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xyz1066
Participating Frequently
June 22, 2018
Question

setting PDF searchable as default

  • June 22, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 7037 views

I have adobe acrobat standard 2017.  Is there a way to set "pdf searchable" as the standard default "save" setting for all pdf documents?  Right now, I'm use the enhance tool to covert a pdf file to pdf searchable and that strikes me as an enormous waste of time.

Relatedly, is there a way to search my hard drive for pdf documents that have been saved to the pdf format, rather than pdf searchable?  A batch conversion tool would be nice, but I'd settle for finding them first.  Thanks.

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    3 replies

    gudguy1a
    gudguy1a
    Participating Frequently
    October 9, 2022

    There 'IS' search a thing as save as "searchable PDF" - THERE IS a setting for it.  See attachment.

     

    I know this is late but I wanted to add to this conversation for others to ensure THEY know THERE IS such a searchable PDF setting. RIGHT in the prompt box when you initiate the scan from your PC....

     

    I've been doing that for over a decade....

      try67
      Community Expert
      try67Community Expert
      Community Expert
      October 9, 2022

      Notice this is not an Adobe dialog window, but an HP one. My guess is this just means the file will undergo OCR after it's created. To reiterate, there's no such setting in a PDF file that makes it searchable or not searchable.

      T
      Test Screen Name
      Legend
      June 24, 2018

      The thing is it isn't a save setting at all. Whether it's searchable comes from how you make it, or what you do after making it. Saving doesn't recognise text.

      try67
      Community Expert
      try67Community Expert
      Community Expert
      June 23, 2018

      There's no such thing as a "searchable PDF" file format. Any PDF is searchable, if it contains actual text, and not just an image.

      If your files are scanned then you need to run Text Recognition for them to be searchable.

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      xyz1066Author
      Participating Frequently
      July 4, 2018

      OK, I get that pdf searchable isn't a save setting in adobe acrobat, although it's worth noting that other programs, some years older than the current version of adobe acrobat (such as HP's scanner software) do automatically save to pdf searchable, presumably by conducting OCR before saving.  But it strikes me as odd that acrobat can't be set up to automatically conduct the text recognition action.

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        xyz1066Author
        Participating Frequently
        July 4, 2018

        And paperport had this ability years ago, as well.  2010, 2011?  Maybe before that?

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