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Max31496242hvzb
Participant
August 4, 2023
Question

Random characters when copying from PDF

  • August 4, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 1869 views

I have a pdf which I am working with consistently, but most pages have all of the characters look like this when I copy them or try to find them with crtl + f:

 

􀀤􀀧􀀭􀀤􀀦􀀨􀀱􀀷􀀃􀀷􀀲􀀃􀀷􀀫􀀨

 

If I copy with formatting, I get the following:

 

$'-$&(17 72 7+(

 

I really want to be able to search this pdf, but I can't find how to convert these back to normal text. For context, on the pdf itself, the letters render correctly and look normal. It's only when copying and pasting, or trying to find them that this occurs.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    try67
    Community Expert
    try67Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 7, 2023

    This usually indicates an incorrect font encoding in the file. One way of solving it (assuming you didn't create it) is it re-create the file by exporting all the pages as (high quality) images, then create a new PDF file from those images and run Text Recognition on it. If the results are good you should then be able to copy the text from it.

    M
    Max31496242hvzbAuthor
    Participant
    August 7, 2023

    Hi,

     

    I have tried to export as a JPEG and as a PNG to do this, but both result in a very grainy looking result. The text recognition is able to pick up most of it, but there are 2 peristent problems. First, the text becomes harder to read from a general stand point because of the grainy nature. Second, is there is both horizontal and vertical text in the pdf, and only the horizontal text is recognized by the text recognition. Any reccomendations?

     

    Thanks,

    Max

    try67
    Community Expert
    try67Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 7, 2023

    - Use PNG, but first go to Edit - Preferences - Convert From PDF, select PNG and set the resolution to a high value.

    - No, sorry. This is not something I can help you solve.

    Meenakshi_Negi
    Meenakshi_Negi
    Legend
    August 7, 2023

    Hi Max31496242hvzb,

     

    Thank you for reaching out.

     

    Please confirm if the text appears like this when you copy and paste it into PDF or if the text you copy converts to this. This could be font related issue. However, we will require the PDF to check and confirm. 

    Would you mind sharing the sample PDF to replicate the behavior?

    If you can share the PDF, share your machine's Acrobat and OS versions.

     

    Let us know if you have any questions.

     

    Thanks,

    Meenakshi

    M
    Max31496242hvzbAuthor
    Participant
    August 7, 2023

    Hi,

     

    I'm not able to provide a sample of the PDF unfortunately. They're work docs. Is there any way I can find the info you are looking for on the doc and pass it along to help?

     

    Thanks,

    Max

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