> ## Knowledge Base Index
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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# Why aren't the Annotation tools recognizing text in my script?

If Scriptation's text-aware tools — like the [Text Marking tools](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-use-the-text-marking-tools-highlight-underline-squiggle-and-strikethrough-5i7wnp/), [Search](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-search-for-a-word-or-phrase-rnu3bn/), or [Auto-Highlight](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-auto-highlighting-17llf2q/) — can't "see" text in your script, your PDF is most likely *flattened* or image-only. Scriptation (and any PDF program) can only mark, search, or transfer text it can actually read.

##### How to tell if your PDF is flattened

The fastest test is to try the **Highlight** tool on a line of dialogue.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/60818aeea8717000/arrow-to-highlight_kanhy3.png)

If the highlight doesn't snap to the text, the file is flattened. You'll see the same behavior across other text-aware features (Search returns no results, Note Transfer can't find a match, etc.).

For background on why this happens, see [What is a flattened PDF?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-a-flattened-pdf-p2vq4m/). It's common with scanned scripts and with some [watermarking](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-does-scriptation-handle-watermarks-1vpgkm5/) programs.

##### How to fix it

You'll need a non-flattened version of the script. The two options:

1. **Re-export the script** from the screenwriting program (Final Draft, Highland, Fade In, etc.) with the text layer preserved. See [How should my script be formatted?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-should-my-script-be-formatted-mc70b1/) for the recommended export settings.
2. **Run OCR on the PDF** using a tool like Adobe Acrobat or the Preview app on macos. OCR adds a text layer to a scanned or image-only PDF so Scriptation can read it.

|| 📝 NOTE: If you're regularly receiving flattened scripts, it's worth asking whoever distributes them to change their export or watermarking process. A non-flattened, text-based PDF is the industry standard for production.

# What's Next

[How should my script be formatted?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-should-my-script-be-formatted-mc70b1/)
[How do I use the Text Marking tools?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-do-i-use-the-text-marking-tools-highlight-underline-squiggle-and-strikethrough-5i7wnp/)
[What is a flattened PDF?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/what-is-a-flattened-pdf-p2vq4m/)
[How does Scriptation handle watermarks?](https://help.scriptation.com/en/article/how-does-scriptation-handle-watermarks-1vpgkm5/)