Beyond Microsoft Word OCR: Exploring Better Alternatives

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools have revolutionized how we handle text within images and convert it into editable and searchable formats. Yet, challenges arise when you're faced with a Word document containing important information locked within images. This is where Microsoft OCR tools come in to let users extract text directly from images, saving both time and effort.

There are many OCR platforms available today to make image-based text editable with ease. However, not all the tools offer accuracy and precision in text extraction, which makes them unreliable for professional use. This article introduces cutting-edge solutions with advanced OCR technology that ensures both seamless OCR service and editing capabilities.

Part 1. Does Microsoft Word Have OCR?

No, there is no Microsoft Word OCR functionality, but you can use OneNote to edit the images in your Word document. For detailed steps, read Part 3, where we guide you through the process of using OneNote to extract text from images. While this method is simple, it requires switching between applications and may not always preserve formatting well.

To overcome this challenge, you can use an advanced OCR platform like UPDF, which provides better OCR capabilities. This advanced tool can directly make images editable with better formatting retention. Have a look at the following comparison result to judge the functionality of both these tools.

Part 2. Ultimate Tool For Making Image-Based Word Document Editable: UPDF

UPDF is an all-in-one AI PDF editor that combines editing and OCR capabilities in one platform. It allows you to easily create PDFs from Word documents and directly apply OCR to images. This makes it a comprehensive solution for working with various types of PDF and image-based files, enabling seamless text extraction and document management.

This best alternative to Microsoft OCR also lets you select a page range for more control over which document pages to process. Moreover, it enables you to specify the document language by enhancing OCR accuracy by tailoring the process to the specific language of the text in your image-based document. Additionally, it adjusts the resolution of the images before processing to optimize text extraction quality for the OCR process.

For a better idea of how UPDF enhances your OCR experience with its impeccable functions, consider downloading it onto your device.

Guide to Making Image-Based Word Documents Editable With UPDF

Upon having a detailed overview of UPDF's OCR functionality, you can easily convert image-based documents into editable text by following the simple guide given below:

Step 1. Create PDF From Image-Based Word Documents

After you download and install the latest version of this Microsoft OCR alternative on your device, launch the software to enter its homepage. From there, navigate to the "File" tab at the top-left corner and choose the "Create" option from the drop-down menu. Then, another drop-down list appears from where you need to pick the "PDF from Word" option.

Note: If you want to perform OCR to an image, simply drag and drop it to UPDF to create a PDF, and then follow the steps below to perform OCR to it.

Step 2. Configure OCR Settings and Apply

Once the PDF is created, access the "OCR" feature from the vertical menu bar on the right side to open a settings window. Here, expand the "Document Language" menu and choose the language of the text in your document. After that, specify the "Image Resolution" from the available options to optimize OCR accuracy in images. Upon choosing the settings, hit the "Perform OCR" button to begin the text extraction process.

Step 3. Review and Copy the Extracted Text

When the OCR process is complete, the OCR-processed document will be opened in a new tab. Now, shift to the new tab and select the extracted text to activate a floating menu bar. Review the text, and click the "Copy" icon to copy the extracted content and paste it wherever needed.

To give you a comparison of before and after results, we are showing you both the source images and output images below. You can clearly see that the text has become editable, allowing you to copy, edit, or annotate it as needed without relying on Microsoft Word OCR.

After performing OCR on the document, users can also edit the extracted content using the extensive editing tools within UPDF. You can modify the font size and style and adjust other formatting options to customize the text as needed. Moreover, the tool even allows you to make the text bold or italicized to enhance the overall document presentation.

Part 3. Editing Image-based Word Document With OneNote's OCR

If you prefer using OneNote for image extraction, keep in mind that this method has certain limitations, such as formatting issues. Thus, follow the simple guide in the next section to proceed with this Microsoft OCR tool:

Step 1. Open OneNote on your PC, then go to the image-based Word document and copy the image from which you want to extract text. After that, return to OneNote, right-click on the page, and select the "Paste" option from the drop-down menu.

Step 2. Once you select paste, an "Insert File" pop-up will appear, from which you will need to select the "Insert Printout" option. Upon doing this, your image will be automatically added to the note.

Step 3. When the image is added, right-click on it and pick the "Copy Text from Picture" option from the drop-down list. Paste the copied text into your desired document or text editor for further modifications.

Conclusion

To wrap up, users often deal with image-based Word documents from which they want to extract content. Since Microsoft Word OCR is not available, it is challenging for users to extract text from images directly. While alternatives like OneNote can be used, they come with certain drawbacks, including the need for copy-pasting and issues with layout retention.

For a more accurate and advanced solution, UPDF's OCR platform is the best option as it provides better text accuracy and formatting retention than OneNote. So, if you're looking for an advanced tool for all your document management needs, including OCR, download UPDF now on your device.