Create one legible PDF from the field sketches and scanned survey sheets: merge FieldSketches_May2025.pdf and ScannedS…
Open the scanned PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
Go to the Tools menu.
Select Scan & OCR from the tools list.
Click Recognize Text and choose In This File.
In the settings panel, ensure PDF Output Style is set to Searchable Image.
Click Recognize to start the OCR process.
Save the PDF after OCR is complete.
Best practiceFor best OCR accuracy, scan your documents at 300 dpi and ensure the images are clear before running OCR.
After OCR completes, you can search, copy, and highlight text in your previously scanned PDF.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
For the best text recognition accuracy, you should scan documents at 300 dpi. Scanning at a lower resolution, like 72 dpi, can make it harder for Acrobat to correctly identify characters, leading to more errors in the searchable text. A higher DPI provides more detail for the OCR engine to work with.
Acrobat shows this message because the page you are trying to process already has actual text, not just an image of text. The 'Recognize Text' feature is designed to work only on pages that are image-based. If a page already has real text, Acrobat does not need to convert it, so it gives you this message. This is a good thing, as it means your text is already searchable.
| Feature | Regular PDF (image-only scan) | OCR PDF (with recognized text) |
|---|---|---|
| Text Selectable/Copyable | No, text is part of an image | Yes, text can be selected and copied |
| Text Searchable | No, cannot search for words | Yes, you can search for words and phrases |
| File Size | Often smaller if simple image | Slightly larger due to hidden text layer |
| Accessibility | Limited for screen readers | Improved for screen readers |
Converting scanned survey sheets to a searchable PDF is important for several reasons. It allows you to easily find specific information within the document by using the search function, saving a lot of time compared to reading every page. It also makes the document more accessible, as the text can be copied, edited, and read by screen readers. This helps with archiving and indexing, making your old documents much more useful in a digital format.