Re: [LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
Bill Rhodes wrote: Many thanks to all who responded to my second request. Lots of great suggestions! For the time being I think I will stick with FreeOCR recommended by GeneY which seems to work fine for my use. One question, Gene - is a tutorial available somewhere for FreeOCR? I'm figuring out a few things by trial and error but a users manual or tutorial would probably make it easier. The ownership of this program has changed recently and V 3.00 is supposed to be out soon. All the online documentation from the original creators is gone. I did find this, below, at the new owners site. I guess we have to wait for help. BEGIN QUOTE After downloading Free OCR double click to install. The software is very simple to use. Start by clicking the open button and try some of the included sample scans, these samples are part of the ISRI OCR Performance Toolkit which can be found here: http://www.isri.unlv.edu/ISRI/OCRtk Please note that the Tesseract OCR engine requires images at a resolution of 200 dpi or greater and as such it is not suited for reading PC screen shots which are only about 72dpi although we have made some enhancements in V2.3 which will produce better accurarcy from low quality image sources. Manual zoning, this allows you to select an area to process. This helps to increase the accuracy by eliminating borders, pictures ect. Also this makes the software useable to OCR documents which contain columns. To select an area just draw a box on the image with the mouse using the left button. END QUOTE -- Gene Y. n2kvs Researching Young, Zies, Harer & Cox with Legacy Family Tree http://h1.ripway.com/egptech/ Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
[LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
Many thanks to all who responded to my second request. Lots of great suggestions! For the time being I think I will stick with FreeOCR recommended by GeneY which seems to work fine for my use. One question, Gene - is a tutorial available somewhere for FreeOCR? I'm figuring out a few things by trial and error but a users manual or tutorial would probably make it easier. Thanks again for everyone's help - this is a great group! Bill R. On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 3:43 PM, Bill Rhodes wrote: > I have somehow lost my original email and the replies to it, but I was told > by someone that to get scanned docs into Legacy I need Optical Reader > software (which makes sense) and that I could find free ones for download. > After a lot of searching on Google I was never able to find completely free > software - "free" usually becomes "free trial period" or "donation > required", etc. I finally ordered "SIMPLE OCR" - the free version with an > obligatory $25 donation. After downloading & installing - it does not work! > I called them and they do *not* support the free version. After some > discussion they agreed to refund the $25. So I am back to square one. I > really do not want to re-type all these records if there is a better way. I > would welcome and all any further ideas or suggestions. How do the rest of > you folks do it? > > Bill Rhodes >
Re: [LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
>> On 5/8/09 3:42 PM, "Bill Rhodes" wrote: >> >> Thanks to all who responded to my request for help and advice. I have >> spent the last day or so checking them all out. >> To Ward & Carl - no, OCR is not included in my Scanner which is an >> Epson Perfection 4490. To JLB, the docs I want to copy are way to long to >> do a split screen and type. That is what I am trying to avoid. And to >> Dennis, I have scanned as jpg. and saved to file but cannot do a c&p - not >> possible, and I do not want to insert an image into Legacy.To John R., I >> checked out IrisPro v.10 and it looks very good, but as you say it is >> "spendy" - way too much for my budget. To Grover O. & Gene Y. - I downloaded >> the Free OCR and it is easy to use and it works. The only drawback is that >> (at least with old copies of old docs) it comes up with some strange words & >> symbols which require a lot of correcting and cleaning up, but I may be able >> to live with it. To Dennis K. the Abbyyusa frexpress at $50 for the download >> version looks good. My question is, will it or any of the other for sale >> OCR's do a better job than the FreeOCR, or do they all work the same and >> produce innaccurate copies that have to be "cleaned up"? If Abbyy frexpress >> produces fairly clean & accurate copies it might be worth the $50. I would >> be interested in hearing your comments or suggestions. Sorry for replying to someone other than the OP, but I didn't receive his post (not plain text). *** Some OCR software can be trialed for 30 days before buying. ABBYY FineReader Express can't, but the Professional version can. They probably use the same scanning engine so basic results should be similar. And if the Professional version doesn't meet the OP's requirements then the Express version won't either. -- Dennis Kowallek (LTools) http://zippersoftware.com/ltools http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ltools Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
Bill, I've been following this thread with interest. I must say I agree with Janis. Transcribing the documents, even just the essential parts, has helped me more than once to put some pieces of the puzzle together that I might not have seen if I were simply scanning and saving. Just my FWIW. (for what it's worth) Dede Holden On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 10:48 PM, Janis L Gilmore wrote: > > Bill, > > You should consider the possibility that the exercise of transcribing, and > then abstracting, the document(s) would be beneficial in a number of ways. I > always find that I learn so much in the process of transcribing. I see things > that I didn’t notice before, and somehow I just absorb the document in a more > meaningful way. I do have OCR software, and I do not use it (for genealogy) > at all. > > Do a Google search for genealogical transcription and abstraction guidelines, > for method. The NGS and BCG sites offer help on this subject. > > In brief: > > Preserve original spelling. You can insert your corrections in parenthesis, > if required for clarification. > There are divided opinions about line breaks, but I prefer to break each line > where it breaks in the original document, unless it is so lengthy that the > line breaks become absurdly cumbersome. > The transcription should carry your name, contact address (at least email), > and the date. > The transcription should carry a source citation. > If it is a deed, it should carry the date that the deed was drawn, the date > that it was proven or acknowledged (or the dower examined), and the date of > filing or recording. > Consistency is the key, but some people use italics for anything not in the > body of the document, and regular type face for the transcription material. > If it is a printed form, which has been filled in by pen, you may choose to > distinguish the printed portions from the penned portions by underlining the > latter, or using two different fonts. > > Sometimes there is no quick fix – and sometimes, the quick fix isn’t really a > fix. Just take a deep breath, and begin to read and understand your documents. > > Sorry if this seems pedantic – it is genuinely not my intent. Just trying to > pass along what it has taken me many years to learn (and am still learning). > It’s late, I’m tired, and I have probably left out some very important stuff. > That’s where the Google search comes in. > > Good luck with the project. Lovely to have too many documents! > > Janis Walker Gilmore > > On 5/8/09 3:42 PM, "Bill Rhodes" wrote: > > Thanks to all who responded to my request for help and advice. I have > spent the last day or so checking them all out. > To Ward & Carl - no, OCR is not included in my Scanner which is an Epson > Perfection 4490. To JLB, the docs I want to copy are way to long to do a > split screen and type. That is what I am trying to avoid. And to Dennis, I > have scanned as jpg. and saved to file but cannot do a c&p - not possible, > and I do not want to insert an image into Legacy.To John R., I checked out > IrisPro v.10 and it looks very good, but as you say it is "spendy" - way too > much for my budget. To Grover O. & Gene Y. - I downloaded the Free OCR and it > is easy to use and it works. The only drawback is that (at least with old > copies of old docs) it comes up with some strange words & symbols which > require a lot of correcting and cleaning up, but I may be able to live with > it. To Dennis K. the Abbyyusa frexpress at $50 for the download version looks > good. My question is, will it or any of the other for sale OCR's do a better > job than the FreeOCR, or do they all work the same and > produce innaccurate copies that have to be "cleaned up"? If Abbyy frexpress > produces fairly clean & accurate copies it might be worth the $50. I would be > interested in hearing your comments or suggestions. > Thanks again for eveyone's help - really great!! > > Bill Rhodes > > > On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 3:43 PM, Bill Rhodes wrote: > > I have somehow lost my original email and the replies to it, but I was told > by someone that to get scanned docs into Legacy I need Optical Reader > software (which makes sense) and that I could find free ones for download. > After a lot of searching on Google I was never able to find completely free > software - "free" usually becomes "free trial period" or "donation required", > etc. I finally ordered "SIMPLE OCR" - the free version with an obligatory $25 > donation. After downloading & installing - it does not work! I called them > and they do not support the free version. After some discussion they agreed > to refund the $25. So I am back to square one. I really do not want to > re-type all these records if there is a better way. I would welcome and all > any further ideas or suggestions. How do the rest of you folks do it? > > Bill Rhodes > > > Legacy User Group guidelines: > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp > Archived
Re: [LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
Bill, You should consider the possibility that the exercise of transcribing, and then abstracting, the document(s) would be beneficial in a number of ways. I always find that I learn so much in the process of transcribing. I see things that I didn¹t notice before, and somehow I just absorb the document in a more meaningful way. I do have OCR software, and I do not use it (for genealogy) at all. Do a Google search for genealogical transcription and abstraction guidelines, for method. The NGS and BCG sites offer help on this subject. In brief: 1. Preserve original spelling. You can insert your corrections in parenthesis, if required for clarification. 2. There are divided opinions about line breaks, but I prefer to break each line where it breaks in the original document, unless it is so lengthy that the line breaks become absurdly cumbersome. 3. The transcription should carry your name, contact address (at least email), and the date. 4. The transcription should carry a source citation. 5. If it is a deed, it should carry the date that the deed was drawn, the date that it was proven or acknowledged (or the dower examined), and the date of filing or recording. 6. Consistency is the key, but some people use italics for anything not in the body of the document, and regular type face for the transcription material. 7. If it is a printed form, which has been filled in by pen, you may choose to distinguish the printed portions from the penned portions by underlining the latter, or using two different fonts. Sometimes there is no quick fix and sometimes, the quick fix isn¹t really a fix. Just take a deep breath, and begin to read and understand your documents. Sorry if this seems pedantic it is genuinely not my intent. Just trying to pass along what it has taken me many years to learn (and am still learning). It¹s late, I¹m tired, and I have probably left out some very important stuff. That¹s where the Google search comes in. Good luck with the project. Lovely to have too many documents! Janis Walker Gilmore On 5/8/09 3:42 PM, "Bill Rhodes" wrote: > Thanks to all who responded to my request for help and advice. I have > spent the last day or so checking them all out. > To Ward & Carl - no, OCR is not included in my Scanner which is an Epson > Perfection 4490. To JLB, the docs I want to copy are way to long to do a > split screen and type. That is what I am trying to avoid. And to Dennis, I > have scanned as jpg. and saved to file but cannot do a c&p - not possible, and > I do not want to insert an image into Legacy.To John R., I checked out IrisPro > v.10 and it looks very good, but as you say it is "spendy" - way too much for > my budget. To Grover O. & Gene Y. - I downloaded the Free OCR and it is easy > to use and it works. The only drawback is that (at least with old copies of > old docs) it comes up with some strange words & symbols which require a lot of > correcting and cleaning up, but I may be able to live with it. To Dennis K. > the Abbyyusa frexpress at $50 for the download version looks good. My question > is, will it or any of the other for sale OCR's do a better job than the > FreeOCR, or do they all work the same and > produce innaccurate copies that have to be "cleaned up"? If Abbyy frexpress > produces fairly clean & accurate copies it might be worth the $50. I would be > interested in hearing your comments or suggestions. > Thanks again for eveyone's help - really great!! > > Bill Rhodes > > > On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 3:43 PM, Bill Rhodes wrote: >> I have somehow lost my original email and the replies to it, but I was told >> by someone that to get scanned docs into Legacy I need Optical Reader >> software (which makes sense) and that I could find free ones for download. >> After a lot of searching on Google I was never able to find completely free >> software - "free" usually becomes "free trial period" or "donation required", >> etc. I finally ordered "SIMPLE OCR" - the free version with an obligatory $25 >> donation. After downloading & installing - it does not work! I called them >> and they do not support the free version. After some discussion they agreed >> to refund the $25. So I am back to square one. I really do not want to >> re-type all these records if there is a better way. I would welcome and all >> any further ideas or suggestions. How do the rest of you folks do it? >> >> Bill Rhodes > > Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
Re: [LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
Hi Bill, According to the add from epson america the 4490 comes with loads of software. It advertises ABBY fine reader which is an OCR. If you have the cd's that came with the machine check out if the ABBY software is there to load. In my experience there is nearly always something to clean up. I like another member have found that cleaning up the image in the photo program by reducing noise or sharpen will sometinmes help. NevP 2009/5/9 Bill Rhodes > Thanks to all who responded to my request for help and advice. I have > spent the last day or so checking them all out. > To Ward & Carl - no, OCR is not included in my Scanner which is an > Epson Perfection 4490. To JLB, the docs I want to copy are way to long to > do a split screen and type. That is what I am trying to avoid. And to > Dennis, I have scanned as jpg. and saved to file but cannot do a c&p - not > possible, and I do not want to insert an image into Legacy.To John R., I > checked out IrisPro v.10 and it looks very good, but as you say it is > "spendy" - way too much for my budget. To Grover O. & Gene Y. - I downloaded > the Free OCR and it is easy to use and it works. The only drawback is that > (at least with old copies of old docs) it comes up with some strange words & > symbols which require a lot of correcting and cleaning up, but I may be able > to live with it. To Dennis K. the Abbyyusa frexpress at $50 for the download > version looks good. My question is, will it or any of the other for sale > OCR's do a better job than the FreeOCR, or do they all work the same and > produce innaccurate copies that have to be "cleaned up"? If Abbyy frexpress > produces fairly clean & accurate copies it might be worth the $50. I would > be interested in hearing your comments or suggestions. > Thanks again for eveyone's help - really great!! > > Bill Rhodes > > > On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 3:43 PM, Bill Rhodes wrote: > >> I have somehow lost my original email and the replies to it, but I was >> told by someone that to get scanned docs into Legacy I need Optical Reader >> software (which makes sense) and that I could find free ones for download. >> After a lot of searching on Google I was never able to find completely free >> software - "free" usually becomes "free trial period" or "donation >> required", etc. I finally ordered "SIMPLE OCR" - the free version with an >> obligatory $25 donation. After downloading & installing - it does not work! >> I called them and they do *not* support the free version. After some >> discussion they agreed to refund the $25. So I am back to square one. I >> really do not want to re-type all these records if there is a better way. I >> would welcome and all any further ideas or suggestions. How do the rest of >> you folks do it? >> >> Bill Rhodes >> > >
Re: [LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
Bill Rhodes wrote: Thanks to all who responded to my request for help and advice. I have spent the last day or so checking them all out. snipped--- My question is, will it or any of the other for sale OCR's do a better job than the FreeOCR, or do they all work the same and produce innaccurate copies that have to be "cleaned up"? If Abbyy frexpress produces fairly clean & accurate copies it might be worth the $50. snipped--- Bill, I have tried several OCR programs, both free and commercial. Believe it or not I found that FreeOCR did the best of all of them. An old document may give errors but it will with all the OCR engines. With FreeOCR you can select a section of the document and enlarge it some. I have found that this sometimes helps with the accuracy. The fact that it has an original window and an edit window also saves having to use Transcript, another useful program. -- Gene Y. n2kvs Researching Young, Zies, Harer & Cox with Legacy Family Tree http://h1.ripway.com/egptech/ Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages: http://www.mail-archive.com/legacyusergroup@legacyfamilytree.com/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
[LegacyUG] Re: Unable to copy scanned documents into Legacy "events" or "Notes"
Thanks to all who responded to my request for help and advice. I have spent the last day or so checking them all out. To Ward & Carl - no, OCR is not included in my Scanner which is an Epson Perfection 4490. To JLB, the docs I want to copy are way to long to do a split screen and type. That is what I am trying to avoid. And to Dennis, I have scanned as jpg. and saved to file but cannot do a c&p - not possible, and I do not want to insert an image into Legacy.To John R., I checked out IrisPro v.10 and it looks very good, but as you say it is "spendy" - way too much for my budget. To Grover O. & Gene Y. - I downloaded the Free OCR and it is easy to use and it works. The only drawback is that (at least with old copies of old docs) it comes up with some strange words & symbols which require a lot of correcting and cleaning up, but I may be able to live with it. To Dennis K. the Abbyyusa frexpress at $50 for the download version looks good. My question is, will it or any of the other for sale OCR's do a better job than the FreeOCR, or do they all work the same and produce innaccurate copies that have to be "cleaned up"? If Abbyy frexpress produces fairly clean & accurate copies it might be worth the $50. I would be interested in hearing your comments or suggestions. Thanks again for eveyone's help - really great!! Bill Rhodes On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 3:43 PM, Bill Rhodes wrote: > I have somehow lost my original email and the replies to it, but I was told > by someone that to get scanned docs into Legacy I need Optical Reader > software (which makes sense) and that I could find free ones for download. > After a lot of searching on Google I was never able to find completely free > software - "free" usually becomes "free trial period" or "donation > required", etc. I finally ordered "SIMPLE OCR" - the free version with an > obligatory $25 donation. After downloading & installing - it does not work! > I called them and they do *not* support the free version. After some > discussion they agreed to refund the $25. So I am back to square one. I > really do not want to re-type all these records if there is a better way. I > would welcome and all any further ideas or suggestions. How do the rest of > you folks do it? > > Bill Rhodes >
