User Tools and PDFs

[accordance4me]

I realize why you can't import PDFs as a user tool, or should I say couldn't. I think it would be great to have a user tool that would convert them and then directly load it, alternatively it might be great to have a clearly defined workflow with some other tool to convert it to text.

Edited September 4, 2012 by accordance4me

[thegoodfight]

I agree. I have a pdf of verse diagrams I would love to have as an accordance user tool

[Rick Bennett]

We suggest attempting to export the PDF to HTML, then trying to import it as a User Tool. However, this process is not guaranteed to produce a workable file. It depends greatly on how the PDF was created. If the PDF does not have selectable text it is basically an image, and you will need to run OCR on it, and then try to export. The quality of the OCR will dictate the quality of the text, and it most likely will not have any styles associated with it.

 

So, lots of potential difficulties, but in cases where you can get a decent export, you might be able to import it as a user tool.

[Tom Childers]

In preparation for teaching classes, I convert two or three PDF files a week to a User Tool file for Accordance. Here is my workflow. I OCR the PDF file, copy and paste the text into Pages where I clean up the file, mainly doing spell check and formatting the Bible verses. (Often, the OCR program will convert a 1 to a lower case L which Accordance will not tag). If I save the file as a txt file and import into Accordance, then most of the Bible references will be tagged automatically. Sometimes I will copy and paste the text directly into User Tool in edit mode. In this case, I have to manually highlight each Bible reference and click make a link. Another trick I use is this: I do not make a link of Psalm 23:1-5, but in three references, Psalm 23:1-2, 3-4, 5. This method allows me to see all of the reference in one pane and do not have to scroll to read a long section of Scripture. Also, for peace of mind, I have several copies when I am teaching: the Pages file, and Accordance User Tool files on my Mac Book, and synced to my iPad, and iPhone.

Edited September 18, 2012 by Tom Childers