EasyConverter - converting from scanned text

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(Applies to: EasyConverter)

Chapter 1: A printed page to the intermediate format

This tutorial will take a printed page and convert it into the intermediate format using Dolphin EasyScan to extract the data. 

Before commencing this tutorial please be aware that this tutorial requires a compatible scanner to be installed and configured.

Please also locate and print the file tut4.doc.  This one page document can be found in the "Samples" folder in the Dolphin EasyConverter installation folder.

1.   Place the printed "Tut4" document into your scanner.

2.   Click on the "OCR" button (A1).

3.   Turn "Auto edit" on (A2).

4.   Select "Convert" to start the conversion process (A3).

A progress bar will show the progression of the OCR status. When this is complete you will be brought into Dolphin EasyScan to review and edit the scanned image.

The scanned image appears in a split screen. The top half shows the scanned image and the bottom half shows the extracted text with some formatting applied.

Both windows are synchronised.  Click in the top window and the bottom window will scroll to show the same location and vice versa.

If you examine the Dolphin EasyConverter logo you will see that the OCR engine tried to extract the text from this graphic.  For this tutorial we want to retain the logo and associate some alt text with it.

5.   Ensure the Dolphin EasyConverter logo is fully visible in the top (image preview) window.

6.   Using the left mouse button, draw a box around the whole logo (click in the top left corner with the left mouse button and hold the mouse button down, move the mouse to the bottom right corner of the logo and then release the left mouse button).
You will see a dotted line around the selected area. If you are not happy with the selected area, you can repeat the selection until you are satisfied.

7.   Right click inside the selected area.

8.   Select "Tag Area" from the context menu that appears at the mouse pointer's position.
This will open the "Tag area" dialog box.

9.   In the "Enter a tag for the area" edit area type in a description for the image, for example, "Dolphin EasyConverter logo".

10. Select the "Replace words with tag" check box and then select the "OK" button.
The tagging of the Dolphin EasyConverter logo is now complete and reviewing the remaining text shows that we are happy with the current document.

11. Select the "Export" button in the toolbar of Dolphin EasyScan.

12. The "Export" dialog will appear.  As the column positions are correct we do not need to worry about the column positioning options available here.

13. Unselect the "Page numbering" check box.  This is not required for this tutorial.

14. Select the "Export" button to close Dolphin EasyScan and return to Dolphin EasyConverter.

15. When the conversion of the intermediate document is then complete it will be opened in Microsoft Word.  This is because we have "auto edit" enabled (step 3 above).

While reviewing the intermediate document in Microsoft Word have a look at the text tag for the Dolphin EasyConverter logo.  To do this right click on the Dolphin EasyConverter logo, choose "Format picture" and in the dialog that appears select the "Web" tab. You will find your alternative text description in the available edit area.  This text description will be used when outputting to a text file, to MP3 format and to a DTB.

 If you want to keep this conversion and its settings, then press the "Save project" button (A5).  Saving the project will mean you do not have to scan the data again.

To learn more about Dolphin EasyScan please refer to the "Dolphin EasyScan" chapter.

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