Reading an ID Number from a Scanned Form

Project

Reading an ID Number from a Scanned Form

 

Requirements/ Specification

 

Abstract

The goal of this project is to write a function which takes as an input an image file (e.g. jpg, bmp) and outputs the id number which is visible in the image file. If the function cannot read the id number, then the function returns -1.

 

Practical

A person fills in a form that was printed beforehand (see next page).  The id was printed (is machine written, not hand written!) on the top right of the form and is in red. The person returns to the office and then has to enter the form into an electronic document system.

 

In the first step he has to convert the manual form into an electronic format. This is done by scanning the manual form with a scanner. The scanner software then produces an jpg or bmp file of the manual form.

 

In the next step, a function processes the jpg/bmp file, locates and reads the id and returns the id as a character (text) string. If the function cannot read the id, it returns -1.

 

 

Conditions

- input file type: bmp, jpg, gif (start with the easiest first)

- Programming Language C#

- The id is printed on the form, it is not hand written.

 

Deliverables

 

C# function that takes as an input a form image file (jpg, bmp) and returns the id that is printed on the form.