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OCR in everyday software

You may already own software that recognizes text. These posts describe what the OCR in common office and PDF programs does and where it stops, taken from each vendor's own documentation, and what to consider when you look for an alternative. Start with Adobe OCR, the tool most firms try first.

  1. Epson Scan Searchable PDF: Epson Scan 2 and ScanSmart

    Save a searchable PDF from an Epson scan: the Image Format and Text Language steps in Epson Scan 2, the file type in ScanSmart, and the OCR component.

    epsonsearchable pdfscanner software

  2. ScanSnap Searchable PDF: Settings in ScanSnap Home

    Get a ScanSnap searchable PDF from the scanner itself: the profile checkbox in ScanSnap Home, converting older scans, the language setting and the limits.

    scansnapsearchable pdfscanner software

  3. NetDocuments OCR: What the Platform Says It Does

    NetDocuments OCR is a service your firm subscribes to and an administrator configures. What the vendor's support pages say it covers, skips and saves.

    netdocumentsdocument managementsearchable pdf

  4. iLovePDF OCR: What the OCR PDF Tool Gives You Back

    iLovePDF OCR returns your scan as a PDF with selectable, searchable text. What iLovePDF publishes about languages, free limits, its apps and uploaded files.

    ilovepdfonline ocrsearchable pdf

  5. OCR for iManage: What iManage Says About Scanned Files

    OCR for iManage is a purchased cloud feature with a 150-page limit on image-based documents, per iManage's documentation. How to test a scan and what to ask.

    imanagedocument managementsearchable pdf

  6. OCR for Clio: Making Scans Searchable Before Upload

    OCR for Clio is a step you run before upload. What Clio's help centre says about document search, and how to make a scan findable in the matter.

    cliopractice managementsearchable pdf

  7. SharePoint OCR: Can It Search Your Scanned Documents?

    SharePoint OCR is a paid Microsoft 365 service, not a default. What it reads, which scanned documents it skips, who turns it on and how it is billed.

    sharepointdocument managementsearchable pdf

  8. Apple Notes Scan Documents: What Becomes Searchable

    What you get when you scan documents with Apple Notes: a PDF in the note, search inside Notes, and a test for whether the exported PDF is searchable.

    apple notesiphone scanningsearchable pdf

  9. Smallpdf OCR: What the Online Tool Does to a Scan

    Smallpdf OCR adds a hidden text layer to a scanned PDF in the browser. What Smallpdf's own pages say about limits, file types, languages and deleting uploads.

    smallpdfonline ocrsearchable pdf

  10. Kofax Power PDF OCR: What Tungsten's Editor Does

    Kofax Power PDF OCR, now in Tungsten Power PDF: how it makes a scan searchable, converts to Word or Excel, and what Standard and Advanced each include.

    power pdfdesktop ocrsearchable pdf

  11. Nitro PDF OCR Alternative: When a Firm Needs More

    When a law firm should look for a Nitro PDF OCR alternative: what Nitro's OCR does by platform, what a converter cannot replace, and how to run both.

    nitro pdfpdf editorchoosing software

  12. Kofax Power PDF Alternative for Law Firm Scans

    Choosing a Kofax Power PDF alternative for law firm scans: what stays behind if you leave, how Tungsten licenses it now, and a one-matter test to run.

    power pdfpdf editorchoosing software

  13. Bluebeam Make PDF Searchable: Running OCR in Revu

    How to make a PDF searchable in Bluebeam Revu: which plans include OCR, the steps under Document > OCR, the options to set first, and tips for drawings.

    bluebeam revusearchable pdfconstruction documents

  14. Google Drive OCR Alternative for Client Documents

    What Google Drive's OCR does with a scanned PDF, the limits Google publishes, what its terms say, and when a Google Drive OCR alternative suits client files.

    google drivegoogle docsocr alternatives

  15. PowerToys Text Extractor: What It Copies From a Screen

    PowerToys Text Extractor copies text from a region of your Windows screen to the clipboard. Its shortcut, its language packs and Microsoft's own cautions.

    powertoyswindowsscreen text

  16. ABBYY FineReader Open Source Alternative: OCRmyPDF

    The closest ABBYY FineReader open source alternative is OCRmyPDF with Tesseract. What it adds to a scan, what its own docs say it cannot do, and who runs it.

    ocrmypdftesseractfinereaderopen source

  17. Convert Images to Text in Word: What Works, What Fails

    Convert images to text in Word by saving the picture as a PDF and reopening it, or by copying the text out with OneNote or a screenshot tool. Steps inside.

    microsoft wordimage to textscreenshots

  18. How to Scan a Document Into Word and Get Real Text

    How to scan a document into Word: scan the paper to a PDF, open the PDF in Word, and let Word convert it. Steps, phone options and Microsoft's limits.

    microsoft wordscanningpdf to word

  19. Foxit OCR Alternative: What to Check Before Switching

    Weighing a Foxit OCR alternative? See what Foxit's Recognize Text does, which editions include it, what you would leave behind, and a two-week test plan.

    foxitpdf editorsocr alternatives

  20. PDF-XChange Editor OCR: What Each Engine Produces

    What PDF-XChange Editor OCR does, per the vendor's manual: the default engine's invisible text layer, the Enhanced engine's output types, and the options.

    pdf-xchange editorsearchable pdfwindows

  21. ABBYY FineReader PDF: What Its OCR Editor Does

    ABBYY FineReader PDF explained from ABBYY's user guide: the editions, the OCR Editor, recognition areas, Hot Folder batch runs and the output formats.

    abbyy finereaderdesktop ocrpdf tools

  22. Snipping Tool OCR: Copying Text From a Screenshot

    Snipping Tool OCR lives behind the Text actions button. What Microsoft says it does, where the text is processed, and why a snip is not a searchable file.

    snipping toolwindowsscreenshot

  23. PDF Expert OCR: Recognizing Text in a Scan on a Mac

    What PDF Expert OCR does, per Readdle: Mac only, the Scan and OCR tab step by step, the typo preview, language choice, and what to test afterwards.

    pdf expertmacsearchable pdf

  24. Genius Scan OCR: Text Recognition on a Phone Scan

    What Genius Scan OCR does: Text Recognition on the phone, which plans include it, the text layer in exported PDFs, TXT export and in-app content search.

    genius scanphone scanningsearchable pdf

  25. How to Make a PDF Searchable in Adobe Acrobat

    How to make a PDF searchable in Adobe Acrobat: the plan you need, the steps for one file and for a folder, how to test the result, and what to keep.

    adobe acrobatsearchable pdfhow to

  26. Adobe OCR: What Acrobat's Text Recognition Does

    Adobe OCR explained from Adobe's own help pages: which Adobe products recognize text, where the command is, what you can set, and what to check afterwards.

    adobe acrobatadobe scansearchable pdf

  27. Dropbox OCR: Which Scans Can You Search by Their Text?

    Dropbox OCR lets some paid plans search scanned documents by their text. Which plans, which scans Dropbox says it will not read, and what stays an image.

    dropboxdocument storagesearchable pdf

  28. Microsoft OneNote Handwriting to Text: Ink and Pictures

    Microsoft OneNote handwriting to text works on digital ink in the Windows app. See the steps, which versions have it, and what OneNote does with photos.

    onenotehandwritingink to text

  29. Convert PDF to Searchable PDF Mac: Preview and Live Text

    How to convert a PDF to a searchable PDF on a Mac: Preview's Embed Text export, what Live Text does and does not save, iPhone scanning, and other Mac apps.

    macpreviewlive textsearchable pdf

  30. Evernote Handwriting Recognition: What Search Can Find

    Evernote handwriting recognition explained from Evernote's help pages: what search finds in photos and PDFs, how to get typed text, and how to export notes.

    evernotehandwritingsearch

  31. How to Edit a Scanned Document in Word Without Retyping

    How to edit a scanned document in Word: open the scanned PDF from inside Word, let it convert, repair the layout, and track every edit you make afterwards.

    microsoft wordscanned pdfediting

  32. Google Lens Copy Text: What It Does With a Document

    Google Lens can copy text from a photo of a document to your clipboard. The Select text steps, what Google says about saved images, and where it stops.

    google lensphonecopy text

  33. Make PDF Searchable Without Acrobat: Tools You Have

    You can make a PDF searchable without Acrobat. See which tools you already have return a searchable PDF, which give only text, and how to pick a route.

    searchable pdfacrobat alternativesoffice software

  34. PDFelement OCR: Searchable Text or Editable Text?

    What PDFelement OCR does with a scanned PDF, per Wondershare: the searchable and editable text modes, the OCR plugin, batch OCR, and which mode to pick.

    pdfelementsearchable pdfpdf editors

  35. Convert Handwriting to Text in Word: Ink Tools Explained

    Word can convert handwriting to text when you write with the Ink to Text pen on a stylus device. See the requirements and what happens to scanned notes.

    microsoft wordhandwritingdigital ink

  36. GoodNotes Handwriting Recognition: What It Converts

    GoodNotes handwriting recognition explained from Goodnotes' support pages: search, lasso conversion to typed text, languages, export and where notes are stored.

    goodnoteshandwritingnote taking