Document Conversion Guides: PDF, Excel, OCR & CSV

PDF tables, scans, and OCR

Why OCR is only the first step, how table relationships get lost, and five checks to run on the spreadsheet.

Diagnose missing rows, merged columns, scrambled amounts, repeated headers, and empty output.

Distinguish image-only scans, protected files, unusual encodings, and damaged text layers.

Learn how internal structure—not appearance alone—determines whether a conversion succeeds.

Check transaction counts, debit and credit signs, balances, wrapped descriptions, and page boundaries.

Validate invoice numbers, vendors, dates, line items, taxes, subtotals, totals, and duplicate pages.

See how repeated headings, wrapped rows, subtotals, and currency text can be normalized for Excel.

Define repeatable columns, exception rules, and a representative-file pilot before committing to volume.

Compare native conversion, mostly editable output, OCR, and visual reconstruction.

Understand when a scan can become editable text and when layout reconstruction is the safer expectation.

The automated Free File Check estimates likely fit, risks, service tier, and turnaround. It does not include a finished conversion or human review.