There are broadly 2 types of PDF; they are searchable and image PDF (non-searchable). A searchable PDF allows one to search and highlight, copy, and paste desired texts from the PDF, while a non-searchable PDF is an image file whose desired text cannot be highlighted, selected, copied, or pasted.

Non-searchable PDF can be converted to searchable PDF using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) conversion software tool to 'read' characters or at the direct point of scanning which is embedded in most document scanners. OCR alters original document making documents lose its integrity as OCR process is rarely error-free. Errors in conversion may range from subtle font inconsistencies that are hardly noticeable to critical misspellings or distorted graphics. Also, handwriting or signature will almost never be accurately recognized as text.

Therefore, if you need to convert your paper-based documents to editable digital formats, it is advisable to scan to non-searchable image PDF for multi-page documents; JPEG, TIFF, PNG for single-page documents). Then, use a software conversion tools to convert to editable searchable format. You would have the original image file that is the exact unaltered copy of your document, and another converted searchable format for other use.

At Tecres Technologies, we scan and convert your paper-based documents to different formats such as Text (*.txt), UNICODE Text (*.txt), Rich Text Format (*.rtf), HTML 4.0 (*.htm), Microsoft Word Document (*.doc), WordPerfect Document (*.wpd), XML Document (*.xml), Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (*.xls), Open eBook 1.0 Document (*.opf), JPEG Image (*.jpg), TIFF (*.tif), PNG Image (*.png), Window Bitmap (*.bmp), XML Paper Specification (*.xps).