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16 Replies Last post: Jul 18, 2008 5:49 AM by Ongkot   1 2 Previous Next
Click to view DrBubba's profile New Member 6 posts since
Aug 18, 2007
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Aug 18, 2007 6:46 PM

Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?

Hi,

I'm switching from the "dark side" to the "Light Side" and have a question that virtually no one up to this point has been able to answer. I use a Macbook Pro at home & Windows XP Pro at work, and in MS Office (Windows) 2003 there's an Office Tool that called Microsoft Document Imaging that I use every day. It's an essential tool allows me to scan documents, perform OCR on the scans, and create multiple page .tif files. This is invaluable in making digital copies of documents like time sheets, attendance forms, handwritten notes, articles, tax documents, etc. It's extremely useful and handy. Unfortunately, this tool is not part of Office 2004 for the Mac, and I'm not holding my breath that it will be included in Office 2008. Meantime, I've asked every Mac user I know, the folks at the local Apple store, and several self-described Mac "experts" what the Mac equivalent of Office Document Imaging is, and nobody has been able to answer the question. I'm thinking I might be able to use Adobe Acrobat Professional 8, but this is new ground for me. My alternative is to run Parallels, install Windows, and run Office 2003 that way ... and I'd 'druther not do that, because the point of switching to a Mac was to get away from Windoze. Can anyone out there steer me in the right direction?
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Click to view moose_n_squirrel's profile Old Hand 2,958 posts since
Sep 16, 2004
1. Aug 18, 2007 7:12 PM in response to: DrBubba
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
Acrobat can do those things, but it's expensive. Download and try VueScan. It has OCR and multiple-page TIF output, but I admit I've never tried that part of the program. I just use it for scans. The VueScan user guide is on that site.
Click to view FranksterOne's profile Member 138 posts since
Aug 18, 2007
3. Aug 18, 2007 11:49 PM in response to: DrBubba
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
I'll second Vuescan!!!
Click to view TRex's profile New Member 3 posts since
Aug 19, 2007
4. Aug 19, 2007 3:38 AM in response to: FranksterOne
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
Doc-I look forward to hearing about your results. Just made the switch to mac also and am trying to go paperless. Thanks. TRex
Click to view Randy_B_Singer's profile Member 634 posts since
Dec 20, 2002
5. Aug 24, 2007 11:19 PM in response to: TRex
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
Check out:

WorkingPapers Pro ($99)
Dominion Software
http://www.dominionsw.com

This is an integrated document imaging and managment program that lets you scan, OCR, and organize your documents for easy retrieval.


Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
Click to view Randy_B_Singer's profile Member 634 posts since
Dec 20, 2002
8. Sep 9, 2007 5:13 AM in response to: DrBubba
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
There are a bunch of excellent document imaging and management applications for the Macintosh, but they don't include OCR:

Optix
http://www.mindwrap.com

DocHaven
http://homepage.mac.com/holymackerel/DocHaven/DocHaven.html

Sonar
http://www.virginiasystems.com

DocumentWallet
http://www.receiptwallet.com/products/documentwallet.php

Yep
http://www.ironicsoftware.com/

DevonThink
http://www.devon-technologies.com/products/devonthink/

EagleFiler
http://c-command.com/eaglefiler/

Journler
http://journler.com/

There are several separate OCR programs available for the Mac.


Randy B. Singer Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions) Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
Click to view boltonsoft's profile New Member 114 posts since
Oct 29, 2001
9. Sep 23, 2007 2:27 PM in response to: Randy_B_Singer
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
Mictrotek ScanWizard has OCR, abeit, you have to own one of their scanners to use it.
Click to view JimChampagne's profile New Member 2 posts since
Oct 29, 2007
10. Oct 29, 2007 3:58 PM in response to: boltonsoft
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
any luck?
I just started this quest myself.
so far i've found:

Newsoft - Presto! Pagemanager 7
Nuance - OmniPage Pro X For Macintosh
Readiris Pro 9.0
Working Papers 2.2.2
VueScan
Click to view irfanh's profile New Member 4 posts since
Aug 29, 2005
11. Oct 31, 2007 9:45 AM in response to: JimChampagne
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
I have been using a Fujitsu SnapScan for the past year for about 30-40 pages per week it integrates with adobe acrobat very well. It does two sided scanning at the same pass and it does multipage documents that none of my 3 other flatbed scanners could.
I strongly recommend them.
Click to view JimChampagne's profile New Member 2 posts since
Oct 29, 2007
12. Oct 31, 2007 7:57 PM in response to: irfanh
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
what are the Model numbers / Software versions?

Scansnap ???
Adobe Acrobat ???
Click to view irfanh's profile New Member 4 posts since
Aug 29, 2005
13. Oct 31, 2007 10:37 PM in response to: JimChampagne
Re: Mac Equivalent to Microsoft Document Imaging?
The snapscan that I use is the FI-5110EOXM this model may have been updated. Whatever model you choose make sure it is mac compatible most of the Fujitsus are not. These do use a proprietary driver (not TWAIN) and therefore have to be mac ready to use them. They are otherwise very reliable and fast wnough for most desktop use.
They can scan to PDF format which is my preferred especially as PDF work so well with preview and spotlight.
I also have a full version of adobe acrobat 5 but do not think that it is necessary to use the Fujitsu scanner.
Click to view irfanh's profile New Member 4 posts since
Aug 29, 2005
14. Oct 31, 2007 10:47 PM in response to: irfanh
Experience with Readiris pro corporate ver 11?
Right now i am trying to automate most of the OCR. I get about 40 pages of faxes per day in my email inbox as pdf attachments from efax. I am trying to create an automator action that would save these attachments to a designated folder. I believe that Readiris pro corporate ver 11 can watch a folder and batch process the OCR to another folder. This would be great as spotlight can then find the correct document once OCR is done.
My problem is that it is a $500 program and was wondering if anyone had any experience with it? The vendor does not have a demo to try first.