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> retyping. So, I'm afraid I must agree with everybody else that OCR is > unlikely to be a viable solution. Amen. Where accuracy is important you spend so much time proofing you might as well have keyed it in in the first place. I've tried getting partially around the problem by pasting the data into MS Word and using my customized spell checker, but it's debatable whether it's worth it. Very expensive scanners with very expensive OCR software can work wonders - see the amazing searchable texts produced by Rod Neep at Archive CD Books (http://www.archivecdbooks.com) - but a bit beyond my meagre resources. For hand-written stuff we've rolled our own Access database which combines automated links to an original digital photo of the source alongside its databased transcription. This way you get a searchable text and access to the original in case of doubtful readings or confirmation of handwriting, ink colour, etc. (which might be useful for one reason or another). We've used this very successfully to transcribe all the hand-written minutes of our museum committees back to 1867. > Incidentally, your thoughts might now turn to voice > recognition. Your thoughts might also turn to reading the cards to a competent keyboard operator! I've used this from time to time with a very fast typist and found that the combination of my understanding of the data with their keyboard skills has got through the data very quickly. Expensive though (as there's two of you doing the job) but it gets it done if you're in a hurry! Mick Michael P. Cooper Registrar, Nottingham Museums & Galleries Direct Line: 0115 915 3671 Fax: 0115 915 3601