Data-to-Excel automation

Bring PDFs and images into Excel data with a single click...

Author

Eamonn Cottrell
May 21, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

atomate pdf and pictures to excel

In today’s email:

  1. Automating PDF to Excel data extraction

  2. Automating image to Excel data extraction

SPONSOR

Convert PDFs to Excel fast. Automate repetitive tasks without leaving the comfort of your spreadsheet. Try Lido now.

MAIN ARTICLE

VIDEO WALKTHROUGH

Hey there,

It’s 2025. Stop copying and pasting. Sometimes it’s the quick and easy way, but usually it’ll open you up to errors and time-sinks.

There’s a better way to get data from a PDF or image into Excel.

The Cost of Manual Data Transfer

Manual data entry costs:

  •  Time: Hours of tedious work that could be spent on analysis or strategy

  • Accuracy: Even the most careful person makes mistakes when transferring hundreds of data points

  • Mental Energy: The soul-crushing monotony that drains your creativity and focus

  • Opportunity: What could you be doing instead with those precious hours?

A Data Assistant: Lido

I've been using a tool called Lido for over a year now, and it’s proven to be great at automating repetitive tasks. Today, I'm showing you how to use it to automatically convert both PDFs and images into Excel-ready data.

What makes Lido different?

  1. You never have to leave your spreadsheet environment

  2. It uses AI to automatically identify columns and data structures

  3. It can handle multiple rows of data in a single document

  4. The whole process takes seconds

Method #1: Converting PDFs to Excel

Here’s how it works:

  1. Open Lido (it looks just like Google Sheets or Excel)

  2. Click on the PDF tools menu or right-click in a cell and select "Data Extractor"

  3. Upload your PDF (I tested with an inventory sheet)

  4. Lido automatically identifies the columns (item name, SKU, quantity, price per unit)

  5. Check "Extract multiple rows per document" if you have multiple items

  6. Click "Process Files"

  7. Watch as your data instantly appears in your spreadsheet

  8. Export to Excel with a single click (File > Export Values to Excel)

Lido works even with PDFs where copy-paste functionality is broken. No more fighting with locked PDFs!

convert pdf to excel

Method #2: Converting Images to Excel Tables

Have a screenshot or a photo of a table? No problem:

  1. Follow the same initial steps in Lido

  2. Upload your image file (PNG, JPG, etc.)

  3. Lido identifies the columns just like with PDFs

  4. You can add custom instructions if needed (like "format as currency")

  5. One click and your image data becomes spreadsheet data

Imagine someone sends you a picture of a spreadsheet taken with their phone. Instead of asking for the original file or retyping everything, you can extract the data in seconds.

convert picture to excel with lido

Power User Tips

Want to get even more from your data extractions? Try these:

  • Custom Instructions: Add specific formatting requirements in the "Extra Instructions" field

  • Column Customization: Add or remove columns before processing

  • Batch Processing: You can process multiple documents at once for larger projects

  • Direct Editing: Make quick adjustments to the AI's output right in your spreadsheet

What This Means for Your Workflow

Think about how many PDFs and images with valuable data cross your desk each week. Now imagine reclaiming all that time spent on manual data entry.

With this approach, you can:

  • Transform reports from clients or colleagues into analyzable data instantly

  • Digitize paper documents by taking a photo and converting to Excel

  • Update inventory systems from PDF catalogs without the manual drudgery

  • Extract financial data from statements for better tracking and analysis

Ready to Transform Your Data Workflow?

If you're tired of copy-paste marathons and manual data entry, Lido might be worth exploring.

I've been genuinely impressed with how much time this has saved me. Instead of spending hours on data transfer, I can focus on what the data actually means and what decisions I should make based on it.

Hope that’s helpful for you!

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P.S. What's your biggest data extraction headache? Reply to this email and let me know—I might cover a solution in my next newsletter!

NEXT STEPS

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help:

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HAPPY SPREADSHEETING!

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Cheers, Eamonn
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