can I convert a paper invoice into electronic one

DaveG247

Hi all,

Just after some advice, a friends got their own business and have always done there invoices by using a electric typewriter with paper copies of the invoices, however the typewriters on its last legs and they've asked if there's any why to convert this invoice to an electronic document so it can be edited.

Now I know I could scan the document and then convert it to PDF (using for example cutePDF) but am not sure if it can then be edited to add text. I'm guessing if I scan it into word it probably wont pick up all the info and if I scan it as a picture then I wont be able to edit.

Can anyone offer any advice or suggest a programme which I could use (free if possible).

Thanks in advance

isofa

I can't see the point of scanning first. But better to start from scratch.

Set up a new invoice form up in Word or Excel, (or free OpenOffice) or a similar app, make it match what the printed one is, then save as a template, and open, fill in the details, and save as a document for each invoice.

To assist you, scan in the invoice form, put it as a graphic background in word and then add boxes, objects, logos etc to make the new form look like the old invoice, finally deleting the background graphic.

Add fields if you want for the data entry, or just simple text boxes.

That's the most basic way.

If it's a very complex form and has been produced by a printers/pre-press company, go to that company and ask for the form in EPS format, then drop it onto a background in Word and add text boxes to where data entry is required. It's a quick solution, but not the best.

Far better would be to create a custom database or financial system, (could be a database in Access, FileMaker etc, or a set of scripted actions in Excel) which generates invoices automatically, but stick with the easy way to start with, if you are moving from a typewriter!

DaveG247

Cheers isofa,

Managed to get it done and it looks pretty good