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Computer Help and Support

CloudWatcher

(1,953 posts)

7. At least some scanners use OCR

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Reply #6)

Tue Oct 6, 2020, 05:44 PM

Oct 2020

When I scan documents to PDF, the scanning software of course saves the image. But then it also sends the image to some optical-character-recognition software and saves the extracted text in the PDF as well.

This lets me copy/paste the text from a PDF into another document. It usually gets it right, but I have to review the text that has been pasted to be sure.

It also lets the Spotlight search feature of macOS let me search my computer for PDFs that contain a text string of interest (I assume "PowerToys" in Windows is the same).

Of course this only works to recover the text in the image, not anything hidden.

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Suggestions for PDF converter for windows10. [View all] efhmc Oct 2020 OP

Open in Word Alsteen Oct 2020 #1

A PDF of what? LuvLoogie Oct 2020 #2

I was only able to scan a copy of an old excel spread sheet as a pdf to my new computer. efhmc Oct 2020 #3

Here are some suggestions..... KY_EnviroGuy Oct 2020 #4

There are free online converters (if you don't have data privacy concerns). Make7 Oct 2020 #5

I wouldn't hold out much hope discntnt_irny_srcsm Oct 2020 #6

At least some scanners use OCR CloudWatcher Oct 2020 #7

Absolutely correct discntnt_irny_srcsm Oct 2020 #8

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I bit the bullet and remade the spread sheel in Excel. efhmc Oct 2020 #9

Latest Discussions»Help & Search»Computer Help and Support»Suggestions for PDF conve...»Reply #7