scan into word?

[rpmfla]

I am looking for a scanner to purchase to be used for scanning books,
articles, and single pages. I am considering one of the all-in-ones
because I'd like to add a printer to the office as well.

The main thing my colleagues request is that it can scan a document
and produce an editable document, so this involves ease of use and the
scanner software included with the machine.

Anyone have a set up which makes it simple to scan a document/book
chapter/article and produce a good editable document? Any suggestions
would be appreciated.

 

[Terry Smythe]

The main thing my colleagues request is that it can scan a document
and produce an editable document,

Scanners only produce a graphic image. To migrate a graphic image into an
editable document, you will need suitable software to go along with the
scanner. I would recommend ABBYY Fine Reader OCR. See:

http://www.abbyy.com/

You can scan directly into AFR, which it can then be told to OCR the text
image, convert and send the results into your favorite word processor. I
use Microsoft Word.

Vast majority of my OCR scanning is done with an Epson RX595 All-In-One,
which does a very good job. This printer also makes possible the addition
of a Continuous Ink System (CIS), which dramatically simplifies keeping the
ink cartridges full. See:

http://tinyurl.com/37tvbu

For oversize documents, I have a Mustek A3 11" x 17" flat bed scanner,
which works equally well. See:

http://www.mustek.com.tw/html/prod_scan/A3usb.html

Hope this helps a little

Regards,

Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, Canada
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm

 

[CSM1]

Scanners only produce a graphic image. To migrate a graphic image into
an editable document, you will need suitable software to go along with the
scanner. I would recommend ABBYY Fine Reader OCR. See:

http://www.abbyy.com/

You can scan directly into AFR, which it can then be told to OCR the text
image, convert and send the results into your favorite word processor.
I use Microsoft Word.

Vast majority of my OCR scanning is done with an Epson RX595 All-In-One,
which does a very good job. This printer also makes possible the
addition of a Continuous Ink System (CIS), which dramatically simplifies
keeping the ink cartridges full. See:

http://tinyurl.com/37tvbu

For oversize documents, I have a Mustek A3 11" x 17" flat bed scanner,
which works equally well. See:

http://www.mustek.com.tw/html/prod_scan/A3usb.html

Hope this helps a little

Regards,

Terry Smythe
Winnipeg, Canada
http://members.shaw.ca/smythe/rebirth.htm

That Mustek A3 scanner is good but it is only a 300 DPI optical resolution
scanner.

Mustek now has a 1200 DPI A3 scanner.
http://www.mustek.com.tw/html/prod_scan/ScEA3USB1200Pro.html

The extra resolution can't hurt.

To convert a scanned image to an editable text document requires some kind
of Optical Character Recognition software (OCR).

Abbyy fine reader is good, I use Omnipage Pro 15, version 16 is now
available.
http://www.nuance.com/omnipage/

 

[rodney]

I have no experience with 'all in one's"
but would assume dedicated printer and scanner would be preferable.

My experience can be considered 2 years old.

Epson 1670 perfection.
It will scan a page, or multiple selections.

eg if you place a page on the bed and select 4 images
and use the carousel it will auto pass over the 4 images
for 4 seperate images, I use it to scan 30 postage stamps
at once, 30 automatic passes.

It has (and most do I think) OCR recognition included in the software
I can select a page of mixed text and graphics,
the dpi must be 200 dpi or better, and it will scan
and recognise the text with 96% accuracy in about 25 seconds.
The images will aslco be included but naturally black and white.

The hassle? it is a globe light source scanner and takes sometimes
25 -30 seconds to "warm up"
I think they have a short life span, mine has glitched after 80,000 approx
images.
IIRC I paid around $120 new.

I think some scanners today, may scan and save to PDF which
would make your work Ideal, go and kick some tyres
at your scanner shop.