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
ABBYY Finereader
(= recommended)
o
•
•
•
•
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.
2.
3.
4.
Open Image/PDF
Select language(s) !!
Click “Read”
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.
2.
3.
4.
Open Image/PDF
Select language(s) !!
Click “Read”
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.
2.
3.
4.
Open Image/PDF
Select language(s) !!
Click “Read”
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.
2.
3.
4.
Open Image/PDF
Select language(s) !!
Click “Read”
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!