document scanning software

[ronaries]

I have a Xerox documate 520 and Windows XP sp3 on a Athlon 2500 home assembled system, 1 gb ram, 250 WD hard drv. I need to choose scanning software to handle approx 700 document files, approx avg of 12 pp per file, max of 30 pp file.

Paperport software came with the Xerox documate originally, but is somewhat dated and has received mixed reviews from users. Is there another which would perform more reliably?

I am elgible to buy an Iris Read ocr/scan software update for $50 plus shipping ... don't know if this is better than the Paperport?

Also, I have read that the Fujitsu scanners, which have their own software, are much faster... is this so? If I were to purchase new, my budget would peak out at $350 ... so a commercial quality scanner is not feasible ... How good would the less expensive models be???

Lastly, using WindowsXP is fine for now... but in the future it will need to be manipulated by its sucessor software - whether Vista or Windows9 - and I don't want to create an obsolete data base...any thoughts????

thanks all suggestions! I've not done this before!

[Force Flow]

Try googling for "paperport alternative"

Looks like OpenOffice might be able to do it:
http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewto...1a83277#288096

paid alternatives:
http://www.kofax.com/desktop/
http://www.chocksettsoftware.com/

Free alternatives:
http://www.shareup.com/Scan_to_PDF-download-27597.html


I can't vouch for anything personally...you'll have to try this stuff out and see if it works for you.

[glc]

What format do you want to store these documents in?

[ronaries]

GLC, I don't know enough to reply to your very reasonable question. However, other users with pers computers need to be able to access the documents, and they would be running , at present, xp or Vista, and I presume they will update to Windows7 at some future date. They would have MS Ofc2007 and Paperport available to them.

ForceFlow, thanks for the citations. I will do some research.

I'd be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has used the named software, or has done some document scanning ... there is lots to read about, but I dont' know how it performs in the real world!

[Force Flow]

I've used paperport, and while it was a bit clunky, it got the job done. Typically, the users I set it up for want to scan documents and save them as PDF files.

[glc]

If they don't need to be edited after scanning and storage, I'd recommend PDF. Look for a scan direct to PDF package. Any computer can read PDF as long as they have a PDF reader, which is free from Adobe or Foxit, and most people already have that.

[ronaries]

After some research, I'm impressed that the pdf format is the way to go.

Also, Paperport is receiving horrid user reviews on its upgrade editions software (Nuance software) - so I am wary to use its older renditions as it may not work with later software OS etc. The vista capable program has become notorious.

I;ll continue to look for user reviews of document imaging and management software -- there are a bevy of programs, most aimed at corporate accounts and high prices....and a lot of developed programs for which I cannot find user reviews....
I think I'll check PCmag/World for reviews also.

Thanks for help!

[glc]

Something simple like Paperport won't really do what you need. You need software that can "stack" pages, then save the whole document as a single PDF file. I have a customer that spent a couple grand on a Canon high speed document scanner with an automatic feeder, and it came with software that does exactly that. Load all the pages, start the software, sit back - when done, give it a file name, done. I believe it was called Pixtran.

[ronaries]

That Canon software sounds great ... but entirely beyond my budget. Maybe it'll come down in the next seven years tho!

It seems like many new programs are being developed in the Imaging and Mgt area ...

MS Office/Word has a document imaging method - tho its not .pdf in nature. I It would be interesting to find out its limitations ...clearly the advantage is that Office 07 owners get it in the package, and it would work with most scanners. But it may not be very flexible???? I'd like to know more about it....