Ligature 6.8 Basic
Description & Operation
Ligature® - OCR is a full-featured 32-bit standalone OCR software program designed for users who demand consistently accurate OCR results. Powerful, flexible and efficient, Ligature-OCR is easy to use and capable of processing large quantities of text. It scans the document, analyzes the page layout, recognizes the characters and outputs the text to a variety of file formats while retaining text and document attributes. Your saved file is now editable text, ready to take advantage of the options of your chosen word processor, spreadsheet or database application.
This advanced program incorporates numerous specialized features including: support for all Hebrew, English and Western European languages, an editor with pop-up verifier and multilingual spell checkers (Latin only), trainable mode, batch processing, image rotation, 20° auto deskewing, manual or automatic page analysis, and deferred processing.
In addition to outstanding accuracy and a robust feature set, Ligature-OCR offers a modular design, providing the user and the developer with a great deal of flexibility. Ligature-OCR consists of several standalone modules that can be operated separately and are integrated under one simple shell. This modular approach enables the user to repeat certain operations without having to rescan the document.
Scanning Module - Input
Ligature-OCR supports the leading image file formats and desktop scanners, including Twain and HP AccuPage, as well as their optional automatic document feeders. Ligature-OCR supports full control of scanner brightness and contrast; it also enables the user to customize the size of the page to be scanned, allowing for non-standard page sizes. This option is especially useful to skip running headings and other page areas. Ligature-OCR also includes 400 dpi scanning capability.
Page Decomposition Module - Analyze
Ligature-OCR features automatic page analysis that identifies columns and tables, distinguishes between text and graphics, and ignores noise areas.
The user can choose among the following four options:
| 1) |
Full Automatic Decomposition - Ligature-OCR selects the text areas and defines their proper reading sequence prior to the recognition stage. |
| 2) |
Force One Column - This option is designed for the reading of tabular information. |
| 3) |
Columns - This option is used for pages consisting of two or more columns (e.g., newspapers). |
| 4) |
Predefined Zones - Ligature-OCR offers graphic tools with which the user can mark specific areas of the page for reading, deletion and inversion. These areas can be stored for multiple template reading, especially useful with pages of similar layout. |
Recognition Module - OCR
Ligature-OCR features a unique and powerful engine for Omnifont reading that is based on Stochastic Algorithms and Neural Networks. Ligature-OCR reads Hebrew, English and all Western European character sets (including most monetary symbols), without user intervention. Ligature-OCR also has features for handling mixed Hebrew and English text in the same document as well as kerned pairs, smeared characters and broken letters. This advanced OCR engine is also designed for recognizing 200 dpi faxes with a special option for degraded text and dot matrix/draft printing.
Users interested in reading documents with special typefaces or non-Latin characters can further benefit from the Customize option. This option enables the user to fully train Ligature-OCR to recognize non-standard and highly stylized fonts such as Rashi, Gothic, or Greek. The Customize option can also be used to train languages which are Windows supported that are not listed in the Ligature Omnifont language list.
Ligature-OCR saves time, typically required for post-OCR reformatting, by retaining margins, indents, paragraph rulers, centering and justification, tabulation, line spacing, point size, bold, and underline. Ligature-OCR also features a Pop-Up Verifier in its Editor Window which allows for easy proofing of documents. By simply clicking on any questionable character or word, the Pop-Up Verifier enables the user to compare the recognized text to the original scanned image, which appears simultaneously on the background of the screen. Once saved in the file format of choice, the OCRed text can be edited with the full power of the user selected application.
Price: 499 Eur + 20 EUR S&H
Ligature NG 6.8 Batch Processing
Ligature-OCR supports scanning and reading documents, while saving them as searchable PDF files. Ligature NG also supports Continuous Reading, a feature which enables the user to scan a group of documents either manually or by use of an Automatic Document Feeder, perform Analysis and OCR and then save and name the files automatically.
- Ligature NG (No Graphic User Interface) processes files that are created from scanners, faxes, or image applications and converts it automatically into searchable PDF, DOC, RTF or TXT files.
- Outputs to the strongest PDF compression - JBIG2.
- Reads TIF, scanned PDF, PCX and other image formats.
- Batch Creator - enable you to create templates.
- Operates as Tray Icon
- Command-line parameter for deleting files after conversion
- Log files for errors
- Supports "Status Code"
Price: 499 Eur + 20 EUR S&H
Annual maintnance: 249 EUR no page limit
Ligature Enterprise
Ligature Enterprise is a powerful application that operates as a service and can "watch" hot folders troughout your network for scanned documents and faxes. Once images or faxes shows in those designated hot folders, Ligature Enterprise will convert them automatically into searchable PDF, DOC, RTF or TXT files.
Price: 3333 EUR
Annual maintnance: 699 EUR no page limit
System Requirements:
A Windows Version
Hardware Requirements: Pentium 133 or higher, minimum 256 MB RAM, 512 MB recommended (using Ligature-OCR with scanners larger than legal size or use of 400 dpi will require more free working space), minimum 25 MB hard disk space, VGA monitor and a mouse. The blind or visually impaired can use Ligature-OCR without using the graphics options or the mouse.
Software requirements: Windows '95-Vista with Hebrew support.
Supported Scanners:
- All TWAIN compatible scanners
- All high speed scanners driven by Kofax, TWAIN or Xionics TWAIN boards
Image Formats:
All PCX, TIFF (Uncompressed & Compressed), including G4 formats, jpg, BMP, gif
Supported File Formats:
All major word processing and Spreadsheet file formats
