[BUG] Unable to read PDF with claude code

[tristanbes]

Environment

• Platform (select one):

  • [x] Anthropic API

• Claude CLI version: 1.0.7

• Operating System: MacOS

Bug Description

When referencing a .pdf file, like "based on the @path-to-pdf" it gives:

Fetch(file:///Users/t.b.../workspace/..../full-reference-en-US-113718.pdf) ⎿  Error: Invalid URL

⏺ Read(afull-reference-en-US-113718.pdf)… ⎿  Error: This tool cannot read binary files. The file appears to be a binary .pdf file. Please use appropriate tools for binary file analysis.

[benbonnet]

same here

Error: This tool cannot read binary files. The file appears to be a binary .pdf file. Please use appropriate tools for binary file analysis.  API Error: Connection error.

[irtiza]

+1 , I was thinking I am doing something wrong.

[edwrdcrpio]

Same here. Claude Code did mark it as done, but I had to confirm the actual status and Claude Code did tick off the box as complete but did not read the file.

[Designedforusers]

same issue here

[mchulet]

just came across this issue today

[EduardoNeville]

I have the same issue here. It decided to use pdftotext as a way of translating. Not very helpful since it was filled with equations. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[Misty1334]

Same Issue! Any guidance / support / work-arounds?

[Misty1334]

I installed PyPDF2 via pip & now CC is reading the pdf files.

[cptkoolbeenz]

I installed PyPDF2 via pip & now CC is reading the pdf files.

~~I installed PyPDF2 in a venv, set the venv, and started Claude. No change. How did you do it?~~ Nevermind, I had to tell Claud to use the tool. "Use PyPDF2 to open..."

[isCopyman]

What is the function of pypdf2? Does it convert PDF to text? I think claude code should have the ability to directly use multi-modal reading of PDFs like gemini

[jw408]

+1

[tjdcs]

+1 this would be a great feature especially for commercial sdk's that only provide pdf documentation.

[lukeburns]

+1 — would be helpful for referencing images and handwritten markup in PDFs.

[bcherny]

This is shipped in 1.0.58

[allisonault]

Same issue here with PDF and with xlsx

[github-actions[bot]]

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