# Using pdf-read package to extract text from pdf file

**URL:** <https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685>\
**Category:** Questions & Answers\
**Created:** [January 29, 2024, 6:52am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685 "2024-01-29T06:52:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![encomer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/encomer/32/280_2.png) [@encomer](https://racket.discourse.group/u/encomer)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2024, 6:52am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/1 "2024-01-29T06:52:52Z")

</div>

Using the following code en DrRacket, in a PC with **Windows 10** :

```scheme
#lang racket
(require pdf-read)

```

When running, generates the following message:

```scheme
 ..\..\..\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:131:0: ffi-lib: could not load foreign library
  path: libpoppler-glib.dll
  system error: No se puede encontrar el módulo especificado.; win_err=126

```

Searching in my computer, I only found **libpoppler-glib-8.dll**  
On the other hand, looking at the Web, I found **libpoppler-glib-8.dll.a**

**Question** : _What is the recommended way to solve this issue?_  
I have the **racket-poppler** package installed, and I also **►understand that it works for sure only on Linux or Mac OSX** , _and that it will be of great value also to be able to make it work for Windows_.

**Context** : I hope to use this package to extract text from [Numbas exams](https://numbas.org.uk) PDF reports.

_I look forward to use this very promising package_.  
Thank you very much for your support.  
ECB

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2024, 12:56pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/2 "2024-01-29T12:56:30Z")

</div>

> I have the **racket-poppler** package installed, ...

Does `racket-poppler` work for you?

If so, it contains the same function reading from pdfs as `pdf-read`.

For some reason the documention doesn't appear of [pkgs.racket-lang.org](http://pkgs.racket-lang.org)  
[I'll need to look into why, but there is documententation here:

> <https://github.com/soegaard/racket-poppler/tree/master/racket-poppler/doc>
>
> //github.com/soegaard/racket-poppler/tree/master/racket-poppler/doc

[clone the repo and open index.html]

There is small example here:

> <https://github.com/soegaard/racket-poppler/blob/master/racket-poppler/examples/test-pdf-functions.rkt>

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![encomer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/encomer/32/280_2.png) [@encomer](https://racket.discourse.group/u/encomer)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2024, 7:21am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/3 "2024-01-30T07:21:55Z")

</div>

Thank you @soegaard for the information:

The following code worked w/o errors:

```scheme
#lang racket
(require racket-poppler pict)

; document-info : d -> assoc-list
(define (document-info d)
  (list (list 'title (pdf-title d))
        (list 'author (pdf-author d))
        (list 'subject (pdf-subject d))
        (list 'keywords (pdf-keywords d))
        (list 'creator (pdf-creator d))
        (list 'producer (pdf-producer d))
        (list 'page-count (pdf-count-pages d))))

; (define f "x.pdf")

;; Open the "numbas-firstpage.pdf" file.
(define f "numbas-firstpage.pdf")
(pdf-file? f)
(define d (open-pdf f))
d
;; Title and other document info

;;(pdf-title d)

```

Resulting in the following answers in the interaction window:

```scheme
#t
#<pdf>

```

**But, when I uncommented the last command (pdf-title d), then the title is written in the interaction windows**, but an exception was raised in a **console DrRacket 8.11 windows** , with the content:

```scheme
cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "numbas-sample.pdf"
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "numbas-sample.pdf"
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe\alloc.rkt:27:0: deallocate
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17

```

When using ctrl-C (twice) on this last windows, and closing it, also the DrRacket editor is closed.

**The very strange situation, is that the file name in the console DrRacket 8.11 windows, keep appearing as in the first run, that is "numbas-sample.pdf**", instead of "numbas-firstpage.pdf". I change the file name, to go from a multiple page pdf, to a one-page pdf. _Even, in the interaction windows of DrRacket editor, the name keep appearing as "numbas-sample.pdf"_ (that is the first result). I closed the DrRacket Editor, and run it again, but the result was the same as before.

**As a pure especulation** , without knowing exactly what is going on, my intuition is that **maybe a function is being evaluated just once, and all further calls, results in the first evaluation. That is the case when we define and use a function without parenthesis**. _Such was the case with the **dollar.rkt** file in the scribble-math package_, that is (I hope) in the process of being updated. _But this is only a first speculation_.

**Thank you @soegaard for any further exploration concerning this issu** e.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2024, 10:52am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/4 "2024-01-30T10:52:14Z")

</div>

@encomer

Let's first figure whether it is document specific.

If you open the file

```
racket-popler/examples/test-pdf-functions.rkt

```

in DrRacket and click the run, what happens?

Here is a screen shot from DrRacket 8.11.1 [cs] on macOS:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/racket/original/2X/2/216e4285ded8e191a44cf39ffd376566138db0ff.jpeg)

If it fails, we know the issue is OS-related.

If it works, then send the numbas pdf file, so we can test on the same file.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![encomer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/encomer/32/280_2.png) [@encomer](https://racket.discourse.group/u/encomer)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/5 "2024-01-31T18:41:51Z")

</div>

Thank you @soegaard . I runned the code in the original **test-pdf-functions.rkt** , now using the file " **guide.pdf**", with the following results:

```scheme
#t
#<pdf>
""
'((title "")
  (author "")
  (aubject "")
  (keywords "")
  (creator
   "LaTeX with hyperref package")
  (producer
   "pdfTeX-1.40.3")
  (page-count
   364))
#<page>
'(612.0 792.0)
'(0.0
  0.0
  612.0
  792.0)
"The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals."
"The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals.\n1"
'()
'((238.76
   164.72937400000006
   250.24267179999998
   180.20601860000005)
  (250.24267179999998
   164.72937400000006
   259.8144342
   180.20601860000005)
  (259.8144342
   164.72937400000006
   267.45807179999997
   180.20601860000005)
  (267.45807179999997
   164.72937400000006
   271.7619218
   180.20601860000005)
  (271.7619218
   164.72937400000006
   284.19144059999996
   180.20601860000005))
.
.
.
.
.
> 

```

(Note: the points in the results above, correspond to images of the PDF content, in normal and reduced scales).

**But, the program also provoked the openning of a Console DrRacket 8.11 Windows** with the following content.

```scheme
cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals.\n1"
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals.\n1"
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe\alloc.rkt:27:0: deallocate
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals."
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals."
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe\alloc.rkt:27:0: deallocate
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "pdfTeX-1.40.3"
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "pdfTeX-1.40.3"
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe\alloc.rkt:27:0: deallocate
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "LaTeX with hyperref package"
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: cpointer-accessor: contract violation
  expected: cpointer?
  given: "LaTeX with hyperref package"
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe\alloc.rkt:27:0: deallocate
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
GList->C: argument is not non-null `GList' pointer
  argument: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: GList->C: argument is not non-null `GList' pointer
  argument: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe\alloc.rkt:27:0: deallocate
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17

```

As before, using Ctrl-C twice on this last window, and closing it, also closed the **DrRacket Editor**.

_So, this means, as you said (due to the above results)_, that **the issue is OS-Related**.

_Thank you again @soegaard for helping to pinpoint the source of this issue_.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/6 "2024-02-01T14:47:28Z")

</div>

It dawned on me that the the extra console window contains messages written to standard error. So I tried running the test program in terminal and I see similar errors. See below.

The missing title, author etc. is not due to an error though, if I open the document in PDF Expert, I see the same thing:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/racket/original/2X/c/c7c5fc263a21b3163cb7e4d75d1685f0ac046b3a.png)

I use the racket-popler daily to generate svgs from pdfs (via pdftex).

I'll investigate the cause of the `g_free` error. Maybe something has change in GLib?

An error such as:

```scheme
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: "pdfTeX-1.40.3"

```

probably means it is a simple type error for one of the ffi functions.

/Jens Axel

```scheme
racket test-pdf-functions.rkt
#t
#<pdf>
""
'((title "") (author "") (aubject "") (keywords "") (creator "LaTeX with hyperref package") (producer "pdfTeX-1.40.3") (page-count 364))
#<page>
'(612.0 792.0)
'(0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0)
"The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals."
"The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to programming, consider\ninstead reading How to Design Programs. If you want an especially quick introduction to\nRacket, start with Quick: An Introduction to Racket with Pictures.\nChapter 2 provides a brief introduction to Racket. From Chapter 3 on, this guide dives into\ndetails—covering much of the Racket toolbox, but leaving precise details to The Racket\nReference and other reference manuals.\n1"
'()
'((238.76 164.72937400000006 250.24267179999998 180.20601860000005) (250.24267179999998 164.72937400000006 259.8144342 180.20601860000005) (259.8144342 164.72937400000006 267.45807179999997 180.20601860000005) (267.45807179999997 164.72937400000006 271.7619218 180.20601860000005) (271.7619218 164.72937400000006 284.19144059999996 180.20601860000005))
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: "The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to progr...
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: "The Racket Guide\nVersion 5.3.4.11\nMatthew Flatt,\nRobert Bruce Findler,\nand PLT\nJune 9, 2013\nThis guide is intended for programmers who are new to Racket or new to some part of\nRacket. It assumes programming experience, so if you are new to progr...
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: "pdfTeX-1.40.3"
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: "LaTeX with hyperref package"
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: ""
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: ""
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: ""
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: ""
g_free: given value does not fit primitive C type
  C type: _pointer
  given value: ""

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/7 "2024-02-01T21:58:38Z")

</div>

@encomer

Good news. I believe, I have fixed the problem.  
The Github repo contains the latest version.

The problem was related to wrappers used in a handful of functions.

An example:

```scheme
; page-text : page -> string
; return all text on page
(define-poppler page-text
  (_fun (p) :: [page-ptr : _PopplerPagePointer = (page-pointer p)]
        -> _string)
  #:wrap (allocator g_free)
  #:c-id poppler_page_get_text)

```

Removing the line

```scheme
#:wrap (allocator g_free)

```

fixes the problem for now.

Let me know if the new version works on your computer.

/Jens Axel

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![encomer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/encomer/32/280_2.png) [@encomer](https://racket.discourse.group/u/encomer)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 6:11am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/8 "2024-02-02T06:11:10Z")

</div>

Thanks again @soegaard , for approaching the solution to the problem.

I updated your racket-poppler package in my computer, and then running the original **test-pdf-functions.rkt** (with the original pdf files), the interactions windows under DrRacket 8.11, gave the previous results, **but again a Console Racket 8.11 windows opens up, but now with** _different information:_

```scheme
GList->C: argument is not non-null `GList' pointer
  argument: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: GList->C: argument is not non-null `GList' pointer
  argument: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe\alloc.rkt:27:0: deallocate
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17
internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\racket\private\more-scheme.rkt:266:2: call-with-exception-handler
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2232:17

```

**But if I comment out the last function calling** of the test-pdf-functions.rkt, that is the following code:

```scheme
(pict->bitmap
 (for/fold ([pageview (scale (page->pict p) 0.5)])
   ([bounding-box (in-list (page-find-text p "the"))])
   (match-define (list x1 y1 x2 y2) bounding-box)
   ;; Each match's bounding box ^
   (pin-under pageview x1 y1
              (cellophane (colorize (filled-rectangle (- x2 x1) (- y2 y1)) "yellow") 0.5))))

```

Then the modified code in **test-pdf-functions.rkt**  **runs perfectly fine** , _with no problems, and no Console DrRacket 8.11 windows openning up_.

As an **extra exploration** , if a call is made to the following function

```scheme
(page-find-text p "the")

```

_instead of the whole last function_ (in the original file), then, the last entry in the interactions DrRacket 8.11 windows is:

```scheme
'((238.76
   164.729374
   267.45807179999997
   180.2060186000001)
  (272.8258272
   229.27437440000017
   287.1362016
   239.96232320000013)
  (234.90877360000002
   406.2027312
   247.07310820000004
   415.2089216)
  (440.74999999999983
   406.2027312
   456.7997485999998
   415.2089216)
  (188.71194439999988
   418.1577312
   200.8862415999999
   427.1639216))

```

**But the Console** DrRacket 8.11 **window** , with the same content as before\*, **pop up again**.

Thank you @soegaard for your great support on this issue.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![usao](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/usao/32/1375_2.png) [@usao](https://racket.discourse.group/u/usao)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 8:50am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/9 "2024-02-02T08:50:40Z")

</div>

That `abort-current-continuation` error looks very curious. There seems to be a place where that function is called incorrectly in the FFI internal.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2024, 8:55am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/10 "2024-02-02T08:55:57Z")

</div>

@encomer Thanks for testing the new version. It'll take a couple of days before I get to a Windows computer to test on.

@usao

> That `abort-current-continuation` error looks very curious.  
> You have a good eye. This looks very odd:

```scheme
internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
exception raised by exception handler: abort-current-continuation: contract violation
  expected: continuation-prompt-tag?
  given: [?error-value->string-handler not ready?]; original exception raised: internal error: attempt to deschedule the current thread in atomic mode
  context...:
   C:\Program Files\Racket\collects\ffi\unsafe.rkt:2245:25

```

@mflatt Should I file a bug report about the internal error?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/11 "2024-02-06T12:52:35Z")

</div>

@encomer

Yesterday spent some time testing on both mac OS and Windows 11.  
I believe I have found and fixed the error that caused the problems.  
Will you test the update?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![encomer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/encomer/32/280_2.png) [@encomer](https://racket.discourse.group/u/encomer)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/12 "2024-02-07T03:50:41Z")

</div>

Thank you once again @soegaard , for your _new update_ to **racket-poppler** package.

I updated racket-poppler in my Windows 10 based computer, and have run again the original file: **test-pdf-functions.rkt** , with the result that **now all is working fine** (_no more console DrRacket 8.11 windows with exceptions reports_).

@soegaard _I appreciate very much your persistence and technical expertise_ to eliminate the previouly detected errors under the Windows 10 O/S.

**In the future** , it will be very good to have some _documentation_ of your very useful racket-poppler package.

_Concerning text extraction_, a **special case** is when the _PDF consist mainly of text, but this text isn't selectable with the mouse_. I understand that this case will require at least character recognition from bitmaps. May be this can be a future added functionality, in racket-poppler, or pdf-read.

_Thank you_ again for your **racket-poppler package** , and your support for Windows 10 O/S.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 10:27am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/17 "2024-02-08T10:27:46Z")

</div>

> **In the future** , it will be very good to have some _documentation_ of your very useful racket-poppler package.

> <https://github.com/soegaard/racket-poppler/tree/master/racket-poppler/doc>
>
> //github.com/soegaard/racket-poppler/tree/master/racket-poppler/doc

Note: The package `racket-popler` only provides a fraction of the functionality that Poppler has. What I use day to day is rendering picts as pdfs. I haven't touched the other parts of Poppler in years. I'll be happy to incorporate pull requests if others want to extend the bindings.

> I understand that this case will require at least character recognition from bitmaps. May be this can be a future added functionality, in racket-poppler, or pdf-read.

I think, it would be more straight-forward to find a command line utility that does OCR and then use `system` to run it from within Racket.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gambiteer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/779978/32.png) [@Gambiteer](https://racket.discourse.group/u/Gambiteer)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/18 "2024-02-08T15:49:36Z")

</div>

> [@soegaard](#):
>
> I think, it would be more straight-forward to find a command line utility that does OCR and then use `system` to run it from within Racket.

I've had good experience with `ocrmypdf`.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tbhanson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/tbhanson/32/906_2.png) [@tbhanson](https://racket.discourse.group/u/tbhanson)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/19 "2024-05-06T17:19:34Z")

</div>

hi, I think I'm having a related problem in DrRacket 8.12 on a MacBook Pro (M1, I think) running Sonoma 14.4.1 with racket-poppler (I hope correctly) installed:

```scheme
 MacBook-Pro:~ tbh$ raco pkg install racket-poppler
raco pkg install: package is already installed
  package: racket-poppler

```

When I run:

```scheme
#lang racket
(require racket-poppler pict)

```

I get:

```scheme
../../Applications/Racket v8.12/collects/ffi/unsafe.rkt:134:0: ffi-lib: could not load foreign library
  path: libpoppler.44.dylib
  system error: dlopen(libpoppler.44.dylib, 0x0006): tried: 'libpoppler.44.dylib' (no such file), '/System/Volumes/Preboot/Cryptexes/OSlibpoppler.44.dylib' (no such file), '/usr/lib/libpoppler.44.dylib' (no such file, not in dyld cache), 'libpoppler.44.dylib' (no such file), '/usr/lib/libpoppler.44.dylib' (no such file, not in dyld cache)

```

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Tim

p.s. I get the same error with

```scheme
#lang racket
(require racket-poppler )

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/20 "2024-05-07T12:22:11Z")

</div>

@tbhanson

The package `racket-poppler` relies on a set of machine dependent packages that contains the binary for `libpoppler`. There is no package for the M-chips, but I think you can use the `poppler-x86_64-macosx` one? Unfortunately I don't have a machine with an Apple Silicon cpu to test it on.

Anyways, try running

```scheme
raco pkg install poppler-x86_64-macosx

```

and then try your program again.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tbhanson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/tbhanson/32/906_2.png) [@tbhanson](https://racket.discourse.group/u/tbhanson)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 7:52am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/21 "2024-05-08T07:52:24Z")

</div>

Many thanks, Jens. I get:

```scheme
MacBook-Pro:~ tbh$ raco pkg install poppler-x86_64-macosx
Resolving "poppler-x86_64-macosx" via https://download.racket-lang.org/releases/8.12/catalog/
Resolving "poppler-x86_64-macosx" via https://pkgs.racket-lang.org
Resolving "poppler-x86_64-macosx" via https://planet-compats.racket-lang.org
raco pkg install: cannot find package on catalogs
  package: poppler-x86_64-macosx

```

Do I need to add a source or something?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 8:14am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/22 "2024-05-08T08:14:24Z")

</div>

@tbhanson

I checked at [Search Package Index](https://pkgd.racket-lang.org/pkgn/search?q=poppler) and I see  
that it should have been a dash and not an underscore.

```scheme
raco pkg install poppler-x86-64-macosx

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tbhanson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/tbhanson/32/906_2.png) [@tbhanson](https://racket.discourse.group/u/tbhanson)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 8:30am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/23 "2024-05-08T08:30:14Z")

</div>

> [@soegaard](#):
>
> `raco pkg install poppler-x86-64-macosx`

Cool, thanks. That install works. 🙂

I still got what looked like the same error. I tried a few things, including uninstalling the original. Including this other instead.

#lang racket  
(require racket-poppler )  
;(require poppler-x86-64-macosx)

No happy path yet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![soegaard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/soegaard/32/19_2.png) [@soegaard](https://racket.discourse.group/u/soegaard)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 9:48am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/using-pdf-read-package-to-extract-text-from-pdf-file/2685/24 "2024-05-08T09:48:48Z")

</div>

I'll investigate.

Post must be at least 20 characters.

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