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How to Convert a Scanned Article to Editable Word Text
Question details
The user needs to convert a scanned newspaper article or image-based PDF into an editable Microsoft Word document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to edit the text of a physical newspaper article or document that was scanned into a computer.
- Observed behavior
- When opening the scanned PDF, Microsoft Word treats the page as a static image, preventing the user from directly editing the text without an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) step.
Ensure your scanned document or image is clear, well-lit, and high-resolution to guarantee the best possible text recognition accuracy.
Extract Text Using Microsoft OneNote OCR
Use OneNote's built-in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature to easily pull editable text from an image or a scanned PDF page.
Microsoft OneNote comes with a free built-in OCR tool that can identify text inside any picture or printout. This is a quick workaround if you do not have dedicated PDF editing software.
Open Microsoft OneNote, create a new page, and go to the 'Insert' tab. Select 'Pictures' or 'File Printout' to bring your scanned article into the notebook.
Right-click on the inserted image or PDF printout and select 'Copy Text from Picture' from the context menu.
Open a blank Microsoft Word document, right-click on the page, and select 'Keep Text Only' under the Paste Options to insert the recognized text.
Convert Scanned PDFs Using Adobe Acrobat Pro
Use Adobe Acrobat Pro to automatically run OCR and convert a scanned PDF file into a formatted Microsoft Word document.
Easily Convert Scanned Documents to Editable Text with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a powerful built-in PDF to Word converter equipped with highly accurate OCR technology. It seamlessly transforms scanned newspaper articles and image-based PDFs into fully editable Word documents in just a few clicks.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Download and launch WPS Office on your computer, then open your scanned PDF or image file.
- 2. Access the OCR Tool: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and select the 'OCR' or 'PDF to Word' feature.
- 3. Extract the Text: Choose 'Extract Text' or start the conversion process. The software will scan the image and convert it into text automatically.
- 4. Save as Editable Word Document: Once the conversion is complete, save the resulting file as a .docx document. You can now edit the text directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I edit text when I open a scanned PDF directly in Word?
A scanned PDF is essentially a digital photograph of a physical document saved inside a PDF wrapper. Because it is a picture of text rather than actual digital text, Word cannot manipulate it. You must use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to translate the shapes in the picture into editable characters.
Can I convert scanned documents into text on my mobile phone?
Yes, many modern mobile scanner apps, including the WPS Office mobile app and Microsoft Lens, feature built-in OCR. You can use your phone's camera to scan a physical article and export it directly as an editable Word document.
How can I fix messy formatting after converting a scanned document to Word?
OCR conversions are rarely perfect and can introduce line breaks or strange fonts. The best practice is to copy the converted text, paste it into a blank Word document using the 'Keep Text Only' option, and then reformat the text using Word's built-in Styles.
