What you want requires a two step process -- scan and use of optical character recognization OCR software to convert to text. Once you have the document in text you can save it as PDF.
You don't need OCR software -- the scanner should have an application that allows direct scan to PDF -- both my Canon scanners do, as have other HP scanners I've used. Alternatively, you can acquire the image using Word (there should be a TWAIN driver installed for the scanner - you should see "Acquire Image" under File in Word. Once that's done, you can print the page to a PDF (if you don't have it, download a copy of the Cute PDF writer, which is free and installs as a printer driver).
Most newer scanners even have a single-button scan to pdf that automatically activates the companion software on the PC.
what do you mean by OCR software? Is it the driver of the scanner? The problem is that after I scan the document, it looks like I can only save as a jpeg file and not a text file. How do I get the OCR software? can I download for free?
ieee488
4 Operator
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11.1K Posts
0
October 18th, 2010 16:00
You can't scan and save directly to a PDF file.
What you want requires a two step process -- scan and use of optical character recognization OCR software to convert to text. Once you have the document in text you can save it as PDF.
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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October 18th, 2010 17:00
You don't need OCR software -- the scanner should have an application that allows direct scan to PDF -- both my Canon scanners do, as have other HP scanners I've used. Alternatively, you can acquire the image using Word (there should be a TWAIN driver installed for the scanner - you should see "Acquire Image" under File in Word. Once that's done, you can print the page to a PDF (if you don't have it, download a copy of the Cute PDF writer, which is free and installs as a printer driver).
Most newer scanners even have a single-button scan to pdf that automatically activates the companion software on the PC.
ngsukming
6 Posts
0
October 18th, 2010 17:00
what do you mean by OCR software? Is it the driver of the scanner? The problem is that after I scan the document, it looks like I can only save as a jpeg file and not a text file. How do I get the OCR software? can I download for free?
ieee488
4 Operator
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11.1K Posts
0
October 18th, 2010 17:00
There are a couple of free OCR programs again. GIve them a try.
http://download.cnet.com/FreeOCR/3000-10743_4-10717191.html