Questions

Which PDFs work?

PDFs created by software, such as bank exports, invoices from an invoicing tool, reports and catalogues. These have selectable text: if you can select the words in your PDF viewer, Rowtrove can read them.

Files can be up to 20 MB and 100 pages. Tables with or without ruled lines both work, including tables that run across many pages.

Can I convert a scanned statement?

Not yet. A scan is a picture of the page with no text in it, and Rowtrove needs PDFs with selectable text. If your bank or supplier offers a downloadable PDF, use that instead of a scan or a photo.

Why won’t my PDF open?

Rowtrove says why when it cannot open a file. The usual reasons are a password (save a copy without it, then use that copy), a file over 20 MB or 100 pages (split it in your PDF viewer), or a damaged file (download it again).

Word, Excel and image files are not supported. Save them as PDF first, or for Excel, open them directly in your spreadsheet.

Which browsers can I use?

The latest two versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on a computer, Safari on iPhone and iPad, and Chrome on Android. Checking tables is easier on a larger screen, but everything works on a phone too.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

No. The file is read by your browser on your device. Neither the document nor its contents are sent to Rowtrove or anyone else. Check it yourself with your browser’s developer tools.

What does Rowtrove keep in my browser?

Your current document and your edits are saved in this browser, so a refresh or a closed tab does not lose your work. The copy stays on your device and is never uploaded.

It is deleted after 7 days without use, or straight away when you choose Forget, Start over or open another file. On a shared computer, choose Forget when you are done.

Do I need an account?

No. There is no sign-up and no login. Rowtrove never puts document contents or file names in addresses, logs or statistics.

How accurate is the extraction?

It depends on the layout. Tables made by software with clear columns usually come out right, and cells Rowtrove is unsure about are marked. It can still split a column wrongly or miss a row, so check each table against the page before you export.

A table came out wrong. How do I fix it?

Each table sits next to its page, with the table region drawn on the page. Drag the region to fit the table, add or move column lines, then run it again. For smaller problems, edit the table directly: change a cell, merge or split rows and columns, add or delete rows.

Every change can be undone. Running a table again replaces your edits to it, and that can be undone too.

My table continues on the next page. Can I join it?

Yes. Rowtrove marks tables that seem to continue on the next page. Merge them into one table before you export. A header row repeated at the top of the next page is left out, unless you choose to keep it.

Will the Pro pass extract more accurately?

No. Free and Pro find and read tables in the same way, so you can check and correct your results fully for free. The Pro pass will add tools that save you time after the conversion. See pricing.

Which formats can I export?

CSV, for free. It opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and most accounting tools. Each table becomes its own file. An Excel workbook export, with all tables in one file, is coming next with the Pro pass.

Should I choose comma or semicolon?

Choose what your spreadsheet expects. English-language settings usually use a comma; many European settings, where the decimal separator is a comma, use a semicolon. If everything lands in one column, export again with the other one.

Leave “Add a byte order mark (BOM)” ticked for Excel, so accents and other scripts show correctly.

Why did Excel change my dates or numbers?

The CSV holds the exact text, but Excel converts some values when it opens the file. It drops leading zeros (007 becomes 7), rounds long numbers such as account numbers to 15 digits, and reads dates in your computer’s date order, so 02/01/2026 can become 1 February.

To keep values exactly as they are, open Excel first and use Data › From Text/CSV, then set those columns to Text.

Why do some cells start with ' in my CSV?

Cells that begin with =, +, - or @ could run as formulas when the file is opened in a spreadsheet, and text from a PDF is not always trustworthy. Rowtrove puts a ' in front so the spreadsheet shows the text instead of running it.

Plain numbers such as -120.00, dashes, and phone numbers written with spaces, brackets or dots such as +44 20 7946 0958 are left as they are. The export panel says how many cells got a '.

I exported several tables but only got one file

With several tables ticked, Rowtrove downloads one CSV file per table: rowtrove-table-1.csv, rowtrove-table-2.csv and so on. Your browser may ask once whether this site may download multiple files. Choose Allow.

If you chose Block, allow it again in the site settings (in Chrome: the icon left of the address bar › Site settings › Automatic downloads), or export the tables one at a time. If a file is missing, check your browser’s downloads list.