Can pypdf correctly extract text from two-column PDF documents?

[rybshik]

Consider the following article: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2106.13823.pdf

It is an academic paper formatted in two columns.

Can pypdf correctly extract text from PDF documents with a two-column format?

[MartinThoma]

PyPDF2 is deprecated and PyPDF3 / PyPDF4 are different projects. I've edited your question to be only about pypdf.

[MartinThoma]

Is the layout mode text extraction what you're looking for?

https://pypdf.readthedocs.io/en/stable/user/extract-text.html

[rybshik]

I want to extract text from a two-column PDF in the natural reading order: first down the left column, then down the right.
Does PyPDF2 do this by default?

[pubpub-zz]

The standard extract_text() seems to work properly on your text. Have a try.

[pubpub-zz]

I mean .extract_text(extraction_mode='plain')). .extract_text(extraction_mode='layout')) will put the columns on the same line