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Copy and Paste text and Graphics together from a PDF

Forum Index > General Acrobat Topics > Copy and Paste text and Graphics together from a PDF
2009-02-14 20:33:16
lieserj
Registered: Feb 14 2009
Posts: 3

I have looked all over for a solution to this problem and it seems to evade me. It seems to me that this should be very easy to do so here goes…

I have an application which involves the user performing a copy-and-paste operation using the Snapshot Tool from an Adobe PDF file containing images and searchable text. These files are the result of a scanned document which subsequently has had OCR processing performed on it resulting in an image-over-text PDF file. Currently they are pasting the results into RTF files resulting in an image-only copy of the source PDF file. This RTF file is then converted into a PDF for printing and/or distribution.

I need to allow a user to draw a marquee-style box similar to that used by the Snapshot Tool to select an area of the aforementioned PDF files but I need this to copy and paste both the image and the text behind that image. Alternatively, I could accept having them produce a document that would then have to have OCR processing performed on it but currently my attempts to make this happen have all resulted in the OCR process producing nothing from the image of the copied text no matter how high the resolution.

We are currently using Adobe Reader 7.0 and Word 2003 but upgrading or purchasing new software would not be an issue if it solved this problem. I downloaded the trial version of Acrobat 9 but I can’t seem to get it to cooperate with me.

I need some serious help here as having this capability has the potential to save my clients a lot of time and money. I thank you in advance for your assistance.

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2009-02-17 12:58:22
#1
daka630
Expert
Registered: Mar 1 2007
Posts: 1420
lieserj,
Just some observations.
With Reader 7 the snapshot tool output is exclusively a graphic.
With the Acrobat product(s) the input can be graphics/text and the
output repurposed back into a new PDF.
See:
[url]http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/pdfs/lc_snapshot_tool_tip.pdf[/url]

With Acrobat 7 Pro, the OCR text can be exported to Word. No image per se.
But... multiple Word form fields containing the text. Within each "box" you can edit.
A real chore if working the entire text flow is desired.

What your users can/cannot do will be predicated upon what they use
(Reader/Standard/Professional).

[url=http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/pdfs/acro7_matrix.pdf]Acrobat 7 Product features[/url]


It may be that a "one size fits all" solution may not be practicable.

Be well...

Be well...

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2009-02-18 10:00:52
#2
lieserj
Registered: Feb 14 2009
Posts: 3
data630,

Thanks for the reply but respectfully, I'm still no closer to a solution.

What I am trying to do is to copy and paste a portion of an image-over-text PDF to another document. I am not too particular as to exactly what type of document that is so long as it retains both the text and the image and can be printed and searched. Presumably, this other document would be another PDF since I know of no other type of document that offers the ability to have image-over-text content in that fashion.

The OCR process I am using is actually another software package (OmniPage) and not the OCR that is available from within Acrobat. This is mainly due to the need for me to be able to process these documents using an automated process without the need for user interaction of any kind. The only user interaction in this entire process would be the actual copy-and-paste operation.

If you (or anyone else for that matter) have any ideas for me I would be most appreciative.

Thanks
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