Scansoft Omnipage Pro 14

The optical character recognition (OCR) in Omnipage Pro 14 Office is said to be 35 per cent more accurate than the previous version 12, but on a low error count that represents only a marginal productivity increase. More significant is an improved, if not infallible, page-layout analysis; but the software's main selling point is that it aims to automate the process of translating paper documents into data.

For searchable archives, the data is typically saved as pdf files. Various pdf options are supported, including encryption and tags. You can also save in Word, rtf, Excel, Omnipage's own OPD, XML or HTML formats. The latter, coupled with a built-in FTP module, allows you to convert documents into published web pages.

The file menu is a little confusing, with only OPD being available under Save, and other formats being buried as sub-sub-options under Export. This is a passing irritation and Omnipage compensates by offering standard 'workflows' that line up on a taskbar - a point-and-click wizard allows you easily to design your own workflows. Omnipage distinguishes workflows from 'jobs', for which filenames and a Save step is essential. Jobs can be batched to reduce, for instance, a feeder full of documents to files in a named folder.

The software is also available as a cheaper retail version, which doesn't have the high-end batch processing features, but is better suited to the home user.

Contact: Scansoft 0870 870 8085
www.scansoft.co.uk

System requirements:

• Plll or higher processor
• 256MB of Ram recommended
• 135-200MB disk space, depending on implementation
• Windows 98SE or later/NT4 with service pack 6 or later