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How automated data collection works
To capture information from a form, you need to start by doing a so-called form
definition. You use a blank form to specify where you want to look for specific
pieces of information. After setting up a form definition, the software reads
the forms through the following process:
1. Scan
The input can come from several sources - paper, fax, email, the web, etc. The
system gathers all information and processes it regardless of source. If the
information is on paper, a scanner is needed to create an image file which is
interpreted by the software.
2. Analyze
Powerful recognition engines can interpret handwritten text, machine print, bar
codes, etc. The techniques used for interpreting are called:
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Optical Character Recognition (OCR - for reading typed and printed information) |
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Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR - for handwritten texts) |
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Optical Mark Recognition (OMR - for checkboxes) |
3. Verify
Not all documents can be fully read. In cases where the software is not 100% certain, the system is programmed to ask for verification. The verification is easily done with a click of the mouse. This "better-safe-than-sorry" philosophy keeps errors to an absolute minimum.
4. Export
Perhaps the greatest advantage of the forms processing technology is its integration
possibilities. The software is built to easily integrate with any computer system
and transfer the interpreted information into any database, spreadsheet, statistical
or content management system.
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