Some scanner software has built-in OCR capabilities. However, that alone doesn’t give you a searchable PDF you must also process the image with OCR software. Virtually all scanner software can save scans in the folder of your choice and in a variety of formats, including PDF. PDFpenSmile Software’s $60 PDF editing and annotation tool ( ) does OCR too, and also has good AppleScript support.DEVONthink Pro Office This $150 all-purpose document manager from DEVONtechnologies not only does OCR but also integrates tightly with Fujitsu’s ScanSnap scanners, letting you scan documents, convert them to searchable PDF, and add them to your document database with one button press. ![]() ABBYY FineReader Express for Mac Although several scanner manufacturers bundle limited versions of this software, Abbyy’s $100 full version ( ) is even more powerful, with a selection of image-manipulation features and support for 171 languages.Of the 18 OS X OCR programs I found when researching my e-book Take Control of Your Paperless Office, my three favorites were these: Although both still work, I now find other applications easier to work with. However, if you prefer software with specific features not found in the bundle (such as support for additional languages or advanced PDF editing), you can buy stand-alone OCR software.Īlthough the OCR process itself is mostly invisible, DEVONthink Pro Office lets you configure many aspects of its operation, including which languages to look for.įour years ago, I suggested that the $449 Adobe Acrobat Pro ( ) and IRIS’s $130 Readiris Pro were among the best choices. For example, Fujitsu’s ScanSnap scanners and Epson’s WorkForce Pro scanners come with versions of ABBYY FineReader, and Neat scanners come with NeatWorks software. Choose File -> Print and then choose Save As PDF from the pop-up PDF menu in the lower-left corner of the Print dialog box.) You might also try using an Internet-based fax service such as eFax rather than a physical fax machine.Īlmost every document scanner includes bundled OCR software. (Every OS X application that can print can also create PDFs. Reduce outgoing paper To help break the printing habit, try saving documents in PDF format instead, and then copying them to your favorite iOS device so you can carry them with you. Opt for electronic delivery of bank statements, utility bills, and the like. Request that clients and vendors switch to electronic invoicing and payment methods. Reduce incoming paper Ask to be removed from physical mailing lists. I also recommend the following:Īfter you snap a photo on your iPhone with Prizmo, you can optimize it and perform OCR with a couple of taps. However, scanning incoming paper is just part of the process. You can then recycle or shred the papers you no longer need and store only those for which original copies are essential. Combine that software with a speedy scanner, and you’ll tear through your paper files in no time. Any of numerous OS X applications (as I discuss in a moment) can turn a scanned image into a searchable PDF.
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