ScanSoft OmniPage is a type of system used to convert high volumes of documents into easy searchable files. You can perform functions, like convert, edit, combine, organize, store and share all your paper and PDF documents on the system.

After contacting ScanSoft OmniPage providers about purchasing the software, you’ll need to figure how to use it for your business. ScanSoft OmniPage education and training can answer you and your staff’s questions about the product.

1. Download ScanSoft OmniPage information. Depending on your comfort level with the software, you may need general guidelines or how to operate more advanced features.

2. Learn the basics of using ScanSoft OmniPage. Providers of ScanSoft OmniPage will often give you an overview of operations.

3. Read online journals and magazines in order to learn more advanced information after you download from a ScanSoft OmniPage provider.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find information from ScanSoft OmniPage vendors

Before you purchase ScanSoft OmniPage, you'll want to get an idea of how it works and the basic functions. Vendors of ScanSoft OmniPage will allow you to explore the software in order to determine how to incorporate it into your company.

I recommend: Since Nuance is a ScanSoft OmniPage supplier, you can find educational materials about the software on the company website. Download the user guide, view the knowledge base or contact the support team. The OmniPage Pro 16 Software Guide website has a lot of information on the software that you can use to determine how easily you’ll be able to train staff on the program.

Learn how to use ScanSoft OmniPage SE 4.0 and other versions

ScanSoft OmniPage is an OCR system, which means that it can convert an image file into an editable text file. If you are not familiar with the type of software, you'll need to train staff members in order to organize your business documents.

I recommend: The Fermilab Technical Division has an informative page about OmniSoft’s professional version and how to use it. In order to better understand the information, multiple screenshots are provided. The UCSB Department of English has a basic user’s guide on how to use ScanSoft OmniPage for text documents.

Read online magazines that cover ScanSoft OmniPage training information

New applications are constantly being discovered when using software programs, like OmniSoft. Online magazines can keep you up to date on new procedures as well as updates that are ready for use.

I recommend: PC Magazine has a detailed library of archived articles that have covered OmniPage and different usage and help topics that have affected users. HighBeam Research has a large archive of magazine articles that explore topics related to the OmniPage.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  ScanSoft OmniPage suppliers now retail the software under the new company name, Nuance. It is the same system with the same features, but just being distributed under a new name.

Optical character recognition (OCR) is the electronic translation of images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text, usually captured via a computer scanner. ScanSoft OmniPage (and ScanSoft OmniPage SE 4.0) is one of the leading commercially available OCR tools (available at a ScanSoft OmniPage vendor).

The OCR technology was originally developed in 1974 by Kurzweil Computer Products Inc. and acquired in 1980 by Xerox. During 2005, ScanSoft Inc merged with Nuance, a spin-off company from Stanford Research Institute's Speech Technology and Research Laboratory. Its premier product, ScanSoft OmniPage converts scanned paper text documents and PDF files into computer file formats compatible with Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel and HTML.

ScanSoft OmniPage products include:

1. ScanSoft OmniPage Standard, ScanSoft's OCR software aimed at beginning users, converts paper text documents captured by digital scanners or digital cameras into PC application files or even into audio files
2. Aimed at more technically savvy users, ScanSoft OmniPage Professional includes the features of OmniPage Standard plus ScanSoft's PaperPort document management software and batch processing features
3. ScanSoft OmniPage Pro X has ScanSoft OmniPage Professional features for Macintosh users
4. ScanSoft OmniPage SDK (software development kit) enables users with programming skills to customize features of OmniPage OCR software

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Before visiting ScanSoft OmniPage vendors, understand the pros and cons of product features

Before visiting ScanSoft OmniPage vendors, read reputable third-party product reviews for impartial analyses of ScanSoft OmniPage software.

I recommend: PC Magazine has a favorable but mixed review of ScanSoft OmniPage Professional software. CNET Reviews has a more favorable review of ScanSoft OmniPage Professional. Microsoft Office Online strongly recommends upgrading from Microsoft Document Imaging to ScanSoft OmniPage Pro.

Before purchasing ScanSoft OmniPage software, understand how OCR software works

Read ScanSoft OmniPage tutorials by ScanSoft and reputable third-party information resources.

I recommend: ScanSoft OmniPage offers easy-to-understand how-to online guides. Nuance ScanSoft offers an extensive tutorial for beginning scanner and OCR users. You can download ScanSoft OmniPage user manuals. Princeton University New Media Center offers a ScanSoft OmniPage tutorial (PDF), as does Washburn University School of Law.

Visit the Nuance website to read info about the features of ScanSoft OmniPage Standard

ScanSoft OmniPage Standard can save hours of retyping time by scanning paper documents into a computer in perfect format within minutes.

I recommend: Explore the features of ScanSoft OmniPage Standard. Note that the Nuance Store is the primary ScanSoft OmniPage supplier. You can also view ScanSoft OmniPage Standard demos aimed at specific professions, including legal, marketing, finance, and sales.

Get information about the features of ScanSoft OmniPage Professional edition

Learn how ScanSoft OmniPage Professional integrates with PaperPort desktop document management software.

I recommend: Explore the features of ScanSoft OmniPage Professional at the OmniPage website and you can buy it at the online Nuance Store. Learn how ScanSoft OmniPage Professional is compatible with digital camera technology. Also see how the features of ScanSoft OmniPage Professional differ from ScanSoft OmniPage Standard. Unlike the Standard Edition, ScanSoft OmniPage Professional includes PaperPort software.

Learn how ScanSoft OmniPage Capture SDK applies to users with programming skills

ScanSoft OmniPage Capture SDK supports C, C++, and COM coding as well as PDF and image file formats.

I recommend: Get an overview of ScanSoft OmniPage Capture SDK coding features. Read case studies to learn how ScanSoft OmniPage Capture SDK serves specific customers.

Find ScanSoft OmniPage suppliers

ScanSoft OmniPage providers include auction websites as well as third-party online stores.

I recommend: Besides the Nuance Store, eBay is among the ScanSoft OmniPage suppliers of both old and new software versions. Before bidding, learn how at eBay University. Amazon also provides new and old versions of ScanSoft OmniPage. For Canon scanner owners, upgrade to ScanSoft OmniPage se 4 for no extra charge.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Purchase ScanSoft OmniPage Pro X for Macintosh, a Mac version of ScanSoft OmniPage Professional.
• •  ScanSoft OmniPage se 4 for Canon scanners is compatible with Windows Vista.

ScanSoft OmniPage is a software tool that allows you to use scanned images as regular computer text. There are many versions of ScanSoft OmniPage that allow you to buy exactly what your office needs. However, searching through software descriptions can become confusing for people who are not familiar with the software. Learning what the ScanSoft OmniPage key terms meanings are will help you to find the ScanSoft OmniPage software you need in a timely manner.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

OCR

OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, is a type of technology that allows software to recognize scanned or other inputted text and transfer that text into type or another form the computer recognizes. This technology is used in scanners and writing pads.

I recommend: Learn more about optical character recognition at Encyclopædia Britannica. Find out more from the Document Imaging talk.

SAPI

SAPI, or Speech Application Programming Interface, is an interface that works with Microsoft software to create speech recognition and text-to-speech options. An API, or Application Programming Interface, is similar to SAPI however, it is the older version of the program.

I recommend: 1105 Media provides more information about SAPI and APIs. Learn more about SAPI at the Microsoft website.

Peripheral

A peripheral device is an auxiliary device that is used with a computer. Peripherals include any devices that used with the motherboard, but that are not required to make the computer run. External peripherals can be machines such as printers and scanners.

I recommend: TechTarget offers detailed information about peripherals. Awesome TV also provides information about peripheral devices.

CCD

CCD, or charge coupled device, is a semiconductor image-sensing device that is commonly used in cameras, scanners and other imaging devices. A CCD stores the images by collecting charges off the image and then transforming them to an image. With CCD technology, mirrors are reused to assist in the image transfer.

I recommend: Steve's Digicams Digital Camera Dictionary provides more information about CCDs. Learn more about CCD at Babylon.

CIS

CIS, or Contact Image Sensors, is another type of technology used in computer scanners. Unlike CCD devices, CIS devices do not use mirrors. CIS devices increase the image sensor within direct contact of the image.

I recommend: Find more about CIS at TheFreeDictionary. WebMediaBrands also provides information about contact image sensor technology.

PMTa

PMT stands for photomultiplier tube, or photomultiplier transfer. A photomultiplier tube uses a vacuum to convert light into electrical energy. PMT devices produce higher quality information than CCDs.

I recommend: Find out more about PMTs at The Columbus Optical SETI Observatory. ET Enterprises provides more information about photomultiplier tubes and technologies.