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Automated Forms Processing is a technology that enables the
user to process documents from their images or directly from paper and
convert them to computer readable data (usually ASCII). Not to be confused
with basic OCR, Forms Processing packages do a lot more than just Recognition
of data (OCR/ICR/OMR/Bar Codes, etc). While Forms Processing packages will
give you Recognition capabilities, they also manage the complete
life cycle of the document from scanning to extract and sometimes even
include Image Archive and Retrieval. A good Forms Processing system
should always include optimized Key from Image (KFI) functions.
Forms Processing systems are recommended when you need to process similar
paper more then once. A Forms Processing system purchase is justified if
you process at least a few hundred similar documents per day.
A Sample Form: Image
showing examples of drop-out ICR boxes, OCR, OMR, Mark Sense and Bar Codes.
Common Industry Terms
| ICR |
Intelligent Character Recognition - Used for hand-printed data recognition. |
| OCR |
Optical Character Recognition - Used for machine printed data recognition. |
| OMR |
Optical Mark Recognition - Similar to Mark Sense, however these object
have a letter or character printed in them. |
| IFR |
Intelligent Field Recognition - A
unique FormsPro feature that allows you process forms with similar field
attributes located at different locations on a document. FormsPro's I-Form
feature analyzes the document and dynamically finds this field for recognition
allowing you to process several variations of a form with the same form definition. |
Mark Sense
or Check Boxes |
Marks in circles, squares or ovals. |
| KFI |
Key from Image - when the image and keying templates are presented
together for data entry. |
| Constrained Hand Writing |
When boxes are drawn on a form to constrain the user to write in a
character per box. |
| Drop-out ICR Boxes |
When the boxes on the form are printed with the same color as the light
source on a scanner so that the boxes drop out or are not visible in the
final image. This technique is used to isolate hard-written characters
for Recognition. |
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