ocr and making your publications accessible

OCR and making your publications accessibleA 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 scenarios1. PDF-file is already searchable2. Non-searchable PDF-file3. Non-electronic publication

Scenario 1: PDF-file is already searchable1. 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-file1. 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-file3. 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-file3. Use OCR-software

o ABBYY Finereader (= recommended)

1. Open Image/PDF

Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file3. Use OCR-software

2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended)

1. Open Image/PDF2. Select language(s) !!

Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file3. Use OCR-software

2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended)

1. Open Image/PDF2. Select language(s) !!3. Click “Read”

Scenario 2: Non-searchable PDF-file3. Use OCR-software

2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended)

1. Open Image/PDF2. 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-file3. Use OCR-software

2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended)

1. Open Image/PDF2. 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-file3. Use OCR-software

2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended)

1. Open Image/PDF2. 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-file3. Use OCR-software

2. ABBYY Finereader (= recommended)

1. Open Image/PDF2. 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!