Create a Searchable PDF

Turn scanned documents into editable, searchable PDFs with reaConverter's OCR technology. Easily convert raster formats like JPEG or TIFF into digital text for efficient editing, searching, and automated processes.
Scanning a document usually implies making a digital copy of the original text in a raster format, such as JPEG or TIFF. The biggest problem here is that the resulting file is basically viewed as a picture, which means the text cannot be edited or searched.
This is particularly daunting when you have to deal with long texts, books, an invoice that needs to be corrected, a bank statement that has to undergo machine translation etc. But with the optical character recognition (OCR) technology, this problem can be solved. Imitating how the human eye and brain function, OCR uses pattern recognition and feature detection to turn a typed or handwritten text into a text file.
OCR means the text from scanned or photographed documents can be digitised so that it becomes searchable and editable. For example, photographing a certificate with your smartphone can result in a digital copy that you can later modify, or photographing/scanning a book can result in a document you can easily search by key words or phrases. This translates into a lot of saved time and energy!
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How to Use OCR to Convert Images to Searchable PDFs?

1. Open Images

Add all the images file that need conversion to PDF using optical character recognition. Drag-and-drop them, add entire folders or add them selectively according to extension and file size, using the Advanced file select option.

2. Turn On OCR Feature

Go to the Menu button and then click Saving settings → Format saving settings → PDF

Once you get here, tick the box near Create searchable PDF in language, and then pick one of the 8 languages available (English, Deutsch, French, Nederlands, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Russian).

In the PDF Security Settings section you can enter a password for opening the output PDF files and one for allowing various actions applied to it — printing, editing or copying.

3. Start Conversion

In the Save as options section, pick a destination folder on your hard drive. Finally, don't forget to select PDF as output format.

Then simply press Convert – your editable and searchable PDFs will soon be ready!

Create searchable PDFs on your PC

The fastest and easiest way to convert documents with OCR is by using reaConverter. The software works entirely offline, ensuring your files remain safe and private.

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Create a searchable PDF with command-line tool

You can also use OCR from command-line interface, either manually or through automated scripts. reaConverter Pro includes a command-line tool called cons_rcp.exe — an advanced feature designed for professional use, available exclusively in the Pro edition.

OCR conversion example:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.tif" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.pdf" -create_searchable_pdf 1 -searchable_pdf_lang eng

Manual

-create_searchable_pdf
  where value = 1 if you want to create searchable PDF and = 0 otherwise
-searchable_pdf_lang
  where value = Searchable PDF language (eng - English; deu - Deutsch; fra - French; nld - Nederlands; por - Portuguese; spa - Spanish; rus - Russian)

You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

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reaConverter offers advanced batch processing, editing, and conversion for virtually every image format — with unmatched precision and speed.
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