Abstract: The document scanner system and method operates in conjunction with a document imprinted with data in a plurality of data image fields and a plurality of form documents adapted to have data imprinted thereon. The system output to a communications port is a delimited string of decoded characters. The method scans to obtain positional information of data fields or accepts topological form input by the operator. The operator identifies data descriptors, e.g. field size, data type, etc. The system and method scans the document imprinted with data and captures an image thereof. The scanned input document image is compared with the stored forms (particularly the stored data field descriptors, e.g., positional information, and data type). The system selects a stored form, extracts the data from each field, decodes or calculates the data, and validates the data and stores the decoded/calculated data in the output sequence.

Abstract: The document scanner, system and method operates in conjunction with a document imprinted with data and a plurality of form documents adapted to have data imprinted thereon. The documents have at least one and typically many data image fields. Ultimately, the document scanner, system and method outputs a delimited string of decoded characters to another computer system via a common computer communications port. The method includes either scanning a form document to obtain positional information of the data field or fields or inputting a topological description of the field. Typically, the operator identifies descriptors for each data field which include data field size information, data type information, the presence or absence of data validation parameters, the presence or absence of data error reporting and data correction routines or parameters, and data output destination information.