OCR and making your publications accessible A practical guide
What is OCR? Optical Character Recognition Image => text Full text search made possible
OCR and LIRIAS Self prepared researcher’s bibliography Upload PDF-file of publication Make it searchable using OCR
3 possible scenarios 1. PDF-file is already searchable 2. Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Non-electronic publication
Scenario 1: PDF-file is already searchable 1. Determine if file is searchable : ‘Ctrl + F’ + type a random letter or word in document + press backspace 2. The word you typed is now highlighted
Scenario 1: PDF-file is already searchable Congratulations! You now have a searchable PDF-file!
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 1. Determine if file is searchable : ‘Ctrl + F’ + type a random letter or word in document 2. Pop-up ‘No matches found’ 3. Use OCR-software
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software o ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) Library software license 1 computer in the general reading room with license Practical help from library staff Advanced + control
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software o ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) 1.Open Image/PDF
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software 2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) 1.Open Image/PDF 2.Select language(s) !!
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software 2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) 1.Open Image/PDF 2.Select language(s) !! 3.Click “Read”
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software 2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) 1.Open Image/PDF 2.Select language(s) !! 3.Click “Read” 4.Check for errors and make changes to the text manually in “Text” field
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software 2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) 1.Open Image/PDF 2.Select language(s) !! 3.Click “Read” 4.Check for errors and make changes to the text manually in “Text” field 5.Click “Verification”
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software 2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) 1.Open Image/PDF 2.Select language(s) !! 3.Click “Read” 4.Check for errors and make changes to the text manually in “Text” field 5.Click “Verification” 6.Click next to “Send” 7.“Save as PDF Document …” or “Save as PDF/A Document…”
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file 3. Use OCR-software 2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended) 1.Open Image/PDF 2.Select language(s) !! 3.Click “Read” 4.Check for errors and make changes to the text manually in “Text” field 5.Click “Verification” 6.Click next to “Send” 7.“Save as PDF Document …” or “Save as PDF/A Document…”
Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file Congratulations! You now have a searchable PDF-file!
Scenario 3: Non-electronic publication Printed version Use scanner or copier at Maurits Sabbe Library Save document as PDF-file Repeat steps for scenario 2
Scenario 3: Non-electronic publication Congratulations! You now have a searchable PDF-file!
The finishing touch Upload your searchable PDF-file to MyLirias bibliography
The finishing touch Congratulations! A searchable file of your publication is now available in LIRIAS!