PDA

View Full Version : Scanning into Excel ??


shopaholic
12-01-2005, 09:23 AM
I have a huge directory and all the info needs to be in excel. Is it possible to scan and everything is dumped into your database set-up?? The only scanning I am familiar with is a straight scan where the actual picture of the paper will be on the screen.

If its not possible I may have to data enter myself or hire a temp.

TIA
Missy2U
12-01-2005, 09:54 AM
Can the data in the database be exported? To a CSV file or something similar?
BethElena
12-01-2005, 10:00 AM
See if you can export the data like missy2u suggested.
shopaholic
12-01-2005, 10:05 AM
All of the data is on a hard copy (paper) database. I don't have anything on my system yet to export.

I am trying to get the data that is on paper into excel and I am trying to avoid data entering.
Missy2U
12-01-2005, 10:06 AM
In that case, I'm sorry I can't help ya. :(
Vishenka69
12-01-2005, 10:07 AM
What are the formats that you can scan into? If PDF is your only option, then you might be out of luck.

Another option is to try and get the data in an electronic format. You can try calling whoever published it.
BethElena
12-01-2005, 10:09 AM
sorry, can't help you there. never heard of doing that before! Good luck.
shopaholic
12-01-2005, 10:14 AM
Another option is to try and get the data in an electronic format. You can try calling whoever published it.
I did....and they said they don't offer it in electronic format to prevent solicitating (which we aren't doing).

I guess I will have to hire a temp since its going to take forever and a day. :)
Vishenka69
12-01-2005, 10:54 AM
The only other option I can think of is calling Kinko's. May be they have different scanning software.
MsPeachy
12-01-2005, 11:06 AM
I have a huge directory and all the info needs to be in excel. Is it possible to scan and everything is dumped into your database set-up?? The only scanning I am familiar with is a straight scan where the actual picture of the paper will be on the screen.

TIANo - This is not possible. Even the text recognition programs don't do this.

PS - Excel is not a database it's a spreadsheet. If you want a database, use MS Access.
nixer
12-01-2005, 11:46 AM
Actually, depending on how much $$$ you have to spend on the project, there are some software options out there that might be of help. For example, Able2extract (http://www.investintech.com/prod_a2e.htm) is advertised specifically as being able to convert pdfs to excel. In this case, you would scan your docs then run this program. It is good practice with all OCR programs to do some additional review of the converted data to ensure accuracy. So, sometimes it is just easier to enter the information up front to avoid have to go through all of it again, depending on how well the OCR works. With the bulk of info you have to manage, it might be worth downloading the free trial and giving it a shot to see how it works for you. Also, this is only one of several hits that I got from a google search for "ocr excel" terms.

Additionally, excel CAN be used as a database, although it is not usually recommended for anything other very basic and simple database structures. If you're going to be shopping around for a database system and aren't tied to microsoft, it might be worth checking out options before defaulting to MS Access.