Contents for PaperDisk Help

Overview

PaperDisk

General Observations

Basic Processes

Basic Processes

Creating DataTiles

Extracting From DataTiles

File Processing

Getting Started

Getting Started

Installing PaperDisk

Create and Print DataTiles, Quick Start

Extraction, Quick Start

Printing

Printing Basics

Data Format Descriptors, Overview

Inserting DataTile into a document

Extraction

Extraction Basics

Scanning Tips

Menu Commands

File

Create

Extract

Peripherals, Etc

Printers

Scanners

Reproduction

Paper

Faxing

Faxing

DataTiles Appearance

DataTiles Appearance

Directories

Directories

Data Format Descriptors

Markers

DataSectors

Data Format Descriptors

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

Hewlett-Packard Scanning Software

Hewlett-Packard Scanning Software

WinFax Software

WinFax Software

Licensing Agreement

Licensing Agreement

Ordering Information

Ordering Information


PaperDisk

Welcome to the Paper RevolutionTM. PaperDisk is a novel and powerful technology that connects printed documents to the world of digital information. It forges this link by storing and communicating digital data via the printed page or fax.

PaperDisk is remarkably easy to use. You select a number of computer files, and PaperDisk will print out special patterns representing them. These patterns can then be inserted into documents, and the documents distributed through their usual channels. The reader of the document then scans in these patterns with an off-the-shelf scanner, and PaperDisk will extract and store the original files on the reader's PC.

PaperDisk delivers ANY kind of computer file, and in its original pristine state, perfect to the last bit. If the file is, say, a word processing file, then it will arise on the recipient's screen with all fonts, formatting and text perfect. If a printed document refers to information in a database or in a spreadsheet, PaperDisk can print those files along with the document, so that the reader can browse or manipulate them. If the document has a help facility associated with it, that help facility can be included.

The files themselves can be encrypted, so that no one can read the information on the printed page unless they possess the password. This makes it possible to include information in a report that might conventionally be left out because it is confidential. It also allows one to send faxes that are -- either in part or entirely -- confidential, without concern about who may be present at the receiving end to view the fax.

While PaperDisk implements simple file storage and communication -- already a critical use -- its core technology can drive many other powerful functions. Keep an eye out for related products now in progress.

See Also  General Observations  Basic Processes  Getting Started


General Observations

At its core, PaperDisk employs a technology designed to maximize the amount of information that can be fit into a given area on the printed page. This focus on density is crucial to the value of the technology. In the end, as any publisher or advertiser knows, space on the printed page is money. And packing information into a smaller space also speeds up the process of retrieving the information: scans are shorter and fewer.

In general, how much information can be packed in depends on both the printing process and the scanner. To accommodate the variations, PaperDisk has built into it a mechanism allowing it to print out, and extract, information at all possible densities.  The density chosen for a given occasion will depend on the target printer, and the set of anticipated scanners.

PaperDisk employs a variety of techniques to extract its information from the printed page.  Some of these techniques are slow, some fast.  First the fastest technique is tried.   If it does not produce complete accuracy, then, automatically, more precise but slower techniques get invoked.

Always, the goal is to achieve PERFECT digital accuracy.  Both error correction and error detection are used extensively to attain this goal.  In the unusual case that PaperDisk cannot recover error free information, it issues a warning, and requests a rescan of the page.

PaperDisk comes to terms with the key problem in representing digital information on the printed page:   handling the welter of printing processes and scanners that might be used.   There is no question but that different pairs of printers and scanners can achieve vastly different densities of printed information.  How can a technology be designed to encompass them all?

PaperDisk tackles this by allowing the printed dots that encode a digital bit to assume all possible heights and breadths.  The variability of the height and breadth of the dots encoding the data is possible because of the unique mechanism of the so-called MetaSector.  This sector, at the top of each printed pattern (called a DataTile), has a fixed and predictable format, and encodes the variable formats of the data that follows beneath.

Whenever PaperDisk is presented with a number of potential scanners that may attempt to read its printed object, it will choose to print out an object that is, in density,  the "least common denominator" for all those scanners.  Thus, an 400 dpi true gray scale scanner can always read the printed information designed to be read as well by a 300 dpi true gray scale scanner (though  not the other way around).

See Also PaperDisk  Basic Processes

Getting Started  DataTiles Appearance

  	  Printers  Scanners


Basic Processes

PaperDisk has two basic processes:  printing (or encoding) computer files on paper, and extracting (or decoding) computer files from these printed pages.

The printed patterns are termed DataTiles.  A file (or set of files) may, due to its size, require more than one DataTile to express it.  If there is more than one DataTile, the collection of them is called a DataTile series.

The two basic functions are embodied in the two main menu items:  Create DataTile for printing (See Creating ),  and Extract for extracting (See Extracting From DataTiles ).

For a flowchart of PaperDisks basic functions and directories, see Directories

See Also File Processing


Creating DataTiles

Create contains three menu items:  Create DataTile, Data format, and Print stored DataTiles.

When you first bring up PaperDisk, it will try to configure your DataTiles to your currently selected printer.  Mostly this is automatic.  But if it is a 300 dpi printer, it will ask you if it is a laser or inkjet.  If it is a fax modem, it will ask you to supply some information about the receiving fax machine, if you know it.

Most users, who have standard, good quality printers, and who envision that the DataTiles they produce will be read by 300+ dpi scanners, which are not sheetfeds, can proceed directly to invoke "Create DataTile." This menu item allows you to select a set of files and print them out in a series of one or more DataTiles.

The "Data format" menu item brings up a dialog to configure DataTiles when you need to override the default settings.  If you wish your DataTile to be readable only by a 400 dpi scanner, or if you want to use a sheetfed scanner, or a fax machine as a scanner, or if you intend it to be read only by flatbed scanners, or if you have difficulty getting your DataTiles to decode properly, you should bring up this dialog.

The Data format dialog allows the user to configure the printed DataTiles to the environments at the printing end and the extracting end. The ability to compress material onto the printed page depends crucially on the nature of the printer and of potential scanners.  A 600 dpi laser printer whose output is to be read by an 400 dpi true gray scale scanner can pack far more information in a fixed space than can a 300 dpi inkjet printer paired with a 300 dpi gray scale scanner.  The Data Format dialog box prompts the user for simple and relevant information, then automatically configures the printed DataTile to its optimal settings.

Data Format allows two methods for determining the format for encoding data as dots.  The first method sets parameters based on your selected printer and target scanners.  The second method allows you to customize your setting of parameters.

Once the settings for the Data Format have been chosen,  the menu item "Create DataTile" may be chosen to select a set of files and print them out.

The "Print stored DataTiles" menu item will bring up a dialog that allows you to select DataTiles that have previously been generated and print them out.

See Also Basic Processes    File Processing    Printers  Scanners


Extracting From DataTiles

Extract has eight menu items:  Scan, decode, run; Open, decode, run;  Scan, decode; Open, decode; ZIP extract; and Select scanner source.   If you have a TWAIN compliant scanner, you will ordinarily be choosing only the "Scan, decode, run" or "Scan, decode" options.

The menu items ending in "run" -- "Scan, decode, run" and "Open, decode, run" -- will determine the application of the extracted files from their file name extension, and invoke that application on the file.  For example, any file ending in ".wri" should be a MS Windows Write file, and the run option will, after decoding, bring up the Write program and display that file.  (The effect is precisely the same as double clicking on that file in the File Manager.)  As a further example, an executable file (ending in .exe) will automatically execute if you choose a run option.

If you are not sure whether the contents of the DataTile are intended to be immediately viewed or processed, you should not choose the run option.  Just as double clicking on unknown files in the File Manager can have bad effects -- for example if they are certain .bat or .exe files -- so also is it risky here.

Both "Scan, decode, run" and "Scan, decode" will bring up the standard interface for the TWAIN compliant scanner currently chosen.    After the scan is complete, the decode process automatically begins.  A status box will report its progress.  At the end, if you chose the run option, the file will be viewed or processed as required by its defined application.  If you did not choose the run option, you will simply be asked whether you wish to store the extracted files.

"Open, decode, run" and "Open, decode" behave exactly as do the corresponding Scan menu items, except that they work from stored image files. These files may be a variety of formats, including BMP, TIFF, PCX, GIF, TARGA, Group 3 and Group 4. You will be asked to select a scanned image of a printed DataTile for decoding.

Both "Open, decode, run" and "Open, decode" will decode a fax file composed of a DataTile series. This allows a DataTile series to be sent from fax modem to fax modem, extracting the original encoded digital files without having first to print out the DataTiles and then scan them.  (This option works only if the fax file is in so called Group 3 or Group 4 format, or can be converted by the fax software into one of the formats mentioned in the paragraph above.) It also allows  DataTiles to be scanned in by a fax machine and sent to a fax modem. In that case, the DataTile must be specially configured for the operation to succeed.

"Zip extract" allows you to re-enter the password if you got it wrong the first time, or to store the files in another location, or to recover the files if they have been deleted.

"Select scanner source" allows you to select which scanner will be used when one of the scan options is chosen.  If you have just one scanner, you should have no reason to reset this.

See Also Basic Processes  File Processing  Zip Extract


File Processing

PaperDisk takes a series of files, and composes one large compressed file -- a so called ZIP file -- from them.  This file may be encrypted using the standard encryption method for ZIP files.  It is then printed out into one or a series of DataTiles, the number depending on its size and the data format of the DataTiles.

When the DataTiles are scanned in, each DataTile engenders a temporary file containing a portion of the original ZIP file.  When all DataTiles have been decoded, all the temporary files are present, and the full original ZIP file can be composed from them.  When the password (if any) is entered, this ZIP file then will generate the original set of files.

For each stage, the files generated are stored in a separate subdirectory under the PaperDisk home directory (usually \paperdsk). See Directories for details.  In some cases,  the user may wish to examine or modify the contents of these directories.

See Also  Basic Processes  Directories  Extract  Extracting From DataTiles  Create

Creating DataTiles  ZipExtract


Getting Started

PaperDisk has two basic processes:  printing (or encoding) computer files on paper, in patterns called DataTiles, and extracting (or decoding) computer files from these printed DataTiles.

The two basic functions are embodied in two main menus:  "Create" for printing,  and "Extract" for extracting.

After installing PaperDisk (see Installing PaperDisk ), follow the directions in Create and Print DataTiles, Quick Start and Extraction, Quick Start  to begin working with PaperDisk.

See Also  Basic Processes  Creating DataTiles

Create  Extracting From DataTiles  Extract


Installing PaperDisk

Place the PaperDisk diskette in a floppy drive.  Select "File" from Windows Program Manager, then select Run, and type a:\setup.  Press Enter.

You will be prompted by the setup program for a name for your home directory.  To be consistent with this documentation, it is best to stay with the default name, \paperdsk.  A number of subdirectories will be created within the home directory.  See Directories for a description of their functions.

See  Basic Processes  Getting Started  Directories


Requirements

PC compatible, 386 or above

Windows 3.1+, or Windows 95

10 MB hard disk space

4MB RAM (8MB strongly recommended)

Supported printers:

300x300 dpi, 600x600 dpi, or 1200x1200 dpi laser printer

300x300 dpi or 360x360 dpi inkjet printer

standard fax machines

Supported scanners:

TRUE 256 gray scale scanner 300, 400, or 600 dpi optical

Sheetfed (binary mode) 200+ dpi optical

TWAIN compliant strongly recommended

fax machine as scanner

(NOT supported:

most binary scanners, emulated gray scale scanners,

32 gray scale scanners, hand held scanners that attach to laptops)


Create and Print DataTiles, Quick Start

IF you wish to configure a DataTile only for 400 dpi scanners, or only for flatbed scanners, or if you intend it to be scanned in by fax machines or sheetfed scanners, first perform 5) below. Otherwise start with 1).

1)  Under "Create", choose "Create DataTile".  From the Select files dialog, push the "Add file to DataTile" button.  A file dialog box allows you to select a file.  Select the file(s) you wish to print.

A new dialog box will ask you if you wish to require a password to read the DataTiles.  If not, hit Enter.  If you want to password protect, click on Password protect and enter the password twice -- the second time for verification -- in the Password protection dialog box.  Then hit Enter again.

You will be asked if you wish to save the password to disk.  If you are not worried that someone might get on your PC and retrieve the password, you may reasonably do so.

The Select Files menu will reappear.  Add more files if you wish.  The dialog box will report the total size of the DataTiles when printed.  Delete files if you choose by clicking on them one at a time, then pressing the "Delete file from DataTile" button.  Push Create DataTiles when finished.

2)  A dialog box will inform you of how many DataTiles are required, and how many recommended.   If necessary, change the number of  DataTiles, being sure that the number is at least as big as the number required, then press OK.

Wait as the DataTiles are created.

3)  When all DataTiles are created and stored, you will be asked if you wish to have them printed out at that time.  Press Print DataTiles if so.  (If not, you can have them printed out at a later time by entering the item "Print stored DataTiles" under the Create menu, and selecting the appropriate DataTile bitmaps. See Print stored DataTiles for the names and location of the bitmap DataTiles.) Finally, a dialog box will ask if you wish to print any comments with the DataTiles; enter them if you wish.

4)  If this is the first time you have used a particular printer, you should verify that the appropriate type of scanner(s) can read the printed DataTile(s). (See Extraction, Quick Start )  Even printers of the same class -- for example, 300 dpi lasers -- vary greatly in their precision. You may be obliged to reconfigure the DataTiles to suit your printer.  (See 5) directly below.)

IF you have difficulty decoding the DataTile (or if you wish to configure it only for 400 dpi scanners, or only for flatbed scanners, or if you intend it to be scanned in by fax machines or sheetfed scanners), do 5) below.

5)  Under "Create", choose "Data format".  Verify the default settings for the type of printer to be used, and all of the types of scanners that may be used to read in the DataTiles. (See Printing Basics if you need further help.)

See Printing Basics  Data Format Descriptors, Overview  Data Format Directories Data Format dialog


Extraction, Quick Start

If you have a TWAIN compliant scanner, you can scan a DataTile directly into PaperDisk. If your scanner is not TWAIN compliant, you must first scan the DataTile into another application, then import the image into PaperDisk. (See Extraction Basics for details.)

Some important procedures having to do with properly setting Hewlett Packard scanners are spelled out in an appendix to this guide.

Scanning directly from PaperDisk:

1)  Enter PaperDisk, select Extract menu, and "Scan, decode."  The standard scanner interface for your scanner will appear.

2) Scan in DataTile, making sure the settings are correct. If your scanner is hand held or a flatbed, the settings should be at 256 gray scale, with resolution of 300 dpi or 400 dpi. (If the DataTile has been configured for a 400 dpi scanner, it must be scanned at 400 dpi, and your scanner must have at least 400 dpi optical resolution.) If you have a sheetfed scanner, the scan should be black and white (or, equivalently, text, binary, or line art), with resolution of 200 dpi.

When scanning, include at least a 1/4" margin of white space on all sides.  If smoothing of the image is an option on your scanner interface, be sure it is turned off. If sharpening is an option on your scanner interface, it is generally better to turn some degree of sharpening on (the heaviest sharpening may not, however, give the best results.) When the scan completes, the decoding process begins automatically.  Wait for it to complete.

3)  When the decoding process finishes, choose to write out the files.   If this is the only or last member of the DataTile series, you will be asked to enter the password if one has been imposed, and given the option to alter the destination directory.

If this is one among a number of DataTiles composing a DataTile series, you will be told which others must be scanned in.  Repeat steps 1-3 until you have decoded them all.

IF you know that the file encoded in the DataTile has an application defined for its file name extension -- for example, a file whose name ends in ".wri" is defined as a MS Windows Write file -- and the file is safe to bring up (be wary of .bat and .exe files, for example), you may choose the "Scan, decode, run" option instead of "Scan, decode."  The effect will be precisely the same as double clicking on the file in File Manager:  the associated application will come up displaying or executing that file.

Scanning from an application other than PaperDisk:

1)  Enter application, and select the option that allows you to scan in an image.

Scan in DataTile, making sure the settings are correct. If your scanner is hand held or a flatbed, the settings should be at 256 gray scale, with resolution of 300 dpi or 400 dpi. (If the DataTile has been configured for 400 dpi, it must be scanned at 400 dpi, and your scanner must have at least 400 dpi optical resolution.) If you have a sheetfed scanner, the scan should be black and white (or, equivalently, text, binary, or line art), with resolution of 200 dpi.

When scanning, include at least a 1/4" margin of white space on all sides. If smoothing of the image is an option on your scanner interface, be sure it is turned off. If sharpening is an option on your scanner interface, it is generally better to turn some degree of sharpening on (the heaviest sharpening may not, however, give the best results.)

2)  Store the image as a bitmap image (file extension .bmp) if the application allows you to. If it doesnt, store the image in TIFF (.tif) format.

When scanning, include at least a 1/4" margin of white space on all sides.  If smoothing of the image is an option on your scanner interface, be sure it is turned off. If sharpening is an option on your scanner interface, it is generally better to turn some degree of sharpening on (the heaviest sharpening may not, however, give the best results.)

3)  Enter PaperDisk, and select the Extract menu, and the Open, decode menu item. This will bring up a dialog box allowing you to open the scanned in image of the DataTile that you had previously stored. Find the image and open it.

The decoding process begins automatically.  Wait for it to complete.

4)  When the decoding process finishes, choose to write out the files.   If this is the only or last member of the DataTile series, you will be asked to enter the password if one has been imposed, and given the option to alter the destination directory.

If this is one among a number of DataTiles composing a DataTile series, you will be told which others must be scanned in.  Repeat steps 1-4 until you have decoded them all.

IF you know that the file encoded in the DataTile has an application defined for its file name extension -- for example, a file whose name ends in ".wri" is defined as a MS Windows Write file -- and the file is safe to bring up (be wary of  .bat and .exe files, for example), you may choose the "Open, decode, run" option instead of "Open, decode".  The effect will be precisely the same as double clicking on the file in File Manager:  the associated application will come up displaying or executing that file.

See Also Basic Processes  Extraction Basics Extract Troubleshooting Zip Extract Directories


 Printing Basics

To print files on paper, first Select "Create DataTile" from the Create menu.  Click on Add File, select a file, hit Enter, choose Cancel/Dont protect (if you dont want password protection), and choose Print DataTiles.

If you wish to configure DataTiles only for 400 dpi scanners, or only for flatbed scanners, or if you intend them to be scanned in by fax machines or sheetfed scanners, select the option "Data format" under the menu Create.  The Data format dialog will allow you to specify among other things the target scanners, so that it can optimally configure the DataTiles.  Select the desired settings, then press Done/cancel.

Information Density of DataTiles

The amount of information that can be packed into a given space on paper depends on the size and shape of the dots expressing it. Whether they can be read depends on the resolution of the scanner that takes in the image.

PaperDisk attempts to configure DataTiles for optimum density given a printer and the target scanners.

For example, a 600 dpi laser printer can, by definition, print smaller dots than a 300 dpi laser printer:  600 dots per inch (dpi) rather than 300 dots per inch.   Yet, a 400 dpi true gray scale scanner cannot reliably make out dots if they occupy less than 1/200th of an inch.  A 600 dpi printer can print out dots taking up 1/200th of an inch (a 3X3 area at 600 dpi) but a 300 dpi printer cannot:  the next largest size dot it can print must be at least 1/150th of an inch (a 2X2 area at 300 dpi).

Likewise, a 300 dpi scanner cannot read a DataTile whose dots take up only 1/200th of an inch square.  It requires the dots to occupy at least 1/150th of an inch square.

PaperDisk configures DataTiles to exploit the information density potential.  If a DataTile is intended to be readable by 300 dpi scanners, or if it is intended to be printed out on a 300 dpi laser printer,  the dots will take up at least 1/150th of an inch square.  If the printer is a 600 dpi laser, and the scanners are all 400 dpi, a dot may occupy an area as small as 1/200th of an inch square.

Dot Gain

A related and very important issue is so-called dot gain.  Dot gain is the enlargement of dots on the printed page beyond their defined size.  On a 600 dpi printer, a 2X2 dot should of course be precisely 1/300th of an inch both vertically and horizontally.  Yet, on the printed page, it may be closer to 1/200th of an inch by 1/200th of an inch.  For this reason, when PaperDisk chooses automatically the defined sizes of dots, the defined sizes are often smaller than the areas the dots actually occupy on the printed page.  To continue the example, a 600 dpi printer may have (defined) 2x2 dots placed within 3x3 regions.

Dot gain tends to be a particular problem for inkjet printers.   This phenomenon demands special tuning when defining the printed DataTile.  Accordingly, when changing the default values, the user should experiment (i.e., print and then scan DataTiles) to determine whether particular settings produce satisfactory results.

Field of View

Another issue is field of view, which differs typically from a hand scanner to a flatbed scanner.  A standard flatbed scanner can scan in the entire breadth of  a printed page.  A hand scanner is usually restricted to a 4.1-4.5 inch wide portion of the page.  This requires that DataTiles for hand scanners be narrower than those for flatbed scanners, since, to be decoded, the DataTile must be entirely contained within the scanned image.  PaperDisk limits the width of a printed DataTile to correspond to the field of view of the target scanners you have selected.

See Data Format.

Gray scale vs. binary scanners

A true gray scale scanner is superior to a binary scanner at extracting information.   A binary scanner must make a rigid decision about whether a given location is "off" or "on".   A gray scale scanner, on the other hand, can place values anywhere in between, allowing sophisticated algorithms to decide whether or not to call the area "on" or "off", depending on contextual information. PaperDisk does not currently support the use of binary scanners -- with the noteworthy exception of fax machines used as scanners, and sheetfed scanners, both of which are expected to be set at 200x200 dpi resolution.

Experimentation

Users may experiment with their own data format if they so choose; the Customize button should in this case be checked. This, however, must be done with care: the DataTiles may be rendered unreadable if the parameter values are badly selected.

Default assumptions

By default, it is assumed that the target scanners are 300+ dpi true 256 gray scale, that no fax machine or sheetfed is a target scanner, and that among the scanners are hand scanners. If you wish to alter these assumptions, you must select the appropriate buttons in the Data format dialog.

 Inserting DataTile into a document

If you wish to insert the DataTile directly into a word processing document, or into a desk top publishing document (e.g., a document created in MS Publisher), the DataTile must have been configured with this in mind.  It is usually the case that a DataTile will be somewhat less compact for a given printer if it is intended to be inserted into a word processing document than if it is not.  A DataTile inserted into a word processing document must be rescaled to achieve the right size, and this rescaling may modify the precise location and size of some of the dots.  This loss in precision often demands a loss in information density.

To insert the DataTile into such a document, it is important to note the width in inches of the DataTile when it is being created; this width will be displayed in the Select files dialog box when you select files to be added to the DataTile. This is, essentially, the width the DataTile should assume when it is inserted into the word processing document.

All standard word processors allow you to import bitmap images into documents.  Most by standard default assume, however, that each pixel in the image is 1/100th of an inch.  Since the target printers for DataTiles range in dpi from 200 to 1200, this assumption renders the DataTiles 2 to 12 times as large as PaperDisk designs them to be.  Hence, they must be rescaled to be the proper size.  When rescaling, word processors give you the option of entering the size in inches of the DataTile.  You must enter the width of the DataTile which was displayed when it was generated, in the Select Files dialog. The height of the DataTile must be scaled proportionately as well.  (So if, to obtain the proper width of the DataTile, it must be reduced to 34% of the width originally designated by the word processor,  so also the height must be reduced to 34% of the original height).

It is important that the dimensions of the DataTile be AT LEAST as much as the dimensions shown when the DataTile was created. This is often an issue, since scaling is usually not exact in a word processing or desktop publishing application. For example, a word processing application may increment the scaled size of an image in tenths of an inch. If the Select Files dialog said a DataTile was 3.75 inches across, its width should be set in the word processing application to 3.8 inches across (the closest higher value) rather than 3.7 inches. The height too must be rounded up to the next highest increment. And likewise, if the increments are in percentages, round up the percentage to the closest higher value.

It is also critical that the applications NOT perform further processing on the bitmap, such as dithering, or halftoning, or interpolation.  The DataTile bitmap must be printed out in its original form, on the type of printer for which it was designed.

See Also   Data Format Descriptors, Overview   Create Paper Printers Directories


Create DataTile

After using the Data Format menu to set the target printer and target scanners, select the "Create DataTile" menu item under Create.  This will bring up a dialog window, Select files, that allows you to choose a number of files to be included in a DataTile, or a series of DataTiles.

Click on the "Add file to DataTile" button.  A file dialog box appears, and you should select a file you wish to encode.

After selection of a file, a dialog box will ask you if you wish to password protect the contents of  the DataTiles; no one will be able to read the contents without the password if you protect it.  If you wish to password protect, click on the Password protect button.  A dialog box will then ask you to enter the password you desire.  Note that the password will not appear as you type it.  You will also be asked to verify the password you have entered.  When you have finished, you should hit Enter.  Once you have entered and verified the password, a further dialog will ask if you wish to save the password to disk.  If so, it will be saved in a file called "password.ini" in the subdirectory \program under the PaperDisk home directory.  Otherwise, PaperDisk will remove all references to the password.  This prevents unauthorized users of your computer from gaining access to the password.  If need be, store the password in a secure place.

The Select File window will reappear.  It will list the file name, and display the height and width of the DataTile so far.   It will also state the minimum number of DataTiles required, and recommended, to encode the file.   See Remarks below.

If you wish to include more files in the DataTile series, click once again on the "Add file to DataTile" button.  Go through the file dialog box again, selecting a file.  You will not be asked for password protection;  that is asked for once, at the beginning,  to apply to the entire set of files.  After each file is selected, the updated dimensions of the DataTile series will be displayed.

When all files have been added, press the Create DataTiles button in the Select files dialog.  A new dialog box will then ask how many DataTiles to create. If you wish to alter the number of DataTiles employed from the recommended number, enter the new number.  Depending on the size of the files, it may now take several minutes for the DataTiles to be encoded and stored.

When finished, a dialog box will arise, asking if you wish to print the DataTiles at that time.  If so, select Print DataTiles.  Otherwise, press Cancel.

The DataTiles will in any case have already been stored as bitmap images.

Finally, a dialog box will appear, asking if you wish to print any comments with the DataTiles. This is useful to identify the nature of the files encoded; it serves much the same purpose as comments on the label of an ordinary diskette. The comments will appear along the upper border of the page.

Remarks

If a file is large, a single DataTile encoding it might not fit onto a printed page, and therefore more than one DataTile would be required.   Even if a DataTile could be made to fit onto one printed page, it is sometimes recommended that it be split into two.   Obtaining a good scan that encompasses the entire length of the printed page can pose practical difficulties, particularly for hand scanners.  In our experience, given the rather slow speed at which a hand scanner must move to avoid distorting the image, it can be quite tedious to maintain a smooth continuous motion down the entire page.  Usually, it is better to break it down into smaller steps.  (This peculiar limitation of hand scanners should be alleviated in the future, as their speed will increase with the progress of technology).

See Printing Basics   Data Format

Print stored DataTiles  Paper Printers  Directories


Print Stored DataTiles

The Print stored DataTiles menu item prints DataTiles which have been previously created and saved.

DataTiles are stored as bitmap images, in the directory \gonbmps under your PaperDisk home directory.  Their names are created by taking the first six letters of the FIRST file selected for the series, and then adding the 2 digit number corresponding to the DataTile in the series.  Thus, if the first file selected were cogcover.doc, and the series included three DataTiles, the bitmap names would be:  cogcov01.bmp, cogcov02.bmp, and cogcov03.bmp.

These bitmap images are ready to be either printed on the printer (or faxed to the fax machine) for which they have been configured.  To do so, click Print stored DataTiles under the Create menu, and select the appropriate DataTile bitmaps. You can also enter Paintbrush -- the standard Windows accessory -- and print out the DataTile bitmap.  (BE SURE TO CHECK THE "USE PRINTER RESOLUTION" BOX IF YOU USE PAINTBRUSH).

If a DataTile has been configured to do so, it can be inserted into a word processing or desktop publishing document. See Inserting DataTile into a document


Inserting DataTile into a document

If you wish to insert the DataTile directly into a word processing document, or into a desk top publishing document (e.g., a document created in MS Publisher), the DataTile must have been configured with this in mind.  It is usually the case that a DataTile will be somewhat less compact for a given printer if it is intended to be inserted into a word processing document than if it is not.  A DataTile inserted into a word processing document must be rescaled to achieve the right size, and this rescaling may modify the precise location and size of some of the dots.  This loss in precision often demands a loss in information density.

To insert the DataTile into such a document, it is important to note the width in inches of the DataTile when it is being created; this width will be displayed in the Select files dialog box when you select files to be added to the DataTile. This is, essentially, the width the DataTile should assume when it is inserted into the word processing document.

All standard word processors allow you to import bitmap images into documents.  Most by standard default assume, however, that each pixel in the image is 1/100th of an inch.  Since the target printers for DataTiles range in dpi from 200 to 1200, this assumption renders the DataTiles 2 to 12 times as large as PaperDisk designs them to be.  Hence, they must be rescaled to be the proper size.  When rescaling, word processors give you the option of entering the size in inches of the DataTile.  You must enter the width of the DataTile which was displayed when it was generated, in the Select Files dialog. The height of the DataTile must be scaled proportionately as well.  (So if, to obtain the proper width of the DataTile, it must be reduced to 34% of the width originally designated by the word processor,  so also the height must be reduced to 34% of the original height).

It is important that the dimensions of the DataTile be AT LEAST as much as the dimensions shown when the DataTile was created. This is often an issue, since scaling is usually not exact in a word processing or desktop publishing application. For example, a word processing application may increment the scaled size of an image in tenths of an inch. If the Select Files dialog said a DataTile was 3.75 inches across, its width should be set in the word processing application to 3.8 inches across (the closest higher value) rather than 3.7 inches. The height too must be rounded up to the next highest increment. And likewise, if the increments are in percentages, round up the percentage to the closest higher value.

It is also critical that the applications NOT perform further processing on the bitmap, such as dithering, or halftoning, or interpolation.  The DataTile bitmap must be printed out in its original form, on the type of printer for which it was designed.

See Printing Basics Create DataTile Data Format Descriptors, Overview Data Format dialog

 Paper Printers  Directories


Data Format Descriptors Overview
Data Format Descriptors, Overview

The power of PaperDisk derives from the data format descriptors, encoded in the MetaSector.   These descriptors configure the dimensions of the dots, and of guiding markers, to take maximum advantage of  the capabilities of the printer and of the target scanners.  This flexibility provides PaperDisk with the optimal method of encoding information on the printed page.

PaperDisk comes with a number of default settings for the data format descriptors.  If you have a standard, recent model printer, you should have little reason to deviate from an appropriate default setting.

You are given the option to alter the values these descriptors take on.  This option should be exercised with caution.  The values must be carefully chosen because bad choices may render the DataTile unreadable. The details of what the parameters mean and how they might be adjusted are discussed in  Data Format Descriptors .

See also Create DataTile Printing Basics  Create and Print DataTiles, Quick Start


Extraction Basics

The extraction process is quite straightforward.  In ordinary use, it may require as few as two or three point clicks to extract files from the printed page and store them on your system.

There are two ways to decode a DataTile:  scanning it in directly within PaperDisk, or scanning it in from another application.  If you have a TWAIN compliant scanner, it is ordinarily easiest and best to scan it in directly from PaperDisk.  If your scanner is not TWAIN compliant, or if your image is very large and your free virtual memory relatively small, you must scan in the image from within your standard scanner software.

If your scanner is TWAIN compliant, you should use the menu command Scan, decode or Scan, decode, run. Otherwise, scan in the image from your scanner interface, then use the PaperDisk menu command Open, decode or Open, decode, run.

Scanner Configuration

Be sure that the scanner has been properly configured.  It must take in the image with 256 gray scale, at 400 or 300 dpi  -- 300 dpi is the default assumed by PaperDisk.  (When a fax machine is used as a scanner, it is the Open, decode menu item that must be used for decoding.) This may require modification both in the scanner software interface and in the settings of buttons on the scanner itself.  (Some scanner interface software -- provided by the scanner vendor -- makes it something of a problem to be sure that these settings are in effect.  Consult the scanner's manuals.) See Scanning Tips .

The readme file that accompanies PaperDisk contains useful information about problems specific to some particular scanners and their software.

In addition, some important procedures having to do with properly setting Hewlett Packard scanners are spelled out in Hewlett-Packard Scanning Software

If your scanner is TWAIN compliant, proceed to Scan, decode.  Otherwise, go to Open, decode


Scan, decode

Enter PaperDisk, and select the Extract menu,  and the "Scan, decode" menu item.  The standard interface for your TWAIN compliant scanner will appear.  Scan in the DataTile so that the DataTile is wholly contained within the scanned image -- with some margin of clear white space on all sides.   It is fine if the DataTile has a large amount of white space surrounding it, but it is best not to include foreign dark features in the scan.  If you are using a hand scanner, be careful not to scan too quickly -- this can seriously distort the image, and make it unreadable.

See  Scanning Tips .

The image will now be decoded, and status windows will keep you informed of the progress of the algorithm.  Depending on the size of the image, and the memory and processing power of your computer, this may take a few seconds to a few minutes.

At the end, you will be asked if you wish to store the results of the scan; answer yes.  If there is more than one DataTile in the series, then this scan will result in a temporary partial file, and you should go on to scan in and decode the other members of the series.

If there is a single DataTile encoding the files, or if you have reached the final member of the series, you will be prompted to enter a password if one is required, and asked for a destination directory for the files, which you may change from the default.

On occasion, a scan may for some reason be defective -- because the DataTile was not properly contained in the image, or because the scan was too fast.   Should that happen, you will be so informed by the status window.  Simply rescan the DataTile, and decode the new image.


Scan, decode, run

"Scan, decode, run" behaves essentially like "Scan, decode"  until it has finished extracting the files from a DataTile series. (See Scan, decode for full description of this extraction process.)  Then, instead of merely informing the user and storing the files, it attempts to "run" an application for them.  That is, it attempts to determine the underlying application software of the extracted files from their file name extension, and invokes the application software and loads the file.  For example, any file ending in ".wri" should be a MS Windows Write file, and the "run" option will, after decoding, bring up the Write program and display that file.  (The effect is precisely the same as double clicking on that file in the File Manager.)

If you are not sure whether the contents of the DataTile are intended to be immediately viewed or processed, you should not choose the run option.  Just as double clicking on unknown files in the File Manager can have bad effects -- for example if they are certain .bat or .exe files -- so also is it risky here.


Open, decode

This option allows you to open a stored image of a DataTile and decode it. One major use of this is when you can not directly scan the image into PaperDisk. The other primary use is when you need to decode a fax file. That use in described in the section below on fax files.

In some cases, you must scan in an image from within the software that came with your scanner before PaperDisk can handle it.  Some scanners are not TWAIN compliant, and PaperDisk cannot accommodate their idiosyncratic software from within its own.  Also, an image of a DataTile may be so large that scanning it directly into PaperDisk will demand more memory than is available on your system.

Employing the software supplied with your scanner, scan in the DataTile so that the DataTile is wholly contained within the scanned image -- with some margin of clear white space on all sides.   It is fine if the DataTile has a large amount of white space surrounding it, but it is best not to include other features in the scan.  If you are using a hand scanner, be careful not to scan too quickly -- this can seriously distort the image, and make it unreadable. See  Scanning Tips .

If your software allows you, save the image as a bitmap image -- i.e., with the extension ".bmp".  Otherwise, save it as a TIFF, TARGA, PCX, or GIF image. (Note, however, that these other formats impose more memory constraints and processing overhead on PaperDisk when it attempts to decode the image).  If there are more than one DataTiles in a series, it is good to scan those in at this time as well, though you can come back and scan them and decode them in any order.

Exit the scanning application and enter PaperDisk.  Select the Extract menu and the "Open, decode" item.  This will bring up a file dialog box; find the file containing the image of the DataTile, and double click on it.  The image will now be decoded, and status windows will keep you informed of the progress of the algorithm.  Depending on the size of the image, and the memory and processing power of your computer, this may take a few seconds to a few minutes.

At the end, you will be asked if you wish to store the results of the decoding process; answer yes.  If there is more than one DataTile in the series, then this will be a temporary partial file, and you should go on to decode the other members of the series in the same manner.

If there is a single DataTile encoding the files, or if you have reached the final member of the series, you will be prompted to enter a password if one is required, and asked for a destination directory for the files, which you may change from the default.

On occasion, a scan may for some reason be defective -- because the DataTile was not properly contained in the image, or because the scan was too fast.   Should that happen, you will be so informed by the status window.  Simply rescan the DataTile, store the image file as before, and decode the new image file.

Fax files

The Open, decode menu item allows you to select a fax file composed of DataTiles, which will then be decoded into the digital files those DataTiles represent.  This permits digital files to be, in effect, faxed directly from a fax modem to a fax modem, without having to print out the DataTiles and scan them in.

This option also allows you to send a DataTile from a fax machine to a fax modem. In this case, it must be properly configured to be scanned in by a fax machine.  This requires that when the Data Format for the DataTile was selected, the fax machine button under Target scanners was selected.

Using this option, it is possible to employ a fax machine as a scanner. See the chapter on Faxing for details of how to do this.

If a DataTile is sent from a fax machine to a fax modem, it is crucial that the fine resolution setting be selected when faxing.

"Open, decode" assumes that the fax file is composed STRICTLY of DataTiles, except for a possible cover page.  You will be asked whether the fax file includes a cover page.

To use "Open, decode" for faxing applications,  you must have fax software on your PC to generate the fax files.  PaperDisk does not provide such software.

The fax files must be in standard Group 3 or Group 4 CCITT form for the function to work.  Most, but not all, fax software will store fax files in one of these formats. (Sometimes the software will return with Bad or corrupted file, even when the file is purportedly of Group 3 format. If your fax software allows it, save the fax file in Group 4, or TIFF, or BMP format, and then extract again. This can correct the problem.)

See Also  Basic Processes  Extract  Extracting From DataTiles  Extraction, Quick Start  Zip Extract  Scanning Tips  Scanners Directories


Open, decode, run

"Open, decode, run" behaves essentially like "Open, decode"  until it has finished extracting the files from a DataTile series. (See Open, decode for full description of this extraction process.)  Then, instead of merely informing the user and storing the files, it attempts to "run" an application for them.  That is, it attempts to determine the underlying application software of the extracted files from their file name extension, and invokes the application software and loads the file.  For example, any file ending in ".wri" should be a MS Windows Write file, and the "run" option will, after decoding, bring up the Write program and display that file.  (The effect is precisely the same as double clicking on that file in the File Manager.)

If you are not sure whether the contents of the DataTile are intended to be immediately viewed or processed, you should not choose the run option.  Just as double clicking on unknown files in the File Manager can have bad effects -- for example if they are certain .bat or .exe files -- so also is it risky here.


Zip extract

This option is included in the Extract menu item to create the original files from a ZIP file.  In the printing process, PaperDisk compresses a file or files into a ZIP file, and then encodes this ZIP file into one or a series of DataTiles.  In the extracting process, PaperDisk decodes the DataTiles back into the compressed ZIP files and then decompresses (i.e., unZips) these files.  Ordinarily this is done when the last DataTile is a series is decoded.  It is possible, however, that the DataTile includes a password and the password was not correctly entered at  the time of decoding -- perhaps because it was not known.  Zip extract permits this to be done at a later time.

It also allows the DataTile to be decoded (but not unZipped) on a non-secure computer to which a scanner is attached.  You can move the ZIP file to a secure computer, and invoking the Zip Extract option, enter the password and produce the files on that computer.

When this option is selected, a dialog box will be generated asking for a password, if one has been imposed.  Next a dialog box will ask for the destination of the files to be extracted from the ZIP file.  Alter the default to an appropriate directory if you choose.

"Zip extract" may prove useful in other circumstances.  For example, if you lose or destroy the original set of files (i.e., the set of files reconstructed from the ZIP file), "Zip extract" allows you to reconstruct again that set from the ZIP file.  Thus, the \zipdecod subdirectory serves as a form of backup for files.

See Also  Extraction, Quick Start  Extraction Basics   Directories


Select scanning source

This menu item brings up a dialog box listing the installed scanner drivers.  If the scanner you wish to use is not the currently selected scanner, select the driver for the desired scanner.  Unless you again change scanners, you should not have to return to the "Select scanning source" menu item.

See Also  Scanners


Scanning Tips

The PaperDisk extraction software goes to great lengths to decipher the scanned images of DataTiles under many conditions.  But the user should exercise care to make this interpretation feasible and speedy.

Scanner Settings

Most scanners should acquire the image of a DataTile at 256 gray scale, 400 or 300 dpi. An exception to this rule is for DataTiles configured to be scanned by a fax machine or a sheetfed scanner. These should be scanned at 200 dpi. A fax machine will always produce a black and white image. A sheetfed should generally be set to produce a black and white image also, but may do as well with a 256 gray scale image. (Sheetfed scanners tend to exhibit a variety of deficiencies that effectively reduce them to the power of a fax machine used as a scanner.)

Make sure that the software interface provided with your scanner shows the appropriate settings when you scan.  You may also need to set buttons on your scanner -- particularly if it is a hand scanner.

Do NOT choose the text, or line art, or binary settings on your scanner, unless it is a sheetfed scanner. These will all produce images that are not gray scale and therefore not suitable.

Many scanner interfaces have options to alter the image in some way: descreening, filtering, sharpening, rescaling, or smoothing. Only sharpening is likely to improve, not degrade, the quality of the image. EXCEPT FOR SHARPENING, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE IMAGE REMAIN UNALTERED.  Make sure that all other options are OFF. PaperDisk generally demands a raw image, otherwise the information it seeks in the image may be obliterated.

The gray scale option chosen must be 256 gray scale -- an option you will always have if the scanner is a true 256 gray scale scanner.

Consult your scanner's manual if you encounter a problem configuring your scanner.

Hygiene

It is important that the DataTile be free of foreign material.  A quick brush with the back of the hand should suffice to remove loose particles.   If the scanner is a flatbed, its surface should be unobstructed by dirt.  If the scanner is hand held, the transparent covering through which it scans must be clean.  See the scanner's manual for maintenance.

Field of View

The scan of a DataTile must wholly contain the DataTile, with at least a 1/4 inch white margin on all sides.

It is OK for the scan to include large amounts of white space surrounding the DataTile in any direction.  Other dark features besides the DataTile could however disturb the process.

Scanning Speed

Hand scanners rely on a smooth, slow, continuous motion down the page to generate a distortion free image of the printed page.  If the motion is too fast, the result will be an image in which the portion of the page will be compressed into too small a number of image lines.  If the movement is jerky, it may also happen that shifts to one side or another may appear in the image.  If either of these occur in an extreme form, it is possible that PaperDisk -- though designed from its outset to accommodate hand scanners -- will be unable to interpret the image.

The next generation of hand scanners should allow much faster scans, and both of these problems should abate.  When hand scanners can move twice as fast, they will be five times as easy to use.  In the meantime, it is important to master the art of a slow smooth movement.  Practice helps.

Calibration

Depending on how scanners are calibrated, the image they generate from a black on white page can come out looking vastly different.  PaperDisk allows a wide range of scanner calibrations, but it is best to calibrate the scanner as prescribed by your scanner's documentation.  You should generally start with a midrange darkness setting.  If that setting does not produce satisfactory results, you should vary the calibration accordingly.

Skew

Skew is the "tilt" from perfectly horizontal that an object has in an image.  PaperDisk is quite robust against normal skew in the image -- less than 15 degrees.  It may tolerate larger skew, but it is better -- and easy -- to avoid it.

Damage to the printed DataTile

Even if a DataTile has been damaged -- by being crumpled, or folded, or written upon, or otherwise marred -- it may be possible to recover the information intact due to PaperDisk's error correction abilities.  In this case, however, it is particularly important to get a good scan.

Special care should be exercised with a hand scanner to assure that the image is regular and well calibrated.  If the paper is folded or crumpled, it may jerk as the hand scanner passes over the crimps and folds, causing a discontinuity in the image.  Sometimes this discontinuity will be enough to cause the extraction process to fail.  Securing the paper at the sides -- with scotch tape for example -- will reduce this problem.

If the problem is severe, you might try to use a flatbed scanner, being careful to keep the DataTile flat against the glass surface.  In general, a flatbed scanner provides a better scan than a hand scanner, and can be the means of last resort if a DataTile is badly damaged.

See Also   Printers  Scanners  Getting Started


File

The Printer setup menu item allows you to change options on the currently selected printer, including paper sizes and, often, resolution.

The "Select printer" menu item produces the standard Windows interface for selecting a printer.  This command option allows you to change the current printer.  On the dialog box that appears, click on the printer you wish to use, then click on Set Default Printer. Note that this selection will change the default printer for all Windows applications.

The "Select scanning source" menu item brings up a dialog box listing the installed scanner drivers, allowing you to select a scanner.

See Select scanning source


Select printer

The "Select printer" menu item produces the standard Windows interface for selecting a printer.  This command option allows you to change the current printer.  On the dialog box that appears, click on the printer you wish to use, then click on Set Default Printer. Note that this selection will change the default printer for all Windows applications.


Create

The Create menu provides the commands necessary for the encoding and printing of DataTiles - that is, the initial phase of PaperDisks technology, the creation of hardcopy data storage.  More particularly, the Create menu has the following commands:

Create DataTile

Print stored DataTiles

Data Format dialog


Extract

The Extract menu provides the commands necessary for the scanning and decoding of DataTiles - that is, the second of two phases of PaperDisks technology, extracting the original computer file from the printed DataTile.  More particularly, the Extract menu has the following commands:

Scan, decode,run

Open, decode, run

Scan, decode

Open, decode

Zip Extract

Select scanning source

Scan to memory

Scan to disk

Diagnostic Mode


Diagnostic mode

By setting on diagnostic mode, an image will be created that will attempt to identify all the errors found in an image. These errors will be surrounded by square boxes. The location of the generated image will be indicated when the processing completes.

If there are more errors than the error correction process can correct, then some of the errors reported may be falsely identified. If you are attempting to diagnose problems with a printer or scanner, it is best to set the error correction at the highest level. This will increase the likelihood that all of the errors reported will be correctly identified.

To use diagnostic mode, it is necessary to invoke open, decode. Scan, decode will not work. There may be a maximum size of an image that can serve as input to diagnostic mode, dependent on the memory of the computer.


Scan to memory

The scan to memory option creates an image in windows memory -- that is, employing so called virtual memory. If an image is too large, the scan to memory option will be unable to accomodate it. Some scanner drivers support scanning to disk, which saves the image as a temporary file on disk. While the scan to memory option is generally faster, the scan to disk option can allow you to scan in an arbitrarily large image.

If an image is too large for the scan to memory option, choose instead the scan to disk option if it is supported.


Scan to disk

Some scanner drivers support scanning to disk, which saves the image as a temporary file on disk. This allows you to scan in an arbitrarily large image.(In contrast, the scan to memory option creates an image in windows memory -- that is, employing so called virtual memory. If an image is too large, the scan to memory option will be unable to accomodate it. On the other hand, the scan to memory option is generally faster.)

If an image is too large for the scan to memory option, choose instead the scan to disk option if it is supported.


Paper

The ideal paper for PaperDisk will be perfectly white, and will allow the ink to adhere well.  For laser printers, standard white paper designed for laser printers suits these two goals admirably.   Some higher quality papers, fine for the written word, may allow the ink to flake off if it is handled too roughly, which may cause problems.

While it is generally not critical to handle DataTiles with extraordinary care, crumpling or folding the paper on which a DataTile has been printed may require it to be carefully scanned. See  Scanning Tips for suggestions.

For a thermal fax, standard thermal paper captures the DataTiles quite well.  Again, it is important however not to bend or crumple the paper  -- something easier to do to thermal paper than to ordinary paper

See Also   Printing Basics  Reproduction  Faxing Printers


Reproduction

Whenever a printed page is reproduced, the copy loses at least some of the sharpness of the original.  To the naked eye, this may be largely imperceptible.   At the microscopic level at which PaperDisk operates, however, the differences can be dramatic.  PaperDisk tries to find the most compact printed representation possible for a given combination of a printer and target scanners.  Any corruption due to copying the printed DataTile may render the copy unreadable.  If one wishes to allow the information to be reproduced, one need only print it at a lower resolution.  The degradation due to copying will still leave the information intact.

The amount of degradation a copier will induce is highly variable, and depends, of course, on the copier itself.  High quality copying can, indeed, sometimes preserve information even when printed out at the original densities PaperDisk selects by default for a printer.  You will have to experiment with your particular copier to determine what density it can safely sustain.  It is important to generate and decode a number of examples at a given density to guarantee that it can be relied on to work.

See Also  Faxing Paper


Faxing

To fax DataTiles, you must have fax software on your PC -- PaperDisk does not provide such software. (Some procedures for use with WinFax software are detailed in WinFax Software.)

There are three basic ways to fax DataTiles using PaperDisk. You can send a DataTile from a fax modem to a fax machine, then scan in the printed DataTile with an ordinary scanner and decode it. You can send a DataTile directly from a fax modem to another fax modem. Or, you can use a fax machine to scan in an appropriately configured DataTile, and send it to a fax modem. In the latter two cases, the fax files created on the PC with the receiving fax modem can then be decoded, generating the original digital files as usual.

Using a fax machine as a scanner can prove to be very powerful.  The following is an example. You fax from a fax modem to a remote fax machine. The recipient takes the DataTile, inserts it into her fax machine, and sends it to her own fax modem. PaperDisk then decodes this fax file.

Another example: You create a DataTile configured to be scanned by a fax machine.  This DataTile is then printed out and distributed. The recipient of the DataTile then inserts the printed DataTile into her fax machine, and faxes it to her fax modem. PaperDisk decodes the generated fax file.

There are other ways to employ your fax machine as a scanner that do not require you to send a fax over a phone line to your PC. One is to buy special devices that serve as intermediaries between your fax machine and your PC, so that one phone line cord connects directly from the fax machine to the device, and another cord goes from the device to the fax modem. These devices provide the correct handshakes to engender a fax file in the PC.

Another way, which requires no additional hardware, works with most but not all fax machines. It requires you to follow the set of instructions listed below in the section on Turning a fax machine into a scanner.

Procedures

DataTiles can be faxed from your fax modem to any fax machine.  Several points are important to note, however.

While fax machines are all purportedly 200 dpi printers, often the dots they print out are not really 1/200th of inch square.  Some fax printers are in fact of another resolution, and are only forced into service as 200 dpi printers.  Others are inkjet or cartridge, and the dots are in any case far too imprecise to occupy only their defined space.  Still other fax printers employ "image enhancement" -- which from the point of view of PaperDisk is image distortion.

Beyond these problems lies the potential for telephone line noise to disrupt the correct communication of a DataTile.

When you first attempt to create or configure a DataTile for faxing, PaperDisk will bring up a dialog box asking you to identify, if you can, the nature of the fax machine to which the DataTile is to be sent.  Of course, you may not know this; you may know only the fax number.  In that case, you are given the option of declaring the fax machine type to be unknown.  The price to be paid for this is that the DataTile will be far less compact:  the worst case must be assumed.

If you have not sent a DataTile to a fax machine, and had it successfully decoded, it is safest to choose the "fax type unknown" option.  Even some thermal or laser fax machines may employ a form of "image enhancement" that will distort a DataTile for the uses of PaperDisk.  If the fax machine is one to which you expect to be sending many DataTiles, it is intelligent to experiment to find the setting that is most compact and reliable for that machine.

Telephone line noise

The problem with noise on telephone lines is one from which many fax machines suffer.  If the noise is great, and a number of horizontal lines in a DataTile are lost, PaperDisk may be unable to decode it, despite the error correction PaperDisk includes in the DataTile. (Sometimes this can happen even when it is not obvious to the eye that something has been dropped from the DataTile.)

Newer models of fax machines and fax modems often come with Error Correction Mode (ECM).  If BOTH your fax modem and the fax machine to which you send a DataTile have ECM, the  problem with noise should be eliminated or greatly reduced.  As ECM becomes more of a standard feature for both fax modems and fax machines, noise should diminish as a practical issue.

If a line is noisy it is best to select the highest level of redundancy for the Data format, if it is not already selected. Bring up the Data format dialog, then select Customize. The Customize Data format dialog will arise. Check the highest redundancy level.

Another even more effective way to forestall problems with telephone line noise is to send more than one copy of the DataTile series. Over particularly noisy lines this is the safest tactic. To do so, wait until the Print DataTiles dialog appears after the DataTile series has been encoded. There is an entry for number of copies, set by default to 1. Select some higher value, depending on the redundancy you wish. Remember that as you increase the number of copies you increase the amount of time it takes to transmit the DataTile series. It is necessary only that one copy of each DataTile in a series survive transmission for the entire series to be correctly decoded at the receiving end.

Fax modem to fax modem

PaperDisk supports faxing a DataTile from fax modem to fax modem.   It will extract the original computer files directly from the fax file, without the need to print out the fax file and scan it in.  To perform the decoding, you must invoke the Open, decode or Open, decode, run menu item under the "Extract" menu. See the section Open, decode in the chapter on Menu items for details.

Fax machine to fax modem

To send a printed DataTile from a fax machine to a fax modem, that DataTile must be specially configured. (To do so, in the Data Format dialog, push the button for fax machine/sheetfed under Target scanners.)

Before the fax is sent from the fax machine, it is crucial that the fine resolution setting be selected. The DataTile will not decode at the receiving end if it is not selected.

When the fax file is generated at the receiving fax modem, it can be decoded by PaperDisk. To do this, you must invoke the Open, decode or Open, decode, run  menu item under the "Extract" menu.  See the section Open, decode in the chapter on Menu items for details.

When a DataTile is sent from fax machine to fax modem, it presents the most difficult case for PaperDisk. The DataTiles inserted into the fax machine often will have been produced by a fax machine, which as a class exhibits highly divergent processes and quality. And the scanners on fax machines likewise range widely in the nature of their output. It is therefore more often necessary to rescan DataTiles when a fax machine is used as a scanner than when an ordinary scanner is employed. And it may be necessary to experiment with a particular fax machine to fix on the most reliable and compact settings for it -- the defaults that come with PaperDisk may not suit your individual fax machine. In particular, it is useful to experiment with the various settings for print precision and data density in the Data Format dialog box. Whenever something is faxed to that machine, it is important to communicate to the sender what these settings should be.

Turning a fax machine into a scanner

By following a simple set of instructions, it is possible to use most fax machines as scanners without faxing over a telephone line. These instructions are spelled out below.

1. Connect a telephone line cord directly from the fax modem to the fax machine.

2. Bring up the fax software on the PC, and find the option for Manual receive. (Virtually any fax software should have this option.) Be ready to select the Manual receive option quickly.

3. Insert the printed DataTile (or DataTile series) into the fax machine.

4. Select the fine resolution setting.

5. Pick up the telephone hand set on the fax machine. Dial any sequence of 7 numbers. (123-4567 will do.)

6. Select the Manual receive option on the PC.

7. When the PC makes its high pitched sound to receive a fax, push the Start key on the fax machine. Hang up the telephone handset on the fax machine.

The fax should begin to be sent, generating a fax file in the PC.

Decode the fax file as usual employing the Open, decode option.

While this technique is generally successful, we should note that with some fax machines it may introduce a large amount of noise, especially on a long DataTile series. This noise may render the series unreadable. In that case, you will have to send the fax over ordinary telephone lines.

See Also Reproduction


Printers

Laser printers

PaperDisk requires a great deal of accuracy in the printing process to extract information from the printed page. At this time, laser printers and thermal faxing are the most precise, allowing the extraction process to perform its job well. Either a 300, 600, or a 1200 dpi laser printer will do, though the 600 and 1200 dpi printers can achieve higher information densities. When a fax board faxes to a quality 200 dpi thermal or laser faxing unit, that unit can also achieve high precision.

Inkjet or bubblejet printers

Inkjet, or bubblejet printers do not achieve nearly the same level of accuracy and sharpness in printing as laser printers. Even to the naked eye, the flaws in the printing of ordinary text are enough to detract from the document's appearance. (This, of course, is largely why laser printers still command a large market though they are more expensive than inkjets.) Even though the stated dpi for inkjet printers may be higher, their imperfections keep the information densities they can achieve below the densities of laser and thermal printers.

When printing DataTiles with an inkjet printer, it is important to view the printed output for obvious defects. At times -- particularly just after an inkjet has just been turned on -- it may splatter the page with ink spots, or visibly skip in its printing. This may impair or prevent the decoding of a DataTile.  Print out the DataTile again until no visible defects occur. You may wish to check that the new DataTile can indeed be decoded.

 	Dot matrix printers

At this time, PaperDisk does not support dot matrix printers, which are simply too varied in their capabilities. However, by properly configuring the data format descriptors, you may be able  to achieve whatever information density the particular printer can support.

See Also  Printers  Scanners  Paper  Data Format  Data Format Descriptors


Scanners

When buying or using a scanner, it is crucial to know precisely what kind of scanner it is.  This is sometimes not easy, because marketing material for scanners can be imprecise and confusing.

There are two basic issues.   First, is the scanner a TRUE 256 gray scale scanner?  If the gray scale is EMULATED, then, from the point of view of PaperDisk, it must be treated as a binary scanner, which is basically what it is.  It must scan in its images in binary mode, and average out the readings to produce a hypothetical gray scale.  Scanning in an image as gray scale in this fashion will almost certainly fail.

Second, what is the TRUE or OPTICAL resolution of the scanner?  The INTERPOLATED resolution is irrelevant.  PaperDisk in effect performs its own interpolations, more subtle and more to the point than those performed by generic software that may come with a scanner.   Indeed, when scanning, it is important NOT to perform interpolation on the images that are passed along to PaperDisk.

If you are seeking to buy a scanner for PaperDisk, it must be an OPTICAL 300 dpi scanner (with the exception of sheetfeds  see paragraph below), and TRUE 256 gray scale.  Binary scanners simply do not have the same power as true gray scale scanners, and must be much more carefully calibrated to recover information even at far lower resolutions.  (PaperDisk does not currently support binary scanners, except for fax machines and sheetfeds.)  And if a scanner's packaging does not say it is TRUE gray scale, or will not talk about TRUE or OPTICAL resolution, suspect the worst.  Get confirmation of its capabilities before you buy it; you may have to return it.

PaperDisk can also support sheetfed scanners. Yet because such scanners introduce significant distortions into images, they are treated by default as though they are fax machines. This implies that the DataTiles configured for sheetfeds must be scanned at 200 dpi, though, unlike fax machines, the images can often be set to be gray scale.

 PaperDisk's core technology has been from the outset defined with great flexibility.  We have settled on certain default data format settings that are in our experience quite robust and powerful.  We strongly recommend that the typical user restrict herself to these tried and true settings.

There is an enormous number of combinations of different data format settings, different scanners, different printers, and different paper stocks.  The sophisticated  and technically curious user may do well to experiment with different resolutions and visual effects if she chooses.  (We would be most interested in any results you wish to pass along.)

See Also    Printers  Scanners Troubleshooting Scanning Tips


DataTiles Appearance

The appearance of DataTiles can vary dramatically depending on the data format chosen.   The size of the dots, their distance from each other, and the distance between markers can achieve very different visual effects.

PaperDisk's goal of achieving the most compact representation of digital information has an important aesthetic consequence:  for a given piece of information, it demands the smallest amount of space on the page, rendering it in that sense least conspicuous.   Size has an aesthetic of its own.

In order to achieve a bland gray background, separate the dots from each other so that they do not collect together into clumps.  For example, if the printer is 300 dpi, you might set the data format parameters spot height, spot length and spot distance to 1 and row distance to 2.  If the printer does not print dots that are too scanty, this pattern can be read by a 400 dpi true gray scale scanner.  Be aware, however, that if this is done, it becomes somewhat more difficult on the extraction side to pull out the information, since the dots are not as distinct as they would be otherwise.  This may require more careful scans on the extraction side, and longer decoding times, since more demanding techniques must be employed.   Experiment until you find a combination of aesthetics, speed, and reliability that works for you.

See Also  General Observations  PaperDisk Data Format


Directories

Several subdirectories are set up in your PaperDisk home directory (usually \paperdsk) to store various types of files.

Some of these directories may expand quickly if they are not maintained properly. It is suggested that you periodically rid them of files no longer needed. This is perhaps particularly true of the directory \gonbmps, which stores DataTiles in anticipation of being printed. Often these are of little use after they have been printed out, yet can demand considerable space.

Please refer to Figure 1 below, to help clarify the descriptions.

\examples

This directory contains example images for PaperDisk. You can run Open, decode, run on these images to see how that option works.

You may reasonably delete these entries if you feel you no longer have use for them.

\program

This directory contains various executable modules for PaperDisk, and files that allow PaperDisk to perform error correction. It also contains a file, papd.ini, that stores information about Data format entries for various printers. And the file password.ini stores any passwords that you may have saved to disk in the process of password protection.

None of the files in this directory should be eliminated or altered directly.

\help

This directory contains the help file for PaperDisk. This should not be deleted.

\zipencod

This directory contains the ZIP files used to create a series of DataTiles.  The name of each file is the same as the first file selected in the series, with the extension of ".zip".  Thus if the first file selected were "cogcover.doc", the zip file name stored here would be "cogcover.zip".

These files are created and deleted by PaperDisk itself; generally the directory will appear to be empty.

\gonbmps

This directory contains the DataTile bitmaps that can be printed out to encode a set of files.  Their names are created by taking the first six letters of the FIRST file selected for the DataTile series, and then adding the 2 digit number corresponding to the DataTile in the series.  Thus, if the first file selected were cogcover.doc, and the series included three DataTiles, the bitmap names would be:  cogcov01.bmp, cogcov02.bmp, and cogcov03.bmp.  These bitmap images are ready to be printed on any printer of the type selected in the Data Format dialog.

These files should be eliminated when they are no longer needed to be printed out.

\hppfiles

This directory contains the partial files, constructed as part of the decoding process, that correspond to each DataTile in a series.  The names of the files are the same as that of the original DataTile bitmaps on the printing end, with the extension of ".hpp."  (See the entry for \gonbmps for an description).  If the DataTile bitmaps on the printing end were named cogcov01.bmp, cogcov02.bmp and cogcov03.bmp, then the partial files extracted would be, respectively, cogcov01.hpp, cogcov02.hpp and cogcov03.hpp.

These files are generally eliminated by PaperDisk, after all the partial files are combined into a ZIP file.

\zipdecod

This directory contains the full ZIP files generated from a series of DataTiles.  The name (and contents) is the same as that of the ZIP file generated by the printer of the DataTile series.  (See the entry for \zipencod).  On the receiving end, this full ZIP file is derived from the partial files, contained within \hppfiles, extracted from each DataTile in the series.

These ZIP files can be eliminated if you have the original uncompressed files safely stored.

\unzipd

This is the default directory for storing the final product of the decoding process:  the original, uncompressed files represented by a series of DataTiles.  These derive from the full ZIP file contained in \zipdecod.   These files assume their original names from the Sending (printing) side.

These files can be moved to some more suitable directory, or simply deleted when you regard them as having outlived their use.

FIGURE 1

See Also   File Processing  Basic Processes   Printing Basics  Extraction Basics  Zip Extract


Data Format

The unique power of PaperDisk derives from its flexibility in configuring the printed pattern that encodes digital information.  Whatever the printer and scanner may be, PaperDisk can capture the most compact printed form that works for that pair.

The data format descriptors are the parameters that determine what form the printed representation will take on.  These parameters are encoded in the so called MetaSector that appears on the top of any DataTile.  The MetaSector is the first thing read in the decoding of a DataTile, and guides the extraction of information from the data region of the DataTile.

If you have a reasonably high quality printer, you should have little occasion to alter the default values set for the data format descriptors.  If, however, you find that you cannot reliably decode your DataTiles, you may have to adjust some descriptor values.

A number of concepts and terms require some explaining before plunging into the details of the data format descriptors. See Data Format Descriptors, Overview  .

See Also Data Format Descriptors  Markers  DataSectors Data Format dialog Printers


Markers

PaperDisk expresses information as rows of data cells, each cell being on or off - if a dot is in the cell then the cell is on, if the cell is blank then the cell is off.  This method results in the greatest possible density of information.  Yet if many of the cells in a row are off -- that is, the dots are absent -- how can the system even know where they were supposed to be?  This requires certain guideposts, so that the system can look down the row where the cells are supposed to be, know exactly where a given dot would be if it were present, and declare it absent when nothing is found.  These guideposts are called markers.  Sets of these markers are typically visible as vertical strips that run through the DataTile.

In general, the distance between strips of markers can go up or down depending on how precise the scan is.  For a hand scanner, these strips should not be far removed from each other -- that is, there should be a relatively small number of cells between them.  Flatbed scanners may safely increase the distance.

Markers should be made large enough to ensure that individual markers always appear distinct from the background after being scanned.  If they are too faint, decoding the DataTile might become difficult or impossible.

It is also important that the markers have in ALL cases clear separation between them and the nearest data cells, and between each other.  Each marker in a scanned image must have white background pixels on all sides, setting it apart from the nearest data cells and from its neighboring markers.  If there is a great deal of dot gain -- i.e., the ink spreads beyond the boundaries of the cell, as is typical for ink jet printers -- the separation distance between the marker and the data must be set relatively high.

See Also  Data Format  Data Format Descriptors  DataSectors


DataSectors

A DataTile includes a number of subdivisions.  These subdivisions are called DataSectors and each has a "complete" message.  Among other things, this structure facilitates breaking down the image into smaller more manageable pieces in the decoding process.  In particular, the memory demands on the computer are much less if only a small portion of the image need be dealt with at any given time.  This is quite significant for the typical PC:  a standard 8 1/2 by 11" piece of paper, scanned in by a 400 dpi gray scale scanner, would generate an image of about 16 megabytes.  In the decoding process, a message box keeps one abreast of how many DataSectors have been successfully decoded.

It is worth noting that for various reasons, DataSectors have a certain fixed minimum size.  For this reason, if a DataTile encodes a very small file, the DataTile may seem larger than one might expect.

See Also  Data Format  Data Format Descriptors  Markers


Data Format Descriptors

A list of the Data format descriptors and their meaning follows.  Figures 2 and 3 below will help guide your intuitions.

Spot Height

This defines the height in printed pixels of each dot (where a dot is called for) representing a bit of information.

Spot Length

This defines, in printed pixels, the length of each dot representing a bit of information.   The length is the distance across the page.

Spot Distance

Defines the distance in printed pixels between the right edge of one dot (when printed) and the left edge of the next dot (if printed) along a data segment.  The most compact representation will set this to 0, so that dot positions abut one another.  To compensate for dot gain, it can be important to set this to some positive non zero value.  Moreover, a positive value can create softer visual effects. The separation between spots tends to diminish the appearance of clumps in the DataTile.

Segments Per Marker

Defines the number of rows of data cells down between one marker and the next.  Typically, there should be 3 or 4 rows of data positions down for each marker.

Data Segments

The data cells between two markers collectively make up one data segment.  A DataSector may have a number of data segments across.  This parameter sets the number of data segments across per DataSector.

Marker Height

This defines the height in printed pixels of each marker, which serves as a guidepost to nearby rows of dots.

Marker Length

This defines, in printed pixels, the length of each marker.  The length is the distance across the page.

Row Distance

Defines the distance down the page, in printed pixel lines, between rows of dot positions.  Measured from the top of one row of cells to the top of the next row of cells.   Refer to figure 3.

Marker to Spot

Defines the distance in printed pixels between the edge of a marker and the edge of the closest data cell position along a data segment.  This parameter should be high enough so that markers can be distinguished from dots.  For 300 dpi laser printers, for example, this parameter should be at least 4.

Sectors Down

This determines the number of DataSectors down the DataTile.  This should not be less than 10 down the entire printed page.  Otherwise, too large a portion of the scanned image of the DataTile may have to loaded into PaperDisk at once.   If available memory is low, PaperDisk may be unable to decode the image.

Spots Per Segment

Defines the number of cells in a data segment - i.e., the number of spots (dots or blanks) between markers. This ordinarily should not be set higher than 30-50. More precise scanning processes -- flatbed scanners as opposed to hand scanners -- can safely have this set relatively high. When significant distortions are likely to enter a scan, markers must be relatively close together so that PaperDisk can make accurate estimates of the cell positions.

Sectors Across

This determines the number of DataSectors across the DataTile.

Skip Marker

This determines which markers, if any, will be omitted in the vertical strips of markers. When PaperDisk decodes a DataTile, it needs to match markers it finds in the scanned image with the markers it expects to have been printed. When the scanned image is distorted or the printed DataTile is damaged, such matching can become quite difficult. Skipping markers can improve the accuracy of this process.

Skip marker can assume values from 3 to 15 inclusive, and the special value 0. If the value of Skip marker is 5 (for example) then every fifth marker in the vertical strip is skipped. The value 0 indicates that no markers are skipped.

By default, Skip marker is set to 5, which is generally an effective number.

Spot Depopulation

This determines how fully a spot is populated -- that is, how many dots in a spot are turned on. If the value is 0, all the dots in a spot are turned on. If the value is some positive integer, then that many dots are turned off.

The purpose of this parameter is to permit varying amounts of toner or ink to be laid down for given spot dimensions. Thus a 2x2 dot may have only 3 dots turned on, allowing a more gradual transition in amount of toner or ink applied.

Varying the amount of ink or toner can in some instances improve both the decoding process and the aesthetic effect of a DataTile. In most cases, however, it is reasonable to set this value to 0, and that is the default.

See Also Data Format  Markers  DataSectors Data Format dialog Printers

FIGURE 2 - Actual DataTile with Descriptors

FIGURE 3 - Enlarged view of part of a DataTile

Experimentation

While experimentation with the Data format of DataTiles can engender unreadable DataTiles, it can also lead to very useful results in domains for which PaperDisk does not currently offer direct support.

For example, PaperDisk does not at this time provide defaults for most binary scanners, or for a 600 dpi scanner scanning at 600 dpi resolution. This is in part because the variability in these types of scanners has not been fully experimented with.

The flexibility of the PaperDisk core technology makes it quite possible, however, to achieve very satisfactory results with particular unsupported printer/scanner combinations.

To use a 600 dpi scanner, make sure that only the 400 dpi scanner button is pressed in the Data format dialog.


Troubleshooting

In general, before examining this section in detail, it is useful to peruse the readme file that accompanies PaperDisk. Most problems specific to a particular piece of equipment or software will be noted there.

In addition, some important procedures having to do with properly setting Hewlett Packard scanners are spelled out in an appendix to this guide.

Installation issues

The current version of PaperDisk runs under both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, and supports both 16-bit and 32 bit TWAIN compliant data sources. To do this, it installs the most recent (Sept 15, 1995) version of twain.dll.

In some unusual cases, certain older data sources may be unable to run under the new version of twain.dll. For this reason, the previous version of twain.dll is saved under the name of twain.bak in the \windows directory. If you encounter a problem with using your scanner after PaperDisk installs the new twain.dll, remove the new version of twain.dll and rename twain.bak to twain.dll.

Difficulties in printing

Certain difficulties may arise in attempting to print out a DataTile. The DataTile may not be the correct width or configuration. If its width is not correctly set, attempting to print it out may generate the error message DataTile too wide.

In general, if there is a problem with a particular configuration, and that configuration is different from the printer default, it is important to revert to the default. One straightforward way to do this is to create a new data format entry for the printer: such new entries are always configured as printer defaults (they can always be changed from that format later if you choose.)  To create such a new entry, go to the Data Format dialog, and press the New entry button.

A number of printing problems can also affect the decoding process. These are described in more detail further below.

Difficulties in decoding

Sometimes when you attempt to scan and decode a DataTile, the process cannot complete, and you are asked to rescan the DataTile. Such difficulties arise from two basic sources: the scanning process, and the printing process. One further source is peculiar to the fax: telephone line noise.

Scanning problems

A variety of things related to scanning can cause problems in decoding a DataTile. Below a number are listed, with suggested fixes.

·	The scanner is not set at the proper resolution.  For scanners other than fax machines or sheetfeds, the resolution must be either 300 dpi or 400 dpi, true 256 gray scale.  If a DataTile is configured only for a 400 dpi scanner, it generally cannot be read by a 300 dpi scanner. If a fax machine is used as a scanner, the scan will automatically be at 200 dpi, and  binary (black and white.) If the scanner is sheetfed, it should scan at 200 dpi, typically in binary, though in some cases 256 gray scale may perform better. (Such DataTiles must be specially configured for sheetfeds or fax machines in the Data Format dialog box.) Rescan with the proper settings

·	Some foreign feature -- perhaps text or graphics -- intrudes into the scan, interfering. Rescan, excluding the extraneous feature.

·	PaperDisk expects that a DataTile will have 1/4 inch white space margin on all sides of the DataTile. (It is particularly important that these margins be present on the left side of the DataTile.) Rescan with sufficient margins.

·	The image has been processed in some way by the scanner interface. Any form of descreening, filtering, smoothing, or rescaling may be destructive. Such options must be turned OFF: PaperDisk generally demands a raw image (sharpening can however improve the image.) Turn off the options, and rescan. If the problem persists, it is possible that the processing is done automatically and cannot be turned off. In that case, it may be necessary to lower the data density of the DataTiles sent to such a scanner if it is to succeed in decoding them. To do so, the generator of the DataTiles must enter the Data Format dialog box and push the low button under Data Density.

·	Poor calibration of image.  Image is much too dark or much too light as scanned in. Recalibrate as described by scanner manual, then rescan.

·	Severe distortion in the image. These are most typically problems with hand held scanners, or sometimes with sheetfed scanners. These can include:

sudden shifts to left or right in the image as it goes down the page

dramatic changes in the brightness of the image as it goes down the page

vertical "compression" of the image as it goes down the page, squeezing the image vertically.

Rescan the image, taking care if it is a hand scanner to make sure that the movement down the page is slow, continuous, and straight.

Printing problems

PaperDisk expects that the printed DataTile will not fall below certain standard levels of accuracy. These expectations have been based on extensive experimentation on the various classes of printers and fax machines that PaperDisk supports. It is assumed that the printer is in good repair. At the very least, there should not be defects in the printing that are obvious to the eye -- for example, streaks or irregularities in the application of toner or ink.

Below are some particular problems and suggested fixes.

·	The toner or ink may be getting applied too heavily, too lightly, or irregularly. If the problem is that the toner is too heavy, it may be remedied by going to the Data Format dialog box and reducing the print precision. If the toner or ink is much too light, it will probably be necessary to alter the printer parameters so that the printer prints out darker. If the print remains too light, or if it is irregular, consult your printer manual for fixes. It may be that the toner or ink cartridge must be replaced, or some other action required.

·	Sometimes, a printer or fax machine will not satisfy the default expected precision for its class. In that case, it will be necessary to reduce the print precision from high to a lower value. See the entry for Print precision in Data format dialog settings . If this does not work, reduce the data density to low.

·	Printers with limited memory sometimes cannot successfully print complicated graphical images. When PaperDisk attempts to print out a large DataTile on a printer with inadequate memory, the printer may not print it correctly, or may fail to print it altogether. The printer may issue some error on its front panel to indicate that this is a problem, such as Memory error or, occasionally, Image  adjustment. In any such case, it will be necessary to reduce the size of the DataTile. You must generate again the DataTile series, but specify more members than before. This will force each member DataTile to be smaller, and the memory demanded of the printer will decrease.

Fax problems

·	Sometimes when decoding a fax file, the error message Bad or corrupted file may appear. Enter your fax software and attempt to save the file in some other format  Group 4, TIFF uncompressed, BMP for example. Then employ  Open, decode on this new file.

·	Sending a DataTile from a fax machine to a fax modem (that is, using the fax machine as a scanner) presents the hardest case for PaperDisk, given the variability of fax machines both as printers and scanners. It is therefore more often necessary to rescan DataTiles in this case than when an ordinary scanner is employed. And it may be necessary to experiment with a particular fax machine to fix on the most reliable and compact settings for it -- the defaults that come with PaperDisk may not suit your individual fax machine. In particular, it is useful to experiment with the various settings for print precision and data density in the Data Format dialog box. Whenever something is faxed to that machine, it is important to communicate to the sender what these settings should be.

·	If a DataTile has been sent to a fax machine or fax modem, it is possible that telephone line noise has seriously corrupted it, preventing it from being correctly decoded despite the built-in error correction of PaperDisk. In this case, the particular DataTile must be retransmitted. If the line is generally a noisy one, have the DataTile formatted as fax type unknown. See Faxing This will make it most robust against line noise.

·	If a line is noisy, it is also best to select the highest level of redundancy (i.e., 48%) for the Data format, if it is not already selected. Bring up the Data format dialog, then select customize. The Customize Data format dialog will arise. Check the highest redundancy level.

·	Another even more effective way to forestall problems with telephone line noise is to send more than one copy of the DataTile series. Over particularly noisy lines this is the safest tactic. To do so, wait until the Print DataTiles dialog appears after the DataTile series has been encoded. There is an entry for number of copies, set by default to 1. Select some higher value, depending on the redundancy you wish. Remember that as you increase the number of copies you increase the amount of time it takes to transmit the DataTile series. It is necessary only that one copy of each DataTile in a series survive transmission for the entire series to be correctly decoded at the receiving end.

·	It is important that a DataTile sent to a fax machine be properly configured for the type of fax machine. A DataTile with the density appropriate to a thermal fax will likely be unreadable if it is sent to an inkjet fax, because inkjet printing is so much less precise. Be sure that the correct type of fax machine has been selected. Go to the Data Format dialog box to find out, by checking the fax button.

·	It is also possible that a DataTile can be correctly set for the type of fax machine in question, and yet the printing of the fax machine does not meet the minimum expected accuracy for that class. Among other things, fax images are sometimes enhanced -- i.e., altered -- by certain fax machines, and this diminishes the correctness of the printing from the point of view of PaperDisk. In this case, it may be necessary to decrease the data density. To do so, go to the Data Format dialog box and enter low for data density.

·	If a page sent to a fax machine takes a great deal of time to transmit, some fax machines apparently time out after the page is completed, on the assumption that something has gone awry (even though the page might be perfectly legitimate). Since a page sent by PaperDisk can be quite complex -- that single page may, in effect, carry over 100 pages of an MS Word document -- it often takes a relatively long period of time to transmit (though many times less than the MS Word document would, if faxed as usual!) This occasionally causes a fax machine to time out spuriously after the first page. In this case, the set of files must be re-encoded on the sending side, so that each DataTile generated in the series is smaller. Simply specify a larger number of DataTiles in the DataTile series when the dialog box arises asking how many DataTiles to use. Doubling the suggested number should always be safe.

·	The PaperDisk software will extract only from fax files in so called Group 3 or Group 4 format. These are the standard, and by far the most common form of fax files. Many fax software applications have an option to convert from their peculiar fax format to another format  perhaps BMP, TIFF, or PCX. You should perform this conversion and use Open, decode on the generated files.

·	When a DataTile is sent from a fax machine, it is crucial that fine resolution is set when faxing. If it is not set, then the vertical dimension of the image is effectively cut in half, rendering the DataTile unreadable for PaperDisk.

See Also Faxing Printers  Scanners Scanning Tips


Data Format Dialog

This dialog allows you to reconfigure the format of DataTiles, if necessary,  to achieve optimum density, readability, and speed in decoding.  Based on your entries in this dialog, PaperDisk automatically determines the correct settings for your situation.

You must also use this dialog if you wish to generate DataTiles

1) to be read only by 400 dpi scanners, or only by flatbed scanners, or to be scanned by sheetfed scanners or fax machines

OR

2) to be inserted into a word processing document (e.g., a MS/Word or WordPerfect document.)

Generally, if you intend the DataTile to be read by 300+ dpi scanners and wish to print DataTiles outside of the context of standard word processing software, you will not need to change the settings in this dialog.  PaperDisk contains default settings for broad classes of printers that already should be optimal.

Note that selecting a setting button IMMEDIATELY changes the setting for the selected entry.  You will have to reselect the old setting value if you wish to revert to that value.

For the use and interpretation of the listbox entries,

see Data format dialog listbox

For details of the buttons (other than the setting buttons),

see Data format dialog buttons

For details of the setting values,

see Data format dialog settings

See also Troubleshooting


Data format dialog buttons

Done/Cancel

Exits the Data Format dialog.  Since any changes in the settings are performed immediately when the setting buttons are pressed, nothing further must be saved when the dialog is exited.

Help

Invokes Help for this dialog box.

New entry

Creates a new entry for the selected printer.  This entry will be a standard entry for the type of printer selected. It is useful to create such a new entry if somehow the previous entry created problems -- e.g., it elicited a DataTile too wide message when attempting to print. If there is already more than the maximum number of allowed entries per printer, 3, then the entry LEAST recently selected will be overwritten (i.e., the entry at the bottom of the list.)

The new entry will be provided with a new entry ID number.  This entry will be the standard default for the type of printer selected.  You may change its settings, or customize it as you choose.

Customize

Brings up a dialog that allows you to customize the data format descriptors.   If these are customized and saved, the "customized" slot in the entry will be set to "yes."  You may also bring up the dialog simply to view what values the data format descriptors take on; in that case, do not save the entries in the new dialog.

Select printer

Brings up standard window dialog to change the default printer.  This will change the default printer for all Windows applications.  After selecting a new printer, the Data Format dialog box will now show the entries for that printer, or create one if none exists.


Data format dialog listbox

This list box shows all the entries for the selected printer.  It may be useful to have a number of entries for each printer.  For example, the target scanners may vary from case to case.  Or again, you may wish to have an entry that allows you insert a DataTile into a word processing document.

The following properties are shown:

The printer name and port, which identify the printer uniquely.

The unique entry ID number, generated when the entry is created.

Is entry customized?

Is entry a default for the printer?

Comments

If the data format descriptors have been customized -- by pressing the customize button, and saving the values in the dialog box that arises -- then "customized" will show "yes".  If an entry has been customized, pressing the setting buttons in this dialog will overwrite the customized values.

If the entry is the standard printer default for the type of printer, "printer default" will be set to "yes."  It will always be set to "no" if "customized" is "yes."  It will also be set to "no" if the data density is other than "normal" or if the print precision is not at "high", or if the resolution chosen is other than the true resolution of the printer.


Data format dialog settings

Printer type

This defines the resolution (dots per inch, or dpi) of the printer, as well as its printing mechanism -- laser, inkjet or thermal.  It is important for PaperDisk to know whether a printer is laser or inkjet, since inkjet printers are far less precise, demanding different settings.

PaperDisk will automatically determine what a printer's resolution is.  Yet it cannot in general know whether it is an inkjet or laser, because MS/Windows does not provide that information.  You will therefore be asked to identify which type of printer it is if the resolution leaves the answer unclear -- that is, when its resolution is 300 dpi.  Also, if the "printer" is a fax modem, you will be asked to specify, if you know, the nature of the fax machine to which the DataTile is to be sent.

The user is allowed to override the printer resolution settings determined by PaperDisk for a given printer, by selecting a different button.  Except under unusual circumstances, however, this is ill advised, rendering the DataTile poorly configured for the selected printer.

Print precision

Not all printers even of the same class print with the same precision.  Ideally, if a printer is instructed to print a dot of 1/300th of inch, the dot generated would be a precise square (or at least circle) of that size.  In fact, the dots may vary widely in size, location, and shape.  Quantity and distribution of toner can dramatically alter the printed output even of the same laser printer.

Perhaps the most common problem in all printers is dot gain.  This means that the dots printed are considerably larger than they are stipulated to be.  For example, a dot printed by a 300 dpi laser printer may actually occupy a space 1/200 inch by 1/200 inch.  This often occurs because too much toner is picked up by a laser printer, or too much ink is sprayed by an inkjet printer.

PaperDisk assumes, as a default, that the print quality is high. If you have trouble decoding the DataTiles you print out, and you are getting what appear to be good scans, it may be necessary for you to lower the estimate of print precision.  This may lower the density of information at which the DataTiles are printed.

If you think that print precision is a problem, it is best to lower the estimate of print precision one step at a time from "high," until you find you can reliably decode the printed DataTiles.  This will give you the highest possible density in the DataTiles.

Data density

This sets the information density of a DataTile.  By default, the print density is set at "normal."  This should provide an optimal mix of speed and reliability in decoding, as well as considerable density in the DataTile representation.

The "high" setting may increase the density of information, but usually at a price.  The DataTiles may be more difficult to decode, perhaps requiring occasional rescans of the DataTile (particularly if the scanner is a hand scanner), and demanding greater time in the decoding process, since PaperDisk must employ more intensive algorithms. (Indeed, in an unusual case, a printer or scanner may render such a DataTile unreadable.)

In some cases, setting the density of information at high will not alter the information density.  This generally occurs when the next highest possible density for a printer generates DataTiles that are too unreliable when one attempts to decode them.

The "low" setting will always decrease the density of the DataTile.  This may be useful for especially poor printing processes, or if the DataTile is intended to be photocopied.

Target scanners

PaperDisk supports the most commonly used 256 gray scale scanners:  hand scanners and flatbed scanners, with optical resolution of 300 or 400 dpi.  (Higher resolution scanners can of course be set down to one of these levels).

A fax machine can also be used as a scanner. This is done by inserting an appropriately configured DataTile into a fax machine, sending it to a PC fax modem, and invoking the Open, decode menu item on the generated fax file. Do not in this case check the hand scanner button: the field of view for a fax machine is assumed to be the entire width of the page.

PaperDisk also supports the use of sheetfed scanners. Because of the distortions such scanners introduce, however, they are handled in much the same fashion as fax machines used as scanners. They should scan in DataTiles at 200 dpi.

(If a DataTile is sent from a fax machine to a fax modem, it is crucial that the fine resolution setting be selected when faxing.)

PaperDisk needs to know whether hand scanners are among the target scanners for the DataTile.  The smaller field of view of a hand scanner -- usually between 4.0 and 4.5 inches -- demands that the DataTiles be narrower still to be successfully scanned.

If  only 400 dpi scanners are among the targets, the DataTiles can be reconfigured to produce significantly higher densities. (If the target scanner is a hand scanner, it is very likely to be 400 dpi optical.)

If only flatbed scanners are among the targets, the DataTile will cover the entire width of the page, carrying far more information in a page.

Press the fax machine/sheetfed button if you intend fax machines or sheetfeds to be among your target scanners.

Turn off the hand scanner button if you intend only flatbed scanners to be among your targets.

Turn off the 300 dpi button if you intend only 400 dpi scanners to be among your targets.

Insertion in word processing document

When a DataTile is inserted into a word processing document, and printed out, the word processing software automatically expands the size of all features in the DataTile.  For example, a dot defined to be length 1 by 1 would ordinarily be printed out on a 300 dpi printer as a dot 1/300th of an inch square.  Yet when inserted into a word processing document, and printed by the word processing software using its standard default, that very dot would be printed instead as 1/100th of an inch square.

Fortunately, however, word processing software allows the size of the DataTile to be changed from the default assumption.  You are given the option of rescaling any image imported into your document.  What you must do is to set the size of the DataTile to be what it was stated to be when originally generated by PaperDisk.  See the section Inserting DataTile into a document for details on how to do this.

Thus DataTiles must be configured differently (typically with some loss of compactness) if they are to be inserted into a word processing document, since rescaling introduces subtle distortions in an image.   Pressing the "yes" button will perform the reconfiguration.

Press the yes button if you wish to insert the DataTile directly into a word processing document.  Create the DataTile via the "Create DataTile" menu item.  Note the width of the DataTile, as well as its name.  The DataTile will be stored in the subdirectory \gonbmps under PaperDisk's home directory (usually \paperdsk).

Exit PaperDisk, enter word processing application.  Place the cursor at the desired place in the document, choose the insert command, and then find and select the target DataTile. See Inserting DataTile into a document for details on rescaling.


PaperDisk main window

The main window for PaperDisk has a number of buttons. Most of these serve precisely the same function as a commonly used menu item. The details of the operation of these buttons can be found in the entries for their related menu items.

The button Create DataTile invokes the menu item Create DataTile.

The button Data format invokes the menu item Data format, which brings up the dialog Data Format dialog.

The button Select printer invokes the menu item Select printer.

The button Scan, decode, run invokes the menu item Scan, decode,run .

The button Scan, decode invokes the menu item Scan, decode .

The button Open, decode invokes the menu item Open, decode.

The button Open, decode, run invokes the menu item Open, decode, run.

The button Help brings up this help dialog.

The button Exit exits from PaperDisk.


Scan Error

PaperDisk is unable to proceed in decoding the DataTile.  You will have to rescan the DataTile.

A number of causes could account for the problem. Click on the relevant error message below to troubleshoot.

Scan problem: can't find landmark

Scan problem: can't find MetaSector markers

Scan problem: can't decode MetaSector

Scan problem: can't find DataSector markers

Scan problem: too many bit errors

See also Troubleshooting Scanning Tips  Faxing


Scan problem: can't find landmark

Possible causes:

In the scan,  the landmarks (the two sets of three vertical bars at the top of a DataTile) may not have the proper margins to the sides and above.  Be sure that at least 1/4 inch of white space is scanned in to the sides and above these sets of bars.

Scanner is not set at the proper resolution.  Unless the DataTile has been configured for a sheetfed scanner or a fax machine used a scanner, the resolution must be either 300 dpi or 400 dpi, true 256 gray scale.  If a DataTile is configured only for a 400 dpi scanner, it generally cannot be read by a 300 dpi scanner. If the scanner is sheetfed, it should scan at 200 dpi.

You have selected a fax file to be decoded, and it is not of the proper format. If the DataTile has been configured so that it can be scanned by a fax machine, you must choose the Fax to fax modem option. Otherwise you should select the Fax modem to fax modem option.

Some foreign feature -- perhaps text or graphics -- intrudes into the scan, interfering.

Poor calibration of image.  Image is much too dark or much too light as scanned in.

The DataTile came from a fax machine or fax modem and telephone line noise has seriously corrupted it.

The DataTile came from a fax machine, and fine resolution was not set when faxing.

Severe distortion in the image near the landmarks.  This can include:

sudden shifts to left or right in the image as it goes down the page

dramatic changes in the brightness of the image as it goes down the page

vertical "compression" of the image as it goes down the page, squeezing the 	landmark vertically.

See also Troubleshooting Scanning Tips  Faxing


Scan problem: can't find MetaSector markers

Possible causes:

Landmarks (the two sets of three vertical bars at the top of a DataTile), or the MetaSector (the long horizontal strip of dots at the top of a DataTile)  may not have the proper margins to the left, to the right, and above.   Be sure that at least 1/4 inch of white space is scanned in to the left, right, and above the bars and the MetaSector.

Scanner is not set at the proper resolution.  Unless the DataTile has been configured for a sheetfed scanner or a fax machine used a scanner, the resolution must be either 300 dpi or 400 dpi, true 256 gray scale.  If a DataTile is configured only for a 400 dpi scanner, it generally cannot be read by a 300 dpi scanner. If the scanner is sheetfed, it should scan at 200 dpi.

Some foreign feature -- perhaps text or graphics -- intrudes into the scan, interfering.

Poor calibration of image.  Image is much too dark or much too light as scanned in.

The DataTile came from a fax machine or fax modem and telephone line noise has seriously corrupted it.

The DataTile came from a fax machine, and fine resolution was not set when faxing.

Severe distortion in the image near the MetaSector.  This can include:

sudden shifts to left or right in the image as it goes down the page

dramatic changes in the brightness of the image as it goes down the page

vertical "compression" of the image as it goes down the page, squeezing the 	MetaSector vertically.

See also Troubleshooting Scanning Tips  Faxing


Scan problem: can't decode MetaSector

Possible causes:

Scanner is not set at the proper resolution.  Unless the DataTile has been configured for a sheetfed scanner or a fax machine used a scanner, the resolution must be either 300 dpi or 400 dpi, true 256 gray scale.  If a DataTile is configured only for a 400 dpi scanner, it generally cannot be read by a 300 dpi scanner. If the scanner is sheetfed, it should scan at 200 dpi.

Poor calibration of image.  Image is much too dark or much too light as scanned in.

The DataTile came from a fax machine or fax modem and telephone line noise has seriously corrupted it.

The DataTile came from a fax machine, and fine resolution was not set when faxing.

Severe distortion in the image near the MetaSector.  This can include:

sudden shifts to left or right in the image as it goes down the page

dramatic changes in the brightness of the image as it goes down the page

vertical "compression" of the image as it goes down the page, squeezing the 	MetaSector vertically.

See also Troubleshooting Scanning Tips  Faxing


Scan problem: can't find DataSector markers

Possible causes:

DataSector is not completely within the image.  The ENTIRE DataTile -- with a 1/4 inch margin on ALL sides -- must be scanned in for PaperDisk to decode it.

Scanner is not set at the proper resolution.  Unless the DataTile has been configured for a sheetfed scanner or a fax machine used a scanner, the resolution must be either 300 dpi or 400 dpi, true 256 gray scale.  If a DataTile is configured only for a 400 dpi scanner, it generally cannot be read by a 300 dpi scanner. If the scanner is sheetfed, it should scan at 200 dpi.

The image has been processed in some way by the scanner interface. Any form of descreening, filtering, smoothing, or rescaling may be destructive. Such options must be turned OFF: PaperDisk generally demands a raw image (sharpening may however improve the image.)

Poor calibration of image.  Image is much too dark or much too light as scanned in.

The DataTile came from a fax machine or fax modem and telephone line noise has seriously corrupted it.

The DataTile came from a fax machine, and fine resolution was not set when faxing.

Severe distortion in the image near the DataSector.  This can include:

sudden shifts to left or right in the image as it goes down the page

dramatic changes in the brightness of the image as it goes down the page

vertical "compression" of the image as it goes down the page, squeezing the 	DataSector vertically.

See also Troubleshooting Scanning Tips  Faxing


Scan problem: too many bit errors

Possible causes:

DataTile is not completely within the image.  The ENTIRE DataTile -- with a 1/4 inch margin on ALL sides -- must be scanned in for PaperDisk to decode it.

Scanner is not set at the proper resolution.  Unless the DataTile has been configured for a sheetfed scanner or a fax machine used a scanner, the resolution must be either 300 dpi or 400 dpi, true 256 gray scale.  If a DataTile is configured only for a 400 dpi scanner, it generally cannot be read by a 300 dpi scanner. If the scanner is sheetfed, it should scan at 200 dpi.

The image has been processed in some way by the scanner interface. Any form of descreening, filtering, smoothing, or rescaling may be destructive. Such options must be turned OFF: PaperDisk generally demands a raw image (sharpening may however improve the image.)

Poor calibration of image.  Image is much too dark or much too light as scanned in.

The DataTile came from a fax modem or fax machine and telephone line noise has seriously corrupted it.

The DataTile came from a fax machine, and fine resolution was not set when faxing.

Severe distortion in the image near the DataSector.  This can include:

sudden shifts to left or right in the image as it goes down the page

dramatic changes in the brightness of the image as it goes down the page

vertical "compression" of the image as it goes down the page, squeezing the 	DataSector vertically.

See also Troubleshooting Scanning Tips  Faxing


Data Error

DataSector (number1) of (number2) corrupted. Rescan.

Possible causes:

DataTile has been set at a very high data density, and the scan of the DataTile has not been optimum.

Scanner is not set at the proper resolution.  Unless the DataTile has been configured for a sheetfed scanner or a fax machine used a scanner, the resolution must be either 300 dpi or 400 dpi, true 256 gray scale.  If a DataTile is configured only for a 400 dpi scanner, it generally cannot be read by a 300 dpi scanner. If the scanner is sheetfed, it should scan at 200 dpi.

The image has been processed in some way by the scanner interface. Any form of descreening, filtering, smoothing, or rescaling may be destructive. Such options must be turned OFF: PaperDisk generally demands a raw image (sharpening may however improve the image.)

Poor calibration of image.  Image is much too dark or much too light as scanned in.

The DataTile came from a fax machine or fax modem and telephone line noise has seriously corrupted it.

The DataTile came from a fax machine, and fine resolution was not set when faxing.

Severe distortion in the image near the DataSector.  This can include:

sudden shifts to left or right in the image as it goes down the page

dramatic changes in the brightness of the image as it goes down the page

vertical "compression" of the image as it goes down the page, squeezing the 	DataSector vertically.

See also Troubleshooting Scanning Tips  Faxing


Password protection

This dialog asks whether you wish to password protect your DataTile (or DataTile series).  If you choose password protection, a dialog box will arise asking you for the password to impose. Others will need this password to read the DataTile (or DataTile series).


Password protect

This dialog allows you to enter a password of up to 30 characters to impose on your DataTile (or DataTile series).

The password will not be printed as you type.  You must verify the password you typed by retyping it in the second edit box.

If you cancel out, no password protection will be imposed.


Password save

This dialog asks if you wish to save to disk the password you have just imposed.

If you choose to save the password to disk, then be aware that, of course, anyone who has access to your computer has access to this password.

The password is saved to a file called password.ini in the directory \program under the PaperDisk home directory.  The entries will look like this:

C:\PAPERDSK\zipencod\COG.ZIP=hithere

This states that the password for the ZIP file COG.ZIP (generated by a DataTile or DataTile series) in the directory C:\PAPERDSK\zipencod is "hithere".

You can retrieve the entries from the password.ini file by exiting PaperDisk and using your favorite editor.


Create success

This dialog appears after the DataTiles you have been creating are successfully encoded and stored.

You may now print out the DataTiles on the printer.

If the DataTiles are to be inserted into a word processing document, take note of the names of the DataTiles. See  Inserting DataTile into a document  for more details.

You may alter the indentation from the top and left.

You may also increase the number of copies.


Customize data format

This dialog allows you to alter the Data Format descriptors for a DataTile or DataTile series. For the meaning of these parameters, see  Data Format Descriptors .  Unless you are quite comfortable with all aspects of the PaperDisk technology, you are generally advised to avoid altering these settings. Much work has gone into making such adjustments unnecessary.

No change in settings will be saved until the "Save customized settings" button is pressed.  At that time, the entry is saved, and tagged as "customized."

Four data format descriptors can be derived from other information. Spots per seg, data segs, and data sectors across can be derived from a desired width for the DataTile. Data sectors down can be automatically calculated from the height of the DataTile.

To create a DataTile of some desired width, set the width in the edit box fit to max width. Then press the derive from width button. This will calculate values for spots per seg, data segs, and data sectors across so that DataTiles will be of the sought width.

Target scanners

If the DataTile includes hand scanners among its targets, the "hand scanner" box should be checked.  This will require the DataTile to be narrow enough after customizing that a hand scanner could fit it in its field of view.  You will not be allowed to save the customized settings when the DataTile is too wide.

Automate calculation of DataSectors down?

This option allows you to customize the "DataSectors down" parameter.  Ordinarily, PaperDisk calculates automatically the number of rows of DataSectors down, overriding whatever may be shown in the DataSectors down edit box.  This calculation provides a good combination of low overhead, high speed, and robustness in decoding.  If you wish to fix for yourself the value of this parameter, however, clicking on "no" gives you this option.  In that case, whatever you enter for the value of DataSectors down will be the value used.

Redundancy

This option allows you to customize the amount of redundancy used in a DataTile. Redundancy makes its possible to correct errors that crop up in the scan of a DataTile. These errors may be due to imperfections in the scan itself (for example, if a hand scanner distorts an image somewhat) or may arise from poor printing, or flaking, or extraneous marks on the printed page. Generally, the higher the proportion of redundancy, the more reliable will be the correct decoding of a DataTile. However, the smaller the redundancy, the less space a given piece of information will take up on the printed page, and the faster it will decode. If the data format for a DataTile is chosen automatically by the software, it will also select what is regarded as a good setting for redundancy to ensure the concise, swift, but also safe transmission of information.

Yet it is quite reasonable to reduce the level of redundancy if you believe the scanners and printer targeted can support it. Only experimentation with the relevant printer and scanners can determine this. Be sure to print a number of DataTiles and scan them to see that they are correctly decoded before you assume that a setting is a reliable one.


Number DataTiles to create

This dialog arises after all the files in the DataTile (or DataTile series) have been selected.  At this time, you may alter the number of DataTiles in the DataTile series.  The number cannot be less than the minimum required, but can be any larger number.

The minimum required number of DataTiles is calculated by finding the minimum number of printed pages onto which a DataTile series can fit.  (A DataTile series targeted for hand scanners -- which have a field of view between 4 and 5 inches -- will contain narrower DataTiles than those strictly for a flatbed scanner, and so will require more pages.)

The minimum recommended number of DataTiles is often different from the number required.  With a hand scanner, for example, it is sometimes difficult and tedious to obtain a good scan down the entire length of a printed page.  The recommended maximum length for a DataTile intended for hand scanners is about 5 inches down.


DataTile decoded

This dialog appears when a DataTile has been decoded, but that DataTile is only one in a series, and the other DataTiles in that series must yet be decoded to create the original ZIP file.

The dialog tells you which member of the series this DataTile represents, and informs you of the other members of the series that you must still decode.

Generally, you should SAVE the temporary file in the \hppfiles directory by selecting the Write File button.  This is a file comprising a portion of the entire ZIP file associated with the DataTile series.  If you do not save the temporary file, you will have to decode this particular DataTile again.

You may decode the DataTiles in a DataTile series in any order.


Select files

This dialog allows you to select files to be added to a DataTile (or DataTile series).  It bases the data format of the DataTile on the currently active data format entry for the selected printer.

As files are added to, or deleted from, the DataTile (or DataTile series), running totals of the width and the height for the DataTile series are displayed.  Also, the required number and recommended number of DataTiles are calculated and shown.

Listbox information

The listbox shows:

the name of each file that will be encoded in a DataTile

the number of inches down in the DataTile the file demands

the percentage of data compression achieved with the file

the size of the file in bytes after compression

the size of the file in bytes before compression

Add file to DataTile

This button will bring up a file open dialog to find and select a file that will, at a later stage, be added to the DataTile (or DataTile series).  The immediate effect is to add the file to a ZIP file that will be encoded in the DataTile (or DataTile series).

Delete file from DataTile

After selecting a file from the listbox by clicking on it, press this button to delete the file from the ZIP file to be encoded in the DataTile (or DataTile series).

Create DataTiles

Press this button when you are satisfied with the set of files you have selected to be encoded in the DataTile (or DataTile series).  This will bring up one further dialog box, and then the process of encoding into DataTiles will begin.


Print DataTiles

This dialog allows you to print DataTiles that have been previously generated and stored.  Pressing Select DataTiles will bring up a dialog box to choose the DataTiles to print.

Be sure that the DataTiles are configured to the printer currently selected.

You may alter the indentation from the top and left.

You may also increase the number of copies.


Extracted files

This dialog shows the set of files that have been extracted from a DataTile (or DataTile series) after successful decoding.  You are asked whether you wish to write them to disk.

The ZIP file arising from the DataTile (or DataTile series) will already have been stored in the directory \zipdecod under the PaperDisk home directory.

You are given the option of changing the destination directory for the set of files from the default directory \unzipd under the PaperDisk home directory.

You can cancel this operation and later recover the set of files by going to the "Extract from ZIP" menu item under Extract, and selecting the ZIP file just generated.


Enter password

This dialog requires you to enter the password (of up to 30 characters) which has been imposed on this DataTile or DataTile series (or more precisely, on the ZIP file that the DataTile series encodes).

The dialog will also arise if you select Extract from ZIP on a ZIP file generated by a DataTile or DataTile series, and that file requires a password.


Fax configuration

This dialog asks you to identify the type of fax to which you intend the DataTile to be sent.  If you know nothing more about the fax than its phone number, enter fax type unknown.

If you know the fax to be fax modem, or a thermal or laser fax, it is very useful to identify it as such, because the DataTile can be made many times more compact, requiring less time to fax, and less time to decode at the other end.  Identifying the fax type as unknown (or as an inkjet) essentially assumes that the printing process at the fax is the worst possible.

See also Faxing .


DataTile comments

This dialog box allows you to add comments at the top of the page on which a DataTile is printed.

The top line of comments, by default, provides the minimum scanning resolution required to decode the DataTile.  If you are customizing your DataTile format, you may have to change this to the appropriate resolution. (When the Print stored DataTiles menu item is used, you should supply this information. PaperDisk software does not currently keep track of the minimum required scanning resolution for a stored DataTile.)

You must allow sufficient margin at top of the page for the comments to be printed out. If the top margin is less than 0.5 inches, the comments will not appear.


Hewlett-Packard Scanning Software

HP Deskscan

To set the proper type of image in the HP Deskscan software, follow these steps:

1. Open the Custom menu, and choose the Image type menu item. Go to the Name edit box, and enter PaperDisk image type. Now choose Black and white button for Color content, and select 256 Grays in the listbox following. Choose Photo button for Style. Choose Extra-Heavy for sharpening. Now press the Add button. This adds this new entry to the types of images Deskscan can create.

2. Open the Custom menu, and choose the Print path menu item. A dialog box for Print Path will appear. Go to the Name edit box, and enter PaperDisk 300 dpi. Go to the Resolution edit boxes. In the two Photo boxes, horizontal and vertical, enter 300. Now press the Add button.

The effect of the selection in step 2 will be to create a 300 dpi image when you scan in an image. If you wish to scan in a 400 dpi image, add a similar entry, except that 400 should be entered where 300 was in step 2. If you wish to scan in a 600 dpi image, add a similar entry for 600. You should not, however, select a scanning resolution in excess of the scanners optical resolution.

Whenever you use PaperDisk, you should be sure that you use the image type and print path you have just created, to guarantee that the image is in the proper format for PaperDisk to interpret. When the PaperDisk software initially invokes HP Deskscan (following  selection of Scan, decode or Scan, decode, run) the scanning software automatically invokes a preview of the image scanned and may alter the Print path and Image type from the preset PaperDisk defaults. You should in this case reset the Print path and Image type to the PaperDisk entries.

3. Before you scan the DataTile, the preview will likely draw a box around the DataTile. This box must be expanded to include at least a 1/4 inch margin of white space around the DataTile, or PaperDisk will be unable to decode the DataTile.

HP PictureScan

A new TWAIN interface for certain HP scanners (e.g., the ScanJet 3p), HP PictureScan, requires some special steps to employ with PaperDisk.

Though the ScanJet 3p (for example) is optically a 300 dpi scanner, it appears to be somewhat cumbersome to set the resolution of the scan so that the output is a raw 300 dpi image. When the interface is set to scan in a gray scale image -- the "Photograph" option -- it produces by default a 150 dpi image.

It is generally possible to recover the raw 300 dpi image by choosing the "Options" dialog, selecting the Size settings option, setting the Units to pixels, and precisely doubling the Width or Height of the image. If the Width or Height is not precisely doubled, then a scaling routine appears to be invoked, the effect of which seems to be to smooth the image. It is quite important that smoothing not be performed.  (We should note that on some occasions, even precisely doubling the Width or Height seems not to produce the raw image.)

Before you scan the DataTile, the preview will likely draw a box around the DataTile. This box must be expanded to include at least a 1/4 inch margin of white space around the DataTile, or PaperDisk will be unable to decode the DataTile.


WinFax Software

Procedures

To create a fax file from which PaperDisk can extract information in WinFax, it is necessary to invoke the Export option in WinFax.

Bring up the fax of the DataTile series in the WinFax viewer, and choose the Export option, under the File menu. A dialog box will allow you to choose a file format for the file you will create. Choose the TIFF file alternative, which is a so-called G3 fax file.

If the original fax has a number of DataTiles in it, choose to convert all the pages. The Export option will create a sequence of files, each of which contains precisely one DataTile. You must decode each of these files in PaperDisk to generate the original digital files.


Ordering information

PaperDisk Software Order Form - Print out and mail

The following prices are guaranteed through the end of June 1998.

Please indicate how many PaperDisk software licenses you want to register:

Number:                                      	 	 	Amount:

_______	1-4 licenses @$29 ea.	  	________

_______	5-19 licenses @ $19 ea.	________

20+ copies - call (617) 863-0035 for pricing

Massachusetts residents please include 5% sales tax.

First & Last Name:	________________________________________________

Title:	________________________________________________

Company:	________________________________________________

Address:	________________________________________________

City:	____________________  State:___  Zip:_______________

E-mail address:	_______________________________________________

Phone:	___________________  Fax#:  ______________________

Please tell us a little about your computer system:

Computer make/model: __________________________ CPU:_____ RAM:_____

     Hard disk space:_____

Scanner make/model: __________________________ Optical resolution:_____

     Type: __flatbed  __sheetfed __hand  __other

     Image type:   __Color  __grayscale  __binary  __fax machine

Printer make/model: ___________________________  Resolution:_____

     Type: __laser  __LED  __inkjet  __other

Signature:   _________________________________

Mail to:

Order Department

Cobblestone Software, Inc.

76 Lowell Street

Lexington, MA  02173

You can call Cobblestone at (617) 863-0035 for more information


Licensing agreement

LICENSE AGREEMENT for PaperDisk software

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

The software is owned by Cobblestone Software, Inc. ("Cobblestone"), and is protected by United States Copyright Laws and international treaty provisions. Patent pending.  PaperDisk is a registered trademark of Cobblestone Software, Inc.  BY USING THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

TERMS OF LICENSE

This product including the documentation is licensed solely for your internal use. No third party may use the product nor may you use the product on behalf of any third party such as in a service bureau type business. You may not alter, merge, modify, or adopt the software in any way including disassembling, or decompiling. You may not loan, rent, lease, or license the software or any copy. However, you may transfer registered software on a permanent basis provided you transfer the software, this agreement, and all documentation and media and you do not retain any copies.

This License is effective until terminated. You may terminate it at any other time by destroying the product and each copy. This license will also terminate if you fail to comply with any term or condition. This software may be used on a single machine - i.e., the software may be used by a single person who uses the software personally on one or more machines, or installed on a single machine used nonsimultaneously by multiple people, but not both. You may access the software through a network, provided that you have obtained individual registered licenses for the software covering all workstations that will access the software through the network. If, for example, 6 different workstations will access the software on the network, you must have 6 registered licenses, regardless of whether you use the software at different times or concurrently.

Further Terms for Shareware License

1. Evaluation and Registration

This is not free software. You are hereby licensed to use this software for evaluation purposes without charge for a period of 30 days. If you use the software after the 30 day evaluation period you must pay a registration fee of $29. Payments must be made in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to Cobblestone Software, Inc., and sent to:

Cobblestone Software, Inc.

76 Lowell Street

Lexington, MA 02173

Quantity discounts are available. When payment is received, you will be sent the latest registered version of the software.

2. Distribution

You are hereby licensed, without charge, to make as many copies of the Shareware version of this software as you wish, give exact copies of the original Shareware version to anyone, and distribute the Shareware version of the software in its unmodified form via electronic means. You should note that all copies of the Shareware version include and are subject to this license agreement. You are specifically prohibited from charging, or requesting donations, for any such copies, however made, and from distributing all or any part of the software with other products (commercial or otherwise) without prior written permission.

LIMITED WARRANTY

COBBLESTONE LICENSES THE PRODUCT "AS IS" AND DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE PRODUCT WILL MEET ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, THAT THE PRODUCT IS FIT FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE PRODUCT WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR FREE OR VIRUS FREE. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, COBBLESTONE DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

Because software is inherently complex and may not be completely free of errors, you are advised to verify your work and to make backup copies.

YOU SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS WHEN EXECUTING A FILE CONTAINED IN A

DATATILE AS THE EXECUTION COULD HAVE UNINTENDED AND DELETERIOUS

RESULTS - YOU EXECUTE ANY SUCH FILES COMPLETELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU

MUST ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SELECTION OF THE PRODUCT TO

ACHIEVE YOUR INTENDED PURPOSE, FOR THE PROPER INSTALLATION AND USE OF

THE PRODUCT AND FOR VERIFYING THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE PRODUCT. EXECUTING A DOWNLOADED FILE COULD INITIATE A VIRUS, CAUSE THE LOSS OF DATA OR OTHER DAMAGE TO YOUR SYSTEM. YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK. IN NO EVENT WILL COBBLESTONE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT EVEN IF COBBLESTONE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  In the event the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) or DFARS are applicable to this Agreement, the product is provided only with Restricted Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-19(c)(1) & (2) or DFARS 252.227-7013(c)(1)(ii), respectively, as applicable. Contractor/Manufacturer is Cobblestone Software, Inc., 76 Lowell Street, Lexington, MA 02173.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT IT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND COBBLESTONE RELATING TO THE USE OF THE PRODUCT.