Question:
What kind of scanner can I use to add scanned files into the Spitfire Catalog?
Answer:
You can use virtually any scanner with Spitfire, but some scanners may be more productive than others.The primary vehicle for acquiring scanned files into Spitfire is the Add Files tool. This tool will detect any TWAIN compliant scanners configured on the workstation, whether they are locally attached or across the network.
Examples:
- The HP ScanJet 5550c is a flatbed scanner with optional document feeder that is normally connected to a single workstation via SCSI or USB and is TWAIN compatible.
- The HP OfficeJet D Series All-in-One is a printer, fax, copier, scanner combination with a document feeder that can either be connected directly via USB or via its internal print server. In either case the scanner interface is TWAIN compliant and the scanner features can be accessed directly from the Add Files dialog.
Obviously, the Add Files dialog also supports adding files. This feature can be used to provide support for scanners that are not TWAIN compliant. Many large copiers fall into this category. They are configured to place the output from their scans somewhere on the local area network. Some work via FTP. Regardless, the files that are created by these scanners can be cataloged via the Files tab of the Add Files tool.
Regardless of whether you use the scanner 1) directly via its TWAIN support or 2) indirectly via stored files, you have a plethora of scanning settings. For most business-related files, you want to use a CCITT compatible format. This format, originally designed for faxing, uses 100 or 150 Dots Per Inch (DPI) resolution with 1 bit per pixel (black and white) — settings that are appropriate for OCR and long term storage of multi-paged scans. CCITT Group 4 is ideal because it includes significant additional image compression. CCITT Group 3 will suffice.
If you have photographs or other images, you will need to use scan settings with greater Bits Per Pixel (BPP, also sometimes referred to as color depth). Keep in mind that as you increase either DPI or BPP, you increase the final size multiplicatively! So if a scan takes 50K when scanned at 1BPP and you rescan it at 24BPP, the image will now require 1200K. If you scan at 16BPP, the raw size is 800K. These images are then compressed if you use a JPG or similar storage format.
Additional Comments:
You can determine what TWAIN devices are configured on your system via the Windows Control Panel.Spitfire‘s Batch Upload tool (currently used for batches of AP Invoices) always accesses files from a folder.
KBA-01078; Last updated: November 16, 2016 at 9:55 am;