If you don't find the answer to your question here, feel free to e-mail us your question.

• What are the benefits of digital archival?

• How much does it cost?
• I know I want my documents on a CD, but I'm not sure what format is right for me. Can you help me?
• I know I want bookmarks and hypertext links, but I need someone to help me incorporate them in my document.
  
• Do I need special software?
  
• Do I need special hardware?
  
• Do I need special training to use the document CD?
  
• What if I upgrade to a DVD player instead of a CD player - - will I still be able to use my document CD?
  
• Will I be able to use my document CD with new technology developments?
  
• What if I want another copy of my document CD later?
  
• What if we lose the CD you provide to us?
  What storage/media options do I have?
  
• How long will my CD last?
  
• Will you provide labels for my CD's and cases?
  
• Can you upload the image files to our server?
  
• What electronic formats are used for the scanned documents?
  
• How can I tell what documents are on the CD?
  
• Do you offer a searchable database of my documents?
  
• Can you convert my paper files into Microsoft Word® format?
  
• Can you OCR my documents?
  
• Can I make changes or add notes to the scanned documents?
  
• What if my paper is damaged or bound?
  
• How secure will my documents be at your site?
  
• Will the sensitive information on my documents remain private?
  
• Do you return my documents or destroy them after creating CD's?
  
• What is the geographical location of Scan 2 Disc?
  
• How much do your services cost?
  
• Should I buy a scanner or outsource my scanning?
  
• What are the advantages of outsourcing my PDF conversions?
  
• Which PDF option is right for me?

The primary benefit is increased productivity. Files can be efficiently retrieved from any computer with access to the source files. The files can be transmitted via E-Mail or fax as well as intranet and internet.

A Scan 2 Disc document imaging specialist will be happy to discuss your various options and help you determine which format makes the best business sense for your needs. In general, Acrobat portable document format (PDF) provides the simplest and most cost-efficient format for your documents. Your files are viewed using the free Acrobat Reader software and the pages appear with all their original formatting, signatures, graphics, etc. in a format that is easy to navigate. Click here to read about the various PDF options available. Acrobat Reader probably already resides on your computer, or we can provide you with a free copy on your CD.

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I know I want bookmarks and hypertext links, but I need someone to help me incorporate them in my document.

A PDF specialist can discuss with you how your document can be bookmarked and hypertext linked to make navigation easier.

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Do I need special software?

No special software is needed. PDF documents can be viewed and printed using the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe. Click on the Acrobat Reader icon below to download the latest free version. TIFF images can be viewed using any multiple-page image viewer, such as the one included in your standard Windows or Macintosh Accessories.

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Do I need special hardware?

A computer with a CD-ROM drive is the only thing you need. Our CD's can be read by Windows, Macintosh, and other platforms.

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Do I need special training to use the document CD?

Using the document CD is as simple as a few clicks. Navigation through electronic documents, particularly those in PDF, is very intuitive. Many people are already familiar with viewing PDF documents over the internet. If you prefer, our document imaging specialists can talk you through using your CD. Scan 2 Disc provides a "Read Me" file on every CD with instructions for viewing and navigating through your documents.

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What if I upgrade to a DVD player instead of a CD player - - will I still be able to use my document CD?

Most DVD players are designed to read CD's. Check the manufacturer's specifications to verify that your DVD drive will read CD's.

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Will I be able to use my document CD with new technology developments?

If you keep your CD or DVD player, you can continue to access your document CD's. Support of CD's within the industry has already been demonstrated by the very fact that CD's can be read in DVD players. Scan 2 Disc will keep abreast of major technology developments and will offer conversion services as required by our customers.

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What if I want another copy of my document CD later?

Scan 2 Disc will be glad to provide additional CD copies for a nominal charge. You can order multiple copies of your CD at the time of scanning or at any subsequent time. Scan 2 Disc will retain a copy of your CD as a backup for five years as our standard policy (or longer upon request).

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What if we lose the CD you provide to us?

Scan 2 Disc maintains a copy of all CD's we create as a backup. Our standard policy is to keep the backup copy for five years. Retention can be longer upon your request.

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What storage/media options do I have?

Scan 2 Disc stores electronic documents on CD's or zip disks (upon request). We recommend the use of CD's because they cannot be erased or altered, are non-proprietary, and have a longer shelf life.

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How long will my CD last?

The published shelf-life of CD's is up to 100 years, according to several sources. Both Sony Electronics and Hewlett Packard publish their CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) specifications as tested "up to 100 years" archival life.

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Will you provide printed labels for my CD's and cases?

Scan 2 Disc provides custom-designed CD labels and jewel case inserts. Design and assembly are included at no additional charge for volume projects.

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Can you upload the image files to our server?

Yes, but this might not be as cost-effective as providing you with CD's to be uploaded by your technician, who is already familiar with your network system. The CD can then be used as your backup copy in case of disaster or as your archival copy.

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What electronic formats are used for the scanned documents?

Scan 2 Disc scans to a variety of formats available on the market today. PDF, TIFF, JPEG, BMP, and GIF are commonly requested formats. We recommend PDF for its added features. TIFF is also an imaging industry standard compatible with most document management systems.

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How can I tell what documents are on the CD?

Your documents, or the main subject document, will be listed on the CD cover. When you access the CD, the documents will be listed showing the names you provide for them. A copy of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader can also be included on every CD at your request.

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Do you offer a searchable database of my documents?

PDF normal and PDF hidden text documents will be easily searchable by words contained within the pages. Other PDF options include automatic bookmarks and links to other sections of your document or to other documents on your CD. In addition, short document information fields can be added to documents.

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Can you convert my paper files into editable Microsoft Word® documents?

Yes, but it is preferable to give us this request before scanning, so we can adjust the scanning resolution accordingly to accommodate the Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The quality of the resulting Microsoft Word document depends on the scanning resolution and the quality of the original paper document.

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Can you OCR my documents?

Yes, Scan 2 Disc utilizes state-of-the-art Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The software we use yields highly accurate results. The accuracy of OCR depends upon the quality of the original paper documents. If you would care to mail us a sample page or two, we would be glad to evaluate the OCR potential of your documents.

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Can I make changes or add notes to the scanned documents?

Not directly onto the CD. CD's are a read-only medium, which protects your images from being deleted or changed. You can annotate or otherwise edit Word documents once you copy them to your hard drive or other read/write media. However, only limited editing of PDF documents can be accomplished. PDF documents can be made password-secure upon your request.

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What if my paper is damaged or bound?

Papers which are damaged, torn, or bound will not be suitable for sheet-feed scanning and must be scanned on the flatbed. Please provide us with information regarding the condition of your paper documents when requesting a quote, so we can give you a more accurate estimate of your project.

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How secure will my documents be at your site?

Your scanning project will be handled by professionals with expertise in document imaging. You can be assured of the careful and confidential handling of all your sensitive documents which are kept in our secure location. We are backed by $4,000,000 insurance, and we have never lost or misplaced a client's file.

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Will the sensitive information on my documents remain private?

Scan 2 Disc handles highly sensitive client information on a daily basis. We have been involved in numerous projects for the US Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, attorneys, and other agencies. We handle all types of private information including W-2 forms showing social security numbers, credit information, legal briefs, and government environmental reports.

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Do you return my documents or destroy them after creating CD's?

Both options are available. Scan 2 Disc works with document destruction services to safely and securely shred your documents should you choose to destroy your documents once they are archived.

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What is the geographical location of Scan 2 Disc?

Scan 2 Disc is located in San Diego, California. We offer free pickup and delivery within the local area. We will be happy to come to your office to discuss your scanning needs.

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How much do your services cost?

Pricing for scanning and PDF services is highly variable due to the volume of documents to be scanned, the nature of the original paper documents and the additional PDF services requested. However, scanning is very affordable and can range from as low as $0.08 per page for high-volume, sheet-feedable work with variable pricing for complex services, such as PDF bookmarks, hypertext links, and OCR. As a rule of thumb, documents which contain numerous staple and clips will run slightly higher in price. To make your scanning project much more affordable, please remove staples at your office and insert colored sheets between sections, using binder clips to hold larger sections together securely. For a detailed estimate, fill out our Quote Request Form or contact us directly.

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Should I buy a scanner or outsource my scanning?

Scanning in-house requires investment in software to save your scanned images to a viewable format. You will spend time and money for training your employee(s) on the software and hardware usage. Many companies find outsourcing their scanning to be more efficient. You save on the time and expense for setting up in-house scanning. Your work is done by professionals with expertise in document scanning and conversion. Click here for a more detailed discussion of the benefits of outsourcing.

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What are the advantages of outsourcing my PDF conversions?

PDF conversion requires great attention to detail, and it can be a tedious process to create bookmarks and hypertext links. Outsourcing your PDF work saves time and resources, and gives you access to the knowledge and skills of a PDF specialist.

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Which PDF option is right for me?

There are 3 basic types of PDF documents: Image Only, Normal, and Image+Hidden Text. The differences between these options are explained on our PDF page. Our PDF specialists will be glad to help you choose among your PDF options.