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

What are SimpleIndex Specifications?

SimpleIndex 10 Specifications

  • Windows 11 64-bit edition, Windows 10 64-bit edition, Windows 8 64-bit edition and Windows 7 64-bit edition
  • Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022
  • A computer with a 2 GHz Intel Pentium or higher, or equivalent processor, 3 GHz recommended, 64-bit only
  • 4 GB of memory (RAM), 8 GB recommended
  • 3.2 GB total hard drive space for all components
  • WIA, TWAIN or ISIS scanner driver
  • Web access needed for online activation, offline activation available upon request
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Regular Expression (RegEx) – Syntax or Type

SimpleIndex uses the .NET regular expressions library.

.NET uses the JavaScript/ECMAScript regular expression syntax format.

For more information see the Regular Expressions Wiki Page.

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Is there a way to just use part of a bar code or OCR value? For example, extract “50” from the value “124450”

To do this example, create a barcode field (Field 1 for example) and a 2nd field with type “Fixed”. In the template for the 2nd field, enter %FIELD1[5,2]% to get “50” from “124450”.

%FIELD1% would get the entire value for Field #1, the barcode field. By adding the [5,2] you tell SimpleIndex to start at the 5th character (5) and take 2 characters from the value (50).

Find out more about barcode scanning on our Barcode Scanning Guide and read up on Optical Character Recognition on the SimpleOCR scanning solutions guide.

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How do you train the OCR engine for better accuracy?

Training has been removed with version 7 due to the addition of the ABBYY FineReader OCR engine.

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How can I improve recognition rates for my OCR fields?

There are several things you can do to improve accuracy for OCR.

  • Scan at 300dpi, black & white for best results.
  • Adjust the scan settings to remove background noise and improve the definition of characters.
  • For Zone OCR, field recognition can often vary based on the surrounding white space and text in the zone. Try varying the size of the zone to achieve optimal results.
  • For template matching, make sure all variations of the field format are included in the template list.
  • For dictionary matching, add common variations and OCR mistakes to the “thesaurus” list.
  • On the Zones & OCR tab (accessed from the Job Options) you can adjust the Max Errors setting to allow for more mistakes in the dictionary matching process.
  • Use the Strip Spaces, Strip Characters, Replace Characters and Case Fixing options to standardize the field format prior to matching.

Please refer to the SimpleIndex Wiki for details on how to configure these options.

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Video Demos

These videos demonstrate several ways SimpleIndex® can automatically index different types of documents. If you are new to SimpleIndex, watching these videos is the easiest way to see what it can do. You can follow along using the sample files included in the SimpleIndex Trial.

The sample files are copied to your Configuration Folder when you run the SimpleIndex Trial for the first time. If you can’t find the samples, copy them with the Global Settings Wizard in the File menu.

Compare Major Scanning Solutions

Compare the SimpleIndex scanning and indexing workflow to 4 leading desktop document imaging applications–Kofax Express™, Kodak Capture Pro™, PaperVision™ Capture Express and Office Gemini DiamondVision™.

Compare SimpleIndex to the competition

University of SimpleSoftware

Extensive online training videos for the SimpleSoftware product line are available at the University of SimpleSoftware. Live versions of each class can also be scheduled with our support staff.

Visit the Simple Software University

Integrated Solutions Built with SimpleIndex

SimpleInvoice

Uses the OCR and dictionary matching functionality of the SimpleIndex scanning and indexing software to automatically scan, name, and organize incoming invoices into your chosen folder structure of searchable PDF files.

SimpleQB

Scan invoices, OCR the key data and automatically receive bills in QuickBooks accounting software. SimpleQB can transfer transaction data from SimpleIndex to QuickBooks, automating your scanning and data entry tasks simultaneously.

LoanStacker for Mortgages

Use OCR with a preconfigured dictionary file to recognize over 300 mortgage origination and closing documents. Automate scanning to popular mortgage applications like Calyx Point and EllieMae Encompass.

Find out more by going to LoanStacker.com.

SimpleIndex with Contentverse Document Management

SimpleIndex is the perfect front-end scanning tool for your document management system. These videos show several ways that SimpleIndex can be configured to automate document capture with the CompuThink Contentverse document management solution.

SharePoint Scanning

Automatically organize files and set custom column metadata in SharePoint 2010 using SimpleIndex index fields.

Screenshot OCR

Use screen captures to get index data from any application.

Patent ID and Title Extraction

Out-of-the-box configuration extracts the Patent ID Number and Title from any US patent application.

Zone OCR with Template Matching

This video shows the Zone OCR Invoice Processing sample job. Zone OCR is the traditional method for extracting index data from printed text that appears in a fixed location on every page.

The video also shows how Zone OCR is enhanced with SimpleIndex‘s Template Matching and Dictionary Matching features, giving you much more margin for error than other solutions.

Watch the Zone OCR Video

Document Barcode Recognition

This video shows how barcode recognition can be used with our 1-click processing feature to index files quickly, easily and accurately.

With a single click a batch of documents is imported, barcodes are recognized and files are exported to organized folders and filenames as well as a SimpleSearch document database.

In the second part of the video, a SimpleSearch configuration is used to search and view the files processed in the first part.

Watch the Barcode Recognition Video

PDF OCR Text Parsing

This video demonstrates the PDF OCR text processing capabilities of SimpleIndex by extracting the Document Number, Date, Document Type, Customer and Total from a number of Estimates and Invoices.

All of this information is read automatically using the existing text layer of a computer generated PDF, such as those created using PDF printer drivers. Template and dictionary matching algorithms are used to locate and extract the correct data values from the text.

Since the existing text is being used, OCR is not performed. This makes processing much faster and 100% accurate. OCR can be used to get text from scanned PDF files with no existing text.

Watch the PDF OCR Text Parsing Video

Sort and Index MS Office Documents

This video shows the Read My Documents sample configuration.

Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations are automatically sorted using the SimpleIndex template and dictionary matching algorithms.

The files are reorganized using the Sales Rep, Customer, Document Type and Date extracted from the text.

SimpleSearch is then used to search and view the sorted files.

Watch the MS Office OCR Text Parsing Video

Full Page OCR Invoice Processing

This job configuration uses a 3-step process to automate the OCR processing. First, full-page OCR is performed on each image. Field data is extracted from the full-page OCR using template and dictionary matching algorithms. This is done in Pre-Index mode to allow unattended processing. Data is saved to a database so it can be reviewed and corrected in Step 2.

Step 2 uses Database Update mode to find images with missing index values and allows the user to manually enter the correct data.

Step 3 uses a SimpleSearch configuration to search and view the indexed images, including full text searches.

Watch the Full Page OCR Video

Running Jobs from an Icon

One of the most powerful features of SimpleIndex is its ability to be launched from a command line. This allows you to save job configurations to an icon that can be launched by double-clicking it. Processing can be fully automated so that it runs minimized in the taskbar and requires no user interaction whatsoever.

This video shows what happens when you run the various sample jobs in this way.

Watch the 1-Click Processing Video

KB Articles for Optical Character Recognition

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