good ocr programs?

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by dissonance (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Tuesday, 18-Jun-2013 12:48:26

Hey all,
What OCR programs do yall use for reading scanned images in the form of PDF? Any thoughts on what is the most user friendly and accessible?

Post 2 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 18-Jun-2013 22:23:16

I've been using Kurzweil 1000 for years. Recently I just tried Kurzweil 3000 Version 12 (or perhaps it's 11.) Anyway, though there are some limits to the reading functionality in this new version (such as not being able to use the arrow keys to read like you would a text document) one thing it does do is keep the layout of all images you scan. So that means forms, tables, lists, columns ... It's really useful, though again it might not be the easiest to navagate. I have some vision, so it's a bit easier, but still.,

Post 3 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 18-Jun-2013 22:23:17

I've been using Kurzweil 1000 for years. Recently I just tried Kurzweil 3000 Version 12 (or perhaps it's 11.) Anyway, though there are some limits to the reading functionality in this new version (such as not being able to use the arrow keys to read like you would a text document) one thing it does do is keep the layout of all images you scan. So that means forms, tables, lists, columns ... It's really useful, though again it might not be the easiest to navagate. I have some vision, so it's a bit easier, but still.,

Post 4 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 19-Jun-2013 7:37:25

I've been using OpenBook; I have up to 7.0, although I also did try the demo version of 9.0. I like it a lot for many of it's features for reading. I have also tried Text Cloner Pro, and although I hated not being able to navigate a scanned document with the arrows, I did like how easy it was to convert PDF files into other document types so that I could save and read them. I no longer use these programs, although they are quite good in my opinion, but it's only because I'm wanting to start using DocuScan Plus as my OCR program.

Post 5 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 19-Jun-2013 12:45:02

I'll be interested to see how well Docuscan works. I currently use Openbook 9 but would love to get away from FS products.

Post 6 by dissonance (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Tuesday, 16-Jul-2013 11:17:55

Have yall ever tried prizmo for mac? I've heard it's decent, but I'm pretty sure it only reads online files and files can't be scanned...not really sure though

Post 7 by Ed_G (Zone BBS is my Life) on Tuesday, 16-Jul-2013 14:54:58

Under Windows I use Abby Fine Reader which works well. On the Mac I'm about to try Vuescan and Abby Fine Reader again following recommendations on the Mac Visionaries list. I'm not sure about Prismo for Mac, I've only tried it under iOS. I haven't had a great deal of joy with OCR on iOS devices but I suspect that's as much down to me as it is to the software packages that I've tried.

Post 8 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 16-Jul-2013 15:27:17

The Standscan really improves OCR on iOS devices.

Post 9 by Chris N (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 16-Jul-2013 19:55:59

I was able to use Text Detective on iOS to read an LCD monitor. Not the easiest thing in the world, but possible. As far as Windows, I've used Kurzweil 1000 for many years. It's good, though somewhat expensive. One of the Abby products may work as well and would be much less expensive.

Post 10 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Wednesday, 17-Jul-2013 9:20:48

I've tried Prizmo for Mack and although it's an OCR program and they have done some work on accessibility I haven't been able to get good scans using a Cannon Lide 200. For iPhone I highly recommend Text Grabber. it's $5 and works quite well.

Post 11 by zeekerdude (Generic Zoner) on Wednesday, 31-Jul-2013 8:49:07

does anyone know where to get the stanscan? As for my prefered OCR solution i use open book 9 and a pportible scanner. It has gotten me through a lot of my schooling. It's been a real life saver

Post 12 by season (the invisible soul) on Wednesday, 31-Jul-2013 19:46:49

standscan.ccom is your friend.

For window i use nothing but k1000 and abby find reader. k1000 was the choice i made over openbook, as it prove greater accuracy over openbook for me.
Abby reader is a software that come with my scanner, and it helps me to ocr enable from scann images to an accessible pdf.

As for Mac, i use abby find reader. When i am financially able, i'll try bootscan.

Post 13 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 01-Aug-2013 10:27:07

Question about Abbyy fine reader for mac, have you found a way to save multiple pages to one file? I've used it and have only been able to save 1 page per file. Thanks.

Post 14 by season (the invisible soul) on Friday, 02-Aug-2013 22:36:41

don't have the problem before. Do you scan new document everytime you scan a page, or you have continue scan set?

Post 15 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Sunday, 04-Aug-2013 11:12:23

yeah, I use kurzweil 1000 as well. on the pc but nothing for the mac yet. I did get prizmo for the phone but haven't had the occasion to use it yet.