Automatic Indexing Using Existing Data
The Autofill feature of SimpleIndex is an easy way to associate many index fields with one document without retyping data that already exists in another database. Autofill uses a database lookup to retrieve records that match a key value entered by the user. Blank index fields are then filled in automatically with the data from this lookup. The result is a document database with many different possible search fields, of which only one needed to be entered during scanning.
The key field may be typed by the user, or it may be read from the document automatically using barcode recognition or OCR. The lookup is performed either when the user changes this field or when the index values are saved. If the lookup finds multiple matching records, the user will be notified and the first set of values will be used by default.
When used with pre-index batches, key information can be read automatically from barcodes or OCR and matched to database records with a single click. Search on up to 99 index fields without a single keystroke!
Use SQL Server, MS Access, Oracle, MySQL, Excel and other databases to match documents with existing data to organize files and assign metadata fields.
Take control of Sales Tax exemption forms
Automatically fill and file sales tax forms
Ben Franklin once noted, “…nothing is certain except death and taxes.” In the case of state sales taxes, they may be unavoidable, but managing your customers’ sales tax exemption forms and making sure you’ve sent current exemption certificates to your vendors doesn’t have to feel like a terminal condition.
SimpleIndex has the power to recognize the forms you receive from customers and file them automatically so you can find them in seconds.
SimpleIndex also fills out sales tax exemption PDFs from every state to create a complete set of your forms ready for emailing to your vendors.
Link both processes to your customer and vendor data sources to streamline the process. Even without those lists, the state, certificate number and expiration recognize automatically, leaving you with the simple task of clicking on the customer name to file the document away.
You’ll never have to dig through old emails or piles of paper to make sure you have that exemption on file again!
When it’s time to send your vendors the proper state certificate to get your sales tax exemption, simply open up the Fill Vendor Form job, select the vendor, and all your state exemptions are filled out automatically and assembled into one PDF file suitable for framing emailing.
Manage your customer sales tax exemption forms:
- Scan customer sales tax exemption certificates submitted on paper
- Process e-mailed PDF sales tax exemption forms
- Use OCR or read the filled-in forms from PDF files to file them automatically
- Search and view customer tax forms in seconds
- Receive automatic e-mail notifications when exemptions expire
Fill out and e-mail vendor sales tax exemption forms:
- Standardized, fillable PDF sales tax forms for every state
- Select a vendor and fill in all the relevant name and address information automatically
- One click fills in every state form with both your company’s information and your vendor’s
- Packages saved to bookmarked PDF files and e-mailed to vendors
- Receive automatic e-mail notifications when exemptions expire
Find out more!
The sales tax management solution is available for free to SimpleIndex users!
Download SimpleIndex – Download the Sales Tax Jobs
Some initial setup is required, and we can help you out with that too. Our Professional Services department can have you up and running in just a couple of hours.
Please Contact Us to find out more about automating your sales tax time thieves with SimpleIndex!
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Database Integration
Unprecedented Control of Database Interactions
Open database integration is a powerful feature of SimpleIndex® that furthers interoperability with custom programs. Instead of using a proprietary database, SimpleIndex allows you to map index fields to cells in any database table. It can be configured to create new records, update existing ones, or retrieve them for viewing. Using these three basic database functions, SimpleIndex is able to interface with and operate on any database.
Automatic Indexing Using Existing Data
SimpleIndex’s Autofill feature is an easy way to associate many index fields with one document without retyping data that already exists in another database. Autofill uses a database lookup to retrieve records that match key values entered by the user. Then blank index fields are automatically filled with the lookup data. After entering only one field, data autopopulates, resulting in a document database.
The key field may be typed by the user or read from the document automatically using barcode recognition or OCR. The lookup is performed either when the user changes this field or when the index values are saved. If the lookup finds multiple matching records, the user will be notified and the first set of values will be used by default.
When used with pre-index batches, key information can be read automatically from barcodes or OCR and matched to database records with a single click.
Custom Code Extensions for Autofill and Export
Customized Autofill and Export functions extend this functionality to use APIs and web services to populate or export index data when a direct database connection is not possible. This allows you to directly interface with any application to populate and export document data.
An example is our ChatGPT document analysis service, which uses the same extension interface to provide AI document analysis results that can be used for classification and natural language data extraction.
Match and Attach Mode
SimpleIndex features “Match and Attach” mode, which combines the power of the Autofill feature with the ability to update existing records in your database. This lets you “attach” images to existing database records by “matching” them with values from SimpleIndex.
XML and JSON Data Sources
SimpleIndex also has the ability to read data directly from XML and JSON files. Many document management and cloud storage platforms provide document metadata in XML and JSON files whenever you attempt to migrate data, along with corresponding files that may or may not have logical filenames. Use SimpleIndex to extract the data from these files, organize the documents, and migrate the metadata to a database or new document management platform.
Output to XML or Any Text Format
SimpleIndex offers direct export to pre-formatted XML files, as well as the SimpleExport module that can output any XML schema or text file format.
SimpleExport makes it possible to integrate with any third party database, application, or document management systems (DMS) that accept an XML or text file import.
SimpleExport converts the index values from a SimpleIndex job to any output format through XSL Transformations (xslt). You may use one of the built-in scripts to export to a pre-defined system or design your own. SimpleExport runs automatically after each batch is exported, or it can run as an unattended Windows service.
SimpleExport can also be used as a standalone application for automating XSLT transformations, converting CSV or TSV (delimited text files) to XML, converting images to base64, or integrating other scanning applications with third party software.
Find Out More
KB Articles for Database Integration
- Oracle database is slow to respond
- What is Document Imaging?
- Using alternate database schemas
- Multiple Sort Fields on Search
- Access Database Connection String
- How do I delete an image and it's database entry?
- Is it possible to search for and retrieve documents with Windows desktop search?
- Will your SimpleQB allow me to scan in old invoices or bank statements directly into QuickBooks?
- How do I use the Media Wizard to create searchable DVDs or thumb drives?
- How do I export index data to a database?
Using alternate database schemas
Please refer to the Wiki Documentation for the complete Database reference.
In SQL Server, Oracle and MySQL (among others) user logons are associated with a default “schema” that determines which tables and views they can see.
Users may have access to other tables and views that aren’t in their schema. When connecting to the database these tables will show up in the list, but when you try to get the list of fields you get an “Invalid object reference” error.
To reference these tables, use [Schema].[Table] for the table name to explicitly reference the table.
You can also change the user’s default schema on the server to the one matching the table.
A third option is to create a view under the user’s default schema that selects the necessary records.
At the present time you cannot enter [Schema].[Table] in the wizard, so if you need to use this workaround configure the job in the wizard and modify the table name in the old job options screen.
Access Database Connection String
Please refer to the Wiki Documentation for the complete Access reference.
If you would like to create a database string for an Access database that includes a password use this format:
Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=path\database.mdb;Jet OLEDB:Database Password=db_password;
How do i setup Simpleindex to use a Database table field as a list file when the table is not the same as the table i am using on the Database Tab.
Please refer to the Wiki Documentation for the complete Database reference.
All you will need to do is put the table and field name you want to pull from in the Dictionary Matching & List Fields Box. It should be formatted just like the example below.
Example: Table Name|Field Name
- Published in Licensing & Installation
How do you configure a field to select from a list of possible values?
Please refer to the Wiki Documentation for the complete Index & Batch Logging reference.
List fields are populated using a text file or database field containing the values for that list. The text file scenario will be described first.
To configure a list field, go to the Index tab in the Job Options. Create a list field by selecting “List” for the field type and give it a name. In the “List File/Field” setting for this field, put the full path or UNC to the text file containing the list or click “Set” to browse to the file. If you have not created a file, you can put the path where you want the file stored here and click the “Edit” button. This will open the file in Notepad; new files will prompt you to create them.
On each line of the text file you will put one of the possible values that you want to be able to select from while you are indexing with SimpleIndex. You can copy this information from another source and paste it into the text file.
Save the file in Notepad and close it. The List field is now configured!
To use a database field, your configuration must be connected to a database using the settings on the Database tab. Any fields defined as “List” on the Index tab that have a corresponding field mapped on the Database tab will use the unique values from that field to populate the list.
You can check “Only allow values in list” to disallow users from entering a value not in the list.
Once the List index field is configured properly you can select the values from a drop down after scanning that appear in the main SimpleIndex window while indexing. It also makes the field autofill the closest match from the list based on the characters that you type in that field.
- Published in Indexing & UI
What is “Match & Attach” mode?
Please refer to the Wiki Documentation for the complete Database Mode reference.
Match & Attach mode lets you batch update multiple records in a database using the index data from your SimpleIndex job. For example, if you have a large backfile of documents that you want to scan and link to records in an existing database, you can use Match & Attach to find the corresponding record and set the Image Path field to the newly scanned file.
This allows documents to be indexed with a variety of information and then have it find a particular record based on up to three different key indexes in a data source. It can then fill in additional data columns with indexed information along with the full text information, page count, batch ID and image path.
The Match & Attach uses the key field in the “Autofill Settings…” in the Indexing & File Naming step of the Job Settings Wizard in the File menu. Then fills the data into any blank columns for the record in the database and also changes any fields that are different.
Related Links
- Published in Database & Retrieval, Export
How do you configure the Autofill feature?
The Autofill feature of SimpleIndex is an easy way to associate many index fields with one document without retyping data that already exists in another application.
Autofill uses a database lookup to retrieve records that match a key value or values entered by the user or extracted with SimpleIndex. Blank index fields are then filled in automatically with the data from this lookup. The result is a document database with many different possible search fields, of which only one needed to be entered during scanning.
You can use one, two or three index fields as the key values to extract data from your data source. These index fields can be any of the various types of manual and automatic fields. Once the fields are matched the lookup information will get filled in to the Autofill Index fields.
Instructions
- Navigate to the Indexing & File Naming step in the Job Options Wizard under the File menu.
- Create an Index field(s) in SimpleIndex that will be used for the key matching value(s), which will pull the information from the database. This Index field can be any Type other than Autofill.
- Click the “Autofill Settings…” button on the top right.
- Select the “Datasource:” configured in the Database step in the drop down or click the “New Data Source…” button to create a new connection.
- Click the Load button, which loads the data from the database.
- Select the Table or View that the data is in in the “Table or View:” drop down.
- Select the key field from the database that will be used to match against to pull the other data from the other columns in the selected Table or View from the “Database Key Field 1:” drop down. If other index fields are required for matching the correct records select these in “Database Key Field 2:” and “Database Key Field 3:”
- Select the key index field from SimpleIndex that will be entered or extracted and used to match against the database in the “Index Key Field 1:” drop down. If other index fields are required for matching the correct records select these in the “Index Key Field 2:” and “Index Key Field 2:”, making sure that the correct SimpleIndex fields are linked to the correct database columns.
- Click Finish
- Create new Autofill index fields for each piece of additional data needed to be filled in based on the key field(s). The Template for each of the Autofill index fields should be the exact name of the column from the data source that should be filled.
By checking the “Allow manual input in Autofill fields” the users can edit the filled data manually. By checking “Automatically select first matching record” it will select the first record in the table that matches instead of asking which record should be used, when multiple records in the data source have the same data. By checking “Match on single Key Field” it will match on just one of the key fields, instead of requiring all key fields be match, when multiple key matching fields are used. By checking “Cascading List Mode” each autofill field is displayed as a drop down list populated by the records that match the key field(s) and each selection filters the next list for matching values.
Related Links
- Published in Database & Retrieval, Indexing & UI
How do I connect to an SQL Server database?
SimpleIndex has the ability to export, query or autofill from an SQL database. This allows you to upload data that is indexed with SimpleIndex to a table or view, search against the database or pull information from the database based on a key value.
Insert New Data
- Open the Job Settings Wizard and go to the Database step
- Set the Database Mode to Insert New Records
- Click the “New Data Source…: button
- Select the SQL Database radio button and click Next
- Fill in the “Server:”, “Database:”, “Username:” and “Password” for the SQL Database
- Click the “Build” button to generate the Database Connection String
- Click the “Test” button to confirm SimpleIndex is connected to the Database properly
- Click the “Load” button under “Table or View:” and then select the Table or View that needs to be Inserted to
- Link all of the fields in SimpleIndex to the columns in the database that they should Insert to
Search Existing Data
- Open the Job Settings Wizard and go to the Database step
- Set the Database Mode to Retrieve and View Records
- Click the “New Data Source…: button
- Select the SQL Database radio button and click Next
- Fill in the “Server:”, “Database:”, “Username:” and “Password” for the SQL Database
- Click the “Build” button to generate the Database Connection String
- Click the “Test” button to confirm SimpleIndex is connected to the Database properly
- Click the “Load” button under “Table or View:” and then select the Table or View that needs to be Inserted to
- Link all of the fields in SimpleIndex to the columns in the database that they should Insert to
Autofill Based on Key Values
- Open the Job Settings Wizard and go to the Indexing & File Naming Step
- Click the “Autofill Settings…” button
- Select the SQL Database radio button and click Next
- Fill in the “Server:”, “Database:”, “Username:” and “Password:” for the SQL Database
- Click the “Build” button to generate the Database Connection String
- Click the “Test” button to confirm SimpleIndex is connected to the Database properly
- Click the “Load” button under “Table or View:” and then select the Table or View that needs to be Inserted to
- Select the key field for the database column in the “Database Key Field 1:”
- Select the key field for the SimpleIndex index field in the “Index Key Field 1:”
- Set-up the Autofill fields that need to be filled in based on the key field
Related Links
- Published in Database & Retrieval
How do I connect to an existing Access database?
SimpleIndex has the ability to export, query or autofill from an Access database. This allows you to upload data that is indexed with SimpleIndex to a table or query, search against the database or pull information from the database based on a key value.
Insert New Data
- Open the Job Settings Wizard and go to the Database step
- Set the Database Mode to Insert New Records
- Click the “New Data Source…: button
- Select the Microsoft Access radio button and click Next
- Click “Browse…” button under “Access Database:”, browse to the database file, select it and click Open
- Click the “Load” button under “Table or View:” and then select the Table or Query that needs to be Inserted to
- Link all of the fields in SimpleIndex to the columns in the database that they should Insert to
Search Existing Data
- Open the Job Settings Wizard and go to the Database step
- Set the Database Mode to Retrieve and View Records
- Click the “New Data Source…: button
- Select the Microsoft Access radio button and click Next
- Click “Browse…” button under “Access Database:”, browse to the database file, select it and click Open
- Click the “Load” button under “Table or View:” and then select the Table or Query that needs to be Inserted to
- Link all of the fields in SimpleIndex to the columns in the database that they should Insert to
Autofill Based on Key Values
- Open the Job Settings Wizard and go to the Indexing & File Naming Step
- Click the “Autofill Settings…” button
- Click the “New Data Source…: button
- Select the Microsoft Access radio button and click Next
- Click “Browse…” button under “Access Database:”, browse to the database file, select it and click Open
- Click the “Load” button under “Table or View:” and then select the Table or Query that is being filled from
- Select the key field for the database column in the “Database Key Field 1:”
- Select the key field for the SimpleIndex index field in the “Index Key Field 1:”
- Set-up the Autofill fields that need to be filled in based on the key field
Related Links
- Published in Database & Retrieval
Indexing from Applications with Screen OCR
Some documents are difficult or impossible to automate with OCR. For example, documents with non-standard layouts, unconstrained handwriting or very poor scan quality. In applications like invoice processing, fully automating the data entry can require expensive software and weeks of consulting. Even after all that expense, many users miss the interface and data validations that their accounting software entry screens provide.
In cases like this, SimpleIndex can help improve data entry efficiency while archiving your scanned originals at the same time. Here’s how it works:
- Scan a batch of documents for data entry
- Place the SimpleIndex window side-by-side with your data entry window
- Enter the data normally, reading from the scanned image in SimpleIndex
- Press the hotkey combo to transfer the data to SimpleIndex
- Save the image and repeat with the next one
In this configuration, SimpleIndex captures an image of the data entry window, then uses OCR to read the data and index the image. Since the data entry screen has a consistent layout and clear, readable fonts, it can be reliably recognized with OCR.
There are several advantages to this approach:
- Configuration and training takes hours not weeks
- Scanned images are indexed with no extra work
- All the advantages of digital docs–security, searching, sharing, etc.
- Use all the data validation features of your software
- No flipping through paper documents
- Operator keeps eyes on the screen and hands on the keyboard
- Data entry can be done remotely
- Data entry performance improves and files are archived at the same time
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FAQ Related to Screenshot OCR
Automatic Indexing Using Existing Data
Automatic Indexing Using Existing Data
The Autofill feature of SimpleIndex is an easy way to associate many index fields with one document without retyping data that already exists in another database. Autofill uses a database lookup to retrieve records that match a key value entered by the user. Blank index fields are then filled in automatically with the data from this lookup. The result is a document database with many different possible search fields, of which only one needed to be entered during scanning.
The key field may be typed by the user, or it may be read from the document automatically using barcode recognition or OCR. The lookup is performed either when the user changes this field or when the index values are saved. If the lookup finds multiple matching records, the user will be notified and the first set of values will be used by default.
When used with pre-index batches, key information can be read automatically from barcodes or OCR and matched to database records with a single click. Search on up to 99 index fields without a single keystroke!
Learn More:
KB Articles for Automatic Indexing
- Exclude Index Field from Index Log
- Turn Off Prompts and Pop Ups on Job Configurations
- Change the Font Size of Index Fields
- Large Documents (>500 pages) are Slow to Process
- Regular Expression (RegEx) - Syntax or Type
- Index With Non-Latin Character Sets
- Skip to Blank Index on Save Index
- Stop Autorun When Double Clicking Configuration
- Autonumber Increment Value
- Overlap of SimpleView Viewer in SimpleIndex Display
SimpleInvoice Invoice Processing Solution
SimpleInvoice is a preconfigured solution that uses the OCR and dictionary matching functionality of the SimpleIndex scanning and indexing software to automatically capture key information from invoices needed for Accounts Payable processing.
SimpleInvoice requires minimal configuration to get started, and comes with everything you need to capture most common invoice styles.
Use SimpleInvoice to:
- Capture data from paper and electronic invoices in a single workflow
- Automatically receive and enter Accounts Payable data in your accounting software
- Create full-text searchable invoice files
- Create an organized filing system for archiving invoices
- Quickly find and view invoices based on vendor, date, invoice number, or full-text search
- Direct integration with QuickBooks on-premise using SimpleQB
- Works with RPA bots to integrate with QuickBooks Online and other accounting systems
Uses Templates, Not Training
Most data on an invoice matches common patterns like dates and total amounts. The one exception is the invoice number, which has a different format for every vendor.
Using the Template Autofill feature in SimpleIndex, you to spell out the specific OCR pattern of a vendor’s invoice number as a column in your Vendor database. When processing invoices, it first identifies the vendor, then searches for the matching pattern in the text to find the invoice number.
This solution is far simpler than the machine learning algorithms employed by enterprise invoice OCR systems, which is why SimpleIndex is a fraction of the cost. It’s also simpler than other template-based systems that require you to locate every field for every vendor.
Enterprise Accounts Payable Automation
If your AP workflow requires advanced features like line item capture, GL coding, PO matching, VAT calculation, complex approval workflows, or if you have thousands of vendors to process, then an enterprise invoice processing solution is more appropriate.
Don’t worry, we can help you out with that too!
Find Out More
SimpleInvoice is included for free with any SimpleIndex license. Download SimpleIndex Now!
Some initial setup is required, and we can help you out with that too. Our Professional Services department can have you up and running in just a couple of hours.
Check out SimpleQB or our AP Automation RPA Bot to see how we integrate with your accounting software to automate the entry of transaction data.
Please Contact Us to find out more about SimpleInvoice!
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Compare Leading Solutions
SimpleIndex™
Kodak Capture Pro™
Kofax Express™
PaperVision™ Capture Desktop
Note: This video depicts PaperVision Capture Desktop, a now discontinued software that has since been replaced by the similarly functioning updated version of PaperFlow.
Office Gemini DiamondVision™
Testing Methods
The benchmark times were recorded using all available software shortcuts, and by performing data entry and user interactions as fast as possible. The same scanner and computer hardware was used for each test. Much care was taken to ensure that each application yielded the most accurate OCR results possible given the sample documents.
Unfortunately none our competitors could accurately capture the account number on all 10 pages. The extra time to correct these errors accounts for 15-30% of the difference in processing times. The difference in accuracy is due in large part to SimpleIndex‘s pattern matching OCR feature, which the other programs lack.
Keep in mind these videos were recording using the latest version available at the time this test was taken. Results may vary with with later versions.
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