title: Extracting data from PDF or Word using PHP, Java
body: <p>I need help on this...
  Especially since I don't know where to start..
  I am an IT undergraduate and, along with my groupmates, is now undergoing on-the-job training in a company.</p>
  
  <p>SCENARIO:
  The company asked us to create a program that will generate a report and store it in a database.
  The database that will be used is MySQL.
  As for what language to use, we are considering VB.Net, Java, PHP.</p>
  
  <p>The program must be able to :</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>generate a report that will be sent through email to an office</li>
  <li>store in a database</li>
  <li>collect all reports, collate those reports</li>
  <li>generate a new report which will then be sent to their main office</li>
  <li>then store it in their own databse...</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>For now,
  we are still trying to determine how the program will run and what language will be used that has the capability of reading and extracting data from a text file (can either be a word document or a PDF file).</p>
  
  <p>The company also wants the program to be online-ready for future expansion.</p>
  
  <p>Now, our problem is</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Is there a way to extract data from a PDF or Word file using either Java, PHP, VB then store it in the MySQL DB?
  <ul>
  <li>if there is, can it be implemented without using any 3rd party software?</li>
  <li>the reason why we chose to use either a PDF or Word file type is that, the file             should be printable for archive purposes.</li>
  </ul></li>
  <li><p>What programming language can we easily use to be able to achieve our problem above?</p>
  
  <p>I would like to apologize if the info I am giving is a bit messed up. I will be giving additional information once we are able to talk wth the company this week.</p>
  
  <p>If there is a problem with the way I posted this, please forgive me. I am just trying my best to provide you with the information the best I could.</p></li>
  </ol>