HOW TO USE A SCANNER TO ENTER DATA TO TABLE ? 3

[manoskok]

I use access 2000 and I have developed a specific application for recording and printing microbiological
results from experiments.
I use a specific form in the lab in order to record the results and then to enter them into the db.

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF USING A SCANNER, TO SCAN THE FORM AND THEN PICK UP ONLY THE NUMBERS OR WORDS (WRITTEN BY HAND) AND ENTERING THEM INTO A TABLE ?

YOUR HELP WILL BE MUCH APRECIATED.
THANKS IN ADVANCE.

 

[scking]

To the best of my knowledge, No. Optical Character Reader (OCR) software will scan a document and identify the text or scan an identified region for text. Also, OCR scanning software would have a success rate in the single digits converting the hand written text.

Steve King Professional growth follows a healthy professional curiosity

 

[LarryDeLaruelle]

manoskok:

I think what you are looking for is an Optical Mark Reader.

These use special forms with 'bubble marks' for the data. for example it would have a series of columns of small circles with each numbered from 1 to N. The user fills in the circle with pencil. The scanner is programmed to recognize the filled in circles and assigns values appropriately. If you have any experience in the Academic world, you have probably seen these used for a variety of applications including tests, registration forms, etc.

The hardware can be expensive and the forms (usually) have to be special printed due to the need for close registration of the printed image.

The data are usually provided as CSV text files and can be easily imported into Access.

If you are interested, I can provide additional information on manufacturer's web sites and you can take it from there.

Hope this helps.
Larry De Laruelle
larry1de@yahoo.com

 

[manoskok]

Thank you all for the help.
I will try to get some information about OCR.
I don't know how easy is to scan a form and then use it
as a template, for scanning hand writing.

 

[gwinn7]

YES! There is software for this. Its called, Teleform. You can design the form in Teleform and read the handwritten data in.

In our office we designed forms using Teleform and send copies to employees to populate with handwritten printed responses. These forms are scanned in and interpreted by the OCR. Then, any errors are corrected by perusing what Teleform has brought through and altering the result.

Since you have these forms already, you can simply create one in Teleform that is similar to the one you already use, then employ that form.

Gary
gwinn7

 

[LarryDeLaruelle]

Gary:

What type of scanner/software are you using? Any idea what the error rate is?

We have been looking at Optical Mark Readers as a solution for one of the forms we use in quantity (usually well over 100 a day).

Sounds like your solution may be more cost effective if we would not have to spend a great deal of time proof reading the results.

Thanks.
Larry De Laruelle
larry1de@yahoo.com

 

[gwinn7]

The software is "Teleform v5.0". The manufacturer is "Cardiff Software". Sorry, can't give you a price quote.

Here is what we do. We setup an HP Scanner fitted with a collating device that imports the sheets in high volume. The user clicks the feature to scan in the sheets and minutes later, the sheets are all scanned into the software. Once scanned, the user will have to confirm that (a) all sheets were scanned properly and (b) verify the data scanned. It is a tedious process, but it can go rapidly.

I cannot be completely accurate on the error rate, but its roughly at 35% of all characters scanned, correction is needed.

Gary
gwinn7