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26 July 2023  Jennifer Thatcher  Technology Manager of Test Dept.
Last update by Emma Johnson at 31 May 2024

Summary
Learn how to convert scanned PDF files to TXT format to easily copy and use the text in other documents. Find the solution in this article.



Table of contents

table iconI. The difference between scanned PDF and ordinary PDF files
table iconII. Use Renee PDF Aide to convert scanned PDF to TXT
table iconIII. Other recommended PDF software with OCR technology
table iconIV. Summary
convert scanned pdf to text

I. The difference between scanned PDF and ordinary PDF files

Scan version PDF document: This document is created by scanning, storing text as images. Enlarging it may cause distortion or aliasing, resulting in lower clarity compared to standard text PDF files.
ordinary PDF document Generally, it is a text version, which has high definition and small file size. Each text can be copied separately, and there will be no distortion or jaggedness after enlargement.
To convert a scanned PDF to TXT, use a PDF conversion tool with OCR technology. One practical PDF converter with OCR technology is Renee PDF Aide. Here’s how to use it to convert scanned PDFs to TXT.

II. Use Renee PDF Aide to convert scanned PDF to TXT

1. What is Renee PDF Aide

Renee PDF Aide is a multifunctional tool for PDF editing and format conversion. With a simple interface and diverse functions, it offers practical PDF editing capabilities such as repairing damaged files, optimizing large file loading times, splitting/merging PDFs, adjusting display angles, encrypting/decrypting PDFs, and adding multi-form watermarks and images to PDFs. Additionally, it converts PDFs to formats like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Image, HTML, and TXT, supporting quick conversion of entire documents or specified pages at speeds up to 80 pages per minute.
Renee PDF Aide integrates advanced OCR technology and provides OCR language packages including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Selecting the appropriate recognition language in OCR mode significantly improves character recognition accuracy for scanned documents or pictures.
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Compatible Support Windows 11/10/8/8.1/Vista/7/XP/2K

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OCR Support Extract Text from Scanned PDFs, Images & Embedded

Support Windows 11/10/8/8.1/Vista/7/XP/2K

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2. How to use Renee PDF Aide to convert scanned PDF to TXT?

Renee PDF Aide can convert PDF files into other common formats, such as Word/ Excel/ PowerPoint/ Image/ HTML/ TXT, etc. Let’s see how to use Renee PDF Aide’s OCR function to convert scanned PDF to TXT.
Step 1: Download and install Renee PDF Aide, run the software, and select the (Convert PDF) option.
select to convert pdf with renee pdf converter
Step 2: On the format conversion page, select the desired format for conversion, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Image, HTML, or TXT. Choose TXT for this example. Click the Add Files button to import the scanned PDF into Renee PDF Aide. Check the Enable OCR option to enhance text recognition during conversion.
how to convert pdf to text with renee pdf aide
Instructions for enabling OCR technology:

A. Recognize text in image or scanned PDF: This option can recognize text in pictures or PDF scans, and OCR technology improves text recognition accuracy.

B. Recognize embedded fonts (to avoid garbled codes): This option is useful when the PDF source file has built-in fonts, preventing garbled characters after format conversion.

Step 3: Click the (Convert) button on the right to convert the scanned PDF file into a TXT file.
convert and make an pdf to editable text with renee pdf aide ocr
Kind tips If the scanned PDF file is too large, you can optimize (compress) it through Renee PDF Aide’s “PDF Tools.” It also offers repair, split, merge, rotate, encryption/decryption, watermark, image conversion, and other functions, all supporting batch operations for practicality and convenience.

use the pdf functions to edit with renee pdf aide

PDF Tools Function:

  • Repair: Fix damaged or unopenable PDF files.
  • Optimization: Speed up loading times and compress large PDF files.
  • Split: Split multi-page PDFs into multiple files as needed.
  • Merge: Combine multiple PDFs into one, with the option to specify pages.
  • Rotation: Adjust the display angle of PDF files.
  • Encrypt and Decrypt: Encrypt, lock, and decrypt PDFs.
  • Watermark: Add foreground or background watermarks using images or PDFs.
  • Image to PDF: Convert single or multiple images into single or multiple PDF files.

III. Other recommended PDF software with OCR technology

1. Soda PDF software

Soda PDF software is a free OCR tool for converting scanned PDFs to editable formats like TXT, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. It supports batch conversion, text and image modifications, annotations, digital signatures, electronic passwords, and file sharing to Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive.
Soda PDF software

2. Google Docs

Google Docs can use OCR on image and PDF files. Simply upload the scanned PDF or image to Google Drive, which will open a new page in Google Docs and extract the text using OCR technology. However, its accuracy is lower than other tools. If text recognition errors are unacceptable, consider using other software.
Google Docs

IV. Summary

The above introduces the method of converting scanned PDFs to TXT files. Among several PDF software with OCR technology, Renee PDF Aide and Google Docs have simple interfaces suitable for novices. However, Renee PDF Aide offers OCR language packs in English, French, German, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and more. Selecting the appropriate language pack for the PDF text results in higher conversion accuracy compared to Google Docs.
The Soda PDF software provides many PDF-related operating tools, so its interface is more complicated and the operating threshold is higher, which is suitable for professional users who have more operating requirements for PDF files.