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There is RunThrough which captures the output and evaluates it. However, I would like the output as String. Is there a direct way without redirecting to temporary files etc.? Here is the code:

pdftohtml = "pdftohtml.exe";
pdf = "test.pdf";
ans = RunThrough[pdftohtml <> " -stdout " <> pdf, ""];

This fails with the error message

Syntax::sntx: Invalid syntax in or before 
"<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">".

Is there a way to get to the output without evaluating it?

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    $\begingroup$ Does StringJoin@ReadList["!"<>pdftohtml <> " -stdout " <> pdf, Character] work? $\endgroup$
    – yohbs
    Apr 20, 2017 at 14:10
  • $\begingroup$ Or RunProcess[pdftohtml <> " -stdout " <> pdf, "StandardOutput"]? $\endgroup$
    – yohbs
    Apr 20, 2017 at 14:16
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks I will try this tomorrow $\endgroup$
    – Karsten W.
    Apr 20, 2017 at 15:21
  • $\begingroup$ RunProcess may need the list form (see docs) RunProcess[{pdftohtml,"-stdout",pdf},"StandardOutput"] $\endgroup$
    – george2079
    Apr 20, 2017 at 20:08
  • $\begingroup$ @yohbs: the first construct StringJoin... works perfectly. Please make that an answer, and I will gladly upvote & accept... $\endgroup$
    – Karsten W.
    Apr 21, 2017 at 12:49

1 Answer 1

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StringJoin@ReadList["!"<>pdftohtml <> " -stdout " <> pdf, Character]

Or 

RunProcess[{pdftohtml," -stdout ",pdf}, "StandardOutput"]
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  • $\begingroup$ The second command did not work for me, but the first one is a life saver! $\endgroup$
    – Karsten W.
    Apr 21, 2017 at 17:34

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