Including searchable text from web pages

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chrisjj
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Including searchable text from web pages

Post by chrisjj »

Is there any Print (sic) Driver version and option that when used on a web page in Chrome includes the web text as searchable text in the PDF?
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Paul - Tracker Supp
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Hi Chris,

it's not a printer, but with the PDF-XChange Standard Printer (so therefore also in the Pro suite) comes an extension for Chrome that will convert HTML to PDF directly. It will make a PDF with selectable/editable text, yes. It should be in the top right hand corner of Chrome:

image.png
image1.png

results in:


Is that what you need?
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Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
chrisjj
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by chrisjj »

Paul - Tracker Supp wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:51 pm it's not a printer
Now I find
PDF-XChange Standard installs as a virtual printer that generates fully-compatible,industry-standard, native PDF files. The files that PDF-XChange Standard creates feature searchable text, which greatly increases the efficiency of searching, selecting and editing files.After PDF-XChange Standard has been installed, select files to print virtually and clickPrint. Select PDF-XChange Standard when prompted on which printed should be used.Files will then print virtually.
in https://help.pdf-xchange.com/pdfxs6/PDFXS6_MAN.pdf despite this feature being absent from the feature list. https://www.pdf-xchange.com/pdf-xchange-products-comparison-chart
Paul - Tracker Supp wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:51 pmbut with the PDF-XChange Standard Printer (so therefore also in the Pro suite) comes an extension for Chrome that will convert HTML to PDF directly.
Thanks, but I can find no mention of that in the manual (nor again in the features list). Where is its main documentation?
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TrackerSupp-Daniel
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

Hello, chrisjj

You are quoting the version 6 manual, but that is still technically correct, when the printing application gives us text information, we will product a PDF document containing the same original text, which is indeed searchable. The problem is that Chrome, and most modern browsers for that matter, no longer send text/font information to printers, they instead send "shapes" which, as something that is not text, will not be searchable. We respect the content which is sent to us as a printing application, and as such, due to the choices these applications have made about their printing process, not searchable text will be generated in these documents when printing normally.

In order to retain the text, you will have to utilize the plugin for chromium based browsers, which is included natively with the Standard printer, as Paul mentioned. These are new features and as of yet undocumented, but when they are recorded, they will appear in the Version 9 product manual, for the standard printer.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
chrisjj
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by chrisjj »

>You are quoting the version 6 manual

No problem there, surely. V9 is materially identical. "PDF-XChange Standard installs as a virtual printer that generates fully-compatible, industry-standard, native PDF files. Generated files contain searchable text"

> but that is still technically correct, when the printing application gives us text information, we will product a PDF document containing the same original text, which is indeed searchable.

Except no, the manual lacks that qualification "when the printing application gives us text information".

> due to the choices these applications have made about their printing process, not searchable text will be generated in these documents when printing normally.

Then that limitation needs to be declared - near the misrepresentative "Generated files contain searchable text".

> In order to retain the text, you will have to utilize the plugin ... as of yet undocumented

Thanks. I'll wait until it is release-ready.
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Paul - Tracker Supp
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

The extension is ready now, it has been stable for a number of releases. You can use it now. If it has issues that we are unaware of I am sure you will point them out to us and we will do our best to fix it.

I am keen to hear how it meets your expectations.

Regarding the documentation we will make that clearer that it is dependent on what is in the print job.
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Paul O'Rorke
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http://www.tracker-software.com
chrisjj
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by chrisjj »

Paul - Tracker Supp wrote: Fri Jul 29, 2022 4:54 pm The extension is ready now
"as of yet undocumented".
Paul - Tracker Supp wrote: Fri Jul 29, 2022 4:54 pmYou can use it now.
The amount of my time already wasted struggling with undocumented features says no.
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Sean - Tracker
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by Sean - Tracker »

Hi Chris,

The documentation and features list for PDF-XChange Standard has been updated for this feature, and will be live on the website when the documentation is next republished after the next build. As Paul indicated, this feature is fully operational and we encourage you to try it out - if you don't yet want to make a purchase, then you can test it using the free version, available here:

https://www.pdf-xchange.com/produc ... e-standard

Best regards,
Sean Godley
Technical Writer
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD
Sales: +1 (250) 324-1621
Fax: +1 (250) 324-1623
chrisjj
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by chrisjj »

Quite what is the advantage of leaving the published documentation out of date with respect to the build, I cannot fathom. I'll wait until this release is fully released. Thanks.
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Sean - Tracker
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Re: Including searchable text from web pages

Post by Sean - Tracker »

Hi Chris,

Okay no problem, thank you.

Best regards,
Sean Godley
Technical Writer
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD
Sales: +1 (250) 324-1621
Fax: +1 (250) 324-1623
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