Converting PDF user units in PDF Extract API's output to browser compatible pixel values

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
February 24, 2023
1 reply
2593 views

What formula can be used to convert PDF user units into browser-compatible measurement units (for eg: pixels)?

For eg: `TextDecorationThickness`'s value is in PDF user units, how should this be translated into pixels or any other browser compatible value?

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Joel Geraci

Community Expert

Generally, the units are 72 points per inch. Also, note that the coordinate system has it's origin (0,0) at the bottom left of the page. The values are already browser compatible in that you can use "xx pt" to represent points in CSS.

I

InqutecAuthor

Known Participant

That makes republishing simpler! Thanks for the clarity @Joel Geraci. So, would it be correct to assume that the co-ordinates mentioned in BBox can be represented as "xx pt" without any conversion?

While I will refer to the schema here when required, is there anything else one needs to consider when using the co-ordinate values?

Joel Geraci

Community Expert

Yes, this is not a standardized or recognised process. However, was looking to see if Adobe or @Joel Geraci had some insights to share here.

All I can suggest it to try some stuff and see if it works for your use case. When I convert PDF to HTML using the output from Extract, I'm generally not trying to replicate the PDF layout, I'm republishing it so I don't expect the measurements to be even close. If I want the exact layout in an HTML page without it being a PDF viewer experience, I use our Embed API in IN_LINE mode so the PDF just acts like an image.

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