Preview app problem after Sierra update 10.12.4

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Level 1

9 points

Preview app problem after Sierra update 10.12.4

Preview app is acting strange after the recent update to Sierra 10.12.4 .

When I open an OCR PDF for the first time since the update, I can select the text, copy it, look it up, etc. But the next time I run the preview app and open the same PDF file, the text is no more recognized to be selected - the highlighted word is rendered as an empty space and when I paste the copied text, there's simply nothing; empty space. It seems as if the PDF has changed to a non-OCR state!

The PDF file is also altered (to non-OCR) as I open it in other PDF viewer apps: when text is selected and copied, nothing is pasted and the space is empty.

So, simply saying, what I experience is that Preview app fundamentally changes the PDF files.

I am totally confused!

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)

macOS Sierra 10.12.4 (update from Sierra version 10.12.3)

Preview app Version 9.0 (909.17)

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), macOS Sierra (10.12.4), Preview app

Posted on Mar 29, 2017 9:05 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Mar 29, 2017 10:38 AM in response to mkhshahi

Quit Preview then go to ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preview.plist and move it to your Desktop. Restart Preview and test. If that doesn't help then you can replace the old plist overwriting the new one.

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Answer 2

mkhshahi Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 29, 2017 10:38 AM in response to macjack

Dear macjack, actually I again followed your advice: after moving "com.apple.Preview.plist" and restarting Preview, I opened a totally different PDF file and it worked fine.

Last time my mistake was to test it on the same PDF file which was already altered (or corrupted) by Preview. Those PDF files that has been altered won't get fixed (even after the solution you have suggested).

So, for now I think I am safe to say your suggested solution fixed the problem for me. Later, I will post to inform whether it has absolutely worked fine or not.

Thank you.

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Mar 29, 2017 10:47 AM in response to mkhshahi

I see many issues with OCR and Preview. Suggest you do an internet search. Folks have had problems similar to yours in just about every version of OS X. Sometimes it seems to work in one update but not in another.

Here is an example:

http://www.documentsnap.com/ocr-text-macos-sierra-preview/

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Answer 4

mkhshahi Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 29, 2017 11:46 AM in response to macjack

Dear macjack,

Thank you for the link. I must say the description provided there is exactly my case.

As soon as I make modifications to a file (which is followed by an auto-save by Preview), the OCR layer of it is removed.

Now I remember that I first faced this issue as I removed a bookmark from the PDF, which later turned out not to be selectable anymore.

Seems I have to wait for the next update and in the meantime use other PDF apps to modify a file, otherwise the OCR layer is gone.

I hope Apple provides a fix for this ASAP, coz this is kind of disturbing.

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Answer 5

Jun 12, 2017 9:05 PM in response to macjack

I cannot find the following at all in the path provided by you;

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preview.plist

The /com.apple.preview.plist doesn't exist! I have tried looking for this since I had been looking for solutions.

Current status, is preview just wouldn't open!

Can you help?

Thanks

ABHAY

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Answer 6

Jun 13, 2017 1:46 AM in response to Deshpande

Deshpande wrote:

I cannot find the following at all in the path provided by you;

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preview.plist

The /com.apple.preview.plist doesn't exist! I have tried looking for this since I had been looking for solutions.

Current status, is preview just wouldn't open!

Can you help?

Thanks

ABHAY