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TopOCR - questions before releasing

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computerfreaker
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TopOCR - questions before releasing

I've just finished making TopOCR, a great OCR program, portable.
I need to clarify a couple of things before I post it here, though...

* I've been unable to find a spelled-out license; the only "license" I've been able to find is freeware. Any problem with that?

* Can I make a live (online) installer, or am I stuck just posting the launcher?

* I assume I need to get permission from TopOCR, right? I did manage to find a contact e-mail address on their site...

TIA! Smile

digitxp
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Freeware

Freeware = use it for whatever, just don't distribute it.
So you can make an online installer because then it is then the user that is doing to modifying, not you.
Good idea to tell them about it. If they say no then just go ahead and do it }:).

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computerfreaker
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My reply

digitxpFreeware = use it for whatever, just don't distribute it.
So you can make an online installer because then it is then the user that is doing to modifying, not you.
Good idea to tell them about it. If they say no then just go ahead and do it :evil:

OK, I'll see what I can do in terms of making an online installer. Hopefully it won't be too hard....
(And btw, if I get in trouble I'm blaming you Blum :evil: lol jk)

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

digitxp
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Online

Really easy. You just have to find an appropriate zip file.
If there's just an installer, it may get more complicated.

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computerfreaker
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No zip file

There's no zip file, just the installer. However, I only have one problem left to work around, then it's done.

Meanwhile, I've successfully contacted TopSoft, and they're interested in creating their own PAF-compliant build in the next release of TopOCR. Pretty darn cool... Biggrin

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

RockyTDR
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Finally an open source OCR reader!

I'm very glad to finally know about an open source OCR reader. If it could be made portable, that would be perfect.
I'm sure the developers will build a portable version, because of the attention it wil get through all the members of portableapps.com

computerfreaker
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It's not open-source,

It's not open-source, actually. It's freeware...
I've successfully built the launcher, but creating an online installer is giving me some grief. Hopefully I can get that all sorted out...

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

agdurrette
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Maybe they would be willing

Maybe they would be willing to get you zip version for downloading?

"It's just an online installer. It's not going to mug you.", JTH
"The shell is the key to unlock Linux's greatest advantages."

computerfreaker
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That won't be necessary,

That won't be necessary, since 7-Zip can extract everything from the installer.
The problem is AdvancedExtract#To and AdvancedExtract#Filter, which are causing all kinds of grief... Sad

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

digitxp
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Be Lazy

Just be lazy and ask for a zip version.
Makes life easier for everyone (as to the orig. software guys, they just have to dump all the installer files into a zip and upload it).
[Edit] Or better yet, since you pretty much have their permission (you could ask them to post it in public perhaps) you could just load the files along with it (with the "unique dual-licensing").

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computerfreaker
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Might have to

I might have to ask for a zip version, the installer is killing me...
I do have permission to make an online installer, but I got the idea they don't exactly want me to bundle TopOCR with the launcher...

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

digitxp
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Ask

You won't believe how much people are inclined to say yes when you ask them... even when they don't want to }:).

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computerfreaker
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Too late :)

Too late, TopOCR is already portabilized & uploaded... and yes, it was fun!

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

BuddhaChu
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Dr Ellen Langer - "The Copy Machine"

Dr Ellen Langer did a study years ago and if you say the key word "because", people are more likely to grant your request because you said that word (and gave a reason rather than just asking.)

Read the "Because" section of this blog post regarding the Ellen Langer study because you may just learn something. Wink (I had to squeeze that word in one more time somehow)

http://www.copyblogger.com/the-two-most-important-words-in-blogging/

Here's two more references to the "The Copy Machine"

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/23/science/scientist-at-work-ellen-j-lang...

http://advertising.about.com/od/salesletters/a/salessecret.htm

Cancer Survivors -- Remember the fight, celebrate the victory!
Help control the rugrat population -- have yourself spayed or neutered!

computerfreaker
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Wow, that's interesting. I'll

Wow, that's interesting. I'll have to try that sometime...
Thanks for the links!

(And maybe, if I ever end up in this situation again, I can take the lazy route and get the devs to supply me a zip build - because I "need" it :P)

Merry Christmas!

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

trust
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TopOCR alternative

Maybe I am to OCR software but is there one which just finds out each character one by one, without me having to tell it which language it is?

I have some problems with TopOCR trying to recognize multi language documents.

computerfreaker
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I'm not completely sure how

I'm not completely sure how OCR software works, but I believe it does try to identify one character at a time.
I'm sorry to hear TopOCR is having trouble handling your documents; unfortunately, since this is a TopOCR issue (as opposed to a TopOCR Portable issue), I can't help you.
You'll need to contact TopSoft, the company that makes TopOCR, and perhaps they can help. You can reach them via the e-mail address on this page.

Hope this helps!

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

trust
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Sure it helps, thank you. Ok,

Sure it helps, thank you.

Ok, I ask another question: do you know any better free/portable OCR software than TopOCR?

computerfreaker
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Nope

Nope, I haven't heard of any good free ones other than TopOCR (the key word here is "free"; there are probably a lot of good payware ones).
If anybody finds another good, free OCR app, let me know and I'll take a look at portabilizing it.

"The question I would like to know, is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. All we know about it is that the Answer is Forty-two, which is a little aggravating."

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