Claro PDF Pro

Using ClaroPDF Pro an OCR Scanner:

What is ClaroPDF Pro and How is it Used as an Accommodation Tool for Reading and Writing?

ClaroPDF Pro is an app that can be installed on an iOS device (e.g. iPad, iPhone) allowing you to take a picture of a worksheet (and other hard copies of documents) and convert it to an accessible text format that looks exactly like the original. Once converted, you have the option to have the text read aloud and to add text using writing, typing, or voice-to-text. You also have the option of sharing the converted document with yourself or others by sending it to your Google Drive, opening it up with the Read&Write PDF Reader and hearing the text read aloud, adding annotations via typing and/or voice-to-text and using the other tools of the Read&Write menu bar for word prediction, dictionary, and highlighting to assist with both the reading and writing process.

Important Note: Some PDFs are image PDFs, which means they only contain an image of text but don't actually contain any actual text. That means they cannot be read aloud or have text added to them by any application. For example, if a teacher scans a document and sends it into CANVAS using a non-OCR scanner, the document will be an "image" and not a text document and will therefore be inaccessible because it is unable to be read aloud. In order to make these PDFs accessible while keeping them in their original layouts, they need to be converted using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology, a key feature of the ClaroPDF Pro app.

See ClaroPDF Pro: Converting & Accessing Documents to learn how to retrieve inaccessible PDFs from your Google Drive and open them up in ClaroPDF Pro in order to convert them to an accessible format.

Converting Docs with ClaroPDF Pro & Using Texthelp PDF Reader

Steps for converting worksheets and other hard copies of documents into accessible text using ClaroPDF Pro:

Open ClaroPDF Pro on your iPad.
In the upper left hand corner, tap on the file folder icon.
From the drop down menu, select “Photo to PDF”, then “From camera”.
Place your document on a flat surface and take a photo.

Tip: When taking the photo, it helps to use a portrait vs. landscape orientation, with the white button appearing on the right side of the screen.

Once you have taken the photo, tap “Use” (bottom right).
The next screen will open with a drop down menu coming from the folder icon. Tap “Save as a new PDF”.
Them a pop up window should appear. In it, type in the filename you wish to use and tap “Save”. It will then say, “File Saved!”. Tap “OK”. Close the file you just created by tapping the small “x” at the top.

At this point, the file is saved as an image PDF and the page will not be accessible as it cannot be read by a computer. In order for it to be accessible, you will need to convert it to a text PDF.

To convert from an image PDF to a text PDF, open the file you wish to convert. If it is not already open, you may need to locate it in “My Documents” (accessed by tapping the folder icon).
Once you have selected the document you wish to convert, tap “Convert to Text PDF” in bottom left corner. A message will appear saying: “Convert to a Text PDF?”. Tap yes.
If you do not see “Convert to Text PDF”, tap the icon that is second from the top right (looks like a box with an arrow down). From the drop down menu, select “Convert PDF”.
This process will take a few seconds before the conversion is completed. The whirling icon at the top of the screen will stop rotating once the conversion is complete.
Once the conversion is complete, you will be prompted to “Save as” and enter a new name for the converted document. We suggest adding “con” to the end of the original file name to indicate that this version is a text PDF. For example, "history chapter test 1 con." Then tap “save” and see confirmation in the “File Saved!” pop up window. Differentiation is especially helpful once files have been sent to Google Drive.

To send to your Google Drive, click on the Share button (left). Then, tap on Google Drive. Make sure you are sending to the correct Google Drive account, and the appropriate folder. Then click on the UPLOAD button.

Note: You will need to be connected to the internet on your iOS device in order for the document to show up in your Google Drive. If you are not connected, the document will automatically be sent to your Google Drive once your iOS device has an internet connection.

Last updated with iOS 12.1.1 and app version 2.4.7.

Accessing Converted Files in Drive using Texthelp PDF Reader:

Once a converted document has been sent to your Google Drive, you can now use the Texthelp PDF Reader (a licensed feature of Read&Write for Google) to hear your accessible text document read aloud, add annotations, and use the other Read&Write for Google tools of the PDF and ePUB menu bar.

Note #1: If you do not have Read&Write for Google set as "use by default" in the Settings of Google Drive (under Manage Apps), when you left click on your converted document, it will open up only as a Google Doc which means its format will most likely not look like the original inaccessible document. In this case, right click on the converted document, scroll to, "Open with" and then select Read&Write for Google Chrome.

Note #2: If this is the first time opening a converted document on Google Drive, you will first be instructed, when clicking on your converted document, to install the Read&Write PDF Reader extension. To do this, simply click on the Install and Allow Permission buttons. Once this process is complete, you will need to click on your converted document again to open it with the newly installed Texthelp PDF Reader extension.

When you open your document, the PDF Reader toolbar will appear:

To hear the text read aloud continuously, click the Click to Speak button and then click the text where you want the reading to start. Click the same icon again when you want the reading to stop. If you want to hear a word or just a limited section, highlight the text you want read aloud and then click the Play button.

To add text anywhere on the document, first click on the Typewriter (T) icon of the menu bar, move your cursor to where you want to insert text and then tap on your touchpad or mouse. When you do this the following will appear:

To use the tools of the Typewriter (T):

When you start typing, your writing will appear in the Text Box.
While typing, you can also click on the Word Prediction icon and a list of words will appear in a word prediction box. Hover over any of the words in the prediction box and the word will be read aloud. Click on a desired word to insert it into the text box.
If you prefer, you can also use your voice to add text by clicking on the Talk&Type icon and then beginning to speak. Click on the Talk&Type icon again when you want to stop talking.
Delete all of your text by clicking on the trash can; text box will close.
To hear the text that has been inserted into the text box, click on the Play icon.
To add the text to your document, click on the Add Typewriter icon and your text will be inserted into your document.
To move your added text to another area on your document or to align and position it better on a line, click on the Directional Arrows icon and hold it down while you drag it to where you want it to be placed.

Report abuse