florisb
asked on
scanning / twain
Hello experts,
For this project I'm working on, I'll have to be able to 'handle' scanned documents, from various types of scanners.
there are some choice's to make:
- have Delphi accept scanned formats from various scanners.
- have a converter to convert multiple formats to one format Delphi uses.
I'm still disigning this part of the system, but also doing some research in advance. I did search on the net for avaiblable Delphi components and the TWAIN initiative and will continue doing this.
My question: Could somebody advise me in this scenario? Did people make applications that support a variety of scanners? Are there known problems?
If more people have 'answers', I can do something with points.
I was also thinking about 'Imaging', can I use this as by COM / OLE within my form? Should I automate this program, or get Delphi components?
Next to this I also want a thumbnail like view in Delphi... ...and by the by, I need to be able to handle:
1 scan; 1 page.
1 scan; multiple pages.
'1 scan'; multiple scans, multiple pages.
thanks,
Floris.
For this project I'm working on, I'll have to be able to 'handle' scanned documents, from various types of scanners.
there are some choice's to make:
- have Delphi accept scanned formats from various scanners.
- have a converter to convert multiple formats to one format Delphi uses.
I'm still disigning this part of the system, but also doing some research in advance. I did search on the net for avaiblable Delphi components and the TWAIN initiative and will continue doing this.
My question: Could somebody advise me in this scenario? Did people make applications that support a variety of scanners? Are there known problems?
If more people have 'answers', I can do something with points.
I was also thinking about 'Imaging', can I use this as by COM / OLE within my form? Should I automate this program, or get Delphi components?
Next to this I also want a thumbnail like view in Delphi... ...and by the by, I need to be able to handle:
1 scan; 1 page.
1 scan; multiple pages.
'1 scan'; multiple scans, multiple pages.
thanks,
Floris.
TWAIN
you can have a look at
ftp://delphi-jedi.org//api/twain.zip
(or all the other Twain components on Torry)
THUMBNAILS
http://torry.rimini.com/vcl/graphics/cst_g.zip (FW)
http://torry.rimini.com/vcl/graphics/thumbs.zip (FWS)
you can have a look at
ftp://delphi-jedi.org//api/twain.zip
(or all the other Twain components on Torry)
THUMBNAILS
http://torry.rimini.com/vcl/graphics/cst_g.zip (FW)
http://torry.rimini.com/vcl/graphics/thumbs.zip (FWS)
Try taking a look at
torry.spang.org/vcl/graphi
It claims to do TWAIN support.
To expand on what I said earlier, TWAIN is just a standard way for scanners to connect. All the manufacturer has to do is make sure that his scanner complies with the standards set and then ANYTHING can connect to it. You don't have to worry about the specifics of the hardware as the interface supplied by the manufacturer deals with all that for you. Therefore your application just has to use TWAIN and it can connect to any scanner that is TWAIN compliant.
As for scanning multiple pages, multiple scans etc. then it all depends what the manufacturer builds into his interface.
The ImageLib components come with a dialog that allows you to change the current scanner if more than one is installed and I'm fairly certain that this is actually a standard TWAIN feature rather than something specific to just ImageLib, so that poses no problems.
Hope this makes things a little clearer
The Neil
torry.spang.org/vcl/graphi
It claims to do TWAIN support.
To expand on what I said earlier, TWAIN is just a standard way for scanners to connect. All the manufacturer has to do is make sure that his scanner complies with the standards set and then ANYTHING can connect to it. You don't have to worry about the specifics of the hardware as the interface supplied by the manufacturer deals with all that for you. Therefore your application just has to use TWAIN and it can connect to any scanner that is TWAIN compliant.
As for scanning multiple pages, multiple scans etc. then it all depends what the manufacturer builds into his interface.
The ImageLib components come with a dialog that allows you to change the current scanner if more than one is installed and I'm fairly certain that this is actually a standard TWAIN feature rather than something specific to just ImageLib, so that poses no problems.
Hope this makes things a little clearer
The Neil
ASKER
thanks Neil en ZifNab, I'm checking the webpages and downloading demo's.
Do you also perhaps have experience making Delphi applications that Use scanned images? Common errors and stuff?
And storing scans in databases?
Floris.
Do you also perhaps have experience making Delphi applications that Use scanned images? Common errors and stuff?
And storing scans in databases?
Floris.
Floris,
I did develop a couple of TWAIN applications a few years ago and can't remember having any headaches. Once you've scanned your image in it's simple an image and you can treat it like any other - put it into a database, save it, jump up and down on it, whatever.
The components that I used were pretty good when it came to errors and problems and as I recall I just got a flag back indicating if the scanner was available, if the scan was cencelled etc. There wasn't any nasty errors or exceptions flying about and it was painless to code.
One thing that I did notice/find useful was some code to crop the image once it's scanned in. This isn't really a TWAIN problem and your drivers might even do the job for you.
Hope this helps
The Neil
I did develop a couple of TWAIN applications a few years ago and can't remember having any headaches. Once you've scanned your image in it's simple an image and you can treat it like any other - put it into a database, save it, jump up and down on it, whatever.
The components that I used were pretty good when it came to errors and problems and as I recall I just got a flag back indicating if the scanner was available, if the scan was cencelled etc. There wasn't any nasty errors or exceptions flying about and it was painless to code.
One thing that I did notice/find useful was some code to crop the image once it's scanned in. This isn't really a TWAIN problem and your drivers might even do the job for you.
Hope this helps
The Neil
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ASKER
Thanks Inthe, just downloaded, trying now.
I'll leave this message open for the weekend...
After that the points, perhaps with a trick to divide them...
Greetings,
Floris.
I'll leave this message open for the weekend...
After that the points, perhaps with a trick to divide them...
Greetings,
Floris.
ASKER
Research area's defined:
· Image formats.
· Scanners.
· Twain drivers.
· Images edit & display controls.
· OCR.
How about that? Just collected 1001 internet links and demo's. Now for real.
Floris.
· Image formats.
· Scanners.
· Twain drivers.
· Images edit & display controls.
· OCR.
How about that? Just collected 1001 internet links and demo's. Now for real.
Floris.
ASKER
Hi inthe,
I'm going to try your lib. One more question: is that library a good one to use for a 'professional application'?
For the edit controls I'l try the one Neil adviced (ImageLib).
C.U.
Floris.
I'm going to try your lib. One more question: is that library a good one to use for a 'professional application'?
For the edit controls I'l try the one Neil adviced (ImageLib).
C.U.
Floris.
hi floris,
thats a bit of an odd question, as code for a free program would be identical to code for a expensive proffesional application wouldnt it ?
for an answer, well im sure it'll be just fine ;-)
thats a bit of an odd question, as code for a free program would be identical to code for a expensive proffesional application wouldnt it ?
for an answer, well im sure it'll be just fine ;-)
ASKER
Hi inthe,
Tried eztw32.dll yesterday, workerd perfect. With my odd question, I was aksing something like: how much functionality does that lib offer? Okee, I know now.
By the by, you know the standard Windows imaging (it's from Microsoft, Wang and Eastman Software; see also www.eastmansoftware.com), it has controls (activex / ocx) you can import in Delphi, and is TWAIN compatible, see it's help after importing in Delphi. It works, but a bit buggy with the 1.1 version (3 years old)... ...hope I'll upgrade today.
Decided to give you the points Inthe. Neil, you should get something like 30% of the points; maybe more, it's just that I really used InThe's comment for a demo... ...your imgaLib link will probably be usefull later. I heard people on E.E. compaining about people not giving points, so I decided I will not wait with that too long.
PLEASE DO CHECK MY TO OTHER TWAIN / ISIS / IMAGING related questions:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qShow.jsp?ta=delphi&qid=10297422
and
https://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qShow.jsp?ta=delphi&qid=10298519
ZifNab... ...thanks too for commenting! It's in my document.
Floris.
Tried eztw32.dll yesterday, workerd perfect. With my odd question, I was aksing something like: how much functionality does that lib offer? Okee, I know now.
By the by, you know the standard Windows imaging (it's from Microsoft, Wang and Eastman Software; see also www.eastmansoftware.com), it has controls (activex / ocx) you can import in Delphi, and is TWAIN compatible, see it's help after importing in Delphi. It works, but a bit buggy with the 1.1 version (3 years old)... ...hope I'll upgrade today.
Decided to give you the points Inthe. Neil, you should get something like 30% of the points; maybe more, it's just that I really used InThe's comment for a demo... ...your imgaLib link will probably be usefull later. I heard people on E.E. compaining about people not giving points, so I decided I will not wait with that too long.
PLEASE DO CHECK MY TO OTHER TWAIN / ISIS / IMAGING related questions:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qShow.jsp?ta=delphi&qid=10297422
and
https://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qShow.jsp?ta=delphi&qid=10298519
ZifNab... ...thanks too for commenting! It's in my document.
Floris.
http://skylinetools.com/imagelib/index.html
The Neil