If you’ve got the energy, here’s the most efficient way to move those papers out of your physical files and into your digital ones …
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From the The New York Times*:
Q. I want to convert a lot of old paperwork to PDF files on my PC. Can I use my current scanner?
A. Many scanners and multifunction printer-scanner-copier units include software that lets you save a scanned image as a PDF file. If the scanner’s software includes this ability, your task may be as simple as choosing to save the image as a PDF instead of a JPEG or other image format.
Even if the scanner’s own software won’t save the image as a PDF file, plenty of other programs will, including Nuance PDF Create or A-PDF Image to PDF (a-pdf.com). The ScanStore site has information on software and equipment at scanstore.com. Freeware programs like Scan2PDF are also available.
If you have a huge amount of paper to scan on a flatbed scanner, an automatic document feeder attachment can help speed things up by letting you scan about 50 sheets in one session. Document feeders can cost around $200, and you need to make sure you get one that fits your scanner model.
Other options include getting a scanner designed to convert documents to digital files, like the NeatDesk system ($400 at neatco.com). Portable document scanners like the “Fujitsu ScanSnap”, “the Visioneer RoadWarrior Sheetfed Scanner” or the “Pentax DSMobile 600” (starting $113 on Amazon) are out there as well.
Personal Tech invites questions about computer-based technology, by e-mail to QandA@nytimes.com. You may also be interested in Tech Talk, a weekly New York Times podcast on making the most of technology. Go to: nytimes/com/personal tech.
SNOETY Note: If you don’t have Adobe Acrobat on your computer, you’ll need it. You can download the reader here. For the Adobe Acrobat family of products, click here.
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*The New York Times, PERSONAL TECH, Q&A, “Converting Paper Into PDF Files,” by J.D. Biersdorfer, August 6, 2009, pg B8
