Step 5: Determine If the PDF File is a Legacy PDF File

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There are several ways to determine if the PDF file is a so called Legacy PDF file. You use the same techniques for determining if the PDF file is from a scan, but the results will be vastly different.

1. Search for visible text on the page Edit > Search (Shift + Ctrl + F). If the term you search for is highlighted and search results are indicated, you probably have a legacy PDF file (See Figure 2 - 13 Highlighted Search Results) .

Figure 2 - 13 Highlighted Search Results

2. Run Read Out Loud, View > Read Out Loud > Read This Page Only (Shift + Ctrl + V). If Acrobat begins to read the text in the document or you do not see the Scanned Page Alert then you probably have a legacy PDF file (See Figure 2 - 14 Scanned Page Alert) .

Figure 2 - 14 Scanned Page Alert

3. View Document Properties. File > Document Properties or Ctrl +D. If the fonts tab of the the Document Properties dialog has fonts listed inside, chances are you have a legacy PDF file (See Figure 2 - 15 Fonts Tab in Document Properties Displaying Fonts Used in the PDF File) .

Figure 2 - 15 Fonts Tab in Document Properties Displaying Fonts Used in the PDF File

4. Run Quick Check - Advanced > Accessibility > Quick Check (Shift +Ctrl + 6). If the Quick Check launches an alert which does NOT mention the document contains no text (See Figure 2 - 16 Accessibility Quick Check Indicators for a Legacy PDF Document) , then the PDF file is likely a legacy PDF document.

Figure 2 - 16 Accessibility Quick Check Indicators for a Legacy PDF Document

5. Run Full Check - Advanced > Accessibility > Full Check. If the Full Check launches an alert which does not mention the document contains no fonts, then the PDF file is a legacy file. Figure 2 - 17 is an example of such a message. Though there are accessibility problems identified, there is no mention of a lack of fonts.

Figure 2 - 17 Accessibility Full Check Indicator for a Legacy PDF Document