• STRUCTURED
  • ACCURATE
  • DIGITAL
  • HUMAN

How to extract data from PDFs with your AI

Connect Z.AI to your agent to turn static documents into usable text. Once connected, your AI handles the heavy lifting of reading layouts and converting files.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I turn a PDF into structured text using AI?

Your AI uses Z.AI to scan the document's layout and convert it into markdown. This gives you clean, organized data ready for analysis or further processing.

The results

What you get from your documents.

The AI processes the raw file and hands you back structured information.

STRUCTURED

Markdown output

The AI converts visual elements into clean markdown text. You get organized headers, lists, and tables instead of a wall of text.

ACCURATE

Layout recognition

The tool identifies where text sits on a page. This ensures that columns and tables stay in the right order.

DIGITAL

Image conversion

Scanned images and photos of documents become searchable text. The AI reads the visual data and turns it into digital characters.

HUMAN

Manual review

You remain in control of the final data. You decide which extracted parts are correct and which need a quick fix.

The workflow

What your AI does when a PDF arrives.

The AI handles the visual interpretation so you don't have to manually type out data.

  1. Analyze the page

    The AI looks at the document to find text blocks, images, and structural elements.

    layout_parsing

  2. Map the layout

    It identifies the relationship between different parts of the page, like headers and body text.

    layout_parsing

  3. Convert to text

    The AI pulls the characters out of the visual layout and prepares them for text format.

    layout_parsing

  4. Format as markdown

    The final step organizes the extracted content into a structured markdown file.

    layout_parsing

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts once you have connected Z.AI to your agent.

Starting points

Replace the bracketed text with your specific file names or document types.

Z.AI Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_YbDoY2kX4ZG9rzJgMpkdkPO2uOhqn2U6SvelxeRg/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Z.AI capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zai-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_YbDoY2kX4ZG9rzJgMpkdkPO2uOhqn2U6SvelxeRg/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Extract the data from the invoice.pdf and give it to me in markdown.

  • Read this screenshot of the table and turn it into a structured list.

  • Convert the layout of this multi-column report into a single markdown file.

  • Look at the attached image and pull out all the text from the header section.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect Z.AI once, then ask.

Just click the link to connect. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can immediately start asking your agent to read your files.

Connect Z.AI to your AI

FAQ

How the extraction works

  • 01

    Can the AI edit my original PDF file?

    No. The AI only reads the file and generates new markdown text. Your original document remains untouched.

  • 02

    Does it work with photos of documents?

    Yes. The AI can process images and turn the visual text into structured markdown.

  • 03

    Will the AI automatically save the files to my computer?

    No. The AI provides the extracted text in your chat window. You decide where to save it.

  • 04

    Can it handle complex tables?

    Yes. The tool is designed to recognize page layouts, which helps keep table data organized.

  • 05

    Does the AI delete any data from the source?

    No. This MCP is read-only. It cannot delete, move, or change your files.

  • More questions about Z.AI? The Connector page answers them. See everything the Z.AI Connector can do

Connect Z.AI to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more