Convert handwriting in a PDF to text in OneNote?

Insert PDF to Onenote:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-in/onenote-help/add-a-pdf-to-your-office-file-HA102351554.aspx

Once done, you may use the built in feature of onenote to recognize text from the inserted document.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14595/ocr-anything-with-onenote-2007-and-2010/

http://www.addictivetips.com/microsoft-office/office-onenote-2010-extract-text-from-image-ocr/

<Similar steps for Onenote 2013 as well>

OCR is one of the most difficult tasks that a PC is asked to do. It is difficult enough when the text has been typed. Converting handwriting - even worse poor handwriting - is a big ask, and my guess without seeing your text is that it will be difficult or impossible to do this, and I doubt very much whether the One Note handwriting conversion engine is up to the job - even if you could use it to extract from the PDF, which seems unlikely.

You may have some success with a specialised OCR product such as FineReader which can be taught to recognize particular font characteristics, but frankly even that is going to struggle.

Rather than spend money on more software, you might consider employing a copy typist to type up your notes.

I'm trying to use OneNote to convert handwritten notes to text, not lift text from images to make editable text.  How is that done?

It is still OCR, just a specialized version. But in general OCR from paper works best with printed characters. Handwriting conversion generally works best in "real time" because you can usually "train" it to better recognize your specific handwriting.

OneNote claims to be able to do it:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Take-handwritten-notes-in-OneNote-2016-for-Windows-0ec88c54-05f3-4cac-b452-9ee62cebbd4c

Another option is to use a "touch" enabled computer, either a tablet/laptop with it built in or via an add on like a digital pen or plug in tablet.

http://bamboo.wacom.com/bamboo-spark-handwriting-to-text-app/

This article covers the topic pretty well:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2014/dec/18/how-can-i-convert-my-handwritten-notes-into-word-documents

What you are talking about is called "OCR", Optical Character Recognition.  OneNote has had it for a couple of versions now.

The OCR in OneNote is rudimentary. It works best on typed characters. I don't know how well it will work with hand writing. But you can be sure there are likely to be many spelling errors in your conversion.

OCR anything with OneNote 2007 and 2010

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14595/ocr-anything-with-onenote-2007-and-2010/

Word 2013 also does some pseudo OCR, extracting text from PDFs, but I don't expect it to work with your handwritten PDFs.

If OneNote doesn't do a good job you should try some other OCR tools, including the MODI, MS Office Document Imaging which came with Office 2007 and earlier. You can still get free copies of it.

OCR - MS Document Imaging / Onenote 2010

Using Microsoft Office Document Imaging in Office 2010

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/91749.aspx

2003 Office Document Imaging - Part 1 – Using MODI

http://news.office-watch.com/t/n.aspx?a=261

Helen Bradley looks at Office Document Scanning, which is a small dedicated interface for scanning documents.

2003 Office Document Imaging - Part 2

http://office-watch.com/t/n.aspx?a=262&z=0

17 August 2005 - Office Watch

We look at the faux printer that comes with Office 2003 plus the Document Imaging Tool that brings the scanning tool (mentioned in part 1) and the imaging writer together into a useful trio.

Adding MODI to Office 2007

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office\_2007-office\_install/installing-microsoft-document-image-writer-in/2d979d2a-3294-44dc-8cfa-6fedc7423669

Replace MODI in 2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office_Document_Imaging

If running Office 2010 which lacks MODI, here are a few alternatives (among others):

Extract Text from Images: 10 OCR Tools Compared (see the comments)

http://www.howtogeek.com/96712/extract-text-from-images-10-ocr-tool-compared/

How to extract text from images: a comparison of 10 free OCR tools http://www.freewaregenius.com/2011/11/01/how-to-extract-text-from-images-a-comparison-of-free-ocr-tools/