Stickler Consulting is a leader in database driven application development for the internet and intranets. A web site should be more than just online brochures. A well designed site should provide such high-end functions that solve business problems. In addition we are leveraging our skills to provide affordable internet solutions to non-profit organizations.

ScanSoft
PaperPort

OK folks, listen up. No other combination of hardware and software has done more to change how I use a computer than a scanner and PaperPort. Described by ScanSoft as a "Paper Management System" this easy to use software is so much more. In addition to to being the perfect companion to a scanner Paperport can also capture pages from many digital cameras, directly from web pages, or by importing data any of its supported file formats.

Easily 90% of the paper (bills, receipts, recipes, kids school work, EOB's, etc.) that enters my house either goes immediately in the garbage or in the "to be scanned" stack. After scanning most items end up in the trash. (Ok, the school papers go to the refrigerator, but not before becoming my computers wallpaper.) Paperport OCR's and indexes your content in the background. The interface make finding old images a breeze. Choose the folder, the stack and click until your at the right page. If you can't remember where you've placed an image, you can search based on item titles, item properties, or from the OCR  index.

PaperPort's user interface is it's major strength. Simple and well designed, the thumbnail based interface allows items to be organized in multiple, nested folders. Like items within a folder can then be stacked. The screen shot to the left is the "Desktop" view of  my "Automotive" folder. It's contains everything from copies of my drivers license to gas receipts to warranty info. The first thumbnail is a stack of "AAA" items. Starting with my most recent bill, I can click back through the stack until I get to my "Members Benefits" pages and look up what I need.

Links along the bottom of the desktop screen provide convenient tie-ins to other programs. Attach images of receipts to transactions in quicken, open an image in PhotoShop for more extensive editing, or drop an image on your e-mail programs like to quickly send it to friend or business contact.

Have a form you use on a regular basis. Simply scan the blank form, fill out the info that remains the same each time, and return to the desktop view. Each time you need a completed form; hit duplicate, fill out the required info, print, and return to the desktop.

Many vendors include similar software with their scanners. Don't be fooled. PaperPort is the only one I've found that doesn't end up as unused junkware. It truly makes a difference in how you'll use your scanner and computer.  

Version 9 add the ability to work directly with Acrobat PDF files. Items can be scanned directly into PDF format and then managed through the PaperPort desktop. 

The Pro 9 Office enhances the Deluxe version by  adding more robust network support and a PDF printer driver that ties into PaperPort. You can obtain an Acrobat PDF from almost any application by selecting this driver as your printer. The "printer's" output shows up in PaperPort as a PDF file.

New to the PaperPort product line up is the Pro Suite for Oracle. While I've not had a chance to work with this app, its purpose is to deliver the convenience provided by the PaperPort interface to the Enterprise. 

I have only two concerns about this product but they are duzzies. (1) Product support from ScanSoft is on a Pay Per Incident basis. One incident for Version 9 is free. After that its $19.95 per incident. At this rate cost of support could quickly add up to more than the cost of the product. (2) Online searches at Amazon, E-Pinions, and other sites have revealed that version 9 has received the reputation of being a very buggy piece of software. Patches have been released but some users are still experiencing problems.

Because of these problems, I'm recommending shoppers who do not currently have a scanner to seriously consider buying one with PaperPort 7.0 or 8.0 included. For those users wanting to buy PaperPort for an existing scanner ; If you need the PDF support go with version 9.0. If you don't need the PDF support consider version 7.0 or 8.0.