Scan Text Only

[Bill Lane]

Hi All:

Can anyone tell me how to scan just the text from a page?

I scanned a letter today, and it copied the paper color as well.

I would like to be able to just get the text.

If anyone knows how this is done, please let me know.

Thanks,

Bill Lane

[DrZaius]

Hi Bill Lane,

You will need to use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software. When you scan a page in normally it is saved as an image, but when you scan it using OCR software the text is saved in document format and you are able to edit it. I'm sure others have more to add...

Hope that helps.

[mairving]

Also it depends on what kind of scanning software that you are using. With most software you can tell it what you are scanning, ie picture, text, etc. You will still need to do as the doctor ordered though.

[Bill Lane]

Thanks DrZaius & Mairving:

Where can I find this OCR software?

I have a Mustek 600 III EP Plus scanner, but I don't see anything in their installation program about OCR.

I've been using Picture-It to do my scanning, but again nothing there about OCR.

Thanks Again,

Bill Lane

[mhayes]

Hi Bill,

there is an abundance of OCR Software out there and most have a trial or light version available. Two of the more common names are Omni Page, Text Bridge
I found a free trial version of Type Reader here, I've never tried it but it's free.

http://www.experexchange.com/download_tr6.htm

[Bill Lane]

Thanks Mhayes:

I'll take a look at it.

Bill Lane

[MARKBLACK]

Hi bill what software did you get with the scanner??

[Bill Lane]

Hi Markblack:

My Scanner is a Mustek 600 III EP Plus Flatbed, and it came with TextBridge Classic, Rel. 1.05.

It don't recognize the text correctly, about 20% or more is mumbo jumbo.

I've sent a request to their support at http://www.scansoft.com/ , but haven't heard anything yet.

I'm not even sure that's the right place to be asking for help, but I couldn't find any support at Xerox's web site.

When I first posted I was hoping that maybe someone could direct me to a free version of OCR software that I could download, but most are trial versions.

Any help will be very much appreciated, and thanks ahead of time,

Bill Lane

[mairving]

That can be a problem with using OCR software. Sometimes it may be faster to type it in. A lot of it depends on what type of material you are scanning. Some like news clippings from the paper are not so good. Also scanners usually come with a lite version of the product not the full version.

Check <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/products/filter/searchresults/1,8813,,00.html?cat_id=15%7C30%7C61%7C8&ci=3&si1=fid&sv1=61&si2=fid%7C5%7C1&sv2=NULL%7CNULL&si4=dr&sv4=NULL&si3=cid&submit=submit" style="text-decoration:none" target="display"><font color="maroon"><b>Here</b></font></a> for reviews of OCR software.

Check <a href="http://hosc.net/ocr/ocrsoftware.htm" style="text-decoration:none" target="display"><font color="maroon"><b>Here</b></font></a> for tips on using OCR software.

[Bill Lane]

Thanks Mairving:

Very interesting reading at both sites! I guess I'm going to wait and see what feedback I get from Scansoft.

I think that most of the really good software is a little more than I want to pay for something that I won't need that often.

Thanks again!!!

Bill Lane

[Hot Rod]

Are you able to scan the page as a line art drawing. I have an option in my Mustek scanner software where it allows me to do that. Textbridge might work better with it then. If you scan it as a color image it will pick up slight shades from the paper.

[Bill Lane]

Thanks Hot Rod:

It does have Line Art Drawing, I'll give it a try.

Bill Lane

[glc]

The OCR software that comes with low end scanners is generally very basic (if it even works at all) - and you will probably not get a reply from Scansoft - or if they do reply, they will simply direct you to Mustek or try to sell you the $99 ScanSuitePlus upgrade - which is worth every penny. Textbridge Classic is a 7 year old program.

[Bill Lane]

Thanks Glc:

That's exactly what they did, they want my to buy the new TextBridge Pro for $79.00, and that's more than I want to spend for something that I won't use that often.

And yes Hot Rod, I was using the Line Art selection already.

What got me started on this OCR thing was, I scanned a document in color, and it picked up a faint background, and of course it printed that as well, and it didn't make any difference what format I saved it in. I just wanted to save my ink :-)

I want to thank all of you for your help !!!

Bill Lane

[MARKBLACK]

Hi bill sorry for the late reply's been away, I have used
TextBridge in the past its not the best but its ok for the first timer I had no trouble with it but I was using a microtek scanner which isn't top of the range but all in all a different scanner normally you can only scan text in via line art because the scanner gets confused and thinks its an image otherwise (I.E. a picture) so it would scan it as a whole item if you get what I mean.let me know how you get on I was very new to scanning when I first bought my scanner sometimes I think back to them days and the questions I asked on this forum, so I know how you feel everybody has to start somewhere
MB

[Bill Lane]

Hi Markblack:

Thanks for the reply.

I'll try a few more pages with Line Art, and see how it goes.

I don't do a lot of text scanning, but it would be nice to have the function work right when you do need it, or at least come close enough that you don't have to rewrite 50% of it.

Again, thanks for the input,

Bill Lane