Unable to search in a pdf file

[souravbohra]

Hey hi

I am unable to search words in a pdf file. Can someone guide me what should i do??

[~graffiti]

The main reason that normally causes this is because the pdf is created from a scanned image. That means, there is no text to search (and nothing you can do about it using the free Reader software).

You can test this. Using the select tool, try selecting a word in the text. If you can't do it, it's a scan.

[souravbohra]

I am able to select a word and copy. But when i am pasting it in word, it is showing many squares or diamond shaped symbols. Kindly help me. I need a solution to it as soon as possible.

[souravbohra]

I am able to select a word and copy. But when i am pasting it in word, it is showing many squares or diamond shaped symbols. Kindly help me. I need a solution to it as soon as possible.

[try67]

Another reason might be that the text is badly encoded. To test that, if you were able to select the text (as mentioned above), copy it and then paste into a plain-text editor. Does it come out as legible text? If not, then it also can't be searched.

[souravbohra]

I am able to select a word and copy. But when i am pasting it in word, it is showing many squares or diamond shaped symbols. Kindly help me. I need a solution to it as soon as possible.

[souravbohra]

I am able to select a word and copy. But when i am pasting it in word, it is showing many squares or diamond shaped symbols. Kindly help me. I need a solution to it as soon as possible.

[try67]

Report the issue to the people who created the file. There's nothing you can do about it with the free Reader.

[sanchij8420174]

Hi Sourav,

Please share the PDF. It will help us to resolve the issue quickly.

[souravbohra]

How to share pdf file here?

[sanchij24189538]

You can send file here: [Moderator: Personal information removed] send private message: How Do I Send Private Message and how to share a file: How to share a file using Adobe Document Cloud

[th31754468]

I have a pdf that I can't make word searchable. Is there something I can do to change that?

[sanchij24189538]

Yes, you can subscribe to Adobe Acrobat DC if you are not subscribed. In Adobe Acrobat DC we have Preflight tool which will make your PDF searchable.

[try67]

The Preflight tool doesn't make a file searchable. They would need to use the Recognize Text tool for that.

[th31754468]

So where do I find that?

[try67]

In Acrobat DC search the Tools panel for "recognize".

[Rick26671084lva0]

Open it in MS Word and search away.  For Free.  Save it back, and search the PDF in Adobe or any other program. For Free.  Because now it is text.

[Rick26671084lva0]

I meant to say open it in OneNote and OCR it.

Sorry, cant edit a comment.  It is forever a mistake.  Thanks Adobe Forum