Has anyone here ever gone to the trouble of scanning a whole factory service manual with OCR so that it was a seachable pdf file?

I was thinking about it as I find the factory manuals a bit difficult to navigate as compared to other manuals. Sure would make finding what I was looking for a lot easier.

Interesting thought, that would be a huge undertaking though. Assuming you could scan and OCR a page every 5 minutes, probably optimistic (no OCR software is perfect) is would take about 75 hours to do.

Will

Adobe CTI

[This message has been edited by infinitewill (edited 03-31-2009).]

quote Originally posted by infinitewill: Interesting thought, that would be a huge undertaking though. Assuming you could scan and OCR a page every 5 minutes, probably optimistic (no OCR software is perfect) is would take about 75 hours to do. Will Adobe CTI

It does not take anywhere near 5 mins per page. You simply scan page by page until you are done. Then use Acrobat Pro to do an automated OCR for the entire document. I would guess scanning would be ~20 seconds per page including turning the page and repositioning on scanner. The automated OCR might take an hour, but it does this automatically so i don't care. I have found the OCR to be pretty reliable if you have a good scan. For example I took the Fiero P22 manual and did this to it.

The 1986 service manual has been done:

http://www.fieronews.net/fu...nloads.php?cat_id=13

The Haynes manual, P22 parts guide, and a couple of transaxle manuals: http://www.fieronews.net/fu...wnloads.php?cat_id=1

There are also owners manual, wiring diagrams and a few other ones: http://www.fieronews.net/fusion/downloads.php

[This message has been edited by Oreif (edited 03-31-2009).]

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: It does not take anywhere near 5 mins. per page. You simply scan page by page until you are done. Then use Acrobat Pro to do an automated OCR for the entire document. I would guess scanning would be ~20 seconds per page including turning the page and repositioning on scanner. The automated OCR might take an hour, but it does this automatically so i don't care. I have found the OCR to be pretty reliable if you have a good scan. For example I took the Fiero P22 manual and did this to it.

I respectfully disagree. I assume you would be doing no type/suspect misspelling correction. My estimate is likely a little high as most people don't know how to use Acrobat in the most efficient manner but there is no way a 900 page document will take, according to your calculations (20 sec X 900 pages / 60 sec per minute + 1 hour for the OCR) 6 hours corrected. I think it is extremely unlikely. Even if one didn't make corrections I rather doubt it could be done in twice that time frame. I'm not saying it would be impossible, clearly it's not. I'm just saying that if you are going to make it searchable (typographically correct) it will take one heck of a lot longer than just compiling a bunch of scans into a multipage pdf.

By the way I am will do put this together given how much all of the people on this forum have helped me. I could never repay all of the time savings you folks have given! The knowledge base on here is amazing.

[This message has been edited by infinitewill (edited 03-31-2009).]

I am one of those people who do not know how to Acrobat to it's fullest potential. I can say I took the P22 manual which was already in pdf format ran I think was called paper capture(not sure as it has been a while) . After running I was now able to do searches. Sure it was not perfect. The bad scans on the p22 manual hurt recognitions, but it was worlds better than nothing at all. At least I could perform a search for a part.

The "real hands-on time" is scanning each page. That would be scanning, repositioning manual and scanning again. I just don't see it taking 5 minutes to do it. As for the paper capture/ocr . I don't care if it took overnight. I would just leave it running.

Forgetting exactly how much time it sure would be great to do a search.

I will take a look at the link above at some of the ones already completed. Thx.

I am currently doing this for my '88 Service Manual. I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro 9 and a my HP Scanjet 7400 and I will say that it is taking longer than I expected. I believe the overall speed of the scan depends on the person and the system they are using

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: I am one of those people who do not know how to Acrobat to it's fullest potential. I can say I took the P22 manual which was already in pdf format ran I think was called paper capture(not sure as it has been a while) . After running I was now able to do searches. Sure it was not perfect. The bad scans on the p22 manual hurt recognitions, but it was worlds better than nothing at all.

Ah, now I understand Yea, I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist. I used to work for ILM and was on the development team for "Display" which was later acquired by Adobe and renamed Photoshop. I have spent the last 20 years as a special effects photographer and product evangelist/trainer for Adobe Photoshop and now the Creative Suite. (CTI = Certified Training Instructor). When I think of scanning and converting manuals I generally think of getting things exact because dolts like me are often not sure what we are searching for so I want to make sure that EVERYTHING is correct

BTW, I am doing a Creative Suite seminar in Nashville on June 23rd, drop in and I will put you on the guest list! I really enjoy meeting the people on this board. Some amazing rides on here, most of you have forgotten more about Fieros then I will ever know about them!

Best regards,

Will

Adobe CTI

If you look at the table of contents for each section, the factory service manuals are pretty straight forward.

BTW Scan Ebay for your year of service manual.

If you live in Overland Park, you should be able to afford to buy a used one.

[This message has been edited by 30+mpg (edited 03-31-2009).]

I already have one I was offering to convert it to a pdf for the good of the cause to make it searchable.

Ive got a CD set of Popular Mechanics Fiero service manual, and a copy of the factory Dealers Service Manual....any offers?

quote Originally posted by infinitewill: Ah, now I understand Yea, I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist. I used to work for ILM and was on the development team for "Display" which was later acquired by Adobe and renamed Photoshop. I have spent the last 20 years as a special effects photographer and product evangelist/trainer for Adobe Photoshop and now the Creative Suite. (CTI = Certified Training Instructor). When I think of scanning and converting manuals I generally think of getting things exact because dolts like me are often not sure what we are searching for so I want to make sure that EVERYTHING is correct BTW, I am doing a Creative Suite seminar in Nashville on June 23rd, drop in and I will put you on the guest list! I really enjoy meeting the people on this board. Some amazing rides on here, most of you have forgotten more about Fieros then I will ever know about them! Best regards, Will Adobe CTI

quote Originally posted by infinitewill: I already have one I was offering to convert it to a pdf for the good of the cause to make it searchable.

I am glad to know that I am not the only one who believes that "good enough" is not always "good enough". I for one would appreciate any pointers I am working with CS3 and I am loving it

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White 88 GT 5 spd
(Soon to be a Shelby S1 powered 6 spd)
Red 88 GT Auto
(Soon to be Shelby S1 powered)

Black 88 coupe 5 spd (For Sale)

quote I am glad to know that I am not the only one who believes that "good enough" is not always "good enough". I for one would appreciate any pointers I am working with CS3 and I am loving it

I am teaching a Photoshop seminar in Houston on Apr 27 then over to Gulfport, Baton Rouge, Layfayette and ending up in Alexandria on May 1. PM me and I will get you new on the door list of any of them. I use mostly CS4 now and am beta testing CS5 and alpha testing CS6 (very flakey).

Will

Here's link to fierosails, look at the section literature, books and many downloads on this site. http://www.fierosails.com/fierosecrets.html

What's wrong with using the table of contents lol?

quote Originally posted by BustedRide: What's wrong with using the table of contents lol?

flippin' pages?? That's soooo 5 minutes ago.

quote Originally posted by Oreif: P22 parts guide, http://www.fieronews.net/fu...wnloads.php?cat_id=1

The P22 guide is not complete. It's the rear section with the exploded parts digrams and parts numbers list, which is good enough for looking up most parts.

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner
My SD4 Indy www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/096075.html

There was someone on here a bit back that was selling an older copy of the GM parts manual that the dealers used. Works good and cross references to other models as well when you do a search.

Alldata also has an electronic version of the service manual on DVD as well - Mitchell On Demand is another one (I kind of like the AllData one a bit better for the older cars (pre-90))

[This message has been edited by Mickey_Moose (edited 04-01-2009).]

AllData is great and available at our local (King County, WA) library. Unfortunately, you have to go to the library to view it.

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Jim
86 SE 355 Body Kit w/3.1 Auto (Sold)
87 T-Top Coupe 2.8/5 Speed new project

quote Originally posted by infinitewill: I am teaching a Photoshop seminar in Houston on Apr 27 then over to Gulfport, Baton Rouge, Layfayette and ending up in Alexandria on May 1. PM me and I will get you new on the door list of any of them. I use mostly CS4 now and am beta testing CS5 and alpha testing CS6 (very flakey). Will

Update. My schedule has changed I will be in Wilmington, DE then Baltimore, Altoon, PA then Erie, PA and end up in Cincinnati the week of Apr 27th.

Will