Reading and producing.
FOR READING
Upload and ask questions.
"What does this document require me to do, and by when?" "What obligations does it create?" "Extract every date and amount."
FOR SCANNED PDFS
If it is an image of text rather than real text, accuracy depends on scan quality.
Clear, straight, well-lit scans work considerably better.
WHAT TO ALWAYS VERIFY
Every figure, against the document.
FOR LONG PDFS
Split them. Very long documents receive uneven attention.
FOR PRODUCING PDFS
Draft the content, then produce the file from a word processor.
Exported PDFs from word processors are accessible; images of text are not.
WHAT TO AVOID PUBLISHING AS PDF ONLY
Menus, price lists, contact details, essential information.
Those belong on a web page. A PDF is unreadable to assistive technology and awkward on a phone.
