transfer OCR/textual data into a scanned PDF

[esc..]

I often print out PDF documents to make hand-written notes on, which I then scan into new PDFs for archiving. The original PDFs are searchable, and I would like to be able to transfer that OCR/textual data over to the scanned PDF so that I end up with a PDF that has my own notes AND in which the original text is searchable. Is that possible?

Many thanks for your help!

[try67]

No. You have to run OCR again on the file.

[gary_sc · Accepted solution]

Try 67 is correct; you cannot "transfer" over the OCR data.

However, if you try to run OCR over the same document, every place where your drawing overlaps text, it will foul up any OCR attempt. 

You do not detail what kind of notes you are doing, but if you were to do those notes on the computer, either adding text or drawing your notes with the pencil tool (from comments) you could have both: the original searchable text and your notes.

[esc..]

thanks @try67 and @gary_sc for your help. As gary_sc points out, the OCR will be messed up as my notes (text notes and underlining/highlighting) overlap the original text in places. Your suggestion is probably the most practical solution from here on. Time to think about getting a tablet…