@jonnyjjohnson
What you’re looking for is a way to convert a PDF file into text, then you’ll need a plugin that can extract the text from a PDF file. This is a more complex task and not something that is commonly done in WordPress.
However if you only want to display those PDF files on the site, there are a few plugins that can allow you to do that, eg:
- PDF Embedder: This plugin allows you to embed PDFs in your WordPress site using JavaScript. This doesn’t technically convert the PDF to text, but it allows users to view the PDF content directly on the page without having to download the file.
- PDF Viewer: Similar to PDF Embedder, this plugin allows users to view a PDF file directly on a WordPress page or post. It also includes options for downloading and printing the PDF.
There will be more such plugins offering similar functionality, I suggest you try them out and select the one that best suits your requirements.
About letting users upload the PDF, always remember to keep in mind the user privacy and security considerations when allowing file uploads on your site. Be careful to validate and sanitize all user input, and only allow trusted users to upload files. In case you meant visitors, instead of actual WordPress users, to be able to upload, there are certain plugins for that as well, eg,
Contact Form 7: While primarily a contact form plugin, Contact Form 7 also provides the ability to include file upload fields in your forms. You can read more about how to add field for file uploads in their documentation