Missing option "Convert PDF To Editable File"

Report · May 12, 2015

Hi,

I'm trying to convert a pdf to a Word DOC with editable text. Each page of the original pdf (OP) is an image of text. I have Adobe PDF Pack (APP).

In APP, I chose Export PDF. In Select Files, I pick Choose files on My Computer and select the OP.

In the Convert To pulldown, I see DOCX, DOC, PPTX, XLSX, RTF, JPG, TIFF, and PNG.

Perusing the Using Adobe PDF Pack‌ help, I review section: Export PDF to Word/Excel, "To use OCR when you convert a PDF to Word, or Excel...".

At this point, I do not have the "Convert PDF To Editable File" option.

I checked my plan and saw the Upgrade to Pro option. I thought maybe an upgrade would help, so I did that.

After the upgrade, I logged off then on. Still no joy.

Please help.

Chris

Report · May 12, 2015

Hi rhaa,

Have you downloaded and installed Acrobat Pro, since you upgraded? If you have, then you can export directly to Word from within Acrobat. You would simply open your PDF, and choose File > Export To > Microsoft Word...

You can download your software from https://cloud.acrobat.com/acrobat.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Sara

Report · May 12, 2015

Thanks for responding, Sara.

No, I haven't downloaded it. Still, per my posted help link Using Adobe PDF Pack, shouldn't the "Convert PDF To Editable File" option be included in my Adobe PDF Pack, i.e. the one I had before upgrading to Pro?

Report · May 12, 2015

Yes, rhaa, you're right. You most certainly can export from PDF to Word using Adobe PDF Pack, and in the screenshot above, it looks like you're almost there. (I think those instructions need to be updated!) Once you've chosen your file, and selected the output format, the last step is to click that blue Export to Word button that's peeking out at the bottom of your screen shot. Then, the file will be converted and uploaded to your Document Cloud storage account.

Best,

Sara

Report · May 12, 2015

Hi Sara,

Yes. I forgot to mention that earlier. I picked the Export to Word button and it converts to DOC. However, when I download then open the DOC file, the text is still images instead of text. Isn't it supposed to convert it to text?

I thought since I am missing the "Convert PDF To Editable File" menu option, maybe that's why it wasn't converting the images to text. Hence, my post.

If you you are saying that option in the help link Using Adobe PDF Pack is not correct, that means it is no longer an option, i.e. OCR is always on. Is that so?

Report · May 12, 2015

Hi rhaa,

Yes, it should. Sometimes, it takes a triple-click in the Word doc to select text; sometimes it's necessary to click Enable Editing at the top of the Word doc.

But, if those things don't work, we need to take a look at how that PDF was created. Some PDFs created by third-party apps (non-Adobe apps) aren't written to spec, and don't contain all the information necessary to ensure a good conversion. You can tell how the PDF was created by choosing File > Properties in Acrobat or Reader and looking for the PDF Producer on the General tab.

Best,

Sara

Report · May 12, 2015

Hi Sara,

Here are some facts and observations.

When I open the original PDF, I can select text. Also, the text is clearly legible. But, copy and pasting that to a text file yields some incorrect text. i.e. ALL text doesn't translate correctly. Most does but not all.

After doing the Adobe PDF Pack to Export to Word, the text on each page or the DOC file has an overlayed image, which is the original text. Erasing that reveals text below, which is the same text I copied and pasted earlier, including the incorrect text.

Question: Is the text below the OCR'd text? If so, I am guessing there's no way to improve the OCR accuracy?

Chris

Report · May 12, 2015

Here is the Original PDF: Document Properties

Report · May 13, 2015

Hi rhaa,

From the hole punches in the document, I'm guessing this is a scanned document. Is that correct? The quality of the scan can certainly affect output to PDF and subsequent conversion to Word. In this case, the scan seems to a little crooked, and there appears to be a tint to the background. Both these factors can affect document/conversion quality.

Best,

Sara

Report · May 13, 2015

Hi Sara,

OK. So as far as OCR improvement/ability, looks like my upgrade yesterday to Pro was never needed. May I cancel that transaction?

Report · May 13, 2015

Hi rhaa,

I'm sorry that your subscription didn't work out for you. You certainly may cancel. Please Contact Customer Care so that a Customer Care agent can cancel that annual subscription for you.

Best,

Sara