--- title: "docling" type: "AI Tool" url: "https://aidemos.com/tools/docling" description: "We converted long PDFs, scanned pages, and tables in Docling; text and headings held up, but charts, logos, and scan-heavy tables broke." category: "developer-tools" website: "https://www.docling.ai/?via=aidemos" published: "2026-07-21T07:41:11.656852+00:00" updated: "2026-07-21T15:40:05.662085+00:00" evidenceCount: 100 verifiedCount: 0 coverage: "partial" --- # docling Open-source PDF-to-markdown conversion that is strong on text, headings, and standard tables, but drops charts and other visual assets. ## TL;DR Verdict **Excellent for text and tables, unsafe for visual fidelity** **Where it wins:** - You need a self-hosted, open-source PDF-to-markdown pipeline for reports with lots of text, headings, and standard financial tables. - You want OCR text from scanned pages and can tolerate minor spacing, word-merging, or library-stamp noise. - You need footnotes, captions, and simple form checkboxes preserved in the converted output. **Main limitation:** You need charts, figures, logos, signatures, or divider graphics to survive conversion. `Open source` · `Scanned OCR` · `Table extraction` · `Visuals dropped` **Website:** [Visit docling](https://www.docling.ai/?via=aidemos) ## Evidence (first-party, tested) *100 tested cells · 0/100 artifact-verified. Scores are out of 5. Cite a cell by its Evidence ID, e.g. `ev:docling·cross·bonus-unique-or-anomalous-behaviors`.* | Criterion | Scenario | Verdict | Score | Tested | Proof | Evidence ID | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bonus: Unique or Anomalous Behaviors | cross-scenario | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-form-d27cc41f3fb4.png) | `ev:docling·cross·bonus-unique-or-anomalous-behaviors` | | Bonus: Unique or Anomalous Behaviors | Scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-title-83e90d0ce2bd.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·bonus-unique-or-anomalous-behaviors` | | Bonus: Unique or Anomalous Behaviors | Target 2015 annual report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-form-d27cc41f3fb4.png) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·bonus-unique-or-anomalous-behaviors` | | Bonus: Unique or Anomalous Behaviors | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input2-financialpdf-business-res-0184d0ef1462.png) | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·bonus-unique-or-anomalous-behaviors` | | Bonus: Unique or Anomalous Behaviors | Image-only scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·bonus-unique-or-anomalous-behaviors` | | Bonus: Unique or Anomalous Behaviors | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·bonus-unique-or-anomalous-behaviors` | | Caption/Figure Association | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-financial--d709c2e317ff.png) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·caption-figure-association` | | Caption/Figure Association | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 (image-only) | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-table-1-capt-909333c64136.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-image-only·caption-figure-association` | | Caption/Figure Association | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ◐ mixed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input2-financialpdf-output-7a57d38ce9f7.md) | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·caption-figure-association` | | Caption/Figure Association | Scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-table-1-capt-909333c64136.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·caption-figure-association` | | Caption/Figure Association | cross-scenario | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·caption-figure-association` | | Caption/Figure Association | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·caption-figure-association` | | Chart Reconstruction | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✗ failed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-financial--72b5ec6b6a99.png) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·chart-reconstruction` | | Chart Reconstruction | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 (image-only) | ✗ failed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-figure-1-73915db3bca7.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-image-only·chart-reconstruction` | | Chart Reconstruction | cross-scenario | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·chart-reconstruction` | | Chart Reconstruction | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·chart-reconstruction` | | Chart Reconstruction | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·chart-reconstruction` | | Chart retention | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | Scanned Research Paper (Image-Only) | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | Hybrid Earnings Report | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·hybrid-earnings-report·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | Scanned Research PDF | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-pdf·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | Scanned research paper | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | cross-scenario | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 as Image-Only Scanned PDF | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-as-image-only-scanned-pdf·chart-retention` | | Chart retention | Research Paper INT 1983-07: Iss 333 (image-only scanned PDF) | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-iss-333-image-only-scanned-pdf·chart-retention` | | Document Hierarchy | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-item-heade-cccf3d47ff6c.png) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·document-hierarchy` | | Document Hierarchy | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 (image-only) | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-stand-prescr-53d7877cb1e2.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-image-only·document-hierarchy` | | Document Hierarchy | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input2-financialpdf-fy2025-heade-ced3e07cca5a.png) | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·document-hierarchy` | | Document Hierarchy | Scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-stand-prescr-53d7877cb1e2.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·document-hierarchy` | | Document Hierarchy | Image-only scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·document-hierarchy` | | Document Hierarchy | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·document-hierarchy` | | Ease of deployment and maintenance | cross-scenario | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·ease-of-deployment-and-maintenance` | | Image retention | Hybrid Earnings Report | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·hybrid-earnings-report·image-retention` | | Image Retention | cross-scenario | ✗ failed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-ceo-sign-o-f9611e82f578.png) | `ev:docling·cross·image-retention` | | Image Retention | Scanned research paper | ✗ failed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-usda-logo-b02ab8daa900.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·image-retention` | | Image Retention | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·image-retention` | | Image Retention | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·image-retention` | | Image Retention | Target 2015 annual report | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·image-retention` | | Long/complex document handling | cross-scenario | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·long-complex-document-handling` | | Long/Complex Document Robustness | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-demo-719b2e70177b.mp4) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·long-complex-document-robustness` | | Long/Complex Document Robustness | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 (image-only) | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-demo-641e9edba35d.mp4) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-image-only·long-complex-document-robustness` | | Long/Complex Document Robustness | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input2-financial-pdf-demo-ef39f3ec0688.mp4) | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·long-complex-document-robustness` | | Long/Complex Document Robustness | Scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-demo-641e9edba35d.mp4) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·long-complex-document-robustness` | | Long/Complex Document Robustness | Image-only scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·long-complex-document-robustness` | | Long/Complex Document Robustness | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·long-complex-document-robustness` | | Markdown cleanliness | cross-scenario | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·markdown-cleanliness` | | OCR quality on scans | Scanned Research Paper (Image-Only) | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·ocr-quality-on-scans` | | OCR quality on scans | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 | ⚠ struggled | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333·ocr-quality-on-scans` | | OCR quality on scans | Scanned Research PDF | ⚠ struggled | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-pdf·ocr-quality-on-scans` | | OCR quality on scans | Scanned research paper | ⚠ struggled | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·ocr-quality-on-scans` | | OCR quality on scans | Image-only scanned research paper | ⚠ struggled | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·ocr-quality-on-scans` | | OCR quality on scans | Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 as Image-Only Scanned PDF | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-as-image-only-scanned-pdf·ocr-quality-on-scans` | | OCR quality on scans | Research Paper INT 1983-07: Iss 333 (image-only scanned PDF) | ⚠ struggled | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-iss-333-image-only-scanned-pdf·ocr-quality-on-scans` | | Performance and resource usage | cross-scenario | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·performance-and-resource-usage` | | Reading order & structure | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·reading-order-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Sumitomo Heavy Industries Consolidated Financial Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·reading-order-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Scanned Research Paper (Image-Only) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·reading-order-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333·reading-order-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Hybrid Earnings Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·hybrid-earnings-report·reading-order-and-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Financial Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·financial-report·reading-order-and-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Scanned Research PDF | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-pdf·reading-order-and-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Scanned research paper | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·reading-order-structure` | | Reading order & structure | cross-scenario | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·reading-order-structure` | | Reading order & structure | Research Paper INT 1983-07: Iss 333 (image-only scanned PDF) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-iss-333-image-only-scanned-pdf·reading-order-structure` | | Reading Order Preservation | Target 2015 Annual Report | ◐ mixed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-hybridearnings-brand-list-7f2f587762ac.png) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·reading-order-preservation` | | Reading Order Preservation | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input2-financialpdf-summary-sect-1fc0e38dc03c.png) | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·reading-order-preservation` | | Reading Order Preservation | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 (image-only) | ⚠ struggled | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-page-1-c134dc43dcd8.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-image-only·reading-order-preservation` | | Reading Order Preservation | Scanned research paper | ◐ mixed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-page-1-c134dc43dcd8.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·reading-order-preservation` | | Reading Order Preservation | Image-only scanned research paper | ⚠ struggled | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·reading-order-preservation` | | Reading Order Preservation | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·reading-order-preservation` | | Separate table/chart extraction (bonus) | cross-scenario | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·separate-table-chart-extraction-bonus` | | Table Reconstruction | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 (image-only) | ◐ mixed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-table-1-2d6b17419789.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-image-only·table-reconstruction` | | Table Reconstruction | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-financial--c3595e6b8b94.png) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·table-reconstruction` | | Table Reconstruction | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ⚠ struggled | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input2-financialpdf-business-res-1eed3efcedc0.png) | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·table-reconstruction` | | Table Reconstruction | Scanned research paper | ✗ failed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-table-4-e7ec97aed5ce.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·table-reconstruction` | | Table Reconstruction | Image-only scanned research paper | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·table-reconstruction` | | Table Reconstruction | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·table-reconstruction` | | Table structure preservation | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Sumitomo Heavy Industries Consolidated Financial Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Scanned Research Paper (Image-Only) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Hybrid Earnings Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·hybrid-earnings-report·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Financial Report | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·financial-report·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Scanned Research PDF | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-pdf·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Scanned research paper | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Image-only scanned research paper | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | cross-scenario | ⚠ struggled | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 as Image-Only Scanned PDF | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-as-image-only-scanned-pdf·table-structure-preservation` | | Table structure preservation | Research Paper INT 1983-07: Iss 333 (image-only scanned PDF) | ✗ failed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-iss-333-image-only-scanned-pdf·table-structure-preservation` | | Text completeness | cross-scenario | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·cross·text-completeness` | | Text completeness | Scanned Research PDF | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-pdf·text-completeness` | | Text completeness | Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 as Image-Only Scanned PDF | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-as-image-only-scanned-pdf·text-completeness` | | Text completeness | Research Paper INT 1983-07: Iss 333 (image-only scanned PDF) | ✓ worked | — | — | — | `ev:docling·research-paper-int-1983-07-iss-333-image-only-scanned-pdf·text-completeness` | | Text Preservation | Target 2015 Annual Report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-item-heade-cccf3d47ff6c.png) | `ev:docling·target-2015-annual-report·text-preservation` | | Text Preservation | Scanned Research Paper INT 1983-07 Issue 333 (image-only) | ◐ mixed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-title-83e90d0ce2bd.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-int-1983-07-issue-333-image-only·text-preservation` | | Text Preservation | Sumitomo Heavy Industries consolidated financial report | ✓ worked | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input2-financialpdf-introductory-c4f90494f303.png) | `ev:docling·sumitomo-heavy-industries-consolidated-financial-report·text-preservation` | | Text Preservation | Scanned research paper | ◐ mixed | — | — | 🧾 [proof](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input3-scannedpaper-title-83e90d0ce2bd.png) | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper·text-preservation` | | Text Preservation | Image-only scanned research paper | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·image-only-scanned-research-paper·text-preservation` | | Text Preservation | Scanned research paper (image-only) | ◐ mixed | — | — | — | `ev:docling·scanned-research-paper-image-only·text-preservation` | > 🧾 = artifact-verified (proof captured) · 👁 = observed (noted, no artifact) · verdicts: worked / mixed / struggled / failed. > **Excellent for text and tables, unsafe for visual fidelity** > > Docling is a strong self-hosted PDF-to-markdown parser when your priority is readable text, preserved headings, and solid reconstruction of standard tables. It handled long documents and scanned pages well, but it consistently replaced charts, figures, logos, signatures, and other visual assets with placeholders, and its hardest scan-heavy tables still broke down. ## Demo Recording [Video: docling demo recording](https://d3epheqghktydj.cloudfront.net/docling-docling-input1-hybridearnings-demo-719b2e70177b.mp4) *Video — Demo walkthrough of Docling converting a hybrid earnings report to markdown.* ## Feature-by-Feature Breakdown ### Text Extraction and OCR **Verdict:** Strong Docling extracts native PDF text and OCR text from scanned pages with high fidelity overall. In the hybrid earnings report, the table-heavy financial report, and the scanned research paper, the text stayed readable end to end, with only minor spacing/merging noise in tight crops. **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** Strong OCR and text preservation across all three documents, with only small scan-related noise rather than silent text loss. ### Table Reconstruction **Verdict:** Mixed but generally strong Docling reconstructs standard tables well, including multi-column financial layouts and clean balance-sheet structures. It also preserves many smaller scanned tables, though multi-level headers can flatten or duplicate and dense scan-heavy tables can become garbled. **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** Excellent on standard tables, but header flattening and scan-heavy complexity can still break the extraction. ### Document Hierarchy Preservation **Verdict:** Strong Docling preserves sectioning, headings, and nested list structure so the output reads like a usable markdown document rather than a flat text dump. This held across the annual-report business section, the financial report summary headings, and the scanned paper's structured prescriptions list. **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** Section headings and nested lists are consistently preserved well across native and scanned inputs. ### Reading Order Linearization **Verdict:** Mostly good, with one clear scanned-page exception Docling usually linearizes mixed-layout pages into a coherent reading sequence, including multi-column text and side-by-side brand lists. The main exception was the scanned paper's first page, where the abstract appeared before the title, and some multi-column layouts merged. **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** Reading order is usually coherent, but the scanned paper's opening page and some multi-column layouts show the limits. ### Caption and Footnote Association **Verdict:** Strong Docling keeps footnotes and captions adjacent to the tables or figures they explain, even when other layout elements degrade. In the hybrid report the financial table footnotes stayed nearby, and in the scanned paper the Table 2 caption remained attached to the table header area. **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** Captions and footnotes are preserved close to their source tables, which makes the markdown easier to trust. ### Embedded Image and Chart Preservation **Verdict:** Hard fail Docling does not retain charts, figures, logos, signatures, or divider graphics in a usable way. In the tested documents, those assets were replaced with generic placeholders such as ``, with no chart data reconstruction and no surviving visual file references. **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** Visual assets are consistently lost across all three inputs, so Docling is not safe when charts or images must survive conversion. ### Form and Checkbox Extraction **Verdict:** Successful Docling can preserve simple filing-form checkbox state in the extracted output. On the SEC Form 10-K cover page, it correctly rendered the annual-report option as selected rather than dropping the mark entirely. **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** A useful bonus capability: checkbox state survives the conversion. ### Long-Document Robustness **Verdict:** Stable Docling stayed stable on long documents in this research: an 84-page annual report, an 18-page financial report, and a 12-page scanned research paper all completed without truncation or collapse in the extracted structure. The main quality risks came from layout complexity and images, not document length. **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Input:** **Output:** **Bottom line:** Length itself is not the problem; Docling remained stable on all three long documents. ## Is It Right For You? **Use it if** - You need a self-hosted, open-source PDF-to-markdown pipeline for reports with lots of text, headings, and standard financial tables. - You want OCR text from scanned pages and can tolerate minor spacing, word-merging, or library-stamp noise. - You need footnotes, captions, and simple form checkboxes preserved in the converted output. **Skip it if** - You need charts, figures, logos, signatures, or divider graphics to survive conversion. - You need complex nested or scan-heavy tables to remain perfectly structured. - You need exact visual fidelity or strict first-page reading order on scanned multi-column pages. ## Classification - **Category:** developer-tools - **Subcategory:** documentation-tools - **Type:** text ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Does Docling keep charts and figures in the markdown output?** No. In this research, charts, figures, logos, signatures, and divider graphics were consistently replaced with placeholders, and no chart data was reconstructed. **Q: How well does Docling handle tables?** It handled standard financial tables very well, including clean row and column alignment. But multi-level headers could flatten or duplicate, and a dense scanned table became badly garbled. **Q: Can Docling OCR scanned PDFs?** Yes. It extracted scanned text accurately overall, but the scanned paper showed minor word-merging and library-stamp noise in the OCR output. **Q: Does Docling preserve headings and section structure?** Yes. The reports kept their section headings, nested list structure, and general document hierarchy in markdown form. **Q: Does Docling keep footnotes and captions near their tables?** Yes. Financial footnotes and scanned-table captions stayed adjacent to the relevant tables, even when the surrounding layout was imperfect. **Q: Does Docling extract form checkboxes?** Yes. The SEC filing cover page preserved the checked annual-report state in the parsed output. **Q: How stable is Docling on long documents?** Very stable in this research. It processed an 84-page report, an 18-page report, and a 12-page scanned paper without truncation or output collapse. ## Similar Tools AI tools similar to docling: - [pymupdf4llm](https://aidemos.com/tools/pymupdf4llm) — Open-source PDF-to-markdown for clean native PDFs, but unreliable on scans, dense tables, and images. - [liteparse](https://aidemos.com/tools/liteparse) — Open-source PDF-to-markdown parsing that works well on native-digital reports, but degrades on scans, tables, and charts. - [doc2mark](https://aidemos.com/tools/doc2mark) — Open-source PDF-to-markdown that preserves native text and headings, but still struggles with tables, charts, images, and scans. - [markitdown](https://aidemos.com/tools/markitdown) — Fast native-PDF text extraction for markdown, but structure, charts, images, and scans are unreliable.