setting PDF searchable as default

[xyz1066]

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.

[try67]

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.

[xyz1066]

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.

[xyz1066]

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

[gudguy1a]

Sorry but not all PDFs are searchable by default. And unfortunately, some of the older formats are not searchable, esp. if they saved that PDF as a bitmap...

If there is text and they do not set it to searchable - THAT text will not be searchable unless the user knows to double click on some text to copy.

[gudguy1a]

And then only after that user sets it to searchable....

[try67]

If you read what I wrote carefully you'll see I said pretty much the same thing, but in a different way.

All PDF files are searchable, but whether or not that search is successful depends on whether they contain "real" text. If they only contain images ("bitmaps") then the search will not yield anything, as there's nothing to find.

[Jeffrey231058389a4v]

I am guessing that @xyz1066, being someone seeking advice, rather than claiming to know everything about Adobe, in plain language, is asking why Adobe doesn't automatically OCR scan (or how to make it default to that action) so that one may search for specific character strings in any pdf. I too would like to know if one can set Adobe to automatically convert images to text so that I can search them without having to do it myself and getting a cup of coffee while Adobe does it. 

[Bernd Alheit]

> ... why Adobe doesn't automatically OCR scan ...

Acrobat can scan and perform OCR in one step.

[Test Screen Name]

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.

[gudguy1a]

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]

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.

[Test Screen Name]

Since this is a screen shot from scanning software, it naturally offers the chance of running OCR, which it calls "making a searchable PDF". This is important and useful/vital for scanning. But it could be a catastrophe for PDF files make in other ways. So there isn't a way to turn it on for saving. You just need to make sure your flow does OCR where needed, not try to pick up the pieces later.