best OCR freeware ?

[FTR]

I look for a free OCR freeware, to integrate it in OpenOffice.

Searching in Google Groups I saw that there are very few posts
concerning OCR. The one I found is the web-based beta of WebOCR at
http://www.expervision.com/webtr6.htm. Now, there questions of
confidentiality can arise when you send your texts via the web to an
unknown web service.

questions:
1/ Does anyone use WebOCR ?
2/ any recommandations on other free OCR ?
2/ how to search the archives other than with Google Groups ? Or is this
the best way ?

Frank

 

[cvandriest]

Hi Frank,

Why nog use SimpleOCR. This program is free and can be downloaded here:

http://www.software4free.nl/content/view/107/45/

 

[FTR]

Hi Frank,

Why nog use SimpleOCR. This program is free and can be downloaded here:

http://www.software4free.nl/content/view/107/45/

I used it in combination with the document converter Paperless
Printer:

http://www.rarefind.com/paperlessprinter/downloads.html

to get a print paper page from a online newspaper that allowed only to
print but not to saveguard, although I subscribed to the newspaper. Even
with the highest solution of BMP and JPG output of Paperless Printer
SimpleOCR got really nothing recognised. I only got a page full of
unrecognisable caracters. I tried with different resolutions of the same
page, but I guess the Paperles Printer resolution is just not high
enough - even at the best level - for a successful recognition.

The only way I succeded in the end was a pdf that Paperless Printer
faltlessly produced , and recreate the text by using a commercial
program whose name I dont dare to say as I dont want to decapitated
again ;-( (and noone asked me to)

 

[cvandriest]

For OCR the resolution must be low. That way the program recognises the
text better.
The higher the resolution, the more problem will occure.
I mostly scan an image for OCR at 72 dpi.
I have no problems (only small errors).

Charles

 

[socrtwo]

For OCR the resolution must be low. That way the program recognises the
text better.
The higher the resolution, the more problem will occure.
I mostly scan an image for OCR at 72 dpi.
I have no problems (only small errors).

Charles

I thought you were supposed to use 300 DPI for OCR.

Also try DocMorph or if you have Office 2003, try the Microsoft Office
Tool, Microsoft Office Document Imaging. You may have to install it
off your MS office disk. the MS Office 2002 and before versions are
abysmal, only 2003 works well.

I think DocMorph and MS Imaging 2003 are on par, which is about 1
letter in 50 wrong at 300 DPI. You have to use TIFF files for the
Imaging Tool. DocMorph can take 50 different kinds of files.

 

[socrtwo]

For OCR the resolution must be low. That way the program recognises the
text better.
The higher the resolution, the more problem will occure.
I mostly scan an image for OCR at 72 dpi.
I have no problems (only small errors).

Charles

I thought you were supposed to use 300 DPI for OCR.

Also try DocMorph or if you have Office 2003, try the Microsoft Office
Tool, Microsoft Office Document Imaging. You may have to install it
off your MS office disk. the MS Office 2002 and before versions are
abysmal, only 2003 works well.

I think DocMorph and MS Imaging 2003 are on par, which is about 1
letter in 50 wrong at 300 DPI. You have to use TIFF files for the
Imaging Tool. DocMorph can take 50 different kinds of files.

 

[Frank Bohan]

Hi Frank,

Why nog use SimpleOCR. This program is free and can be downloaded here:

http://www.software4free.nl/content/view/107/45/

The site given above is in Dutch. The SimpleOCR homepage (in English) is at:
http://www.simpleocr.com/

===

Frank Bohan
¶ Disco is to music what Etch-A-Sketch is to art.