Read Aloud

Question

Split from this thread.

Hi, Arthur. Do images in a PDF make the Read Aloud feature slow or stop working? Would it be quicker if the PDF was just text?

Answer 1

Hi John,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I understand that you are wondering if there is a difference in reading speed between images and text in PDF files.

I'll explain this for you in two ways.

(1) From my own use, it does. Because there are some purely text-based scientific and technical literature, Read Aloud after the recognition can be read in order from top to bottom, from left to right.

However, for literatures with pictures, especially if the layout of the pictures is messy, Read Aloud will skip reading or stop working due to the original order of reading.

(2) from the logic of writing the code, when the PDF file contains a large number of images or complex layout, the text extraction process may be slower or less efficient, which may lead to the function lags or stop working altogether. In contrast, PDFs containing only text are usually processed faster, resulting in a smoother read-aloud experience.

Some PDF reading plug-ins, however, make special checks on the underlying formatting of PDF files, resulting in them being able to additionally recognize relevant typography and formatting.

As the main function of Read Aloud is still based on the type of web page reading, and web pages will be based on different writing modes, such as the current popular HTML or common development framework Element UI, Ant and so on.

Therefore, Read Aloud's underlying development logic is still adapted to and targeted at web pages as much as possible.

I sincerely hope that the above information and explanations will help you! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

I look forward to hearing back from you. 

Best Regards

Arthur Sheng | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

It has been a long time since I received your feedback and I have missed you very much.

May I ask if you still have any doubts?

Answer 3

You're welcome my friend.

Please feel free to contact me if you encounter any problems.

Your feedback means a lot to me. As a Support Specialist, I understand the expectations of users and the concerns behind every issue. I am honored to help you and hope that my efforts will be convenient for you.

In order to help other users who are experiencing similar issues, I kindly request you to select “Yes” under the post that offers a solution. This small gesture will not only provide better access to information for other users, but will also allow us to work together to build a more friendly and supportive community.

Thank you very much for your cooperation and understanding, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Answer 4

Thank you for answering!