Drawing Recognition Zones

Use Zonal Recognition to automatically populate index field values with text or data recognized within zones you draw on an image. The text within each zone is copied into the associated index field.

You set up a zone to perform the following types of data recognition during indexing:

  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

  • Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)

  • Bar Code Recognition

A recognition zone should not be set up for both OCR/MICR data and bar code data; always use a separate zone for bar code data. Also, multiple bar codes per zone are not supported. To ensure successful bar code recognition with a zone, you must complete bar code configuration on the Bar Code Setup tab.

If you do not expect to reuse recognition zones on a long-term basis, use the "lasso" technique, also known as "rubber band" or "ad hoc" recognition. Lasso recognition is appropriate if the location of information used for indexing varies significantly from one document to another. In this case, recognition zones are typically used on a short-term basis and then discarded; there is no advantage to saving them indefinitely as a template. To use this technique, use Lasso Mode, which is the default setting on the Index Setup tab.

You can use the Memorize setting in conjunction with Lasso Mode to ensure that recognition zones are retained at least for the current session, even if they are not saved permanently. If Memorize is not selected, the zones are discarded when you advance from one document to another.

Using Lasso Mode, you can easily set up Zonal Recognition to work effectively for most situations. If you prefer to retain recognition zones on a permanent basis, see Setting Up a Recognition Zone Template.

To minimize the processing time for recognition zones, use the Fast Mode setting on the Zonal Recognition Setup window.

  1. Scan a sample document.
  2. If you plan to set up a zone for bar code recognition, use the Bar Code Setup tab to configure the applicable bar codes. Otherwise, continue to the next step.
  3. On the Home tab, click Indexing to switch to indexing mode.
  4. To apply custom zonal recognition settings to the zone you are about to draw, do the following: On the Home tab, in the Zonal Recognition group, click Setup and set your zone preferences (see Zonal Recognition Setup).

    Otherwise, the default settings for zonal recognition are applied, and you can continue to the next step.

  5. On the Indexing panel, click the first index field you want to populate with data from a recognition zone.

    The index field is selected.

  6. Do one of the following:
    • On the Home tab, in the Zonal Recognition group, click Draw Zone.

    • On the Page mini toolbar or status bar, click Draw zone.

  7. On the document in the viewer, do one of the following:
    • Draw a rectangle to enclose the area containing the text that will populate the selected index field. To ensure accuracy, include some white space around the text to allow for page shifting.

    • Single-click the top left corner of the first text character you want to capture for the selected index field. The zone automatically extends two inches to the right and one inch below the clicked position. In this case, the text that populates the index field ends with the first space detected within the zone.

    The new zone is highlighted in green on the document (when Memorize is turned off, the zone appears in yellow). You cannot resize the zone, but you can delete and redraw it if necessary.

    The detected value within the zone populates the selected index field. You can edit the value before advancing to the next field.

  8. On the Indexing panel, advance to the next index field associated with the document in the viewer and do one of the following:
    • Create another zone.

    • Enter the value manually.

  9. Repeat the process for all the index fields that apply to the document in the viewer.

    All the zones for the document display in the viewer, and a red border is applied to the currently selected index field.

  10. Advance to the next document.
    • If the layout is the same as the previous document, the existing zones are applied to the new document. Kofax Express automatically adjusts the zones to account for stretching and shifting that naturally occur between one page and the next. This process is called "automatic registration."

    • If the layout is different from the previous document, the previously memorized zones are not applied to the new document. If you manually enter index values for the new document, the existing zones are used again only if you advance later to another document with attributes that match the original document. If you draw different zones for the new document, they are applied to subsequent similar documents, and the previously drawn zones are discarded.

  11. Repeat the process for all documents to be indexed in the batch.
  12. To save the zones to a template so they can be reused after the current session, see Setting Up a Recognition Zone Template.
  13. Do one of the following:
    • Click Draw Zone to exit drawing mode. You can also click Pan or Zoom on Rectangle to exit drawing mode.

    • Click Indexing to exit indexing mode.