ABBYY FineReader

{{Short description|Optical character recognition application}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox software

| name = FineReader PDF

| logo = ABBYY logo.svg

| screenshot =

| developer = ABBYY

| released = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1993|07}}

| latest_release_version = 16.0.13.4766{{cite web|url=https://support.abbyy.com/hc/en-us/articles/11132530373907-Release-2-build-16-0-13-4766|title=Release 2 build 16.0.13.4766|publisher=ABBYY}} New versions added as released.

| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2022|11|10}}

| operating_system = Windows, macOS, Linux

| genre = OCR

| license = Commercial proprietary software (Retail or volume licensing)

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

ABBYY FineReader PDF is an optical character recognition (OCR) application developed by ABBYY.{{Cite web|title=ABBYY FineReader Pro is an unparalleled OCR solution|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-06-16-abbyy-finereader-pro-is-an-unparalleled-ocr-solution.html|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Engadget|date=16 June 2014 |language=en-US}} First released in 1993, the program runs on Microsoft Windows (Windows 7 or later) and Apple macOS (10.12 Sierra or later). Since v15, the Windows version can also edit PDF files.

Users can use the program to convert image documents (photos, scans, PDF files) and screen captures into editable file formats, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Rich Text Format, HTML, PDF/A, searchable PDF, CSV and txt (plain text) files. Since Version 11, files can be saved in the DjVu format. Since Version 15, the program recognizes text in 192 languages and has a built-in spell check for 48 of them.

FineReader recognizes new characters in several ways. Users can train the app on characters, adding them to the recognition alphabet. Users can select characters from a list and add them to the alphabet of a selected language (for example, adding certain Icelandic characters to a German alphabet for a German text describing Iceland). Finally, users can add domain-specific vocabulary to the FineReader’s built-in lexicon.{{Cite book|last1=Sporleder|first1=Caroline|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Nrw9atqMnwC|title=Language Technology for Cultural Heritage: Selected Papers from the LaTeCH Workshop Series|last2=Bosch|first2=Antal van den|last3=Zervanou|first3=Kalliopi|date=2011-07-07|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-3-642-20227-8|language=en}}

The program also enables users to compare documents, add annotations and comments, and schedule batch processing.{{Cite web|last1=Nield|first1=David|last2=DeMuro|first2=Jonas P.|first3=Brian |last3=Turner|date=2021-10-11|title=Best OCR software of 2021: free and paid options|url=https://www.techradar.com/best/best-ocr-software|access-date=2021-12-22|website=TechRadar|language=en}}{{Cite web|last1=Dalton|first1=Will|last2=DeMuro|first2=Jonas P.|first3=Brian |last3=Turner|date=2021-12-06|title=Best scanning software of 2022|url=https://www.techradar.com/best/best-scanning-software|access-date=2021-12-22|website=TechRadar|language=en}}

{{As of|2015}}, there were more than 20 million users of ABBYY FineReader worldwide.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/?2014%2F02%2F12%2F560343%2F |title=ABBYY выпустила 12 версию своего флагманского продукта FineReader |date=2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518101609/http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/?2014%2F02%2F12%2F560343%2F |archive-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=Вектор модернизации: обзор обновленного ABBYY FineReader 12 |url=https://3dnews.ru/805074 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=3DNews - Daily Digital Digest |language=ru}}[http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2462836/ Группа компаний ABBYY, 2014] ABBYY licenses the embedded OCR technology to various companies including Fujitsu, Panasonic, Xerox, Plustek, and Samsung.{{cite web|author=Radyuhin, Vladimir |title=IT opportunities and challenges in Russia |work=The Hindu|date=19 January 2008 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/it-opportunities-challenges-in-russia/article1181503.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140716212312/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/it-opportunities-challenges-in-russia/article1181503.ece |archive-date=16 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=С технологией ABBYY смартфон Samsung Galaxy S4 распознает текст с фотографий |url=http://zoom.cnews.ru/news/item/535207 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150514032409/http://zoom.cnews.ru/news/item/535207 |archive-date=14 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}

In February 2020, version 15 of the software was rated "Highest-quality OCR on the market" by PC Magazine.{{Cite web |title=ABBYY FineReader Review |last=Mendelson |first=Edward |work=PC Magazine|date=6 February 2020 |url= https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/abbyy-finereader}} Review updated from time to time.