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(Last Updated On: July 3, 2018)

You may have a PDF compiled from a TEX file. You want to insert more equations or re-typeset math formulas. But barely anything can be passed to the PDF document. What would you do? Contact the author to request the source LaTeX code? Agonizingly waiting! Code “\begin{equation}” to “\end{equation}” pair once again? Costly! You may ask yourself if there is a way to convert PDF to LaTeX. Actually, we are only limited by our own imagination. There are indeed some tools that decompile your PDF files back into LaTeX files. You will get a .tex file without coding by yourself. But it’s not quite easy for you to find such a tool. There are very few of them and even fewer are for free. That is why today I want to introduce PDFtoTXT Converter to you.

You might take PDFtoTXT Converter as a mere PDF to text converter when you hear about it for the first time. As a matter of fact, it works as a PDF to LaTeX converter as well. When it comes to PDF to LaTeX conversion, no application can do it better than PDFtoTXT Converter. This is a compact Windows utility that helps you turn PDF into LaTeX in the easiest way. Only a few clicks are required to perform the whole conversion of PDF to LaTeX. Furthermore, the output quality is also guaranteed. No data loss or messed up format. A simple tutorial will show you how to use it as followed.

How to transform PDF to LaTeX free with PDFtoTXT Converter.

Free download this software and install it. Run the program on your computer and a window pops up. Follow three steps below to add files, configure settings and start conversion.

Step 1. Add files.

Click on “Add files” to add the file or drag and drop the file to the main window.

"Add File(s)" button of PDFtoTXT Converter

Tip: This program supports batch process so you can add multiple files at the same time.

Workspace of PDFtoTXT Converter where files are dragged and dropped.

Step 2. Configure settings.

Move cursor to the inverted triangle symbol

Click on it to open the drop-down list of conversion types.

Select “PDF to TeX”.

"PDF to Tex" option of PDFtoTXT Converter.

Go to the bottom section of this program and set saving directory.

You can save the output file in the source folder.

You also can specify a new folder for the output file.

Saving directory options of PDFtoTXT Converter

Step 3. Start Conversion.

Move the cursor to the “Start” button.

Hit it to initiate the conversion.

This process will be done in a few seconds.

"Start" button of PDFtoTXT Converter.

Wow, how easy it is to convert PDF to LaTeX with it! Unbelievable? Try this software and you will find it out.

This is the download button for downloading PDFtoTXT Converter.

On the one hand, you need to convert PDF to LaTeX for editing. On the other hand, you need to create PDF from LaTeX for sharing. TEX users around you are in the minority. If you share a TEX format file with others, quite a few of them will accept it. The program to read TEX files is not ready to hand for most people. But if you store all information in PDF and send PDFs to people, they would be happy with it. PDF is a nearly a universal format, so basically, everyone has a PDF reader on their devices. Besides, PDF retains elements and layout whatever the platforms they are opened on. Therefore, it’s of practical necessity to learn how to turn LaTeX to PDF. The instructions below are for this purpose.

How to create PDF from LaTeX with pdfTeX.

To achieve the LaTeX to PDF conversion, we can utilize pdfTex. pdfTeX is able to produce a PDF file directly from the LaTeX source. It’s an extension of a whole suite of software named TeX Distribution. There is a main distribution available called MikTeX. Install it first and then execute the pdfTeX command in TeXworks to output PDF from LaTeX.

Step 1.

Download and install MiKTeX.

Installer of MikTeX

Step 2.

Find “texworks.exe” in the installation folder of MiKTeX.

texwork.exe

Double-click on it and TeXworks editor will open.

"texwork" editor.

Step 3.

Open the TEX file you want to convert, choose “pdfTeX” in the command list and click on the green arrow icon.

"pdftex" plugin.

Enter “R” to start the conversion.

Start PDF to LaTeX conversion.

When you see a PDF displayed in TeXworks, it means the conversion is done.

The PDF to LaTeX conversion is done.

Only three steps needed to complete the conversion from LaTeX to PDF. Learning how to use pdfTeX is absolutely a worthwhile effort for solving your problem.

How to make PDF from LaTeX using pdfLaTeX.

pdfLaTeX is another extension of LaTeX typesetting system. It enables you to covert .tex file to a PDF in a well-organized layout. To use pdfLaTeX, install MiKTeX or TeXLive first.

Step 1. Open the TEX file in TeXworks.

Step 2. Choose the “pdfLaTeX” command.

Step 3. Click on the green arrow button to start compiling. 

As you can see, it’s as easy as falling off a log to generate a PDF compile from LaTeX using pdfLaTeX.

How to compile LaTeX to PDF on LaTeXtoPDF.com.

There is no reason not to address an online option to convert LaTeX to PDF. LaTeXtoPDF.com is a browser-based tool that is able to batch convert LaTeX documents to PDFs in a neat layout. Up to 5 files are allowed to upload each time. No need to register and provide an email address. Since your privacy is put in the first place, all uploaded TEX files will be deleted permanently within 15 minutes.

Step 1. Drag and drop TEX files onto the workspace.

Step 2. Click on “Upload and Convert” and the service will begin the uploading and converting process.

Step 3. After seconds, you will get a download link. Hit the link to download your PDFs in a ZIP file.

 

Related topic: Top 5 Online LaTeX to PDF Converters in 2018

Conclusion

Sometimes you want to get the source TEX file for editing. Sometimes, you need to share a LaTeX document in a more suitable way. I bet my paycheck that your problems will be resolved after you read this tutorial.

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