![]() ![]() Each paper page must be scanned in as a separate file. ![]() It was not up to professional standards (referring at one point to a chapter that did not exist), but it was enough to get me going.Ī little higher up the software ladder is PaperPort Deluxe 8.0 ($99.99, This program, for Windows only, is conceptually the same as Digital File Cabinet but comes with a lot more polish, a crystal-clear user's manual and a handful of nifty tools that help with things such as finding files and attaching notes.Īssembling multiple-page files does, however, require a little extra work. It was only after rooting around in the program's folder that I discovered a user's manual. Unfortunately, I wouldn't have known how to do most of this had I depended on the program's skimpy online help. It also let me assign keywords to any file so that when it came time to search, all I needed to do was to enter the name of a file or a keyword. This introduced an interesting twist: Some items I wanted to keep track of were already in digital format, including my receipt and a downloadable quick-start guide from Hewlett-Packard.ĭigital File Cabinet let me drag and drop files stored anywhere on my computer. To test the software, I decided to create a digital file folder for a scanner I had just purchased online. Most such machines can handle lengthy document feeds. If you foresee scanning a lot of thick documents, it might be worthwhile to use a multiple-function fax-printer-scanner. Multiple-page paper documents are represented by groups of individual files that are automatically named "page one," "page two" and so on. A 20-page tax filing, for example, took about 20 minutes. ![]() Scanning documents into the program was easy, if a bit time-consuming. Rather than using the scanner's software, you operate within the Digital File Cabinet environment. The program leads you through an easy-to-follow procedure for connecting the scanner. Within each folder is a handful of related subcategories. The program presents a preconfigured but easily changeable list of folders, each one representing a common category, such as Automobile or Household Equipment. I chose a Windows-only program called Digital File Cabinet, available at for $29. Hewlett-Packard says that Jaguar-compatible software will be ready this spring. Mac users beware: Many scanner manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, have yet to create Jaguar-compatible scanner software, which means you will have to operate many scanners in Classic mode. I used the dual-platform Hewlett-Packard ScanJet 3500c scanner. I tested both platforms, using a Dell Inspiron laptop running Windows XP and an Apple iBook with Mac OS X 10.2 (also known as Jaguar). The all-digital solution simply requires a computer that can accommodate a scanner, although Windows users have more choices than those who use a Mac. The other method allows you to keep documents in their physical form and uses a program to track what you have and where it is, a bit like a library card catalog. One involves scanning the documents into your computer and tracking them with software that functions as a digital file cabinet. Still, there are essentially two ways of using your computer to manage paper files. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |