Vision.RecognizeText
--------------------

Recognizes text.

| Component | Version | macOS | Windows | Linux | Server | iOS SDK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Vision](component_Vision.md) | [9.4](newinversion94.md) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes, on macOS and Windows | ✅ Yes |

MBS( "Vision.RecognizeText"; Image { ; Recognition Levels; Languages; CustomWords; PageLimit } ) 

**MBS**( **"Vision.RecognizeText";** /\* Recognizes text. \*/  
**$Image**; /\* The image to analyze.  
Can be container value with JPEG, PNG or other image formats supported by Vision framework. \*/   
**$Recognition Levels**; /\* Optional; Can be "Fast" or "Accurate".  
macOS and iOS only. Ignored on Windows.e.g. "Accurate" \*/   
**$Languages**; /\* Optional; Specify the languages used for the detection.   
The order of the languages in the array defines the order in which languages will be used during the language processing.  
The languages are specified as ISO language codes.e.g. "en\_US" \*/   
**$CustomWords**; /\* Optional; An array of strings that will be used at the word recognition stage in addition to the recognition languages. The customWords list takes precedence over the standard lexicon.  
macOS and iOS only. Ignored on Windows.e.g. "FileMaker¶Claris" \*/   
**$PageLimit**) /\* Optional; The maximum page count allowed for PDF pages.  
Default is 1 to only look on first page.  
It is highly recommended to use a limit to only get text from first n pages due to the time it takes to render pages and recognize text.  
Pass 0 for no limit.e.g. 1 \*/ 

### Parameters

| Parameter | Description | Example | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image | The image to analyze.   Can be container value with JPEG, PNG or other image formats supported by Vision framework. | $image |  |
| Recognition Levels | Can be "Fast" or "Accurate".   macOS and iOS only. Ignored on Windows. | "Accurate" | Optional |
| Languages | Specify the languages used for the detection.    The order of the languages in the array defines the order in which languages will be used during the language processing.   The languages are specified as ISO language codes. | "en\_US" | Optional |
| CustomWords | An array of strings that will be used at the word recognition stage in addition to the recognition languages. The customWords list takes precedence over the standard lexicon.   macOS and iOS only. Ignored on Windows. | "FileMaker¶Claris" | Optional |
| PageLimit | The maximum page count allowed for PDF pages.   Default is 1 to only look on first page.   It is highly recommended to use a limit to only get text from first n pages due to the time it takes to render pages and recognize text.   Pass 0 for no limit. | 1 | Optional      Added in version **12.3**. |

### Result

Returns list or error.

### Description

Recognizes text.  
Requires MacOS 10.15 or iOS 13.0 or newer. This similar to the GetLiveText function in FileMaker 19.5 and later.  
  
If you need cross platform text recognition, please check our [OCR](component_OCR.md) functions.  
  
Added PDF support for plugin version 12.3. PDF pages can now be rendered and run through recognition.  
For PDF files, you may also check [PDFKit.GetPDFPageText](PDFKitGetPDFPageText.md) and [PDFKit.GetPDFText](PDFKitGetPDFText.md) to extract text directly.  
  
Implemented Windows version for images via [WindowsOCR](component_WindowsOCR.md) functions in v13.1. If languages is empty, uses current language of user. Recognition levels and custom words are not supported for Windows. See also [WindowsOCR.Recognize](WindowsOCRRecognize.md) function.  
### Examples

Recognize text:

 Set Field \[ Vision::Result ; MBS ( "Vision.RecognizeText"; Vision::Image ; "Accurate") \]  
### See also

- [CoreImage.Detect](CoreImageDetect.md)
- [OCR.GetTextAsJSON](OCRGetTextAsJSON.md)
- [OCR.Recognize](OCRRecognize.md)
- [PDFKit.GetPDFPageText](PDFKitGetPDFPageText.md)
- [PDFKit.GetPDFText](PDFKitGetPDFText.md)
- [Vision.RecognizeTextJSON](VisionRecognizeTextJSON.md)
- [WindowsOCR.Recognize](WindowsOCRRecognize.md)
- [WindowsOCR.Result](WindowsOCRResult.md)

### Release notes

- **Version 16.1**
    - Changed [Vision.RecognizeText](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionRecognizeText.shtml) and [Vision.RecognizeTextJSON](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionRecognizeTextJSON.shtml) to auto detect the language.
- **Version 13.2**
    - Changed [Vision.RecognizeText](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionRecognizeText.shtml) to handle PDF documents on Windows, too.
- **Version 13.1**
    - Implemented [Vision.RecognizeText](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionRecognizeText.shtml) for Windows using [WindowsOCR](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/component_WindowsOCR.shtml) functions.
- **Version 12.3**
    - Added PDF support for [Vision.RecognizeText](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionRecognizeText.shtml) function, so you can get live text from PDF documents.
- **Version 10.5**
    - Fixed memory leaks in [BinaryFile.WriteContainer](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/BinaryFileWriteContainer.shtml), [Container.ReadImage](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/ContainerReadImage.shtml), [Vision.ClassifyImage](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionClassifyImage.shtml), [Vision.DetectBarcode](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionDetectBarcode.shtml) and [Vision.RecognizeText](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/VisionRecognizeText.shtml) functions.

### Example Databases

- [Mac and iOS/Vision](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/MBS-FileMaker-Plugin-Examples/Mac%20and%20iOS/Vision.shtml#4ScriptAnchor_)

### Blog Entries

- [FileMaker 2026 released](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2026-06-10/FileMaker_2026_released/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 16.1pr1](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2026-02-01/MBS_FileMaker_Plugin_version_1/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS FileMaker Advent calendar - Door 21 - Continuity Camera and Vision](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2024-12-21/MBS_FileMaker_Advent_calendar_/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Rectify document rectangle in images in FileMaker](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2024-10-22/Rectify_document_rectangle_in_/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS Plugin Advent calendar: 2 - Vision](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2023-12-02/MBS_Plugin_Advent_calendar_2_-/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [New in MBS FileMaker Plugin 13.2](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2023-05-17/New_in_MBS_FileMaker_Plugin_13/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS Plugin 13.2 for Claris FileMaker](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2023-05-09/MBS_Plugin_132_for_Claris_File/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS Plugin 13.1 for Claris FileMaker](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2023-03-07/MBS_Plugin_131_for_Claris_File/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [OCR on Windows in FileMaker](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2023-02-07/OCR_on_Windows_in_FileMaker/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [LiveText for Windows](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2023-02-02/LiveText_for_Windows/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)

### FileMaker Magazin

- [Ausgabe 1/2023, Seite 31](https://filemaker-magazin.de/neuigkeit/4218-Appetithappen-FMM_202301)

This function checks for a license.

Created 18th August 2019 , last changed 5th February 2023

  
[Vision.KnownClassifications](VisionKnownClassifications.md) - [Vision.RecognizeTextJSON](VisionRecognizeTextJSON.md)

[HTML Version](VisionRecognizeText.shtml)