Missing spaces in extract_text() method

[Sunguru]

Missing spaces in extract_text() method.
See attached PDFs.
Text is being extracted nice, but it comes with no spaces from almost all fields.

Environment

$ python -c "import pypdf;print(pypdf.__version__)"
pypdf==3.14.0

Code + PDF

PDF: 0004.pdf

from pypdf import PdfReader, __version__

print(f"pypdf=={__version__}")

reader = PdfReader("0004.pdf")

page = reader.pages[0]
extracted = page.extract_text().split("Description:")[1].split("8/11/22")[0]
print(extracted)

gives:

 Reportingcrudeoilleak.
Leakwasisolatedtowell
pad.Segmentoflinewas
immediatelyisolated,now
estimatedat5barrelsofoil
spilt.Rootcausestill
unknownatthistime.

expected (copy-pasted with Google chrome):

Reporting crude oil leak.
Leak was isolated to well
pad. Segment of line was
immediately isolated, now
estimated at 5 barrels of oil
spilt. Root cause still
unknown at this time.

0000.pdf

Yes, you may add to the tests. It is public data from here: https://northdakota.hazconnect.com/ListIncidentPublic.aspx

p,s, Thank you for the great package!

[tpcgold]

any workaround on this so far?
I ran into the exact same issue with pypdf

[ssjkamei]

Hi.

The problem seemed to be the difference between the font size retrieved value and the actual space.
As far as the area concerned, the PDF spaces were -277.75 apart, whereas the size retrieved from the font was 278.0.
The larger font size was also -277.75 away in the area I checked, but the size I got from the font was 361.0.

If I round up the actual values, I think it will work.
However, I am not familiar with how PDFs and fonts work and I cannot determine if that is the correct process.

Is this helpful?

Try rounding up abs(float(op).

pypdf/pypdf/_page.py

Line 1992 in 8dd9fcb

(abs(float(op)) >= _space_width)

[ssjkamei]

Sorry, I have an addition.
It seems that it is not extracting spaces, but judging whether they are separated by more than the size of the space.
I think it is difficult to get small font size spaces between larger font sizes as spaces.