Parse a StatCan bilingual PDF frequency codebook

Extracts variable names/labels and code-value labels from the bilingual PDF codebook shipped with surveys such as CPSS 1, which (unlike CPSS 2-6) ships no machine-readable variables.csv. The codebook lists each variable as a “Variable Name:/Concept:” block followed by an “Answer Categories” frequency table whose Code column supplies the value labels. Positions in the codebook are not used; this parser produces only variables and codes (no layout).

Usage

parse_pdf_codebook(eng_pdf, fra_pdf = NULL)

Arguments

eng_pdf

Path to the English codebook PDF.

fra_pdf

Optional path to the French codebook PDF.

Value

Named list with elements variables, codes, layout (always NULL), or NULL if no variable blocks were found.