Scansoft Paperport allows you to easily turn your papers and photos into organized PDF and JPEG files. Once you've downloaded them into these files, you'll be easily able to find them, use them and share them.

When you buy Scansoft Paperport software, you'll be able to use it for your important business documents, so you'll never lose track of them again. You'll want to research providers of Scansoft Paperport software to see who can offer you the best value on these programs. Before you make your purchase, you'll want to research Scansoft Paperport pricing and costs of these options.

1. Scansoft Paperport 9

2. Scansoft Paperport 10

3. Scansoft Paperport 11

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Research the pricing and costs of Scansoft Paperport 9

Paperport Pro 9.0 Office allows you to easily share your digital documents over different networks, will help keep you organized and will help save you time. It includes many different features that allow you to keep your documents manageable. It allows you to scan directly to PDF image format; stack, unstack, reorder and rotate PDF files; and send PDF files to other programs.

I recommend: Download Scansoft Paperport Pro 9.0 at Discount Software House. Buy Cheap Software offers a downloadable version of Scansoft Paperport Pro Office 9.0 for $30.

Research the pricing and costs of Scansoft Paperport 10

Paperport 10 offers more features than the 9.0 version does. It will allow you to organize your business more quickly and easily, as well as create split, merge, e-mail and index your PDFs. Paperport 10 can also index images and image+text documents, and search them. This indexing can even be set to work while your computer's isn't being used.

I recommend: JourneyEd offers Scansoft Paperport Port Office 10 for $55. Softwarebizreseller offers a Scansoft Paperport 10 download for $25.

Research the pricing and costs of Scansoft Paperport 11

Scansoft Paperport Pro 11 is faster and more productive than its two predecessors. It can organize, view and print over 150 PDF documents and photos. It allows you to scan and perfectly deliver your images in one step. It allows you to create PDF files not only from your scanner but also from your computer applications, such as Microsoft Office and Wordperfect. Perhaps the best feature of this latest version is that it allows you to create files that are 8 times smaller than regular scanned color PDF documents.

I recommend: Nuance offers seven Scansoft Paperport 11 products from $29.99 to $199.99. TG Daily offers the full PC version of Scansoft Paperport 11 from $40 to $110.

ScanSoft PaperPort software was originally developed in 1992 by Visioneer as part of its line of computer peripheral scanner hardware and software products. Back then, Visioneer developed PaperPort as a companion to OmniPage, their pioneering OCR (optical character recognition) scanner software that converted text images scanned from paper into file formats compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and HTML.

PaperPort was developed as a computer software tool that organized OmniPage scanned documents. ScanSoft PaperPort evolved into a separate document management software tool that organizes a variety of file types including OCR digital documents.

In 1999, Visioneer and their products were acquired by ScanSoft. In 2008, ScanSoft merged with Nuance Communications.

The primary features of ScanSoft PaperPort include:

1. Routing scanned OCR files to a shared network of users
2. Stacking or consolidating several scanned OCR files into a single PDF or MAX file (MAX is ScanSoft's proprietary file format for scanned OCR files.)
3. Unstacking or separating a multipage PDF file into single PDF pages
4. Allowing you to receive business, government and other types of form documents in PDF and Word formats as well as a variety of image file formats
5. Allowing you to fill in a form that's been scanned or received via email or LAN by using the ScanSoft PaperPort FormTyper feature
6. Converting filled-in forms into PDF or MAX file formats

The ScanSoft PaperPort software family consists of:

1. ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Standard, which is geared more for home users
2. ScanSoft PaperPort Pro 11, which is aimed at reducing the time businesses spend on handling paper documents
3. ScanSoft PaperPort PSP Desktop for HP, a software suite of scanning tools that includes ScanSoft PaperPort Professional, OmniPage Professional and PDF Converter Professional

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Before you buy, learn the basics on how to use ScanSoft PaperPort

Before you buy ScanSoft PaperPort software, learn the basics about scanning documents, editing and enhancing scanned images and organizing files.

I recommend: For basics on how to use ScanSoft PaperPort, go to Nuance’s website and read the series of How-to Guides, including information on scanning documents, enhancing scanned images, assembling documents and converting OCR files into PDFs. Or you can download complete user manuals for ScanSoft PaperPort, including earlier editions like ScanSoft PaperPort 9 and ScanSoft PaperPort 10 as well as current editions.

Explore the features of ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Standard

Determine if ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Standard is right for your home business.

I recommend: Read descriptions of key features of ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Standard at Nuance, or read more detailed support information for specific versions of ScanSoft PaperPort at the Nuance Knowledge Base. You can buy ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Standard at the Nuance Shop or explore other ScanSoft PaperPort 11Standard purchase options, including online vendors of Scansoft PaperPort software, retail outlets and ScanSoft PaperPort software vendors to corporations.

Explore the features of ScanSoft PaperPort Professional

Consider ScanSoft PaperPort Professional if your business has larger digital document management needs than a smaller home business.

I recommend: To learn about the key features of ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Professional, read the feature comparison matrix between ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Professional and ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Standard. You can also view a ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Professional Flash-animated demo. Further, ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Professional includes PaperPort Links, a series of networking partnerships with Microsoft SharePoint and YouSendIt, a free file-sharing service. You can buy ScanSoft PaperPort 11 Professional online at the Nuance Shop.

Explore the features of each suite program in ScanSoft PaperPort PSP Desktop for HP

If your business uses an HP multifunction printer, ScanSoft PaperPort PSP Desktop for HP may be right for you.

I recommend: Get an overview of the features of each component of ScanSoft PaperPort PSP Desktop for HP at Nuance. Explore the features of each component, including ScanSoft PaperPort Professional, PaperPort PSP Server, OmniPage Professional 16 and PDF Converter Professional. To buy ScanSoft PaperPort PSP Desktop for HP, see a list of resellers at Nuance.

Buy current and earlier versions of ScanSoft PaperPort

Visit online auction sites or online merchant sites to bid on or buy earlier versions of ScanSoft PaperPort.

I recommend: You may be able to buy or bid on earlier versions, such as ScanSoft PaperPort 10 or ScanSoft PaperPort 9, at online auction sites like eBay. For newcomers to eBay, learn how to bid and buy from the eBay University Learning Center. You may also be able to buy used earlier versions of ScanSoft PaperPort at Amazon using their preorder request service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some earlier versions of ScanSoft PaperPort don't include the PDF conversion feature and only display OCR scanned documents in ScanSoft's proprietary MAX file format.

ScanSoft PaperPort software is a fantastic tool in the office that reduces paper usage and streamlines documents. You can scan any document into a hard drive without losing the integrity of the text of the page. You can also enhance images, create digital files and link a network of computers so that they all share the ScanSoft PaperPort software.

But before you buy ScanSoft PaperPort software, or update your ScanSoft PaperPort 10 product, it's wise to familiarize yourself with the latest applications and how they operate. Think of your tutorial as "ScanSoft PaperPort for beginners." Then once you download ScanSoft PaperPort, or purchase it from ScanSoft PaperPort software vendors, you'll be ready to implement the software solutions into your business.

1. Learn about applications and software solutions offered by ScanSoft PaperPort 11 which is produced by the software company Nuance.

2. Educate yourself on the ScanSoft PaperPort software by reading guides and other material published on the website.

3. Enroll in training via webinars or podcasts for ScanSoft PaperPort Software.

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Learn about the latest applications that ScanSoft PaperPort software has to offer

If you need to scan documents, produce pdf files or create digital documents from hard copy paper documents, then ScanSoft PaperPort Pro 11 or standard edition will make a great edition to your home office or business network. Read up on the myriad of applications that this software can perform to see how it can be integrated into your business.

I recommend: Visit the official website for Nuance software and read-up on the applications within PaperPort 11 Standard Edition. Also familiarize yourself with PaperPort 11 Professional Edition which boasts several more applications that can be implemented among a computer network within a larger office. You can also check out a comparison matrix which allows you to see the difference in applications between the standard and professional edition.

Find out about ScanSoft PaperPort software by utilizing their online guides

If you're looking for guides on how to scan documents, edit and enhance images, assemble documents, handle forms and more, then you should check out the various guides that are available online. No matter the version of ScanSoft software, there will be a tutorial which you can learn from found on their website.

I recommend: Browse through the "how to guides" on the PaperPort website to learn how to use the many applications. Also visit the "knowledge base" section of the website for information on frequently asked questions regarding ScanSoft PaperPort 10, ScanSoft PaperPort 9 or other previous editions. Simply select the correct program from the drop-down menu.

Take classes from the Nuance website regarding ScanSoft PaperPort software

One of the best ways to understand the functions of a piece of software is to enroll in tutorials or classes that cover the software from soup to nuts. This way you'll learn how to utilize and implement the software without the always frustrating 'trial and error' process. Once trained, you'll be able to quickly and effectively introduce the software to your business network.

I recommend: Enroll in some of the many webinars that are offered by the Nuance company which produces the PaperPort software. They also offer podcasts for the convenience of customers who can't be present during the live webinars.

ScanSoft PaperPort is software designed for use with a multifunction printer, which is a printer that also scans documents. It often works with a computer network to facilitate sharing and storing of important documents. You can scan documents that are on paper and store them digitally.

To store them, you may want to convert documents to a PDF, though photos might be in JPEG format. ScanSoft PaperPort has helpful features that aid in document management, including scanner profiles, folder views, batch conversion and an intelligent search agent.

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

PDF file

PDF stands for portable document format and is the standard format for document storage and sharing. Most computers have a free version of Adobe Reader, software that allows you to view and print PDF files.

I recommend: Find a discussion of PDF files and why they work well for scanning and document storage at Scanners 4 CAD, a division of Softcover International.

JPEG file

A JPEG is an image file used to display color images on a computer. The format allows for a certain amount of file compression without compromising the quality of the image. Most often, people use this file format for photos and other color images on the web.

I recommend: Take a look at a description of a JPEG file with illustrations at Digital Photography Review.

Scanner profiles

A scanner profile is a group of settings used to scan a certain type of document. Instead of re-setting these each time, save a scanner profile for this type of document and use it each time you scan that type to save time.

I recommend: Read a description of ScanSoft PaperPort, including information about scanner profiles, at SupremeSpecials.com.

Folder views

Folder view refers to viewing files or items on your computer in a system of nested file folders. These may be files or bookmarks in your web browser. ScanSoft PaperPort integrates file folders with browser favorites to make it easy to find what you want.

I recommend: Take a look at an article about ScanSoft PaperPort that discusses folder views and other features at The Free Library, a division of Farlex.

Batch conversion

Batch conversion is any time you convert multiple files from one format to another; specifically, ScanSoft PaperPort makes it easy to group files of several formats, like word processing files, spreadsheets and image files, and convert them all at once into PDF files.

I recommend: Find a description of the features of ScanSoft PaperPort, including batch conversion, at SoftSearch.

Intelligent search agent

The intelligent search agent in ScanSoft PaperPort, named Watson, integrates searches of the documents on a local computer or network with web searches. It also allows you to save and organize the results of searches.

I recommend: Read an article about the intelligent search agent function of ScanSoft PaperPort at ThomasNet, a division of Thomas Publishing Company.