Forum Discussion
Scanning handwritten data into an Excel Row
Is there a way to scan a handwritten form and automatically convert it into a row in Excel?
2 Replies
- OlufemiOBrass Contributor
Convert Scanned Handwritten Forms into Excel Rows (No Code Workflow)
You can digitize handwritten forms and structure them into Excel rows using OCR tools that support handwriting and no programming needed.
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Scan the handwritten form with a scanner or mobile device.
2. Use OCR tools to extract the handwriting into text.
3. Export the extracted content into Excel or CSV format.
4. Clean and organize the data using formulas like `TRIM()` and `TEXTSPLIT()`.
5. Apply filters and data validation in Excel to refine the results.Handwriting OCR Tools to Try:
- AlgoDocs
- Pen to Print Digitizer
- CamScanner / Evernote
- Microsoft OneNote
- PDF GTTips for Accuracy:
- Use clear and legible handwriting.
- Stick to consistent layout structures in your form design.
- Review and clean up OCR output to catch errors.Limitations:
- Not all handwriting styles are accurately recognized.
- Some manual editing is required to fix misreads and formatting issues.Sample Excel Table:
Cleanup Tips:
- Use `TRIM()` to remove extra spaces.
- Use `TEXTSPLIT()` if the OCR output is a combined string.
- Convert the sheet into a Table and freeze the header row. Take reference on below:
Tool / Method
How It Works
Best For
AlgoDocs
AI-powered web platform that extracts handwritten data from PDFs/images
Forms, tables, key-value pairs
Microsoft OneNote
Converts handwriting to text using built-in recognition
Notes and simple forms
CamScanner / Evernote
Mobile apps with OCR that export to Excel
On-the-go scanning
Pen-to-Print Digitizer
Converts scanned handwritten tables/forms to Excel or Word
Tabular data and structured forms
Excel Action Pen
Let's you handwrite directly in Excel cells (requires touchscreen device)
Manual entry with handwriting