Ways to create a searchable PDF
There are different approaches that you can take to creating a searchable PDF. Depending on the file that you are starting out with, the process of creating a searchable PDF can require different amounts of work. First of all, if you are creating a text file on your computer, you can save it as a PDF to have it accessible in this universal format. Alternatively, if you are starting with a scanned document, then you will need OCR software to turn the file into a searchable PDF.
Why convert a scanned file into a searchable PDF?
There are different reasons for converting a scanned file into a searchable PDF. The main reason is to make the contents more easily accessible, though the specifics may vary depending on the types of documents that you are working with. If you have an entire scanned book saved on your computer, for example, then converting the file into a searchable PDF will make it easier for readers to locate the information that they need, and even to copy information when quoting from the text. Alternatively, if you work with scanned forms, then creating searchable PDF files out of them enables you to transfer their contents into a digital spreadsheet more easily.
OCR for searchable PDF
You do not necessarily need any special software in order to create a digital file and save it as a PDF, but you do need OCR software to create a searchable file from a scanned document. OCR does not rely on any digital information about the text characters in the file. Instead, it recognizes scanned text characters based on their shapes alone. OCR is an extremely fast, accurate, and reliable tool for creating searchable PDF files. A high-quality OCR tool can provide you with hundreds of clear, text-searchable pages in merely seconds.
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