Document Management

[DougJrS]

I am looking for some kind of document management software. I would like to be able to scan all my bills and reciepts and then shread the paper ones.

I have searched online and found lots of PC programs that let you scan a document then make some "comments" on it and the program saves it. (Comments like "December 2005 Amex bill.")

Anyone have a suggestion for this?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[iSaint]

One step is to sign up for online billing for some services, and online statements for your bank accounts. That will save a few trees.

Were any of what you found available for Mac?

 

[DougJrS]

Good Idea

I do have online billing for most things. (Actually my Amex bill is already a PDF and I do not get a paper copy.)

I have yet to find a Mac version of really anykind of PC type document management software.

Doug

 

[Le Big Mac]

I am looking for some kind of document management software. I would like to be able to scan all my bills and reciepts and then shread the paper ones.

I have searched online and found lots of PC programs that let you scan a document then make some "comments" on it and the program saves it. (Comments like "December 2005 Amex bill.")

Anyone have a suggestion for this?

Thanks,
Doug

Why not just scan your bills and receipts on a flattop scanner, and then name the documents appropriately or dump them in the right folder?

I don't know what any software will do better--you'll still have to type something in. The scanning is what will take the time anyway.

 

[Chef Medeski]

I thought this is built into OS X?

Just in Finder Click "Get Info" and then under comments put in whatever you want. Then in Spotlight search for it.

BAM!!! No Mac application needed.

 

[bgd]

I do this.

I use a Canon scanner which scans straight to a PDF file. I rename the file to something meaningful along with the date, e.g. Gas20051220.pdf, and file in a directory for the year.

At the start of each year I create a new directory. And with spotlight I can find any doc I need.

It only works if I scan mail as it arrives. If I let it build up then it won't happen.

 

[blodwyn]

I use a Canon scanner which scans straight to a PDF file. I rename the file to something meaningful along with the date, e.g. Gas20051220.pdf, and file in a directory for the year.

I agree that standardizing on a PDF format by scanning or printing is the way to go. PDF will be around for a long time and so is somewhat better than relying on a proprietary format that may not survive. This does not stop you from using programs like StickyBrain and DevonThink to reference your collection of PDFs, and I think Acrobat used to have an indexing and search tool that could search an archive of PDF documents.

 

[MacsRgr8]

One step is to sign up for online billing for some services, and online statements for your bank accounts. That will save a few trees.

Were any of what you found available for Mac?

Totally OT...

But I loved

That will save a few trees

Wasn't there an app in the System 6 or 7 days called "Save a Tree" which had the purpose to fill more text on pages, resulting in fewer pages needed to be printed for a document? (so cute... )

EDIT: Yes!! You can still download it! SaveATree (4th from bottom)