---
name: "pdf2brl"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "liblouisxml-bin"
version: "2.4.0-14+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pdf2brl"
---

# pdf2brl(1)

Translate a PDF file into an embosser-ready Braille file.

## NAME

pdf2brl - Translate a PDF file into an embosser-ready Braille file.

## DESCRIPTION

pdf2brl \[options\] infile outfile

## OPTIONS

- **--help**

  Print this message

- **--version**

  Print version information

Infile must be a pdf file. The script first calls the \`pdftotext' program, so you must have this installed on your machine. It is part of xpdf. \`pdftotext' is called with the '-raw' and '-' options, which cause it to place its output on stdout. This is piped to \`xml2brl', which is called with the '-p' option, since output from \`pdftotext' is likely to be poorly formatted. The output file from \`xml2brl' is mostly in sensible paragraphs.

## AUTHOR

Written by John J. Boyer

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2004-2009 ViewPlus Technologies, Inc.\
 Copyright © 2007,2009 JJB Software, Inc. License LGPL: GNU LGPL \<http://gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **pdf2brl** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **pdf2brl** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info liblouisxml**

should give you access to the complete manual.