Turboman
31-03-2008, 10:14 AM
OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION
The advantage of this method is that you can prepare a large message (sometimes initially off-line), and increase readability by incorporating within the message and often using extra highlighting. Or alternatively, edit out personal bits and attach as a ".doc attachment".
It is most suitable for letters but not for poor quality photo-copies of CCA/Application Forms with lots of boxes. The latter are best handled using Attachments or Photobucket or similar with JPG images..
There are many scanners on the market so can't cover all the techniques. I have an old cheap Epson scanner which converts with the aid of a separate Omni.. program and is difficult to use, but I also have a modern Lexmark X1180 which is so easy to use in that it scans straight into your particular Word Processor in the correct format.
You can then Edit out the personal bits and post up the complete letter within your message, or just extract the relevant point you wish discussed.
The following screenshots illustrate the settings I used. Although my screenshot dropdown menu shows my Word Processor options, I have used Wordpad for this demo as it comes free with Windows and can be found under Accessories on the Start Menu.
The quality of recognition is good with sharp documents, but you need to read through the scanned result and amend any flaws. In mine you will notice it muddled the word "you" on one occasion.
They also struggle on the logos and small fonts on the letter headings but these are not important for the result of course. Generally, Microsoft Word handles letter headings best with this particular scanner, but Microsoft Works and Wordpad are adequate. Notepad is not recommended.
Most scanners also have a preview facility where you can pull the "handles" to select only a small part of the letter if required-and speed up the scan.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd64/Chesea4Abbie/OCR/OCR-Demo-1.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd64/Chesea4Abbie/OCR/OCR-Demo-2.jpg
[ On above I accidently left Notepad in the Program Box in the screenshot instead of Wordpad]
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd64/Chesea4Abbie/OCR/OCR-Demo-3.jpg
Once we have it in our Word Processor, we can amend or add extra annotation and then SELECT and COPY into the PCF message area.
So the a resulting message might be as below
Example of the resulting PCF message (for illustrative purposes)
Originally, I asked for a copy of my CCA & T&C's using a template letter which was a hybrid which asked for statements and memos etc as well as CCA & T&C. This is part of my latest reply.
In your letter you have requested a copy of the Consumer Credit Agreement (CCA), Terms and Conditions (T & C's) from 1996, and a detailed report of which clause has each charge been applied against. I am sorry for the delay in responding, but as this information is not covered by the subject access provisions of the Data Protection Act we have sought advice from the relevant area.
As a FlexAccount is not regulated by the CCA your request for a signed executable agreement does not apply and I understand that the copy of the application form which you have already received should be sufficient.
With regard to your request for a copy of the T & C's from 1996, please refer to section 36 of your application form which states that the T & C's may be varied. It is the current T & C's, (a copy of which was supplied to ypu with your binder), which apply.
I have enclosed a copy of our leaflet 'Flex Account Interest Rate & Charges' which provides details of all charges.
The advantage of this method is that you can prepare a large message (sometimes initially off-line), and increase readability by incorporating within the message and often using extra highlighting. Or alternatively, edit out personal bits and attach as a ".doc attachment".
It is most suitable for letters but not for poor quality photo-copies of CCA/Application Forms with lots of boxes. The latter are best handled using Attachments or Photobucket or similar with JPG images..
There are many scanners on the market so can't cover all the techniques. I have an old cheap Epson scanner which converts with the aid of a separate Omni.. program and is difficult to use, but I also have a modern Lexmark X1180 which is so easy to use in that it scans straight into your particular Word Processor in the correct format.
You can then Edit out the personal bits and post up the complete letter within your message, or just extract the relevant point you wish discussed.
The following screenshots illustrate the settings I used. Although my screenshot dropdown menu shows my Word Processor options, I have used Wordpad for this demo as it comes free with Windows and can be found under Accessories on the Start Menu.
The quality of recognition is good with sharp documents, but you need to read through the scanned result and amend any flaws. In mine you will notice it muddled the word "you" on one occasion.
They also struggle on the logos and small fonts on the letter headings but these are not important for the result of course. Generally, Microsoft Word handles letter headings best with this particular scanner, but Microsoft Works and Wordpad are adequate. Notepad is not recommended.
Most scanners also have a preview facility where you can pull the "handles" to select only a small part of the letter if required-and speed up the scan.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd64/Chesea4Abbie/OCR/OCR-Demo-1.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd64/Chesea4Abbie/OCR/OCR-Demo-2.jpg
[ On above I accidently left Notepad in the Program Box in the screenshot instead of Wordpad]
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd64/Chesea4Abbie/OCR/OCR-Demo-3.jpg
Once we have it in our Word Processor, we can amend or add extra annotation and then SELECT and COPY into the PCF message area.
So the a resulting message might be as below
Example of the resulting PCF message (for illustrative purposes)
Originally, I asked for a copy of my CCA & T&C's using a template letter which was a hybrid which asked for statements and memos etc as well as CCA & T&C. This is part of my latest reply.
In your letter you have requested a copy of the Consumer Credit Agreement (CCA), Terms and Conditions (T & C's) from 1996, and a detailed report of which clause has each charge been applied against. I am sorry for the delay in responding, but as this information is not covered by the subject access provisions of the Data Protection Act we have sought advice from the relevant area.
As a FlexAccount is not regulated by the CCA your request for a signed executable agreement does not apply and I understand that the copy of the application form which you have already received should be sufficient.
With regard to your request for a copy of the T & C's from 1996, please refer to section 36 of your application form which states that the T & C's may be varied. It is the current T & C's, (a copy of which was supplied to ypu with your binder), which apply.
I have enclosed a copy of our leaflet 'Flex Account Interest Rate & Charges' which provides details of all charges.