Which Software Converts a Scanned PDF to Searchable Text Using OCR
Question details
The user is looking for a product that can convert a non-searchable, scanned PDF into a searchable text document using Optical Character Recognition (OCR), noting they currently own an obsolete version of Acrobat Pro.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Extracting or searching for specific text within an image-based scanned PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF behaves as a flat image, meaning text cannot be highlighted, selected, or searched without applying an OCR tool.
Verify that your PDF actually requires OCR by attempting to highlight a single word; if the entire page highlights as one large blue box, it is a scanned image and requires OCR processing.
Use Adobe Acrobat Pro to Recognize Text
Use the built-in Scan & OCR tool in modern versions of Adobe Acrobat Pro to make your scanned document searchable.
Acrobat Pro includes a powerful OCR engine designed to convert scanned PDFs into searchable text. Please note that older versions, such as Acrobat Pro 8, are obsolete and no longer qualify for upgrade licenses.
To utilize this feature, you will need to purchase a new full license or subscribe to a current Acrobat plan.
Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro and open the scanned PDF document you wish to convert.
Navigate to the right-hand pane and click on the 'Scan & OCR' tool. If it's not visible, find it under the 'Tools' tab.
In the Scan & OCR toolbar, click on 'Recognize Text' and choose 'In This File' from the drop-down menu.
Click the 'Recognize Text' button to process the document. Once completed, you will be able to search and highlight the text.
Easily Convert Scanned PDFs to Searchable Text with WPS Office
If you are using an obsolete PDF reader and want a modern, cost-effective solution, WPS Office offers a built-in, highly accurate OCR tool. It seamlessly transforms image-based scanned files into searchable and fully editable text documents in seconds.
- 1. Open your scanned PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your image-based or scanned PDF document.
- 2. Navigate to OCR Tools: Click on the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon, then select the 'OCR' button.
- 3. Select output format: Choose whether you want to extract the text to a new document or convert the current file into a searchable PDF.
- 4. Process the document: Click 'Start' to apply the optical character recognition. Save your newly searchable document once the process finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I search for words in my PDF?
Your PDF is likely a scanned image rather than a text-based document. Without OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software to identify the letters, the computer only sees a picture of the text.
Can I upgrade my old Acrobat Pro 8 license to get the latest OCR tools?
No, Acrobat Pro 8 is considered obsolete and does not qualify for a current upgrade license. You would need to purchase a completely new full license or start a subscription to access modern features.
Does using OCR change the original layout of my PDF document?
Most advanced OCR tools allow you to choose between retaining the exact image of the page while adding a hidden layer of searchable text, or converting the document into a fully editable format which might slightly alter the layout.
What does OCR stand for in PDF software?
OCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It is a technology that analyzes the shapes of letters in an image or scanned document and translates them into machine-encoded, searchable text.
