Hi. External binaries are certain programs that your host may, or may not, have to convert PDF/DOC/XLS files to text files.
Here is a short list of such external binaries and their uses:
Code:
name purpose
-----------------------------------
catdoc convert DOC to TXT
pstotext convert PS/PDF to TXT
pdftotext convert PDF to TXT
xls2csv convert XLS to CSV
If you know, or can find, the path to such external binaries from your host, then just use that path in the appropriate defintion in the config file.
If your host doesn't have such external binaries, or you cannot find the path, then you could FTP them to one of your directories, and then include that path in the appropriate defintion in the config file.
Depending on the type of output that the external binaries produce, you may find this
thread useful. Also, this
thread may be useful.