How to Identify Failed Documents During Batch OCR in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user wants to know if Adobe Acrobat can generate a report for PDFs that fail during batch OCR and how to identify and troubleshoot these unsuccessful recognition jobs.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Running batch OCR processing on multiple PDF files to make text searchable and editable.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat does not provide a clear, detailed report of which specific files failed during the batch processing, making it difficult to identify errors.
Before starting a large batch OCR job, ensure that none of the PDF files are password-protected or encrypted, as this will automatically cause the OCR process to fail.
Troubleshoot Failed OCR Jobs by Processing in Smaller Batches
Since Acrobat lacks a comprehensive batch failure report, processing files in smaller groups helps isolate the problematic PDFs.
Adobe Acrobat may not provide a detailed built-in failure report for every batch OCR job. To effectively identify which documents are failing, it is best to divide the workload and monitor the process.
Split your large batch of PDFs into smaller folders containing 10 to 20 files each.
Use the Action Wizard in Adobe Acrobat to run the OCR process on one small folder at a time.
Pay attention to the progress bar and any pop-up error messages. Acrobat will usually halt or flag the specific file causing the issue in the smaller batch.
Move the identified failing files to a separate folder. Check them for damage or unsupported elements, and try 'printing to PDF' to recreate them before running OCR individually.
Use WPS PDF for Seamless OCR Processing
If you frequently encounter errors during batch processing in other PDF editors, consider switching to WPS PDF. It offers a highly accurate and stable OCR feature that quickly converts scanned documents and images into editable text.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your scanned document or image in the WPS PDF reader.
- 2. Access the OCR Tool: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab and select 'OCR' to initiate the text recognition process.
- 3. Select OCR Options: Choose whether to extract the text to a plain text document or convert the PDF into a searchable and editable Word document.
- 4. Process and Save: Click 'Recognize' or 'Start'. Once the process is complete, save your new editable document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some PDF files fail during batch OCR?
PDF files typically fail OCR if they are corrupted, password-protected, contain complex graphics instead of standard images, or exceed the software's file size or resolution constraints.
Can I view an error log for Adobe Acrobat batch processes?
Acrobat does not always generate a comprehensive error log for Action Wizard batch jobs. Errors are usually displayed on-screen during the process, making it necessary to monitor the screen during execution.
How do I fix a PDF that won't run through OCR?
Try 'flattening' the PDF by opening it and printing it to a new PDF file using a virtual PDF printer (like Microsoft Print to PDF), then run the OCR process on the newly generated file.
