> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.apryse.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.apryse.com/ios/get-started/samples/elementreadertest.md).

# ElementReader

Sample code for using Apryse iOS SDK to traverse the page display list using ElementReader in Swift & Obj-C

Sample code in Swift and Obj-C for using Apryse iOS SDK to traverse the page display list using ElementReader available. Learn more about our full [PDF Data Extraction SDK Capabilities](https://apryse.com/capabilities/extraction).

To start your free trial, [get stated with iOS SDK](/ios/get-started/get-started.md).

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Obj-C" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```objc
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Copyright (c) 2001-2024 by Apryse Software Inc. All Rights Reserved.
// Consult legal.txt regarding legal and license information.
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#import <OBJC/PDFNetOBJC.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

void ProcessReaderTestElements(PTElementReader *reader)
{
    PTElement *element;
    for (element=[reader Next]; element != NULL; element = [reader Next])     // Read page contents
    {
        switch ([element GetType])
        {
        case e_ptpath:                        // Process path data...
            {
                PTPathData *data = [element GetPathData];
                NSArray *points = [data GetPoints];
            }
             break;
        case e_pttext_obj:                 // Process text strings...
            {
                NSString* nsdata = [element GetTextString];
                unsigned char* data = (unsigned char *)[nsdata UTF8String];
                printf("%s\n", data);
            }
            break;
        case e_ptform:                // Process form XObjects
            {
                [reader FormBegin]; 
                ProcessReaderTestElements(reader);
                [reader End]; 
            }
            break;
        default:
                ;
        }
    }
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    @autoreleasepool {
        int ret = 0;
        [PTPDFNet Initialize: 0];
        
        @try    // Extract text data from all pages in the document
        {
            printf("-------------------------------------------------\n");
            printf("Sample 1 - Extract text data from all pages in the document.\n");
            printf("Opening the input pdf...\n");

            PTPDFDoc *doc = [[PTPDFDoc alloc] initWithFilepath: @"../../TestFiles/newsletter.pdf"];
            [doc InitSecurityHandler];
            
            PTPageIterator *itr;
            PTElementReader *page_reader = [[PTElementReader alloc] init];

            for (itr = [doc GetPageIterator: 1]; [itr HasNext]; [itr Next])        //  Read every page
            {                
                [page_reader Begin: [itr Current]];
                ProcessReaderTestElements(page_reader);
                [page_reader End];
            }

            printf("Done.\n");
        }
        @catch(NSException *e)
        {
            NSLog(@"%@", e.reason);
            ret = 1;
        }
        [PTPDFNet Terminate: 0];        
        return ret;
    }

}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Swift" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```swift
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Copyright (c) 2001-2019 by PDFTron Systems Inc. All Rights Reserved.
// Consult legal.txt regarding legal and license information.
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

import PDFNet
import Foundation

func ProcessReaderTestElements(reader: PTElementReader) {
    while let element = reader.next() {
        switch element.getType() {
        case e_ptpath:  // Process path data...
            let data: PTPathData = element.getPathData()
            let _ = data.getPoints()    // points
        case e_pttext_obj:  // Process text strings...
            let textData: Data = element.getTextData()
            let text = String(data: textData, encoding: .utf8)
            print("\(text ?? "")")
        case e_ptform:  // Process form XObjects
            reader.formBegin()
            ProcessReaderTestElements(reader: reader)
            reader.end()
        default:
            break
        }
    }
}

func runElementReaderTest() -> Int {
    return autoreleasepool {
        var ret: Int = 0
        
        
        do {    // Extract text data from all pages in the document
            try PTPDFNet.catchException {
                print("__________________________________________________")
                print("Sample 1 - Extract text data from all pages in the document.")
                print("Opening the input pdf...")
                
                let doc: PTPDFDoc = PTPDFDoc(filepath: Bundle.main.path(forResource: "newsletter", ofType: "pdf"))
                doc.initSecurityHandler()
                
                let page_reader: PTElementReader = PTElementReader()
                
                let itr: PTPageIterator = doc.getPageIterator(1)
                while itr.hasNext() {  // Read every page
                    page_reader.begin(itr.current())
                    ProcessReaderTestElements(reader: page_reader)
                    page_reader.end()
                    itr.next()
                
                }
                print("Done.")
            }
        } catch let e as NSError {
            print("Caught PDFNet exception: \(e)")
            ret = 1
        }
        
        return ret
    }
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


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