PDF2ID extracts text to form lines, then groups the lines to make paragraphs; applies text fonts and styles such as bold and underline where possible; regroups independent graphic elements; and creates tables. Furthermore, it performs contextual analytics so that related data are correlated and remain together.

As part of the conversion process, PDF2ID also transforms gradients in a PDF file to an equivalent gradient in InDesign, applies clipping paths to images and sets the appropriate InDesign property. Furthermore, it converts text that is on a path to an equivalent InDesign representation. Finally, transparencies and graphics transformations such as rotations, shearing and scaling are also converted to an equivalent InDesign data type.

PDF2ID has been designed to provide editing flexibility rather than a pure and 100% reconstruction of a PDF file to the InDesign format.

PDF2ID doesn't make InDesign a PDF file-editing tool. PDF2ID doesn't provide round-tripping of a PDF file to an editable InDesign file type. Rather, the primary scope and objective of PDF2ID is to provide a seamless and transparent mechanism for PDF data recovery and reuse within InDesign. To achieve this, PDF2ID does its best to preserve the layout while reconstructing data along with the respective property and elements wherever possible.