Has anyone yet invented a piece of software which will...

[flowerybeanbag]

scan in a document and convert it to an editable Word document?

I only ask because I have spent a large chunk of today re-typing in a lengthy document that for various reasons I only have in hard copy. I'm developing RSI as we speak and it's irritating me, so I am idly wondering whether there is or might soon be an alternative.

Read that as 'edible' word document

No idea about your q I'm afraid, sorry.

So, bumping for for you.

Yes there is, I've used it at work before. Hang on, I'll ask DP...

It's called OCR software (optical character recognition), apparently there are lots of brands.

OMG. Giddy are you serious?

Both hand and text recognition software do exist. The post office use hand written software recognition to sort mail by post code.

I did some letter recognition software development as a bit of my engineering degree about 15 years ago now so I should imagine theres commercial packages available - thats loads of time in a technology sense.

Sorry

I just googled and found this.

free text recongition software

I have never used it, but as its freeware you haven't got anything to lose

I was just about to say never mind giddy, I wouldn't need it that often and it wouldn't be worth the money, then RT came along with a free one!

Why didn't I ask this question this morning. It couldn't have hurt. Unlike my wrists.

Thank you everyone, sorry how rude of me

It's variable how much time it actually saves. Your printer software may have come with one, too.

Reminds me of a friend's DP who spent hours going through a Word document finding every occurrence of [word A] and changing it to [word B] before my friend pointed out the existence of the useful Find and Replace option...

I'm not even going to look at my printer software, that really would be depressing!

Rofl at find and replace.