PDF is a convenient format for sending and printing documents, but it is hard to edit. It is even harder when the PDF is a scanned paper document – then the file actually contains an image rather than text. In this guide we explain how to convert a PDF into an editable Word document with ABBYY FineReader PDF, which options to choose and how to get the best results for Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian text.
Two types of PDF files
Before converting, it is worth understanding what kind of file you are working with:
- Digital PDF – created from Word or another program. Its text can be selected and copied, so it is easier to convert.
- Scanned PDF – a photo or scanned copy of a paper document. Its text is an image, so text recognition, known as OCR, is required.
ABBYY FineReader PDF handles both cases: scanned documents are processed with text recognition that supports more than 190 languages, including Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian.
How to convert PDF to Word with ABBYY FineReader PDF
In the Windows version, conversion takes a few steps. The menu names below are given in English – if your program uses another language, they will appear in that language.
- Launch the program and open the “Open” tab in the “New Task” window.
- Select “Convert to Microsoft Word”.
- Select one or more PDF files you want to convert.
- In the “OCR languages” section, choose the document language, for example Lithuanian. If the document contains text in several languages, select them all.
- In the “Keep formatting” section, choose a formatting mode – more about them below.
- If needed, select “Keep pictures” and “Keep headers, footers, and page numbers”.
- Click “Convert to Word” and choose the folder where the Word file will be saved.
If you want to merge several PDF files into one Word document, arrange the files in the required order before converting and select “Combine all files into one document”.
Once the conversion is done, open the Word file and review the result. Check numbers, dates, names and tables especially carefully – they matter most in contracts and invoices.
How to scan a paper document directly into Word
If the document is still on paper, you do not need to create a PDF file – ABBYY FineReader PDF can scan it and create a Word document right away:
- In the “New Task” window, open the “Scan” tab and select “Scan to Microsoft Word”.
- Select the scanner, scan settings, document language and formatting mode.
- Scan the pages and save the resulting Word file.
This method is convenient when you need to digitize old contracts, archived documents or printed texts. You can scan a multi-page document page by page, and the program will combine all pages into one file.
Which formatting mode to choose
This choice determines how the Word document will look and how easy it will be to edit:
- “Exact copy” – the document looks as close to the original as possible, but it is harder to edit. Suitable for documents with complex layouts where appearance matters most.
- “Editable copy” – formatting may differ slightly from the original, but the text is the easiest to edit. Usually the best choice for contracts, letters and reports.
- “Formatted text” – fonts, font sizes and paragraphs are kept, but not the exact position of objects on the page.
- “Plain text” – only the text remains, without formatting. Suitable when you want to paste the text into another document or system.
Tips for better results
- Scan at a resolution of at least 300 dpi – small or blurry text is recognized less accurately.
- Before scanning, flatten the pages and clean the scanner glass.
- Always specify the correct document language – then Lithuanian letters with diacritics are recognized more accurately.
- Review tables and complex layouts after conversion – sometimes it's worth choosing a different formatting mode.
- If you photograph a document with your phone, do it in a well-lit place and hold the phone parallel to the page.
- If you only need a small piece of text from the screen, for example from a photo or video, ABBYY Screenshot Reader is more convenient.
Do you need to convert to Word at all?
Not always. If you need to fix a few words, change a date or remove a page, ABBYY FineReader PDF lets you do it right in the PDF file – edit text, images and pages. Converting to Word is worthwhile when the document needs to be substantially rewritten, used as a template or merged with other texts.
Desktop program or online converter
Online converters are handy for one-off files, but you have to upload the document to another provider’s server. For confidential documents – contracts, invoices, documents with personal data – it is safer to use a program that processes them on your computer. A desktop program is also more convenient when there are many files, they are large or they need to be processed regularly.
Which ABBYY program to choose
ABBYY offers several editions, depending on your computer and workload:
For a Windows computer
ABBYY FineReader PDF Standard includes PDF editing, conversion to Word and Excel, and text recognition. For most offices and home users, this edition is enough.
For larger document volumes
ABBYY FineReader PDF Corporate additionally lets you compare document versions and automatically process files with the Hot Folder feature. Suitable for lawyers, accounting departments and companies that convert many documents.
ABBYY FineReader PDF Corporate
For Mac
ABBYY FineReader PDF for Mac recognizes text from scanned documents and photos and converts them into Word, Excel or searchable PDF files on a macOS computer.
For on-screen text
ABBYY Screenshot Reader recognizes text or a table in any area of the screen and transfers it to Word, Excel or the clipboard. Perpetual license.
Frequently asked questions
Does FineReader recognize Lithuanian text?
Yes. Lithuanian is among the more than 190 supported recognition languages, so Lithuanian letters are recognized correctly if you specify the correct document language.
Can several PDF files be converted at once?
Yes. In the conversion window you can select several files and convert them separately or combine them into one Word document.
Can a PDF be converted to Excel?
Yes. ABBYY FineReader PDF also converts PDF to Excel – this is handy when you need to extract tables, for example from invoices or reports.
Can a company purchase several licenses?
Yes. The Standard and Corporate editions are available with multi-seat licenses, for example Per Seat, and Corporate is also available with Concurrent licensing. For larger quantities, we provide a quote on request.
Conclusion
Converting PDF to Word with ABBYY FineReader PDF is easy: select the file, specify the language and formatting mode, and the program will create an editable document. For scanned documents, good scan quality and the correct language matter most. UAB “Atviros informacinės sistemos” is the official ABBYY distributor in the Baltic states – we send the license key and VAT invoice by email.