ZoomText - Using new OCR support

ZoomText - Using new OCR support

Problem

A ZoomText 2026 user encounters some PDF documents that cannot be read by ZoomText because they contain imges only.

Applies to

  1. ZoomText
 

Resolution

  1. For some years ZoomText lacked the capability to OCR a PDF document requring useers to upgrade to Fusion for these features.  
  2. ZoomText 2026.2603.45 March update introduces a new OCR module for carrying out these types of document reading tasks. 

    The OCR button on the Tools toolbar. The bottom half of the button is selected and shows a dropdown list of different OCR options.

 

Key capabilities of OCR feature

Full PDF processing: OCR processes an entire PDF, not just the visible page.

  1. Mouse mode: Users can select and OCR any text visible on screen (for example, a screenshot sent in a Teams message), not just open documents.
  2. Image file support: In addition to PDFs, image files can be recognized using OCR.
  3. Camera support: Compatible with connected document cameras, allowing users to OCR printed paper documents.
  4. Multi-language support: OCR can be set to recognize different languages (dependent on Windows language packs installed), helping it correctly map visuals to known words in that language.
  5. Save results: The recognized text can be saved for later review or editing.

 

Recognize text in a PDF document

ZoomText OCR offers two ways to recognize text in inaccessible PDF documents:
  1. Automatic prompt: When you open an inaccessible PDF in Adobe Reader and then start AppReader, ZoomText prompts you to run text recognition. Choose Yes to proceed. When processing is complete, AppReader opens in Ticker mode.
  2. Via the OCR button: Click the lower half of the OCR button on the Tools toolbar, then select Open PDF Document. Choose your file and click OK. AppReader opens in Ticker mode and reads the recognized text.

    The OCR button on the Tools toolbar. The bottom half of the button is selected and shows a dropdown list of different OCR options.

 

Action

Hotkey / Input

Description

Navigate by line

CTRL+UP ARROW / CTRL+DOWN ARROW

Moves the reading cursor up or down one line in the OCR ticker text.

Navigate by page

PAGE UP / PAGE DOWN

Moves the reading cursor up or down by one page of OCR ticker text.

Navigate by sentence

LEFT ARROW / RIGHT ARROW

Moves the reading cursor to the previous or next sentence. Sentence boundaries are determined using text heuristics.

Navigate by paragraph

UP ARROW / DOWN ARROW

Moves the reading cursor to the previous or next paragraph. Paragraph boundaries are determined using text heuristics.

Read the current word, line, sentence, or paragraph

CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+ARROW KEYS

Reads the current word (UP arrow), line (RIGHT arrow), sentence (DOWN arrow), or paragraph (LEFT arrow).

Move to first or last word on current line

HOME / END

Moves the reading cursor to the first or last word on the current line.

Start reading from clicked word

LEFT MOUSE CLICK

Clicking a word in the OCR ticker image starts reading from the selected word.

 

OCR using mouse from image

  1. Open the page where there is inaccessible text.
  2. Click ZoomText taskbar tab or press CONTROL+CAPSLOCK+U to open the main window.
  3. In the ZoomText window click Tools tab.
  4. Then click the OCR button.
  5. Then click and drag to highlight the inaccessible text to OCR.
  6. ZoomText will process the image and open the OCR reader window with a ticker showing the OCR'd text and document sample with highlight tracking below.
  7. When finished click X or press ESCAPE to leave the window.

OCR Support Now Available in ZoomText Camera

  1. The Camera feature allows you to use any document camera to magnify printed items. You can switch between Full and Docked screen views which allow you to see the camera image and your Windows desktop at the same time.
  2. The Camera toolbar now contains OCR functionality. This allows you to take a screen shot of the current camera image, process the image using OCR, and read the text in AppReader’s Ticker mode.

Starting OCR

  1. If you are using a document camera, make sure it is connected to your computer.
  2. Position your document under the camera.
  3. On the Tools toolbar, click the Camera button, or press CAPS LOCK+CTRL+C.
    The ZoomText Camera toolbar opens.

    Camera toolbar with focus on the OCR button. 

  4. Click the OCR button or press O.  AppReader opens in Ticker mode and reads the recognized text.

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