Free OCR
If you have a PDF that you'd like to scrape text from and paste into a .doc or .txt file, you might consider taking a look at FreeOCR.
Much of what I've been able to translate into Braille has come from scraping text
from PDF files. Sometimes simply saving the PDF as a text file doesn't work. The
resulting text is either garbled or too scrambled to work with.
FreeOCR does allow you to scan with a scanner, but I found it very useful to just open and 'scan' the PDF file and paste the results into Notepad or Jarte. After giving the text a quick look over, save the file as a .txt file. The file can be translated or used on a portable Braille device.
To download:
1. Go to www.paperfile.net
2. When the page settles down, scroll down to Download FreeOCR and select the
'Download Here' button.
3. Once the page settles down, the download should begin downloading. If not,
select the 'Click Here' link to retry.
4. When done, go to your Downloads folder and select the freeocr.exe file.
5. A walk through of installation:
a. If the Unkown Publisher window pops up, select Run.
b. If User Account window pops up, select OK.
c. Select Next when the Welcome screen pops up.
d. The next screens shows installation progress. Takes a few moments.
e. PAY ATTENTION to the next couple of screens. You decide to if you want to Decline or Agree. You can Decline to all and the program will still work.
Screen #1: Quick access to Social Sites, Music, and more. Decline / Agree
Screen #2: Speed Up your computer with RegClean Pro. Decline /Agree
6. Select Next for Descktop Icon when the Setup - FreeOCR screen appears.
7. Finally select Install.
Quick run through for scrapping text from an electronic .pdf, .doc, etc.
1. Once program has settled down, ALT + F to display File menu and select type of file to open or scan using scanner.
2. Once file is loaded, ALT + O then ENTER to begin process or select the OCR button. Select either page or all pages options.
3. When done processing, ALT + T to copy text to clipboard and paste into document.
That newly saved document can be translated into Braille or used with a portable Braille device with a refreshable Braille display.
Note: Using a screen reader only allow you to process one page. Couldn't figure out a work around.
Much of what I've been able to translate into Braille has come from scraping text
from PDF files. Sometimes simply saving the PDF as a text file doesn't work. The
resulting text is either garbled or too scrambled to work with.
FreeOCR does allow you to scan with a scanner, but I found it very useful to just open and 'scan' the PDF file and paste the results into Notepad or Jarte. After giving the text a quick look over, save the file as a .txt file. The file can be translated or used on a portable Braille device.
To download:
1. Go to www.paperfile.net
2. When the page settles down, scroll down to Download FreeOCR and select the
'Download Here' button.
3. Once the page settles down, the download should begin downloading. If not,
select the 'Click Here' link to retry.
4. When done, go to your Downloads folder and select the freeocr.exe file.
5. A walk through of installation:
a. If the Unkown Publisher window pops up, select Run.
b. If User Account window pops up, select OK.
c. Select Next when the Welcome screen pops up.
d. The next screens shows installation progress. Takes a few moments.
e. PAY ATTENTION to the next couple of screens. You decide to if you want to Decline or Agree. You can Decline to all and the program will still work.
Screen #1: Quick access to Social Sites, Music, and more. Decline / Agree
Screen #2: Speed Up your computer with RegClean Pro. Decline /Agree
6. Select Next for Descktop Icon when the Setup - FreeOCR screen appears.
7. Finally select Install.
Quick run through for scrapping text from an electronic .pdf, .doc, etc.
1. Once program has settled down, ALT + F to display File menu and select type of file to open or scan using scanner.
2. Once file is loaded, ALT + O then ENTER to begin process or select the OCR button. Select either page or all pages options.
3. When done processing, ALT + T to copy text to clipboard and paste into document.
That newly saved document can be translated into Braille or used with a portable Braille device with a refreshable Braille display.
Note: Using a screen reader only allow you to process one page. Couldn't figure out a work around.