CNET Editors' review
Don't let Readiris Pro's simplicity fool you; behind its approachable exterior lies a mighty optical-character-recognition engine. The program performed very well in our speed and quality tests, even when we gave it text with complex formatting (tables, columns, and multiple fonts, for instance). It did have some problems recognizing images, but you can mark those areas for better results. Readiris Pro supports almost all Western fonts and can recognize mixed texts. It can output OCR files in several formats, including DOC, OpenOffice, HTML, and PDF. The clear and convenient interface has large buttons for the most common operations. The $129.99 price reflects the program's corporate orientation, but Readiris Pro is a fine choice for small offices with serious OCR needs.
Publisher's Description
From I.R.I.S.:
Eliminate time-consuming manual retyping with Readiris Pro, the award-winning and latest OCR software from I.R.I.S. Readiris Pro converts paper documents, PDFs (even read-only), and image files into fully editable text on your computer at up to 1,600 characters per second. That's five times faster than any OCR available on the market. The process is simple: Simply scan your document, recognize it with Readiris Pro, and send it automatically to your favorite application. It's 200 times faster than retyping your document manually. Readiris Pro keeps the original format of your document and reproduces it in Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, or Internet Explorer. Readiris Pro also comes with extended PDF conversion that will enable you to archive and share all your documents as well as to easily retrieve, search, and re-use information.
Version 11 build 4704 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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All versions:
2.9 starsout of 54 votes
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Current version:
2.3 starsout of 37 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Do Not Buy IRIS if you Expect Tech Support"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
Simple to use when it works
Cons
No Tech Support available. You fill out a form which never get responded to. You are simply ignored. You don't even get Indian support - nothing!!!!!!
Your submission is not ever acknowledged.Summary
IRIS OCR software seems to work okay BUT if you encounter any problems they are NOT there for you. Their phones are not manned. All you get is a recording telling you to go to their Web site and fill out a form. So far I have filled out this form four times over the past week and a half, asking for simple help with the same problem. Every time the form appears to submit properly and I am advised that I will receive an email acknowledgement. Never happened. No acknowledgement, no response, no help and no way to contact this company by telephone and no, the responses are NOT going in my Junk File. They are simply not responding to a legitimate request for assistance. Go to CNet or http://ocr-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ for seemingly unbiased reviews of the top ten OCR programs and choose something else. You may be one of the lucky ones that have no problems but if you do, do not expect any Tech help from IRIS. You will be on your own based on my experience. I currently have a BBB complaint filed against them. Will see what that brings.
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"Worst Software on the market"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
Works one page at a time.
Cons
Does not save settings, poor tech support, poor online support, does not want to scan multi pages (freezes up), too expensive, and on and on. Have contacted tech support on a number of occasions and was replied to 50% of the time and still has not resolved the issue. For $130 it should work right out of the box. Only reason I purchased it was that the stripped down version was the HP software for my scanner.
Summary
Save your money, look elsewhere.
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"Maybe that's why it's on sale for $60(?)"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
I was suspicious about the claims of this product because it just sounded too good to be true. It is. Whether it works on your system or not depends on a lot of variables, few of which can be ascertained prior to sale. My friends that have it (and paid full price) are not inpressed and urged me to pass up the sale price.
Cons
Trouble loading
Irregulararity in transcribing certain fonts
Image problems (not serious)
Not compatible with some off-shoot non-Adobe, pdf-created documents.Summary
Great idea. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
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"problem with download"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
it may be good program but it does not download properly
Cons
it may be good program but it does not download properly
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"Installation error"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
None - installation error
Cons
No idea - wouldn't install
Summary
Windows Installer says: "Error applying transforms. Verify that the specified transform paths are valid." I have no idea what that means and don't feel like taking the time to try and find an answer that I can understand.
I'm using Windows XP SP3. Maybe this software would work better with a different OS. -
"complete & utter garbage"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
none none none none
Cons
in a word complete and utter garbage but there's no room here to explain why as you dont have enuff characters in this stupid review box. It cant for example load images in numberical order, so making a multipage doc in the right order takes hours.
Summary
you cant drag pages properly to re-order them. You cant drag more than one page to re-order. Re-ordering is a nightmare and it cant load pages in alphabetical order so it is useless. Dont waste your money.i'd have sacked the entire team if it was my company as this product is so falwed for basic required useage it's a joke
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"No registration! No workie!"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
none. Didn't get to test it.
Cons
This trial version forces you to register with them or it locks you from using it.
Summary
Not worth it. Takes forever to install and you must register with them.
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"Not what was promised"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
Did a better job of scanning text, but still had quite a few errors on all the items I scanned.
Cons
Would not allow me to scan items from the flatbed of the scanner rather than using the document feeder. I contacted tech support with a question by email 4 days ago. Still waiting for some kind of acknowledgment.
Summary
Can do better just typing the document than trying to scan it. No tech support. No tutorial. I will not buy it.
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"Very Good product,"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
After about 10 programs, this one out did them all. Can out very well. not perfect, but pretty good
Cons
the price, well worth it if you do a lot of this kind of work, but for those that use these very little, not really worth the price.
Summary
For the little guys, I say the company should allow you do convert .pdf files online or charge you per use. I had to convert 5 pages, not a big deal as I saved the .pdf files as an image and uploaded, using this program made the files about 60% smaller. But much clearer and easier to edit. Yet there were still a lot of minor editing to be done.
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"Good recognition especially of scanned text"
Version: Readiris Pro 11 build 4704
Pros
Lots of options, and can make a successful job of conversion of PDF files created from scans of a file rather than a direct conversion from editable text. Conversion is pretty accurate.
Cons
Converts a maximum of 50 pages per document, so have to split documents to convert it in parts if have anything bigger. Has been known to hang on some conversions. A bit cumbersome for smaller or simpler documents.
Summary
High price makes it potentially over-priced for many jobs, such as conversion of a simpler PDF file that originated from an editable file. 50 page conversion limit is absurd - competitors don't have such a limit. Might be more attractive so far as price is is concerned if it had decrypting options incorporated to permit easy conversion of protected documents. A sledgehammer for many jobs. In many cases something like ANyBizSoft PDF to Word is as good and much cheaper.
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