Error thrown on getDataTm() - Call to a member function decodeText() on null

[eddturtle]

Hello, I'm trying to find the X, Y coords for a specific piece of text inside a PDF. I'm trying to use getDataTm() (correct me if that's the wrong method to use).

This works for many pdfs, but throws an error for this one example pdf.

myfile.pdf

Example code:

$parser = new \Smalot\PdfParser\Parser();
$pdf = $parser->parseFile('myfile.pdf');

$pages = $pdf->getPages();
$page = $pages[0];
$dataTm = $page->getDataTm();

Error thrown:

EXCEPTION (Error): vendor/smalot/pdfparser/src/Smalot/PdfParser/PDFObject.php line 484 user 1234 -- Call to a member function decodeText() on null

array(3) {
  [0]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    string(62) "/vagrant/vendor/smalot/pdfparser/src/Smalot/PdfParser/Page.php"
    ["line"]=>
    int(257)
    ["function"]=>
    string(12) "getTextArray"
    ["class"]=>
    string(26) "Smalot\PdfParser\PDFObject"
    ["type"]=>
    string(2) "->"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    string(62) "/vagrant/vendor/smalot/pdfparser/src/Smalot/PdfParser/Page.php"
    ["line"]=>
    int(561)
    ["function"]=>
    string(12) "getTextArray"
    ["class"]=>
    string(21) "Smalot\PdfParser\Page"
    ["type"]=>
    string(2) "->"
  },
  // removed
}

I've tried this on php 7.4 and php 8.0 (running through apache2) on ubuntu 18.04.

Any ideas on how to get this pdf to process?

[k00ni]

Maybe @Connum or @izabala can help out here?

[izabala]

@k00ni I will have a look.

@eddturtle I have a look at the file, it just have 1 line... with: {signature:signer505906:Please+Sign+Here} on it. Is that ok?

[izabala]

The problem with this Case, is that the PDF file, doesnt behaves like "Normal" pdfs files. Actually, I was going to open another issue with one file, which I am working with, that is created using FPDI, that also doesnt behave like "Normal" pdfs files.

In both cases Page::getTextArray() doesnt give the right data. I already have a work around for this case using Page::getTextArray (but changing it a little bid).

I will let to open a new Issue to discuss the FPDI and not get a mess with this case.

[izabala]

Hi, I already made the fix/workaround, but when I make the pull request, the automatica validation is giving me some errors, can someone help me with that?? (By the way, if the directions are for a windows machine, is better for me).

[eddturtle]

I've tried the same thing again, but changed the pdfparser code on my local computer to copy the changes you made in the linked commit and it looks like it works to me. It's returning data + text through getDataTm(). Thanks for the fix @izabala

[k00ni]

Please bear with me, related pull request is #453. I will have a look next week to bring the fix on the way. @eddturtle it would be great if you could help us test these changes.

[izabala]

Your welcome @eddturtle !!!! I just waiting the help from @k00ni so we can have the code finally merge in the master branch.

[izabala]

@k00ni @eddturtle This problem should be closed, shouldn't it?