Why this workflow works
- Test search and text selection first
- Keep the original scan
- Use OCR software for a searchable PDF
- Check names, amounts and reading order
OCR or compression?
A smaller scan is not a searchable PDF.
Try selecting a sentence and searching for a word you can see on the page. If neither works, the PDF may contain only images. OCR can recognize those images as text; a searchable PDF also needs that text saved inside the file. BitePDF does not currently export searchable OCR PDFs. Use this guide to choose the right next step, or use compression if file size is your immediate problem.
How to use it
- Keep the original. Test text selection and search on several pages, including tables.
- If you need search inside the PDF, use OCR software that exports a searchable PDF, not just a text file.
- Reopen the exported copy. Search for known words and compare copied names, dates and amounts with the scan. Compress a separate copy only if needed.
Use cases
Good for urgent document tasks.
- Scanned invoices
- Research archives
- Book scans
- Application paperwork
Next actions
Move to the tool that fixes the file.
Questions people ask before exporting
Will compressing my scanned PDF make it searchable?
No. Reducing image size does not add recognized text. If the original already has a text layer, check that search and copying still work in the compressed copy.
Does BitePDF currently provide searchable-PDF OCR?
No. Experimental OCR and structured text extraction are being tested in a local development workspace, not offered as hosted searchable-PDF export. Do not purchase access expecting that feature.
Is extracted text or invoice JSON the same as a searchable PDF?
No. A text or JSON export is a separate output. It does not place recognized text inside the original PDF, preserve its search behavior, or prove accessibility.
How should I check an OCR result?
Search for several known words, then copy a paragraph and a table row into a text editor. Compare names, dates, decimal points and row order with the original. A successful export does not prove the recognition is correct.
Should I reduce image quality before OCR?
Keep a high-quality original for recognition. Lower-resolution text can lose detail. If the final PDF must meet an upload limit, compress a separate copy and repeat the search and readability checks.