Make a scanned PDF searchable
A scanner often produces a PDF made of page images. OCR recognises letters in those images so that text can be searched and selected. A searchable result does not mean every recognised word is correct. Poor photocopies and handwriting need particular care.
Step by step
- Use a clear, upright original scan with as little shadow as possible.
- Select the main language of the document and start OCR.
- Search for a known word in the output, copy a paragraph and compare important numbers with the source.
Example scenario
Example: you need to find a company name in an archived report. After OCR, use the PDF reader’s search box. If a name is not found, it may have been misread; inspect the relevant page before concluding it is absent.
Check your result
Low resolution, skew, stains and overlapping print reduce recognition quality. Avoid aggressive compression before OCR. Verify dates, account numbers and amounts. For editable Word text or Excel tables, use the corresponding converter after checking the OCR output.
Frequently asked questions
Does OCR produce a Word document?
No. This tool returns a PDF. Use PDF to Word separately for DOCX.
Does it reliably read handwriting?
No. Handwriting and damaged scans can produce unreliable text in this workflow.
Keep an original copy before processing your file. Examples are illustrative; results depend on your document.