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Extract text from specific regions in a PDF

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Posted on by michalt1

Looking for a solution to extract text from 3 zones in PDF files (2 in header and 1 in footer). I built a cloud flow using Encodian which works but I will need a paid subscription to use this on a large scale which I am trying to avoid if possible. I am struggling a bit with the PAD flow and keep getting the below error:

Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.SDK.ActionException: Can't rename file ---> System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
at System.IO.Path.CheckInvalidPathChars(String path, Boolean checkAdditional)
at System.IO.Path.GetExtension(String path)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.File.Actions.RenameFilesAction.<>c__DisplayClass106_0.<GetNewFileNameResolver>b__0(FileObject file)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.File.Actions.RenameFilesAction.Execute(ActionContext context)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.File.Actions.RenameFilesAction.Execute(ActionContext context)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.Execution.ActionRunner.Run(IActionStatement statement, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments)

The text I am trying to extract is English and nothing complex, what am I missing?

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Power Automate Desktop

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Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @michalt1

Issue is at renaming file, just check whether you have passed any illegal characters to filename which prevents its naming
michalt1 52 on at

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Thanks but the text is nothing illegal. It is what I would have manually renamed my PDF file to.

Example:
SMITH, John - H-1B Filing.pdf
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @michalt1

Could you show Rename file action you have used to see what is the issue ?
michalt1 52 on at

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Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @michalt1

%Files% is a list of filepath values inside it. so why you are passing an extra N:\Copier\TEST2\ before that ?

You can just pass %Files% itself in the field right ??
michalt1 52 on at

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Thanks you're right about that! Modified that and says flow was successful but the file name did not change to the text OCR should have extracted.

Maybe I am not setting my regional parameters correctly? Can someone help guide on that maybe??
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @michalt1

As per the current code it will rename all file with the value present in %OcrText% , so may i know how file name looked like ?
michalt1 52 on at

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The original file name is: doc00382220230406103.pdf

The intended file name is OCR Text that is found in the footer of the first page of the PDF (where the region should be pointing to): SMITH, John - H-1B Filing.pdf
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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What result u are getting when using the above action, is only file is renamed or not any files are renamed ?
michalt1 52 on at

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It says the flow has run successfully but nothing happens. The file name does not change.