Looping through a folder of PDF files and saving them as docx

ballpoint · #1 11-18-2017, 03:52 AM

I have recently realised that a large number of PDFs can be opened within Word on Windows retaining the formatting and the footnotes. Accordingly, I thought I'd try it on a collection of files I have. Problem is, I cannot seem to loop through the PDF files in a folder and saving them as .docx.

I have managed to get it to open the files, but not to save them as .docx. Ideally, I would also need some insight as to how to bypass error messages and proceed to the next file when that happens, but I have not been able to find a way to do that either.

I must have made some major mistakes on the way, but below is what I have tried. Many thanks!

Code:

Sub UpdateDocuments()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim strFolder As String, strFile As String, wdDoc As Document
strFolder = GetFolder
If strFolder = "" Then Exit Sub
strFile = Dir(strFolder & "\*.pdf", vbNormal)
While strFile <> ""
  Set wdDoc = Documents.Open(FileName:=strFolder & "\" & strFile, AddToRecentFiles:=False, Visible:=False)
 ActiveDocument.SaveAs FileName:=DocName, FileFormat:=wdFormatPDF
 ActiveWindow.Close SaveChanges = False
    .Close SaveChanges:=True
  End With
  strFile = Dir()
Wend
Set wdDoc = Nothing
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
 
Function GetFolder() As String
Dim oFolder As Object
GetFolder = ""
Set oFolder = CreateObject("Shell.Application").BrowseForFolder(0, "Choose a folder", 0)
If (Not oFolder Is Nothing) Then GetFolder = oFolder.Items.Item.Path
Set oFolder = Nothing
End Function

gmayor · #2 11-18-2017, 05:52 AM

The fact that you are saving the documents as PDF format may have something to do with it.

Try the following instead. I don't think you can dismiss the conversion prompt in VBA. You can dismiss it from the message itself.

Code:

Option Explicit

Sub UpdateDocuments()
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Dim strFolder As String, strFile As String, wdDoc As Document
    Dim strDocName As String
    strFolder = GetFolder
    If strFolder = "" Then Exit Sub
    strFile = Dir$(strFolder & "\*.pdf")
    While strFile <> ""
        Set wdDoc = Documents.Open(FileName:=strFolder & "\" & strFile, AddToRecentFiles:=False, Visible:=False)
        strDocName = Replace(strFile, ".pdf", ".docx")
        wdDoc.SaveAs2 FileName:=strFolder & "\" & strDocName, FileFormat:=wdFormatXMLDocument, AddToRecentFiles:=False
        wdDoc.Close SaveChanges:=wdDoNotSaveChanges
        strFile = Dir$()
    Wend
    Set wdDoc = Nothing
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

ballpoint · #3 11-18-2017, 06:36 AM

Oh, fudge! You are right.

Thanks a lot, this is really helpful!

ballpoint · #4 11-15-2018, 03:38 AM

Hi all,

I was reusing this macro after some time. For some reason, it now highlights "GetFolder" and says:

Code:

Compile Error

Variable not defined

Does anybody have an idea why that might be? Thanks!

Guessed · #5 11-15-2018, 05:47 PM

GetFolder is a function that is being called (ie another macro that needs to be in that file). Perhaps you deleted it or moved the macro into another template and forgot to bring GetFolder over as well.

If you have a look at the original code posted at the top of this thread, you can see this macro sitting there.

ballpoint · #6 11-22-2018, 05:18 AM

Oooh, you are correct. Sorry about it! Thanks a lot!

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