TextGrabber - This week I added a new software tool to my genealogy toolbox: ABBYY TextGrabber. Actually, this program uses a process that I have been using for several years: take a picture of documents and then later convert the image to text by use of OCR (optical character recognition). The one difference is that ABBYY TextGrabber provides the software to "package" everything together in one easy-to-use program. If you already own an Apple iPhone, you might want to add this low-cost program to your toolbox as well.
ABBYY TextGrabber allows you to take a picture of any text, such as genealogy information found in a book, and it then converts that text to computer-readable format by using OCR (optical character recognition). The decoded text can then be sent by email or copied by iTunes to a Windows or Macintosh or Chromebook computer where you vcan easily copy-and-paste the information into any genealogy program, word processor, or most any other program.
Using ABBYY TextGrabber can save you a LOT of manual data entry on a keyboard!
NOTE: Newsletter readers report that ABBYY TextGrabber only works with the iPhone 4 or 3GS, not the iPod Touch or the iPad. I didn't have an iPod Touch available to me so I tested ABBYY TextGrabber with an iPhone 4. I like it so well that I am keeping the program.
The Process
Actually, through a series of iPhones I have owned, I have been using the camera in my iPhone to take pictures of documents for years. The built-in camera works rather well at snapping pictures of all sorts of documents although it doesn't have the high resolution of a dedicated desktop scanner. Still, the resolution of the latest iPhone 4 is sufficient for most of my purposes.
For example, click on the image to the right to see a picture I took with my iPhone 4 from the History and Genealogy of the Eastman Family of America published in 1901 by Guy S. Rix. If you click on the small image to the right, you will soon see a full-size copy of the image that I snapped with the iPhone camera. Note that it is rather good resolution at 1,936 by 2,592 pixels, resulting in a 1.8 megabyte file.
The picture looks good to the human eye. It does have a few characteristics, however, that are typical of genealogy books. First, the camera was not perfectly vertical in relationship to the text when I snapped the picture, so the text is slightly slanted. This is typical of using a handheld camera to take pictures of pages in a book. It is almost impossible to align a handheld camera exactly vertically in relation to the book. That won't bother the human eye, but might make a big difference when converting the text by OCR technology. (I'll write more about OCR a bit later in this article.)
Next, there are "extra marks" on the page. Someone wrote a checkmark above and to the left of the word "John" in the first paragraph of text, just below the page title. Also look at the ninth line (counting the title as a line). Note the smudge in front of the letter "e" in "each of his children."
Next, in the middle of the page, someone crossed out the month of "Aug." and wrote in "Oct."
Another problem is the font sizes. At least this page has all the text in a serif font, but the superscript numbers at the end of each child's name will be difficult for a computer to interpret easily.
All in all, this picture looks rather "clean" although I do see one extra speck above the word "MASS." in the page title. Many pictures of genealogy books often have a lot more speckles, smudges, and dots.
Like it? Share with your friends!
If you got an error while installing Themes, Software or Games, please, read FAQ.
Supported operating systems:
Apple iOS 10.x (iPhone), Apple iOS 12.x (iPhone), Apple iOS 4.0.x (iPhone), Apple iOS 4.2.x (iPhone), Apple iOS 4.3.x (iPhone), Apple iOS 5.0 (iPhone), Apple iOS 6.0 (iPhone), Apple iOS 7.0 (iPhone), Apple iOS 8.x (iPhone), Apple iOS 9.x (iPhone), Apple iPhone OS 3.1.x
Similar Software:
iSilo iSilo - Document reader for viewing document files in iSilo, Palm Doc, and plain text format. The latest version adds the ability to view additional file types. Additional image file types include .jpg, .png, .gif, .tif, among others. Additional document file types include .pdf, .htm, Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), and PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx)
Resume Generator Pro Resume Generator Pro - As we all know in this "difficult" economy everyone needs a hand creating their resume. This application will create a great looking resume (PDF). You will be able to set all your personal information, so you do not have to type it every time you want to send it to a new prospective employer
Adobe Reader for iPhone/iPad Adobe Reader for iPhone/iPad is the free global standard for reliably viewing and sharing PDF documents across platforms and devices. Easily and efficiently access the widest range of PDF file types - including PDF Portfolios, password-protected PDF documents and Adobe LiveCycle rights-managed PDF files
Canon Easy-PhotoPrint for iPhone/iPad Canon Easy-PhotoPrint for iPhone/iPad - Canon Easy-PhotoPrint allows you to print photos from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to compatible Canon PIXMA and Canon SELPHY printers via the local WiFi network. In addition to photos, you can also print PDF documents stored on your iOS device
Trimensional Trimensional - The world's first 3D scanner for iPhone is here. Instantly capture 3D models of yourself, friends, and family, and share the amazing results with the world.
Trimensional uses both the screen and the front-facing camera on your iOS device, detecting patterns of light reflected off your face to build a true 3D model
PDF Splitter Pro PDF Splitter Pro is a quick and easy-to-use PDF splitting tool. It allows you to create new PDF files by extracting selected pages from a multi-page PDF file.
With PDF Splitter Pro, you can split multi-page PDF files by every n page(s), outline bookmarks, page ranges or split one PDF file averagely to several PDF files with equal page numbers
gogoDocs Google Docs Reader for iPhone gogoDocs Google Docs Reader for iPhone - A Google Docs reader for the iPhone that lets you keep your documents and files handy offline. gogoDocs now reads documents from the new "upload any file" feature of Google Docs, including audio and video files, as well as filters your docs list by name
Roambi - Visualizer Roambi interactive mobile dashboards let you tap, turn and swipe to analyze and share your company’s latest information on any iPhone or iPad – keeping you connected to your business, anytime and anywhere
Brother iPrint&Scan Brother iPrint&Scan is a free application that enables you to easily print and scan photos or documents from your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad on a Brother inkjet all-in-one printer using a local wireless network.
· Easy to use menu.
· Simple steps to print your favorite photos.
· Print photos directly from your iPhone camera
CloudOn for iPhone/iPad CloudOn for iPhone/iPad - CloudOn is a productivity solution which allows you to create, view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents using your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The app also includes a PDF reader and a file viewer supporting almost all file types, including JPG, PNG, GIF, etc
Other Software by developer «ABBYY Software House»:
ABBYY Tutor (1 year) ABBYY Tutor 2.0 is a vocabulary building application for Windows Mobile Pocket PC.
ABBYY Tutor 2.0 is ideal for learning a language in an educational establishment or for working, traveling and leisure purposes. Learning efficiency is based on a testing system allowing knowledge assessing at any stage, and on special revising exercises
ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile English - German Oxford Duden Concise Dictionary ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile English - German Oxford Duden Concise Dictionary is a dictionary, which allows you to translate words and word combinations quickly and accurately in a moment. This Dictionary provides information on life and culture in the German-speaking world.
ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile is an ideal companion for work, travel or study, wherever you are
ABBYY FotoTranslate French - German ABBYY FotoTranslate French - German is an innovative solution for travel and business trips.
Translate words with a single button push, wherever you are - you don't need to type unknown foreign words by hand.
The program automatically recognizes the words taken on the camera of your smartphone and shows the translation
ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile German - English Oxford Duden Concise Dictionary ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile German - English Oxford Duden Concise Dictionary is a dictionary, which allows you to translate words and word combinations quickly and accurately in a moment. This Dictionary provides information on life and culture in the German-speaking world. ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile is an ideal companion for work, travel or study, wherever you are
ABBYY FotoTranslate English - Ukrainian ABBYY FotoTranslate English - Ukrainian is an innovative solution for travel and business trips.
Translate words with a single button push, wherever you are - you don't need to type unknown foreign words by hand.
The program automatically recognizes the words taken on the camera of your smartphone and shows the translation
ABBYY FotoTranslate Italian - German ABBYY FotoTranslate is an innovative solution for travel and business trips.
Translate words with a single button push, wherever you are - you don't need to type unknown foreign words by hand.
The program automatically recognizes the words taken on the camera of your smartphone and shows the translation
ABBYY FotoTranslate Russian - German ABBYY FotoTranslate Russian - German is an innovative solution for travel and business trips.
Translate words with a single button push, wherever you are - you don't need to type unknown foreign words by hand.
The program automatically recognizes the words taken on the camera of your smartphone and shows the translation
ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile Multilingual ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile is a contemporary multilingual mobile dictionary offering an ideal combination of language and software. The trusted dictionary content, which includes renowned dictionaries and phrasebooks, and intuitive, easy-to-use software make ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile an ideal companion for work, travel or study
ABBYY Lingvo Dictionaries ABBYY Lingvo Dictionaries - Get access to 58 basic dictionaries for 27 languages for only $2.99!
Over 200 additional premium dictionaries for 20 languages are available for In-App Purchase.
Electronic versions of dictionaries from the world’s leading publishers, including Compact Verlag, K Dictionaries, and dictionaries compiled by ABBYY lexicographers
ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile is set of 29 dictionaries in 6 languages for all occasions!
ABBYY Lingvo x3 Mobile is a contemporary multilingual mobile dictionary offering an ideal combination of language and software
