Using gocr and flameshot to get text from images
From time to time I have the need to get text from an image, when someone shares an screen-shot, but not the URL in it or wanting to copy code from a stopped youtube video. I know there are browser plugins, that utilize some webservices to OCR, but it wanted a solution that works "everywhere" on my desktop.
First install gocr and flameshot. Then create a script, that
runs gocr
with and open the result (in my case I want to open an
terminal with vim
). E.g. ~/bin/ocr
:
#!/bin/sh
rxvt -e sh -c "gocr -i \"$1\" | vim -"
Then create a "desktop" entry for flameshot to pick up.
~/.local/share/applications/ocr.desktop
:
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Exec=.../bin/ocr %f
Name=OCR
Categories=Graphics;
(Note, that the path there is absolute, or you have to figure out, what works for you... I couldn't be bothered to look into this)
Then start flameshot gui
(I have that on my Print Screen
-key),
select the region to OCR, press CTRL-o
(or click the button to open
the screenshot with an application), then pick the OCR-Application from
the desktop entry, which should open the text.