractor.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`).