How to Scan a Document & Correct Content

When you scan a document into your computer, it scans as an image file. This may work fine if you only need to change images, but if you want to edit content without having to retype every word, you'll need an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program and a text editing program. You can scan a document into your computer using the Windows Fax and Scan wizard, then you can edit the document using Microsoft Office Document Imaging program and Microsoft Word or an online OCR program and your default text editor.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Scanner
• Microsoft Office 2007 installation disc
• Internet access

Instructions

Scanning the Document

1. Place the document into the scanner bed and close the cover.

2. Click the "Start" menu and choose "All Programs" and "Windows Fax and Scan."

3. Click "Scan," then click "New Scan." Set the scan options by choosing a color profile and select the type of document you wish to scan.

4. Click the "Preview" button to see a preview of the scan. Click "Scan" to scan the document.

5. Click "Save As" and choose a save location. Type in a name for the saved document, and choose the "TIFF" image type. Click "Save" to create the document image file.

Using Microsoft Office

1. Click the "Start" menu button and choose "Control Panel." Click "Programs," then "Programs and Features." Right-click on "Microsoft Office 2007" and choose "Change." Select "Add or Remove Features" and click "Continue." Click the "+" sign next to "Office Tools." Click the arrow next to the "Microsoft Office Document Imaging" entry and choose "Run from my computer." Click "Continue."

2. Insert the Microsoft Office 2007 installation disc when prompted. Follow the directions to install the Microsoft Office Document Imaging program. Click "Finish" when the installation is complete.

3. Launch the "Microsoft Office Document Imaging" program by clicking "Start," "All Programs," "Microsoft Office," "Microsoft Office Tools," and then click the "Microsoft Office Document Imaging" program shortcut. Click the "File" menu and choose "Open."

4. Click to select the scanned image file from your computer, then click "Open." The document will be scanned and text will be converted from the image file into characters. Press and hold the "CTRL" key and tap "a" to select all of the text. Press and hold "CTRL" and tap "c" to copy the text to your clipboard.

5. Launch Microsoft Word and create a new, blank document. Click to place the mouse cursor in the document. Press and hold "CTRL" and tap "v" to paste the text from the clipboard into the document. You can now edit the content of the scanned document. Click the "File" menu and choose "Save" to save the document with the edited content. Click the "Print" button to print an edited copy of the scanned document.

OnlineOCR

1. Click the "OnlineOCR" link in the Resources section. Click the "Choose File" button and click on the scanned image file to select it, then click "Open." Click to select your preferred language and output format from the drop-down menus.

2. Click the "Upload" button. Type the anti-spam image text in the text field. Click the "Recognize" button. The recognized text will display in the text field below the "Recognize" button.

3. Click the "Download Output File" button and type a name for the saved file. Choose a save directory and click "Save."

4. Double-click the saved text file to open and edit the content in your default text editor. Click the "Save" button to save the text file. Click the "File" menu and choose "Print" to print out the text file with the edited content.

References

• Dummies: How to Scan a Document in Windows 7
• Office: Scan and edit a document

Resources

• OnlineOCR: Website