---
title: "Recognize Text From PDF step"
slug: "recognize-text-from-pdf-step"
tags: ["pdf", "text"]
updated: 2023-03-17T15:48:03Z
published: 2023-03-17T15:48:03Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/recognize-text-from-pdf-step"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Recognize Text From PDF Step

## Overview

| ## Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 4.0.9 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | 4.0.9 |
| **Location** | Data > PDF |

The **Recognize Text From PDF** step scans the Pdf file for string text and outputs all recognized text. Unlike the [Get Text From PDF](https://documentation.decisions.com/step-library/docs/get-text-from-pdf-step) step, this step does not support options for Page selection or whitespace preservation: it only reads the text. Text outputs from this step may deviate slightly from the original content, so other Flow logic steps, like [Replace Text](https://documentation.decisions.com/step-library/docs/replace-text) step, may correct these errors assuming the text is all in a similar style. This step may take fifteen to thirty seconds to execute.

---

## Properties

#### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Document | File to scan for recognizable text. | FileData |

#### Outputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Output | Text that was recognized in the PDF file. If nothing was recognized, the step will output an empty string. | String |

![Debugger showing Inputs and Outputs on the Recognize Text from PDF step.](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2023-03-17_11h34_47.png)

---

## Common Errors

### Incorrect file header at

A file type other than .pdf has been used as the PDF input. To correct this, change the PDF input to a PDF file.

#### Exception Message:

```csharp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Recognize Text From PDF 1[RecognizeTextFromPdf] in flow [Display Steps]: Exception invoking method RecognizeTextFromPdf on class PdfManagementSteps
 ---> DecisionsFramework.LoggedException: Exception invoking method RecognizeTextFromPdf on class PdfManagementSteps
 ---> Aspose.Pdf.InvalidPdfFileFormatException: Incorrect file header at #=zKZIslgV_VTgI_laDaHeWplnCCTSzL8YTTg==.#=zHht8sihEEDo7(
 at #=zKZIslgV_VTgI_laDaHeWplnCCTSzL8YTTg==..ctor(Stream #=ziA0t9_I=, String #=zuiJIvEo=, Boolean #=zBvJEbRdfIP3N
 at #=zKZIslgV_VTgI_laDaHeWplnCCTSzL8YTTg==..ctor(Stream #=ziA0t9_I=
 at #=zjroLc8wES_h1ilPWuP2WJb4VKmlo2M1kB_9Ae9Q=.#=zCVbFrz0=(Stream #=ziA0t9_I=
 at #=zzVjo1F9wNoksFXH0KKuyBSP8d$xY$dIsPQ==..ctor(Stream #=ziA0t9_I=
 at #=zjroLc8wES_h1ilPWuP2WJb4VKmlo2M1kB_9Ae9Q=.#=zG1sr3o8SaFaT(Stream #=ziA0t9_I=
 at #=zGaHf0$lTElKXJzbip2dw4yLBu4qT.#=zXO2JtCM=(Stream #=ziA0t9_I=
 at #=zGaHf0$lTElKXJzbip2dw4yLBu4qT..ctor(Stream #=ziA0t9_I=
 at Aspose.Pdf.Document.#=zQxeSgpE=(Stream #=z3Wdp9mg=, String #=zuiJIvEo=
 at Aspose.Pdf.Document..ctor(Stream input
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.StandardSteps.DocumentManagementMethods.GetPdfDocFromFileData(FileData fileData
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.StandardSteps.PdfManagementSteps.GetPdfDocFromFileData(FileData fileData
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.StandardSteps.PdfManagementSteps.RecognizeTextFromPdf(FileData PdfDocument
 at InvokeStub_PdfManagementSteps.RecognizeTextFromPdf(Object, Object, IntPtr*
 at System.Reflection.MethodInvoker.Invoke(Object obj, IntPtr* args, BindingFlags invokeAttr)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace --- at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.StepImplementations.InvokeMethodStep.Run(StepStartData data
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.RunStepInternal(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, KeyValuePairDataStructure[] stepRunDataValues, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.Start(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, FlowStateData data, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData, RunningStepData currentStepData)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

## Related

- [Convert PDF to PCL Step](/convert-pdf-to-pcl-step.md)
- [Split PDF Steps](/split-pdf-steps.md)
- [Add PDF Header and Footer](/add-pdf-header-footer.md)
- [Merge PDF Documents](/merge-pdf.md)
- [Get and Set PDF Form Fields](/get-set-pdf-form-fields.md)
- [Set PDF Password](/set-password-pdf.md)