Searchable PDFs - C-Command Forums

nonsequito · 11-27-2009, 03:31 PM

Question from a trial user:

I have many PDFs of books I do in my research. Is there a way to get them into EF in a searchable way?

Thanks

Michael Tsai · 11-27-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsequito

I have many PDFs of books I do in my research. Is there a way to get them into EF in a searchable way?

If the PDFs contain text, EagleFiler can search them. If the PDFs only contain images, you would need to run them through OCR software, which adds a text layer that EagleFiler and other PDF software can read.

bob · 11-30-2009, 07:07 PM

ABBYY FineReader and Acrobat can OCR PDFs into Searchable PDFs (text overlay)

Michael Tsai · 11-30-2009, 07:30 PM

Another option is PDFpen.

CTS · 12-14-2009, 11:08 PM

I am always confused by the topic of OCR. My Brother printer/scanner appears to come with built-in OCR software. By using the "Brother Control Center" I can select an OCR option and get searchable text.

At the same time, doesn't Image Capture, which comes on the iMac, provide OCR capability? I think I've used that as an alternative to the Brother stuff.

What is gained by using the other programs mentioned in this thread?

brab · 12-15-2009, 05:32 AM

Are there plans to integrate an OCR engine in EF?

If not, could someone share a script that automatically does OCR on PDFs using PDFPen on import?

Thanks!

Michael Tsai · 12-15-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTS

At the same time, doesn't Image Capture, which comes on the iMac, provide OCR capability?

Image Capture does not have built-in OCR, but if you have other OCR software you can probably setup Image Capture to invoke it after scanning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brab

Are there plans to integrate an OCR engine in EF?

That’s something I’m considering. Sorry, that’s all I want to say for now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brab

If not, could someone share a script that automatically does OCR on PDFs using PDFPen on import?

That sounds like a great idea for a script! I’ll see what I can do.

Michael Tsai · 12-15-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brab

If not, could someone share a script that automatically does OCR on PDFs using PDFPen on import?

I’ve just written a script to do this, but there seem to be two bugs in PDFpen that prevent it from working. I’ve reported them to SmileOnMyMac, and I’ll update this thread when we have a resolution.

brab · 12-16-2009, 05:44 AM

Great news, thanks!

brab · 02-03-2010, 08:16 AM

I guess that no update to this thread means there has been no news on this front?

Michael Tsai · 02-03-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brab

I guess that no update to this thread means there has been no news on this front?

Correct. The last PDFpen update was on December 16, just one day after I reported this bug. Hopefully they’ll get to it in the next update.

Michael Tsai · 02-15-2010, 09:39 PM

The PDFpen developer sent me a workaround for the problem, so I’ve posted the OCR With PDFpen script.

brab · 02-16-2010, 03:50 AM

Great news, thanks!

I have a tiny suggestion: maybe the script could add the tag "ocred" or something similar to help finding pdfs which have not yet been ocred.

cmoore · 02-18-2010, 11:57 AM

Another solution would be to use the ocr to EagleFiler script that michael has. Make a target folder, and add that script to the folder as a folder action, have you scanner deposit the pdfs it makes to that folder, and the rest just happens. I know it works because I've been using it to scan my receipts into EagleFiler. My Backlog went away in short order with that script which is here.

kaybee · 02-22-2010, 12:49 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the the OCR With PDFpen script! This was really the last feature that made me vacillate between EagleFiler and DevonThink. Now, for me, EagleFiler is a clear winner!

kaybee · 02-22-2010, 08:21 PM

There is a 20% discount on PDFpen and PDFpen Pro available until 02/28/10:

http://www.smileonmymac.com/mpu/

11-27-2009, 03:31 PM	#1
nonsequito New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4	Searchable PDFs Question from a trial user: I have many PDFs of books I do in my research. Is there a way to get them into EF in a searchable way? Thanks

12-14-2009, 11:08 PM	#5
CTS Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 89	Ocr I am always confused by the topic of OCR. My Brother printer/scanner appears to come with built-in OCR software. By using the "Brother Control Center" I can select an OCR option and get searchable text. At the same time, doesn't Image Capture, which comes on the iMac, provide OCR capability? I think I've used that as an alternative to the Brother stuff. What is gained by using the other programs mentioned in this thread?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Links to specific pages within PDFs	marick	EagleFiler	1	03-03-2008 01:15 PM
Issues importing OCR PDFs from DevonThink Pro	spi	EagleFiler	4	02-19-2008 03:04 PM
rotated pdfs	chipbrock	EagleFiler	2	11-30-2007 10:39 AM
Viewing PDFs	brab	EagleFiler	5	08-02-2007 04:11 PM

11-30-2009, 07:07 PM	#3
bob Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 17	ABBYY FineReader and Acrobat can OCR PDFs into Searchable PDFs (text overlay)

11-30-2009, 07:30 PM	#4
Michael Tsai Developer Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,128	Another option is PDFpen.

12-15-2009, 05:32 AM	#6
brab Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 211	Are there plans to integrate an OCR engine in EF? If not, could someone share a script that automatically does OCR on PDFs using PDFPen on import? Thanks!

12-16-2009, 05:44 AM	#9
brab Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 211	Great news, thanks!

02-03-2010, 08:16 AM	#10
brab Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 211	I guess that no update to this thread means there has been no news on this front?

02-15-2010, 09:39 PM	#12
Michael Tsai Developer Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,128	The PDFpen developer sent me a workaround for the problem, so I’ve posted the OCR With PDFpen script.

02-16-2010, 03:50 AM	#13
brab Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 211	Great news, thanks! I have a tiny suggestion: maybe the script could add the tag "ocred" or something similar to help finding pdfs which have not yet been ocred.

02-18-2010, 11:57 AM	#14
cmoore Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 19	Another solution would be to use the ocr to EagleFiler script that michael has. Make a target folder, and add that script to the folder as a folder action, have you scanner deposit the pdfs it makes to that folder, and the rest just happens. I know it works because I've been using it to scan my receipts into EagleFiler. My Backlog went away in short order with that script which is here.

02-22-2010, 12:49 PM	#15
kaybee Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 8	Thank you, thank you, thank you for the the OCR With PDFpen script! This was really the last feature that made me vacillate between EagleFiler and DevonThink. Now, for me, EagleFiler is a clear winner!

02-22-2010, 08:21 PM	#16
kaybee Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 8	There is a 20% discount on PDFpen and PDFpen Pro available until 02/28/10: http://www.smileonmymac.com/mpu/