User manual NUANCE OMNIPAGE PRO 6 - REFERENCE MANUAL FOR MACINTOSH

OmniPage Pro Version 6 for Macintosh Reference Manual 1 Reference How to Use the Documentation Please read the Release Notes before installing OmniPage Pro. The notes include up-to-date lists of supported scanners, compatible file formats, and any last minute information concerning the current release of OmniPage Pro. Use this Reference manual to find specific information about any OmniPage Pro feature. It describes all the commands and settings, how to use the editor, how to improve performance, and how to troubleshoot common problems. This information is also available in OmniPage Pro's online Guide and Reference. Chapter 2 contains a variety of tutorial exercises to help you learn OmniPage Pro and see what it can do to streamline your workload. OmniPage Pro contains Caere's 24-bit image-editing program Image Assistant. The Image Assistant Tutorial booklet introduces the program's basic features. Refer to the Image Assistant Balloon Help system for detailed information about Image Assistant's features. Assumptions We assume that you know how to work in the Macintosh environment. If you have questions about how to use dialog boxes, scroll bars, menus, and so on, please refer to your Macintosh documentation. -i CAERE CORPORATION 100 Cooper Court Los Gatos, California 95030 European Offices: CAERE GmbH. Ismaninger Strasse 17-19 81675 Munich, Germany OmniPage Pro 6 Macintosh Version Copyright© 1995 Caere Corporation. All rights reserved. CAERE®, OmniPage®, OmniPage Pro, Image Assistant®, AnyPage, True Page, Language Analyst, AnyFax, and 3D OCR are trademarks of Caere Corporation. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Such designations appearing in this manual have been printed in initial caps. ii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Installation System Requirements .................................................................................................................... 1-2 Installing the Software ...................................................................................................................1-3 Selecting Your Scanner .................................................................................................................. 1-6 Starting OmniPage Pro .................................................................................................................. 1-8 Registering OmniPage Pro ............................................................................................................ 1-9 Chapter 2 Tutorials Before You Start .............................................................................................................................. 2-2 Tutorial 1 -- Basic Text Recognition ............................................................................................ 2-3 The OCR Process ..................................................................................................................... 2-3 Automatic OCR with the Default Settings .......................................................................... 2-6 Touring the AutoOCR toolbar ............................................................................................2-12 Touring the Settings Panel ...................................................................................................2-14 Using the Process Buttons ....................................................................................................2-21 Opening a Graphic in Image Assistant ..............................................................................2-27 Tutorial 2 -- Document Types and OCR Settings ...................................................................2-30 Setting a Zoning Method .....................................................................................................2- 31 Complex Layouts ..................................................................................................................2-33 Standardized Forms ..............................................................................................................2-37 Legal Documents and Spreadsheets ...................................................................................2-43 Documents with Specialized Characters ...........................................................................2-44 Foreign-Language and Multilingual Documents .............................................................2-49 Tutorial 3 -- Streamlining the OCR Workflow ........................................................................2-51 Saving a Settings File for Specific Documents ..................................................................2-51 Scanning Large Jobs ..............................................................................................................2-53 Opening Multiple TIFF and PICT Files ..............................................................................2-57 Saving Graphics ............................................................................................................... ......2-59 Deferring Recognition ..........................................................................................................2-60 iii Chapter 3 Commands and Settings The AutoOCR Toolbar ................................................................................................................... 3-2 Shortcut Command Buttons .................................................................................................. 3-3 Processing Buttons .................................................................................................................. 3-3 AUTO Button ........................................................................................................................... 3-4 Image Button ........................................................................................................................... 3-4 Zone Button ............................................................................................................................. 3-7 OCR Button .............................................................................................................................. 3-9 Save As Button .............................................................................................................................. 3-10 The File Menu ............................................................................................................................... 3-11 Open... ..................................................................................................................................... 3-11 Close ........................................................................................................................................ 3-12 Save ......................................................................................................................................... 3-13 Save As... ................................................................................................................................ 3-13 Revert to Saved ...................................................................................................................... 3-15 Get Accuracy Info ................................................................................................................. 3-15 Save Settings... ....................................................................................................................... 3-17 Load Settings... ...................................................................................................................... 3-18 Save Zone Template... .......................................................................................................... 3-18 Page Setup... ........................................................................................................................... 3-20 Print... ...................................................................................................................................... 3-20 Send Mail... ............................................................................................................................. 3-21 Quit ......................................................................................................................................... 3-21 The Edit Menu .............................................................................................................................. 3-22 Undo ....................................................................................................................................... 3-22 Cut ........................................................................................................................................... 3-22 Copy ........................................................................................................................................ 3-23 Paste ........................................................................................................................................ 3-23 Clear ........................................................................................................................................ 3-24 Select All ................................................................................................................................. 3-24 Clear All Zones ...................................................................................................................... 3-24 Clear Markers ........................................................................................................................ 3-24 Show/Hide Markers ............................................................................................................ 3-24 Check Recognition... ............................................................................................................. 3-25 Verify Image... ....................................................................................................................... 3-26 Delete Current Page .............................................................................................................. 3-27 Go to Page... ........................................................................................................................... 3-27 The Process Menu ........................................................................................................................ 3-29 Auto ........................................................................................................................................ 3-29 Scan Image ............................................................................................................................. 3-30 Load Image... ......................................................................................................................... 3-31 Auto Zones ............................................................................................................................. 3-33 Manual Zones ........................................................................................................................ 3-35 iv Use Zone Template... ............................................................................................................3-38 Perform OCR .........................................................................................................................3-40 OCR & Check .........................................................................................................................3-40 Defer OCR ..............................................................................................................................3-40 Train OCR ..............................................................................................................................3-41 Process Settings .....................................................................................................................3-43 Finish Current Document... .................................................................................................3-43 Batch Processing... .................................................................................................................3-44 Start Image Assistant ............................................................................................................3-46 The Settings Menu ........................................................................................................................3-47 Settings Panel... ......................................................................................................................3-47 Verify Scanner... .....................................................................................................................3-48 Select Languages... ................................................................................................................3-49 Edit Training File... ................................................................................................................3-50 Edit Zone Contents File... .....................................................................................................3-51 Edit User Dictionary... ..........................................................................................................3-53 The Window Menu ......................................................................................................................3-55 Hide/Show Toolbar ..............................................................................................................3-55 Hide/Show Status .................................................................................................................3-55 Zoom In ..................................................................................................................................3-55 Zoom Out ...............................................................................................................................3-55 Zoom to Width ......................................................................................................................3-56 Zoom to Window ..................................................................................................................3-56 Flip Vertical ............................................................................................................................3-56 Rotate Left ..............................................................................................................................3-56 Rotate Right ............................................................................................................................3-56 Image Window ......................................................................................................................3-56 Text Window .........................................................................................................................3-56 Mail Window .........................................................................................................................3-56 The Help Menu .............................................................................................................................3-57 About Help... ..........................................................................................................................3-57 Show/Hide Balloons ............................................................................................................3-57 OmniPage Pro Guide ............................................................................................................3-57 OmniPage Pro Reference .....................................................................................................3-58 Chapter 4 The Settings Panel Settings Panel Overview ............................................................................................................... 4-2 Scanner Options .............................................................................................................................. 4-4 Page Options ............................................................................................................................ 4-4 ADF Options ............................................................................................................................ 4-5 Options .....................................................................................................................................4-6 Images Options ............................................................................................................................... 4-9 Orientation ............................................................................................................................... 4-9 For Gray TIFF Files: ................................................................................................................ 4-9 v Zones Options ............................................................................................................................... 4-10 Automatic ............................................................................................................................... 4-10 Single Column or Table ........................................................................................................ 4-11 One Zone ................................................................................................................................ 4-11 OCR Options ................................................................................................................................. 4-12 Input Options ........................................................................................................................ 4-12 Use Language Analyst ......................................................................................................... 4-14 Retain Graphics ..................................................................................................................... 4-15 Output Options ..................................................................................................................... 4-16 Direct Options ............................................................................................................................... 4-19 Processing Options ............................................................................................................... 4-19 Direct Output Formatting Options ..................................................................................... 4-19 Spelling Options ........................................................................................................................... 4-21 Dictionaries ............................................................................................................................ 4-21 Spell Checking Options ........................................................................................................ 4-22 Preferences Options ..................................................................................................................... 4-23 Save Page Image in OmniPage Document ........................................................................ 4-23 Prompt Before Deleting Pages ............................................................................................ 4-24 Save Settings on Quit ............................................................................................................ 4-24 Reject Character ..................................................................................................................... 4-24 Chapter 5 Direct Input Using Direct Input from Another Application .......................................................................... 5-2 Accessing OmniPage Pro in Direct Input Mode ................................................................ 5-2 Direct Input Mode Processing ............................................................................................... 5-4 Selecting Settings for Direct Input ............................................................................................... 5-6 The Direct Settings Panel ....................................................................................................... 5-6 How Direct Settings Differ from Regular Mode Settings ................................................. 5-6 The Direct Input AutoOCR Toolbar ..................................................................................... 5-8 The Direct Input Menus .............................................................................................................. 5-10 Chapter 6 Editing Recognized Documents Choices Before OCR ....................................................................................................................... 6-2 OCR Output Options .............................................................................................................. 6-2 Retaining Graphics ................................................................................................................. 6-5 Language Analyst ................................................................................................................... 6-6 Language Selections ............................................................................................................... 6-7 Dictionary Selections .............................................................................................................. 6-8 Editing Options After OCR ........................................................................................................ 6-11 Overview of the Text Window ............................................................................................ 6-11 Checking Recognition .......................................................................................................... 6-11 Verifying the Image .............................................................................................................. 6-13 vi Useful Editing Commands ..................................................................................................6-13 Drag and Drop Support .......................................................................................................6-14 Saving a Recognized Document .................................................................................................6-15 Chapter 7 Improving Performance Improving Speed ............................................................................................................................ 7-2 Manual Brightness Setting .....................................................................................................7-2 Language Analyst ...................................................................................................................7-5 Automatically Correcting Page Orientation ....................................................................... 7-5 Saving Page Images ............................................................................................................ .... 7-6 Drawing Zones Manually ...................................................................................................... 7-6 Improving Accuracy ...................................................................................................................... 7-7 Document Quality ...................................................................................................................7-7 Scanner and OCR Options ..................................................................................................... 7-8 Scanning Angle ........................................................................................................................ 7-9 Scanner Glass Clarity ............................................................................................................7-10 Paper Transparency ..............................................................................................................7-10 Chapter 8 Technical Information Before You Begin ............................................................................................................................ 8-2 Installation .......................................................................................................................................8-4 OCR Problems .................................................................................................................................8-6 Scanner Problems .........................................................................................................................8-11 Scanning -- Document Color and Quality ...............................................................................8-17 Supported Import File Formats ..................................................................................................8-17 Supported Export File Formats ..................................................................................................8-18 Error Messages ..............................................................................................................................8-19 Caere Product Support ................................................................................................................8-22 International Support ...........................................................................................................8-23 Information We Need From You ........................................................................................8-23 Glossary Appendix Apple Event Support Index vii viii Chapter 1 Installation Please read this section carefully! It includes: · System Requirements · Installing the Software · Selecting Your Scanner · Starting OmniPage Pro Installation 1-1 System Requirements System Requirements To install and run OmniPage Pro, you need the following setup: · Standard (68020 or greater) or Power Macintosh. · System 7.0 or later. · RAM for 680x0 processors: free memory of at least 5MB RAM. · RAM for Power Macintosh processors: free memory of at least 5MB RAM if virtual memory is on or 7MB if virtual memory is off. · Hard disk space of at least 11MB available for OmniPage Pro files and temporary storage while OmniPage Pro is running. · 12-inch monitor if you use the Image Assistant program. A 256-color monitor is recommended. If you use System 7.0 or 7.1, remove the Dragging Enabler file from your Extensions folder. OmniPage Pro installs an AppleGuide enabler from Apple that replaces the Dragging Enabler file. OmniPage Pro supports most full-page scanners; see the supported scanner list in the Release Notes. Your scanner and the driver supplied by its manufacturer, if any, must be installed on your system according to the manufacturer's instructions. OmniPage Pro can open line art and grayscale TIFF and PICT image files produced by other scanners. See "Supported Import File Formats" on page 7-17. Before you install OmniPage Pro, make sure your scanner is working on your system by using the scanning software supplied by the manufacturer. 1-2 Installation Installing the Software Installing the Software OmniPage Pro is, by default, installed in the OmniPage Pro Folder. One or more OmniPage Pro files are also installed in the System or Extensions Folder. Some "Upgrade" versions of OmniPage Pro are designed only for customers upgrading from previous versions of Caere OCR software. You must have a Caere OCR product installed on your system in order to install these special upgrade versions. If you have a Caere OCR product installed on your system and you can't install the upgrade version, please contact Caere Product Support. Installation To install OmniPage Pro software: 1 Disable any virus-protection software. This is often a Control Panel device; refer to your virusprotection software manual for more information. Insert the OmniPage Pro disk #1 in the disk drive. Double-click the Installer icon; the OmniPage Pro screen appears. Click Continue. An informational dialog box appears. Click Continue in the informational dialog box. The Installer dialog box appears.. 2 3 4 5 Installation 1-3 Installing the Software 6 Command-click on the listing for your scanner in the list box. You may have to scroll through the list to find your scanner. If your scanner isn't listed, try Apple and compatible scanners. The Installer will install a Chooser extension for the chosen scanner. You must select this extension in the Chooser before you run OmniPage Pro. See "Selecting Your Scanner" on page 1-6. Click Install. The 680x0/PowerPC (Power Macintosh) installation dialog box appears. 7 8 Click the appropriate processor option. Click Universal if you want software installed for both a PowerPC and a 680x0 processor or if you have upgraded your Mac with an add-on PowerPC card. An installation dialog box will appear where you can choose a location for the OmniPage Pro application. 1 Select where to install the OmniPage Pro Folder. In the above example, the OmniPage Pro application will be installed in the OmniPage Pro Folder in the Platinum volume. Insert the other installation disks as instructed. 2 1-4 Installation Installing the Software OmniPage Pro notifies you when installation is complete and asks you to reinsert the first disk. 3 Restart your Macintosh before you run OmniPage Pro if you are running System 7.0 or 7.1. A registration dialog box may appear the first time you run OmniPage Pro. For more information about registering, see "Starting OmniPage Pro" on page 1-8. Installation 1-5 Selecting Your Scanner Selecting Your Scanner Your scanner and the driver supplied by its manufacturer, if any, must be installed on your system according to the manufacturer's instructions. Test your scanner with the software supplied by the manufacturer, if any, before using the scanner with OmniPage Pro. During OmniPage Pro installation, you selected a Chooser extension to be installed for the scanner you plan to use with OmniPage Pro. You can also use the OmniPage Pro Installer to install just a Chooser extension and not the entire program by highlighting your scanner's listing and de-highlighting "OmniPage Pro and Image Assistant" in the Installer dialog box. Before using your scanner with OmniPage Pro, you must select its required extension in the Chooser. An error message appears if you try to scan a page or verify your scanner in OmniPage Pro before selecting it in the Chooser. To select a scanner for OmniPage Pro: 1 Choose Chooser in the Apple menu. The Chooser appears; icons for installed scanners and other devices are displayed. For a list of supported scanners and their Chooser extensions, see the Release Notes. Click the icon of the extension that your scanner requires. Some extensions, such as Apple Scan, support multiple scanners; select your scanner model in the list that appears. Depending on the make of your scanner, you may have to select other scanner driver parameters such as the SCSI ID number. The More... button may appear for some scanners. Click More... to display additional information and/or options for your scanner. The message "No configuration found" means that you don't need to select any other scanner parameters. Close the Chooser. Choose Verify Scanner in OmniPage Pro's Settings menu to make sure the scanner was selected correctly. 2 3 4 1-6 Installation Selecting Your Scanner You must reselect your scanner in the Chooser if you install or remove a scanner's ADF support. To select HP scanner options: To use HP AccuPage (available with HP ScanJet Plus, II, III, and IV series scanners), select the HP AccuPage extension in the Chooser. The Auto Brightness with HP AccuPage and Manual Brightness options will become available in the settings panel Scanner options. To use 3D OCR and/or AnyPage options with a supported grayscale HP scanner, select the HP Scan 2 extension in the Chooser. The Auto Brightness with AnyPage, 3D OCR with AnyPage, and Manual Brightness options will become available in the settings panel Scanner options. Use the HP Scan 2 extension with older, non-grayscale HP scanners. To select a scanner for Image Assistant: If you want to be able to scan directly from within the Image Assistant program, first install OmniPage Pro and select a scanner in the Apple Chooser. Then select a scanner in Image Assistant: 1 Choose Scanner... in Image Assistant's Setup menu. For a list of scanners supported by Image Assistant, see the Release Notes. Select your scanner in the dialog box that appears. If your scanner name does not appear, choose ISIS scanner. Select the SCSI ID of your scanner. To identify your scanner's SCSI ID number, look on the back or bottom of your scanner for your SCSI ID switch or use a SCSI utility such as the SCSIProbeTM control panel. 2 3 4 Installation 1-7 Starting OmniPage Pro Starting OmniPage Pro To start OmniPage Pro: 1 2 Open the OmniPage Pro Folder. Double-click the OmniPage Pro application icon. The first time you launch OmniPage Pro after installation, you are prompted to personalize your copy. Type in the licensee and company name in the dialog box that appears. This information appears in the OmniPage Pro About box. Click OK. A Product Registration dialog box may appear the first time you launch OmniPage Pro. 3 4 Some versions of OmniPage Pro do not require registration. 1-8 Installation Starting OmniPage Pro Registering OmniPage Pro Registering your copy of OmniPage Pro entitles you to technical support, notification of special offers and upgrades, and the lowest price offered on the next OmniPage Pro upgrade. You can use OmniPage Pro for 25 sessions without registering it. You can register by choosing Register OmniPage Pro in the Apple menu. After 20 sessions, the Registration dialog box will appear each time you start the program. After 25 sessions, the Registration dialog box appears when you launch OmniPage Pro, but the program exits if you click Cancel. To register OmniPage Pro: 1 2 Click the Country pop-up menu to find the number you should call from your country. Call the phone number and ask for a registration number. You will be asked to provide the serial number and key number that appear in the Registration dialog box. The operator will give you a registration number. Enter the number in the Registration Number text box and click OK. You are now a registered user of OmniPage Pro. 3 Installation 1-9 Starting OmniPage Pro 1-10 Installation Chapter 2 Tutorials This chapter contains three tutorials that contain a number of exercises. The tutorials take you through basic text scanning and into more advanced concepts such as how to create OCR training files, scan a large stack of documents, and use deferred page recognition to maximize your efficiency. There are three tutorials: · Tutorial 1 -- Basic Text Recognition · Tutorial 2 -- Document Types and OCR Settings · Tutorial 3 -- Streamlining the OCR Workflow Tutorials 2-1