How do I scan sheets with barcodes into a DB?

[glenn69]

I would like to make a simple DB that stores handwritten information sheets for future recall.

My stumbling blocks are:

1) How do I scan a sheet into Access?

2) Each sheet has a bar coded ID number displayed at the top. How can my DB read that bar code (without a barcode wand, etc...) off of the sheet and catalog it by it's ID number?

Thank You

 

[FLabrecque]

If I'm understanding correctly, you want to do character recognition from access of scanned pictures? I don't think you can. Or at least, you won't succeed without thousand of hours of coding.

If you could manage to scan this in a somewhat text document (with a third party software for example), you could than use some VBA to import it.

 

[bradcccs]

Glenn69,

What you are trying to achieve is, to my knowledge (limited as it is), not possible. You may want to rethink your logic....

Assumptions:
- Someone is manually scanning documents onto PC at the moment
- ALL pages have a barcode
- You are under budget constraints

As you may have read, Access does not "store" images very well.
Your best approach may be the following:
1 - Invest in a Keyboard Wedge style barcode reader
2 - Scan images to folder location
3 - Store images under Barcoded ID number (for automated matching in access)
4 - Either manually browse and attach documents in access, or develop a script that catalogues your folder contents, and populates the table for you.

The table contents would hold the Document ID from the barcode (ie filename) and the folder location (C:\my_scanned_files\). That way you can shell execute the file, or display the relevant file in a form / report etc.

If you are not on budget contraints (yeah right!) then a Canon imageRunner / Document Centre can do the scan to file / save under located barcode ID for you (ie steps 2 & 3 above) at around 30 pages / minute. Note: this is a hardware solution, NOT CHEAP!

You could consider your task an image management database. Many members have posted example databases for this task. Have a quick search on the forum, and see how you go.

Cheers

Brad.