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pdfClaw Online PDF Tools User Guide

Author: pdfClaw Published: 2026-03-20 19:48

1. Overview

pdfClaw is a free, registration-free, ready-to-use online PDF toolbox that supports format conversion, OCR recognition, document editing, and more — all in one place. No client installation is needed; simply open your browser and get started. Files are immediately deleted after processing to ensure your privacy and security.

2. Core Features Guide

(A) Format Conversion

1. PDF to Word

  1. Open the pdfClaw website and click the [PDF to Word] module in the feature list.
  2. Click "Select File" to upload your target PDF from a local folder, or drag and drop the file into the upload area.
  3. After uploading, the system automatically detects the file format — no additional settings required.
  4. Click [Start Conversion] and wait 3–10 seconds (larger files may take slightly longer).
  5. Once complete, the page will display a "Conversion Successful" message. Click [Download File] to get your editable Word document (preserving original text, images, and table layouts).

2. PDF to PPT

  1. Go to the website and click the [PDF to PPT] feature.
  2. Upload your PDF file (single file upload supported; recommended max size: 50MB).
  3. No manual page settings needed — the system automatically splits by original PDF pages, generating one slide per page.
  4. Click [Start Conversion] and wait for the progress to complete.
  5. Click [Download] to get your PPT file, ready for presentations or further editing.

3. PDF to Excel

  1. Select the [PDF to Excel] module.
  2. Upload a PDF containing table data (scanned PDFs are supported when combined with the OCR feature).
  3. The system automatically recognizes table structures — no manual selection required.
  4. Click [Start Conversion] and wait for data extraction and format adaptation.
  5. Download the Excel file once complete. Table data matches the original PDF exactly, ready for statistical analysis.

4. Convert to E-book (EPUB/MOBI)

  1. Click the [Convert to E-book] feature (if not displayed, this feature is coming soon — check the website for updates).
  2. Upload the PDF files you want to convert. Batch uploading is supported (up to 5 files simultaneously).
  3. Select the target format from the dropdown menu (EPUB or MOBI).
  4. Check the "Preserve Layout" option (checked by default) to ensure chapter structure matches the original PDF.
  5. Click [Start Conversion] . Once complete, click [Batch Download] to get your e-book files, compatible with various e-readers.

(B) Recognition & Extraction

1. PDF OCR Recognition

  1. Go to the [PDF OCR Recognition] page.
  2. Upload a scanned PDF, photo-based PDF, or PDF containing image-based text.
  3. Select the recognition language (supports mixed Chinese-English by default; can be manually switched to Chinese-only or English-only).
  4. If you need to recognize handwritten text, check the "Handwriting Recognition" option (disabled by default).
  5. Click [Start Recognition] . The system automatically extracts text and generates a searchable, copyable PDF.
  6. After recognition is complete, preview the text accuracy online. Once confirmed, click [Download] .

2. Image Export

  1. Click the [Image Export] module.
  2. Upload your target PDF file (single file max: 100MB).
  3. Select the export mode:
    - Mode 1: Extract embedded images (exports only standalone images embedded in the PDF)
    - Mode 2: Page-to-image (converts each PDF page into a PNG image)
  4. Check "High Quality Export" (checked by default to ensure image clarity).
  5. Click [Start Export] . Once complete, the system generates a ZIP archive. Click [Download ZIP] to get all images.

(C) Document Editing

1. PDF Merge

  1. Go to the [PDF Merge] page.
  2. Click "Add Files" to upload multiple PDFs, or drag files into the workspace (supports mixed uploads of PDFs, images, and Office documents).
  3. In the file list, drag and drop to rearrange the merge order (hold and drag file names up or down).
  4. If you need uniform page sizes, check "Auto-fit to A4" (disabled by default; ideal for printing).
  5. Click [Start Merge] and wait for the files to be combined.
  6. Once successful, click [Download Merged File] to get the complete PDF.

2. PDF Split

  1. Select the [PDF Split] feature.
  2. Upload the PDF you want to split.
  3. Choose the split method:
    - By page range: Enter specific pages (e.g., "3-5,8,12-" to split pages 3–5, page 8, and page 12 onward)
    - Split evenly: Choose the number of pages per file (e.g., "5 pages each")
    - Manual selection: Check the pages you want to split using page thumbnails
  4. Click [Start Split] . The system automatically generates multiple sub-PDF files.
  5. Click [Batch Download] to get all split files, or download individual sub-files separately.

3. PDF Compression

  1. Go to the [PDF Compression] page.
  2. Upload the PDF files you want to compress (batch upload supported; max 3 files per session).
  3. Select the compression mode:
    - Standard compression: Balances clarity and file size (default mode)
    - High compression: Further reduces file size for easier online sharing (slight reduction in clarity)
    - Lossless compression: Optimizes file structure only without quality loss (ideal for image-heavy PDFs)
  4. Click [Start Compression] and wait for it to complete (compression ratio: approximately 30%–70%).
  5. Preview the compressed file's clarity. Once confirmed, click [Download] .

4. Watermark

  1. Click the [Watermark] module (coming soon).
  2. Upload the PDF you want to watermark.
  3. Select the watermark type:
    - Text watermark: Enter watermark text (e.g., "Copyright"), set font, size, color, opacity, and rotation angle
    - Image watermark: Click "Upload Image" and select a PNG/JPG watermark image (transparent background recommended)
  4. Adjust watermark position (centered, tiled, custom coordinates) and set the watermark layer (foreground/background).
  5. Click [Preview Watermark] to check the result. Return to adjust parameters if needed.
  6. Once confirmed, click [Apply Watermark] . Download the watermarked PDF when complete.

5. Electronic Signature

  1. Go to the [Signature] page (coming soon).
  2. Upload the PDF you want to sign.
  3. Select the signature type:
    - Electronic signature: Enter your name, choose a preset signature style (simulated handwriting font), and set color and size
    - Handwritten signature: Write your signature on the on-screen canvas using a mouse or stylus; undo and redo are supported
    - Image signature: Upload an existing signature image (high-resolution PNG format recommended)
  4. Click on the target location in the PDF page to place the signature icon. Drag to adjust position and size.
  5. If you need to add a signing date, check "Add Date" and set the date format and position.
  6. Click [Confirm Signature] . Download the signed PDF when complete; supports printing or electronic transmission.

6. PDF Translation

  1. Click the [PDF Translation] module (coming soon).
  2. Upload the PDF you want to translate (single file max: 20MB).
  3. Select the source language (default: "Auto-detect") and target language (e.g., Chinese → English, English → Japanese).
  4. Check "Preserve Original Layout" (checked by default to ensure the translated format matches the original).
  5. Click [Start Translation] and wait for it to complete (translation speed: approximately 1,000 words/minute).
  6. Preview the translation online and adjust terminology consistency if needed.
  7. Click [Download Translation] , select the export format (PDF/Word/TXT), and get the translated file.

3. General Usage Notes

  1. All features are available without registration or login. Simply open your browser and start using them — no ads.
  2. Files are temporarily stored only during processing and are immediately deleted afterward. No data is ever leaked.
  3. Supported browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and other mainstream browsers (latest version recommended).
  4. If file conversion fails, possible causes include: corrupted files, oversized files, or network instability. Try repairing the file, processing in smaller batches, or switching networks.
  5. Scanned PDFs require the OCR feature for text editing. Make sure OCR recognition is enabled before conversion.
  6. We recommend saving downloaded files promptly, as download links expire after the page is closed (no retention period).

4. Troubleshooting

  1. Layout issues after conversion? → Make sure the "Preserve Layout" option is checked. If issues persist, try re-uploading the file or switching compression modes.
  2. Low OCR accuracy? → Ensure the uploaded scan/image is clear and not blurry or skewed. Try manually adjusting the recognition language.
  3. Unable to upload files? → Check the file format (PDF only) and file size (max 100MB per upload). Clear your browser cache and try again.
  4. Download link expired? → Re-run the corresponding feature to generate a new download link (links are valid for 1 hour).