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Text from a Scanned Document into Word with OCR
There are a number of OCR products on the market, but don’t go for your wallet just yet. If you own Microsoft Office, you already own software capable of Optical Character Recognition: Microsoft Office Document Imaging. You can use Microsoft Office Document Imaging to grab text from a scanned document and convert it into a usable Word document.
Tech help site Of Zen and Computing describes how to use Microsoft Office to do Optical Character Recognition (OCR)—that is, recognize text inside digital images (like scanned documents). The Microsoft Document Imaging application comes with Microsoft Office (who knew?) and can grok text from TIFF images. Haven't tried this one myself, but after wrestling with various OCR apps several years ago, my expectations are low. What's your favorite OCR application or method? Tell us about it in the comments.
Document imaging brings the two worlds of online and paper together in a way that can help make you more productive. With Microsoft Office Document Imaging, you can not only scan a document (eliminating the need for the paper copy), but you can also work with a scanned document or a fax as easily as other Microsoft Office documents on your computer.
Use Microsoft Office Document Imaging when you want to:
> Scan both single- and multi-page documents. For example, you can scan paper documents for archiving and recycle the paper copies.
> Read a scanned document or fax quickly and easily on your computer screen. For example, you can read through a multi-page fax online.
> Fill out a simple form online that has been scanned or faxed. For example, scan a paper form or open a faxed form, fill in the requested information including check boxes, and return the form in email.
> Perform optical character recognition (OCR) in a scanned document or a fax. For example, after recognizing text in a scanned document or a fax, you can search for specific text, or copy text to another program.
> Copy text and images from a scanned document or a fax and paste in any Office program. Or, export text and images from a scanned document or a fax to Microsoft Word. For example, copy important data from a fax or scanned document to a Microsoft Excel worksheet.
> Search for text within a scanned document or a fax.
> Reorganize the page order in a multi-page-scanned document or fax as easily as rearranging papers in a folder. For example, remove the cover page from a fax, or add additional pages before sending it on to another person.
> Send scanned documents to others in e-mail or as a fax over the Internet.
> Annotate a scanned document or fax and share it with another person. For example, add comments to a fax and return it to the sender.
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