Need HELP - Scanning documents and storing in database?

[dev2]

Hello there

I'm actually rather new to the 'developing community' and have a limited (basic) understanding of Access database programming and VB 6.

This is what I need to achieve but I am unsure of the best possible way to do it. I'll just explain the basic I/O process :

(1) Scan documents (eg 1-5 documents)
(2) Save scanned documents under unique ID
(3) Retrieve scanned documents (thru search of ID)

Simple as that. Problem is I don't know of how to approach this. This is how I am thinking of solving the problem :

Create a simple Access DBase that prompts for input of ID and name, then prompts to scan document, then link it to the documents to the ID. For retrieval Access will search for ID inputted and find relevant linked documents.

I am unsure if Access is powerful enough to do this as I have been told that Access dbase is very limited. I thought of linking a VB program that connects to Access as well. However, I was wondering if it was REALLY necessary to do this? Isn't there an easier way to solve this problem? Any suggestions anyone?

Thanks for reading this - I would highly appreciate your help.

-Dev II-
confused:

[lord loh]

Why on earth do you want to save the scanned doc. into access ?

He is one way :

1) scan the docs.

2) Save the scanned doc. on the hd.(make an exclusive folder for it.)

3) make an access entry. (uniqueid,description,path_filename_of_scanned_doc)

so this is what you will retrive from access when you want to.

Using VB, and the path_filename_of_scanned_doc you can load that path_filename_of_scanned_doc in your VB app and show it !

How about that ?

[dev2]

Hey thanks for ur suggestion lord loh!

I was told by a friend to do something like what u suggested. So I guess it'd be like scanning the docs 1st, save it, then make an entry to the dbase. The dbase will then be linked to the location of the scanned docs rite?

I just forgot to mention one very important thing. For starters I would have to be scanning more than hundreds of documents in the beginning. Doing this will mean I have to do many, many inputs manually ! Plus after doing that, I will need to do scanning at least once a day (an average of 3 docs per day basis). Therefore the dbase will keep growing.

Given that extra info, would it still be a good idea to approach the problem the same way as u have suggested?

Thanks again ! ;)

[lord loh]

So I guess it'd be like scanning the docs 1st, save it, then make an entry to the dbase. The dbase will then be linked to the location of the scanned docs rite?

Yes!

For starters I would have to be scanning more than hundreds of documents in the beginning

No escape from that...;)

Doing this will mean I have to do many, many inputs manually !

Do the entry on each scan...this will not appear a burden and give you a small change (scan-entry-scan-entry-....) ;)

Smarter alternatives are...

name the 'scanned files' same as uniqueid. So, you save hd space and the trouble of making the entry.(if all files have different extentions (.pdf,.ttf,.bmp etc) this wont work)
from the dos prompt(go to the folder where the files are saved), give the command dir>list.txt You will get no output. The output will be in the file list.txt Now you can make a vb prog. to parse the list.txt and automatically feed it into the DB.(May be display the docs and ask you to just type in a one line description before making the entry)


Do tell me how you plan to do it...