How to scan paper job application to Mac

[Merkava_4]

Hi Everyone,

How would I scan a paper job application for the purpose of filling out the application on the computer?

I could then print out the application and all the entered information would be neatly typed.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Try saving the application as a PDF and then you should be able to go back in using the Preview app, and add your information.

 

[Merkava_4]

Try saving the application as a PDF and then you should be able to go back I using the Preview app, and add your information.

So I would scan the physical papers as a PDF to a USB drive, correct?

 

[9valkyrie]

Have you tried the Image Capture app (stock macOS)? I use it for scanning all the time. PDF, JPG, etc. And you can do OCR as well. Preview (stock macOS) can also import from a scanner.

 

[bradman83]

Do you also have an iPhone? There are a number of free programs you can use to scan a document and save it to iCloud as a PDF so it will sync with your Mac. I believe the Notes app allows for this too. You should be able to use Preview on the Mac to fill out the form so you can print it out.

Please keep in mind that scanning a document will degrade the quality of it even if you use a good quality flatbed scanner. If it's just a regular black and white form it shouldn't be too bad of a quality loss but if there are any images, logos, or shading then it might be more noticeable.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

You guys are only offering half the battle (though #1 is one way TOWARDS one solution). After it's scanned he wants to basically type in his particulars.

OP, there is another thread with now 4 good solutions for that want... included how to do this part of things per the #1 response.

 

[Merkava_4]

Have you tried the Image Capture app (stock macOS)? I use it for scanning all the time. PDF, JPG, etc. And you can do OCR as well. Preview (stock macOS) can also import from a scanner.

I guess what I'm trying to do is scan the paper documents to a USB drive and turn them into an "active" PDF when I download them from the USB drive to the computer; that way I can enter the text where I'm supposed to instead of using a ballpoint pen.

 

[9valkyrie]

I guess what I'm trying to do is scan the paper documents to a USB drive and turn them into an "active" PDF when I download them from the USB drive to the computer; that way I can enter the text where I'm supposed to instead of using a ballpoint pen.

So, I would say open Preview (you won't see any windows) and go File -> Import from [scanner] (whatever your scanner is called). Then you can save to PDF wherever you need it. If you want to go the other way, Image Capture will allow you to specify a where and a PDF. I'd recommend taking a look at "Show Details" as well in Image Capture. Preview can edit PDFs and do exactly what you need. In Preview: Tools -> Annotate -> Text (or ctrl+cmd+t).

 

[Ben J.]

I would simply take a photo of the form, open it in Preview app, select the text and 'copy'. Then paste it into a text editor, fill in whatever you need, do some text formatting and print.

 

[Merkava_4]

So, I would say open Preview (you won't see any windows) and go File -> Import from [scanner] (whatever your scanner is called). Then you can save to PDF wherever you need it. If you want to go the other way, Image Capture will allow you to specify a where and a PDF. I'd recommend taking a look at "Show Details" as well in Image Capture. Preview can edit PDFs and do exactly what you need. In Preview: Tools -> Annotate -> Text (or ctrl+cmd+t).

I don't have a scanner, that's why I was going to use the scanner at FedEx Office and load the scanned documents to a USB drive that used be called a thumb drive. From there I would take the drive home and load the documents onto to the Mac laptop that's in the screen shot in the opening post.

Basically circumventing the purchase of a typewriter.

 

[9valkyrie]

Preview can make the PDF "active" by annotating it. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[Ben J.]

I don't have a scanner, that's why I was going to use the scanner at FedEx Office and load the scanned documents to a USB drive that used be called a thumb drive. From there I would take the drive home and load the documents onto to my Mac laptop that I'm using right now.

Basically circumventing the purchase of a typewriter.

So, if you have a mac laptop, it has a camera. Just figure out how to make the image from the camera to show on the screen while you're holding it, grab a screenshot, and open the screenshot in Preview and use Preview's built-in 'optical character recognition' to select the text in the image, like I described.

 

[9valkyrie]

So, if you have a mac laptop, it has a camera. Just figure out how to make the image from the camera to show on the screen while you're holding it, grab a screenshot, and open the screenshot in Preview and use Preview's built-in 'optical character recognition' to select the text in the image, like I described.

I.e. Photo Booth.

 

[Ben J.]

I would typically use my iPhone or iPad to "scan", the image(s) would show up in Photos app thru iCloud, and I'd go from there.

 

[Ben J.]

Here's a pretty in-depth video from Gary at Macmost.com:

How To Capture Any Text From Your Screen On Mac, iPhone or iPad​

 

[Merkava_4]

Preview can make the PDF "active" by annotating it. Sorry about the confusion.

So you're saying I could download a form from the internet and fill it out with Preview? I might try that.

How about Adobe; will that work?

How to create a fillable PDF | Make a PDF fillable | Adobe Acrobat

Learn how to create a fillable PDF form or make a PDF fillable with Adobe Acrobat. Add form fields, buttons, and more to your PDFs. Get started with a free trial.

www.adobe.com

Or how about this?

PDF Editor Free - Edit PDF and Form Filler Online - PDFescape

Edit PDF documents, fill PDF forms, and view PDFs online using PDFescape, the free PDF reader, PDF editor, and PDF form filler software. Edit or fill out PDF forms in seconds for free without having to use Adobe Acrobat. Try it now!

www.pdfescape.com

I was hoping Sonoma 14 already had app to make a PDF fillable.

 

[ab22]

Fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on Mac

In Preview on your Mac, you can add text or a signature to a PDF form.

support.apple.com

 

[Ben J.]

How would I scan a paper job application for the purpose of filling out the application on the computer?

So what's it to be; paper job application or PDF?

 

[Merkava_4]

Fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on Mac

In Preview on your Mac, you can add text or a signature to a PDF form.

support.apple.com

Thanks! I'll try that!

 

[Merkava_4]

So what's it to be; paper job application or PDF?

A paper job application turned into an interactive PDF and then back to a revised paper job application.

 

[Merkava_4]

I did it! It works! Check out line 1 on this IRS W-9 form!