Free OCR software?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cyberdude
  • Start date Start date
C

cyberdude

Hi,

Does anyone know of the good free OCR softwares for Windows? By the
way, are most scanners sold with free OCR softwares being inside the
installation CROMS for the scanners? Thank you.

David
 
Hi,

Does anyone know of the good free OCR softwares for Windows? By the
way, are most scanners sold with free OCR softwares being inside the
installation CROMS for the scanners? Thank you.

David
Click to expand...

Anything "free" is generally worth exactly what you pay for it.

The "free" OCR software packaged with scanners is generally a "lite"
version of a commercial OCR program, designed to get you to purchase
the "full" version. It may be good enough for your needs, tho. It's
always been furnished on CD's with the scanners I've purchased. What's
a CROM?
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/
Message board:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=surnames.hoffpauir
Mail list:
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/surname/h/hoffpauir.html
DNA project:
<http://www.familytreedna.com/(153dme45ewxtrs45rzxk5z2x)/public/Hoffpauir/index.aspx>
 
Anything "free" is generally worth exactly what you pay for it.
The "free" OCR software packaged with scanners is generally a "lite"
version of a commercial OCR program, designed to get you to purchase
the "full" version. It may be good enough for your needs, tho. It's
always been furnished on CD's with the scanners I've purchased. What's
a CROM?
Click to expand...

Sorry, it was a mistake. It should be CDROM.

David
 
cyberdude said:
Hi,

Does anyone know of the good free OCR softwares for Windows? By the
way, are most scanners sold with free OCR softwares being inside the
installation CROMS for the scanners? Thank you.

David
Click to expand...

This one has a free version.
http://www.simpleocr.com/

The free OCR programs that are bundled with scanners is often a better OCR
program than the above free program.

As to whether or not a scanner is sold with OCR included is largely up to
the manufacturer of the scanner.

Just read the specs when shopping. Pay attention to the "what's in the box".
 
While the OCR software won't be free as in zero $$$, you can get a backlevel
version (usually one level back) of some of the better OCR software from
http://www.serif.com/serifExtra/TemplatePages/Category/17/1.htm for next to
nothing. They are the producers of Serif PagePlus and a bunch of graphics
and other programs. I purchased ABBY FineReader for $14.95 which included
s&h. Currently they have OmniPage Pro 12 for $9.95 and OmniPage Pro 14 for
$39.95.
 
cyberdude said:
Hi,

Does anyone know of the good free OCR softwares for Windows? By the
way, are most scanners sold with free OCR softwares being inside the
installation CROMS for the scanners? Thank you.

David
Click to expand...

Hi there.

Yes when you buy a Flat Bed Scanner you very often get a Free edition of an
OCR program.

I recently bought the cheapest Canon Lide, and it had a very effective
version of Scan Soft Omni Page.

The even cheaper Packard Bell had a version of Abbyy Fine Reader.

Just check before you buy.

Roy G
 
Also, recent versions of Microsoft Office include a rudimentary scanner
driver and OCR package. Good enough for occasional use.
 
Back
Top