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About proofreading and searchable PDF

A PDF generated by scanning contains only page images. Power PDF allows such image-only PDF documents to be made searchable. This is achieved by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This process can be made more accurate by proofreading. To start proofreading, select Home > Make PDF Searchable > Proofreader.

Note For detailed instructions on how to create a searchable PDF, see Make PDF files searchable. Preferences as described in Searchable PDF Conversion Settings.

Tip Select to have proofreading run whenever you make a PDF searchable at File > Options > Document > Searchable PDF Document.

Proofreading can raise the accuracy of text generated by OCR. The recognition determines a confidence level for each recognized character and each word. It offers doubted words for checking. The top of the proofreader panel (A) shows a picture of the word or string. The next panel (B) shows the current solution while the bottom panel (C) lists alternatives derived with the help of a dictionary. Use the buttons on the right to retain the current solution or select one of the suggestions. If none are suitable, type the correct word or string into the Suspect word text box, and press OK. Click Document Ready (D) to finish proofing before the end of the document is reached. Click 'Page Ready (E) to skip the remaining text on the current page and move to the next page. Select the Show recognized text in document check box (F) to turn the text layer visible and fade the original image layer, in some cases this provides better readability.


Proofreading window

The buttons on the right allow you to handle the proposed solutions:

  • Ignore: Select if the current suggestion is correct. The proofreader moves to the next doubted word.

  • Ignore all: Select to signal that all further identical doubted words are considered correct.

  • Not text: The OCR process may create text solutions for line art or diagrams. Use this button to drop the suggested text.

  • Add: Accept the currently selected solution and add it to the current dictionary.

    Note At this location you can select a dictionary. It is possible to specify a user dictionary to supplement the built-in dictionary or to assist in recognizing languages without a built-in dictionary.

  • Change: Accept the currently selected solution.

  • Change All: Accept the currently selected solution, and accept it to all further identical occurrences.

If no suggestion is correct, type the correct solution in the edit box and click Change or Change All.