getting rid of paper files

[William Park]

On Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 05:35:54PM -0500, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
> We have boxes and boxes of paper files -- various kinds of records.  These 
> records continue to flow in.  They are not uniform: there are many kinds 
> of records.
> 
> This is a small organization -- only a couple of us need to access the 
> files.
> 
> Some files must be retained for a long time.
> 
> I'm wondering if it is practical to move this stuff to disks.
> 
> - we need to be able to scan the files quickly and easily for this to be 
>   practical.  Initially batches would be scanned, but eventually paper 
>   would be scanned as it dribbles in.
> 
> - we need to be able to find the files long after they are captured.  So 
>   some kind of index structure is needed.  It needs to be flexible and 
>   simple.
> 
> - at least some of thethe files need to preserved forever.  So a simple 
>   and open system is important.  An active discipline of duplicating and 
>   porting will be required.
> 
> - the records are for more than one entity so it would be good to be able 
>   to keep them separable.
> 
> Is anything like this available?  Simple?  Cheap?  Fast?  Good?  
> Supported by open source?
> 
> Does anyone have a recommendation for a scanner that will do decent sheet 
> feeding, isn't too big, has Linux support, and isn't too expensive?  Are 
> MFCs reasonable?
> 
> (I acquired a Canon DR-3080C sheetfed scanner from FreeCycle.  It
> looked plausible.  Unfortunately, there is no Linux support.  Even the
> MS Windows support is hard to get.
> <http://www.usa.canon.com/opd/controller?act=OPDSoftwareAct&fcategoryid=2341&modelid=512>
> has a driver that only supports XP and earlier and the CapturePerfect
> software will only update a previously installed version.  This kind
> of hardware might otherwise be appropriate.)

Does it HAVE to be Linux supported?  At work, we have "all-in-one"
machine (rather expensive) that scans and drops the files on network
directory.  We, then, pick up the files from there.

-- 
William

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