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How to Fix Adobe ExportPDF Not Supporting Dutch Conversion
Question details
The user needs to convert a Dutch PDF using Adobe ExportPDF, but the Dutch language option is unavailable in the recognition settings.
- Product
- Adobe ExportPDF
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and convert a Dutch PDF document into an editable format using Adobe ExportPDF.
- Observed behavior
- The Dutch language option cannot be selected because Adobe ExportPDF only officially supports OCR conversion for English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese.
Before attempting any workarounds, check if your PDF is a scanned document that requires OCR or a standard text-based PDF where you can directly copy and paste the Dutch text into a word processor.
Use an Alternative PDF Converter with Comprehensive OCR
Since Adobe ExportPDF fundamentally lacks support for the Dutch language, switching to a more advanced OCR tool or dedicated PDF suite is the most effective way to accurately extract the text.
Adobe's ExportPDF service operates on a strict list of supported languages. If you force the conversion using a different language setting, the resulting text will be riddled with spelling errors and unrecognized characters. Using a specialized third-party application guarantees that specific Dutch characters and vocabulary are recognized correctly.
Install a PDF editor or OCR software that explicitly lists Dutch in its supported recognition languages, such as WPS Office or dedicated OCR software.
Open the alternative application and navigate to the 'PDF to Word' or 'OCR' module, then select your target Dutch PDF file to upload it.
Before initiating the conversion, locate the 'Language' or 'OCR Settings' dropdown menu and select 'Dutch' to ensure accurate character extraction.
Click the 'Convert' or 'Start' button. Once the process is finished, save the new editable document to your local storage.
Convert the PDF Using Google Drive
If you need a quick, free workaround without installing new software, Google Drive features a built-in OCR engine that natively supports Dutch.
Convert Multilingual PDFs Easily with WPS Office
Bypass Adobe ExportPDF's restrictive language limitations by switching to WPS Office. The built-in WPS PDF toolkit features robust, advanced OCR capabilities that accurately recognize and extract text from Dutch PDFs, converting them seamlessly into fully editable Word documents while preserving your original formatting.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and click on 'PDF Edit' or 'PDF to Word' on the home screen to open your toolkit.
- 2. Import Your Document: Select your Dutch PDF file and load it into the application workspace.
- 3. Access the OCR Tool: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab and select 'OCR'. Ensure that your language parameters are set to recognize the appropriate text.
- 4. Convert to Editable Format: Choose your desired output format (such as DOCX or TXT) and click 'Convert' to instantly generate your new editable file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which languages are officially supported by Adobe ExportPDF OCR?
Adobe ExportPDF currently limits its OCR language support to English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. Documents written in other languages cannot be processed accurately by the service.
Can I install a Dutch language pack for Adobe ExportPDF?
No, Adobe ExportPDF is a cloud-based service, and it does not allow users to install custom language packs or add-ons. To perform OCR on Dutch documents, you must use alternative software with native Dutch support.
Why does my converted PDF contain garbled text and strange symbols?
This happens when the OCR engine is forced to read a language it does not support. If you try to convert a Dutch PDF using English OCR settings in Adobe ExportPDF, the software misinterprets unique spelling patterns and characters, resulting in inaccurate text.
Are there free tools to convert a scanned Dutch PDF?
Yes, uploading your scanned PDF to Google Drive and opening it with Google Docs utilizes Google's free built-in OCR, which natively supports Dutch. Alternatively, free trials of comprehensive desktop suites like WPS Office provide excellent multi-language conversion.
