# Workflow Application: EXTRACTTEXT usage **URL:** \ **Category:** Workflow Applications\ **Created:** [August 13, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://discuss.workflowgen.com/t/workflow-application-extracttext-usage/2309 "2025-08-13T15:21:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wfg-admin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discuss.workflowgen.com/wfg-admin/32/714_2.png) [@wfg-admin](https://discuss.workflowgen.com/u/wfg-admin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://discuss.workflowgen.com/t/workflow-application-extracttext-usage/2309/1 "2025-08-13T15:21:49Z")
The **EXTRACTTEXT** workflow application extracts text content from an input file (`.pdf`, `.docx`, `.txt`, `.xml`, `.htm`, `.html`, or `.md`; see note below on file format support) and returns the extracted text and its length. It supports optional parameters for maximum file size, trimming, and text normalization (Unix-style line breaks). > **Notes:** > > - EXTRACTTEXT is available as of WorkflowGen version 10.0.0 (v10 Preview 1). > - Support for `.xml`, `.htm`, `.html`, and `.md` files is available as of WorkflowGen version 10.2.0. ## Required parameters | Parameter | Type | Direction | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `FILE` | FILE | IN | The file from which to extract the text (must be `.pdf`, `.docx`, `.txt`, `.xml`, `.htm`, `.html`, or `.md`) | | `TEXT` | TEXT | OUT | The extracted (and possibly normalized/trimmed) text | | `LENGTH` | NUMERIC | OUT | The length (number of characters) of the extracted text | ## Optional parameters | Parameter | Type | Direction | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `MAX_FILE_SIZE` | NUMERIC | IN | Maximum allowed file size in MB | | `TRIM_SIZE` | NUMERIC | IN | Maximum number of characters to keep from the extracted text | | `NORMALIZE` | TEXT | IN | Whether to normalize line endings **Possible values:** `Y`, `N`, `true`, `false` | | | | | | ---
**Author:** ![pnicoll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discuss.workflowgen.com/pnicoll/32/454_2.png) [@pnicoll](https://discuss.workflowgen.com/u/pnicoll)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://discuss.workflowgen.com/t/workflow-application-extracttext-usage/2309/2 "2026-06-15T19:44:11Z")