Can I convert a PDF file into GEDCOM for Legacy 8?

[whodoithinkiam]

I have a Family Tree, probably made with FT software but saved in PDF. Unfortunately, I have no way of getting hold of the GEDCOM file, but I need to add to it and modify. I'd like to avoid manual input if possible; is there a way I can convert it to a useable format?

Thanks

[Jane Taubman]

I suspect the answer is no,  as the time taken to write a program to extract from PDF, analyse the document to extract the information and then create a gedcom is going to be longer than that to key it in,  unless of course it's a print of the gedcom in which case you might be able to.

[whodoithinkiam]

Thanks for your reply.

It could well be a print of the gedcom. Is there a way to tell? If it is, how might I proceed?

[Jane Taubman]

Does it look something like the gedcom below or is it a report of some kind which is human readable.

Code: [Select]

0 HEAD
1 SOUR FAMILY_HISTORIAN
2 VERS 5.0
2 NAME Family Historian
2 CORP Calico Pie Limited
1 GEDC
2 VERS 5.5
2 FORM LINEAGE-LINKED
1 CHAR ANSI
0 @I1@ INDI
1 NAME Anthony Edward /Munro/
2 SOUR @S2@
3 PAGE Page 79
3 DATA
4 DATE 25 MAR 2014
3 QUAY 1
1 SEX M
1 BIRT
2 DATE 12 JAN 1922


[whodoithinkiam]

It's a human-readable family tree- I have a hard copy and a PDF file that's identical.

[Jane Taubman]

I suspect my first thought is probably correct,  if you are a programmer you might be able to build a script,  but I have not seen many pre-written programs which can import report format information.

[KGarrad]

Can you get back to the person who sent it to you, and ask for a gedcom file?

[whodoithinkiam]

I am nowhere in the vicinity of being a programmer. Ah well, thanks for your help

No KGarrad, unfortunately the lady that did the research has ceased her activities due to personal upheavals. She is, for all intents and purposes, unreachable.

Best get to it then

*cracks knuckles*

 

[deebel]

Can you scan the PDF using OCR (optical Character recognition) into a text file. It may help you to cut and paste your info easier.