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Notes - On the seventh day, God didn't create a note app

Sorry for the title...
Anyway, this is my last try. I've been looking very hard for a note-taking application that does what I want, which is quite a lot, I suppose. I've narrowed it down to this:
Support for text and handwritten notes
Ability to include a photograph, taken directly with the camera or from storage
Search function. If you can search handwriting, even better!
Format text
Pictures, ink and text should all be visible at the same time when looking at a note.
My top candidates are
PhatPad/PhatNotes - What I'm currently using. Ink and text are separated and when inserting a picture in text-mode places it as an icon and when inserting in ink-mode it's used as background for all pages
Evernote - Would be perfect, but you can't see your notes... Has all the features, but you need an internet connection to look at them (very ridicules). Don't know about releases prior to 3.x though?
I know this been asked before, but I just can't find any, and this is my last attempt. If people here doesn't know about one, then there really isn't one. Peace of mind is priceless, so I will sell my PDA to buy the app if I have to.

Features for the "Holy Grail" note-taking app

There are numerous threads about the several high-quality inking/note-taking apps available. Quite a few of the apps have very responsive developers striving to meet the requested needs of their users. This thread hopes to capture most requested features of the "ideal" inking/note-taking app for all those developers to consider incorporating to their respective products.
I'll break the features into categories, and encourage others to do the same (and to add categories that I fail to include). I'll begin with the feature I consider to be most sorely lacking from all apps so far.
CROSS-PLATFORM INTEGRATION
1. Notes/notebooks are in a format that can be accessed/edited natively without conversion/import/export from Android and PC, minimally, and from iOS/Mac optimally.
2. In lieu of "native" format integration, the app allows a "one-button" default export/import option, essentially a "quick-save" and a "quick-load" button.
Quick-save feature: Allow me to open a note, add some on-the-fly content, hit the "quick-save" button, then find it moments later on my PC synced via Dropbox. (I want to be able to do this without having to click through multiple file saving/export/location options each time, probably by setting up my default file type/location, etc., and having the title auto-generate with a time-stamp or similar.)
Quick-load feature: Similar, but in reverse. The quick-load button will automatically open (and "import" if necessary) the default file in my Dropbox that I use for ongoing notes at my PC. The goal is to hit one button and have my most recent file of ongoing notes from my PC open, without going through the whole import routine/screens. (And after editing on my GNote, I would hit the "Quick-save" button to easily make the updates available on my PC again.)
NOTE CONTENTS
1. Easily incorporate ink, typed text, drawings/paint, images, imported files, etc., on the same page of a note. (Freenote is strong on this as well.)
INKING EXPERIENCE
1. Ink directly on the page at any location.
2. Option to ink in large strokes via an input panel that captures the ink and then scales and inserts it in a straight line at the indicated cursor point (This is currently one of Freenote's most distinctive features; 7Notes has similar but less well-developed functionality.)
3. Optional palm rejection
4. Configurable stylus button (LectureNotes does a great job with this already)
5. Configurable list of default pens
6. Ink format allows for OCR/text-searchable export to Evernote
NOTEBOOK EXPERIENCE
1. Both a GUI-based and a menu-driven ability to switch between notebooks. I want to be have a screen that shows all my notebooks with spiral-bound notebook icon or similar, but also want to be able to switch from one notebook to another through a drop-down menu available from any page.
DRAWING/PAINTING EXPERIENCE
1. Palette of default shapes/objects to draw into the note. (LectureNotes does this well.)
2. Palette of painting brushes tools with their names/key features listed beside them for those of us that don't recognize them from icon only!
LAYOUT/VIEW
1. Ability to view 2 pages from different notebooks side-by-side for ease of copy and pasting between them; ideally able to lass & drag from one to the other.
2. "Floating" settings: Ability to resize the window so that the app floats. The goal might be to "float" my preferred note app over top of another app in the GNote's split-screen mode. Example: I have the browser and S-Note open on my GNote. But I prefer Freenote, so I have the option to "float" it over top of S-note, so that I can access Freenote with the browser still open beside it.
That's what I have off the top of my head. I hope others of you will add to this list, and that developers of ALL the great inking apps will add their insights as well to explain which features are or are not feasible and why.
JC

I think you covered it pretty well. One thing that's also important is a user-friendly interface-easily understandable and customizable.

I would like to see some if not all of the following features, I know some of them may be big asks but ideas can be taken from the examples:
It would be good if we can have a secure folder for private notes i.e. minutes of meetings that have sensitive information , ideally industry standard encryption.
Handwriting conversion at a later time similar to 7Notes / OneNote
Sharing notes for collaborative working in a format that other apps can read for editing.
Interface needs to be as clean as possible with only essential tools showing as and when needed.
Create our own templates or import from the community using the app.
That's it due now!

For me, PDF import is probably the most important feature.

I'd like to see more apps with the ability to transcribe your handwriting into typed text. That's why I haven't used any other note taking app besides S-Notes. I use that feature all the time. I write in my own handwriting but the output is much cleaner and I can fit more notes onto one page.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

idelgado782 said:
I'd like to see more apps with the ability to transcribe your handwriting into typed text. That's why I haven't used any other note taking app besides S-Notes. I use that feature all the time. I write in my own handwriting but the output is much cleaner and I can fit more notes onto one page.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
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Have you tried 7notes? This app does what you have described and for me personally, I feel that it is more accurate than the Samsung handwriting keyboard. If you use the 7Notes app that comes built in for taking notes, you can write in your handwriting and have them converted into text at a later time.

HasC said:
Have you tried 7notes? This app does what you have described and for me personally, I feel that it is more accurate than the Samsung handwriting keyboard. If you use the 7Notes app that comes built in for taking notes, you can write in your handwriting and have them converted into text at a later time.
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Click to collapse
No I haven't tried it because I wasn't aware of it. I'm going to give it a try tomorrow and I'll post back with my results. Thanks for the suggestion!!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

HasC said:
Have you tried 7notes? This app does what you have described and for me personally, I feel that it is more accurate than the Samsung handwriting keyboard. If you use the 7Notes app that comes built in for taking notes, you can write in your handwriting and have them converted into text at a later time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
7notes is only useful for a couple of words at a time.
What's needed is the ability to convert handwritten notes at a later time. ( aka "S Memo" feature - Handwriting to text).
This should be a basic requirement in all worthwhile handwritten note-taking apps.

I'd add the following "wishlist" (dreamlist) items:
INKING EXPERIENCE
Possibility to select ink (words, sentences) with a free-hand lasso (LectureNotes has it and it's a great and very useful feature) to be moved-resized-rotated-copied-deleted(-edited?).
Possibility to insert text boxes with the additional option to edit them at a later time. With S Note you can insert text in a box but you can't edit it later, i.e. to change a single word (correct me if I'm wrong).
Math formula recognition and translation into a typographic form, like in S Note, and, in addition, possibility to edit the "formula box" at a second time (i.e. for making some correction).
Possibility to use layers (many apps, including Lecturenotes have it, but S Note hasn't)
ANDROID OS INTEGRATION
Possibility to create small note widgets.
In practice a note app that could include all the best features of LectureNotes and S Note would be rather close to my "Holy Grail" note-taking app

I would like an ability to select diagram only template, that can be saved as SVG or VSD format.
Ability to open and edit existing onenote documents.
Cross-platform integration is key for me.
Saving notes in a bitmap image (png, bmp, jpg etc) or pdf format, is completely unacceptable.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk

fixfox2 said:
7notes is only useful for a couple of words at a time.
What's needed is the ability to convert handwritten notes at a later time. ( aka "S Memo" feature - Handwriting to text).
This should be a basic requirement in all worthwhile handwritten note-taking apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure if I understood your comments but I have made some screen shots to show how the notes can be written and then converted at a later time.
If what you meant by a "couple of words at a time" when converting the handwriting then you are correct in your description. The words are converted as you proof read what has been written in your handwriting and you make corrections along the way so what you end up with is your handwritten notes, converted to what was intended.

HasC said:
I am not sure if I understood your comments but I have made some screen shots to show how the notes can be written and then converted at a later time.
If what you meant by a "couple of words at a time" when converting the handwriting then you are correct in your description. The words are converted as you proof read what has been written in your handwriting and you make corrections along the way so what you end up with is your handwritten notes, converted to what was intended.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the time/effort in generating the attached screenshots. Much appreciated.
What I had in mind was to be able to scribble/write all over the screen like we do on regular paper.
This would give me better control of the use of the page space and afford me speed.
Then in editing/formatting at a later time, convert the handwritten notes to text, and drag&drop to place it wherever on the page.
What 7notes has appears to have been a keyboard replacement (alternate input method) designed for regular tablets/phones that do not have a digitizer, hence the writing window area limited to the bottom of the screen (with the text then placed at the Cursor position).
I hope I have been able to clearly express myself.

Want to find organizer / to-do / project management / etc.

So I've been wanting to find something to help me organize my life through the use of my phone for quite a while and have always come up short, mostly because of the oh-so-limited search functionality of the Android market (even on sites like Androlib etc.). Part of the problem seems to be the set of features I want to be included in the app, or at least in interlocking apps (ie one can be opened from within the other and data from one is seamlessly shared to the other), which up until now I have yet to find. So I've come here hoping that our community of tinkerers has found something that might fit the bill. Here is a list of the features I need / want:
Need:
- Calendar integration with alerts, preferably with Google calendar
- Appointments with alerts
- Tasks with multiple levels and with alerts
- Contexts
- Checklists that can be recycled and which can have alerts attached to both the list and individual items
- Contacts integration
- Multi-platform integration (ie can sync with online service and with my desktop)
- Easy to use and easy to keep using (read: doesn't require an hour of my time each day to make sure everything is set for the next)
- Useful widgets
- No monthly fee
- 100% functional (minus sync of course) without a data connection so it can be used when in poor coverage areas or on a plane
Want:
- Much prefer a "Getting Things Done" (GTD) style application
- Location specific alerts (ie upon getting home, a reminder to take the trash out... and yes, I do need this sometimes )
- 100% free (I'm willing to pay for the app, though not a monthly service, but I prefer not to if I don't have to)
- Integration with Email, Text, Phone, and Contacts (ie ability to set a callback appointment from within contacts or us an incoming email to generate a task)
- Persistent alerts (read: I'm going to dismiss something important at some point and I want to be reminded of it again automatically)
Anyway, I know this is a hefty list of demands, but if any of you have suggestions that can actually fit some or all of these, I'd really love to hear them so I can give them a try. I've been looking for this for a while and just can't seem to find something I that fits enough of my important criteria to make it useful to me.
Thanks.

You can try the following :-
Any.Do (free) - A basic to do app without the location feature, it has alarms, different levels of priority and also syncs with your browser.
Remember The Milk (free) - though some features which you are looking for such as location based reminders come with the pro version, which requires a monthly fee that adds up to 25 USD a year and is a bit too expensive in my opinion.
Astrid To do (free) - You can get extra features such as location based based reminders and widgets for about 4 GBP total.
Hope I helped!

Thanks a lot, I'll have a look at those to see if they fit the bill. Do any of them have calendar integration?

treblesum81 said:
Thanks a lot, I'll have a look at those to see if they fit the bill. Do any of them have calendar integration?
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As far as I'm aware, I think Astrid does. I've only ever used Astrid and Any.Do. But you should be able to see the feature list on the Play Store. If you're looking exclusively for calendar integration, I think you should check out Gtasks

madgooner2810 said:
As far as I'm aware, I think Astrid does. I've only ever used Astrid and Any.Do. But you should be able to see the feature list on the Play Store. If you're looking exclusively for calendar integration, I think you should check out Gtasks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that's another one I'll have a look at, but the thing is that I'm looking for a daily planner, which is also a task manager so I can build to-do lists into my schedule, while also having a good schedule app, if that makes any sense. Kind of an all-in-one type of thing with as much versatility / features as can be packed in.

treblesum81 said:
I guess that's another one I'll have a look at, but the thing is that I'm looking for a daily planner, which is also a task manager so I can build to-do lists into my schedule, while also having a good schedule app, if that makes any sense. Kind of an all-in-one type of thing with as much versatility / features as can be packed in.
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Click to collapse
Then, in my opinion, your best bet would be Astrid with the paid locale add on.

madgooner2810 said:
Then, in my opinion, your best bet would be Astrid with the paid locale add on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've spent the last few hours messing around with Astrid today (not the locale plug in though) and found that it lacks the ability to make a reoccuring checklist or at least subordinate lists (ie a task with a list of tasks contained within it) which is one of the most important features that I'm looking for. Unless I just haven't found the right way to do it, if I wanted to make a recurring checklist for cleaning the house, for example, I'd have to enter in each separate cleaning item as its own task which would be cumbersome and also would start filling up my inbox with old tasks pretty quickly if I decide to defer some items off a week or two.
I guess now the question is what would be your second recommendation, if any, while keeping in mind the need for checklists / subordinate tasks? Do any of the other apps like Doit.im, Shuffle, or DGT GTD (all of which have subordinate lists, but not checklists a la remember the milk, and all of which I've tried, but not been able to use successfully for one reason or another) have locale-type add-ons?
Thanks again

treblesum81 said:
I've spent the last few hours messing around with Astrid today (not the locale plug in though) and found that it lacks the ability to make a reoccuring checklist or at least subordinate lists (ie a task with a list of tasks contained within it) which is one of the most important features that I'm looking for. Unless I just haven't found the right way to do it, if I wanted to make a recurring checklist for cleaning the house, for example, I'd have to enter in each separate cleaning item as its own task which would be cumbersome and also would start filling up my inbox with old tasks pretty quickly if I decide to defer some items off a week or two.
I guess now the question is what would be your second recommendation, if any, while keeping in mind the need for checklists / subordinate tasks? Do any of the other apps like Doit.im, Shuffle, or DGT GTD (all of which have subordinate lists, but not checklists a la remember the milk, and all of which I've tried, but not been able to use successfully for one reason or another) have locale-type add-ons?
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You talk about a requirement for a multi-level checklist, unless I'm mistaken, is it the same as the one in the first screenshot of Astrid's Google Play page? Doit.im, Shufle and DGT GTD do not seem to have location add ons, but I did come across another app which might interest you :- "2Do: To do List | Task List" It's for about 6.99 USD and it does seem to have all features EXCEPT location based notifications. My advice would be to fully explore/understand Astrid and then buy the add on if you're interested. I still think it has the necessary feature (sublists) , I am downloading the app and figuring out how to do the same, if I find a way, I'll post it here.
EDIT: To make subtasks, create the two seperate taks (for example let the main one be clean room and the subtask be make the bed), then longpress make the bed and drag it to the the faint grey divider you can see between every task, when you drag it there, you may notice that make the bed got indented to the right and that should make your subtask list! You can verify if your subtask has been included by checking the main task, in this case, clean the room, and if both clean the room and make the bed get checked out you should have understood the whole process. Similarly, you can add more subtasks, say vaccuum the floor, by longpressing and dragging it to the divider just below the main task. Hope I Helped!
alternatively you can check this website out for more help: blog.astrid.com/how-do-i-create-subtasks/

madgooner2810 said:
You talk about a requirement for a multi-level checklist, unless I'm mistaken, is it the same as the one in the first screenshot of Astrid's Google Play page? Doit.im, Shufle and DGT GTD do not seem to have location add ons, but I did come across another app which might interest you :- "2Do: To do List | Task List" It's for about 6.99 USD and it does seem to have all features EXCEPT location based notifications. My advice would be to fully explore/understand Astrid and then buy the add on if you're interested. I still think it has the necessary feature (sublists) , I am downloading the app and figuring out how to do the same, if I find a way, I'll post it here.
EDIT: To make subtasks, create the two seperate taks (for example let the main one be clean room and the subtask be make the bed), then longpress make the bed and drag it to the the faint grey divider you can see between every task, when you drag it there, you may notice that make the bed got indented to the right and that should make your subtask list! You can verify if your subtask has been included by checking the main task, in this case, clean the room, and if both clean the room and make the bed get checked out you should have understood the whole process. Similarly, you can add more subtasks, say vaccuum the floor, by longpressing and dragging it to the divider just below the main task. Hope I Helped!
alternatively you can check this website out for more help: blog.astrid.com/how-do-i-create-subtasks/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate the help so far. I'm once again moving away from Astrid because I can't seem to get the subtasks to reoccur as subtasks on a daily / weekly schedule. I'm a manager at a restaurant, so I tried to put together a store closing checklist, which worked fine the first day, but when I set it to repeat for the second day, it did not retain the subtasks as subordinate to the main task and mixed them all in with other tasks I'd created. In addition to this problem, I've been unable to get any tasks that I create to sync with my calendar, even when enabling the GTasks sync and then having GTasks sync with my calendar, which again means that a primary function is not working as needed, or at least I have not been able to figure it out.
I'm going to have a look at 2Do to see what its got going for it, but I'm starting to feel like a lot of the apps that we've discussed so far, while still decent apps which are well written, are not going to present me with the catch-all I was hoping for.

On a side note, I have found that more apps are starting to include location based reminders, but they often come with fatal flaws for my desired use. MyLifeOrganized has location based reminders, but the only way to sync it to my calendar is to use either the cloud based sync or the desktop program both of which cost extra money and, from what I've read, create a system where getting tasks to appear in your calendar is hit or miss at best.
I've also noticed a distinct lack of proper calendar integration in everything I've tried. Some are able to put a task on the calendar, but if I want to be able to attach a to-do list to an appointment or time block, which is possible from what I understand about the calendar code, there just isn't any kind of option beyond making the appointment and then making a task which is due at the same time. Maybe I'm asking too much of these apps?

treblesum81 said:
On a side note, I have found that more apps are starting to include location based reminders, but they often come with fatal flaws for my desired use. MyLifeOrganized has location based reminders, but the only way to sync it to my calendar is to use either the cloud based sync or the desktop program both of which cost extra money and, from what I've read, create a system where getting tasks to appear in your calendar is hit or miss at best.
I've also noticed a distinct lack of proper calendar integration in everything I've tried. Some are able to put a task on the calendar, but if I want to be able to attach a to-do list to an appointment or time block, which is possible from what I understand about the calendar code, there just isn't any kind of option beyond making the appointment and then making a task which is due at the same time. Maybe I'm asking too much of these apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You ARE asking for a for a really feature heavy app. I guess what you require isn't just available in one single app right now. Maybe if you would be willing to combine 2 or 3 apps to get the job done you could achieve what you need. I'm sure app devs will add more features, but as of now I guess all apps I can suggest are insufficient for your needs. If you want, I can tinker around a bit and see what apps you can use as a combination?

madgooner2810 said:
You ARE asking for a for a really feature heavy app. I guess what you require isn't just available in one single app right now. Maybe if you would be willing to combine 2 or 3 apps to get the job done you could achieve what you need. I'm sure app devs will add more features, but as of now I guess all apps I can suggest are insufficient for your needs. If you want, I can tinker around a bit and see what apps you can use as a combination?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am willing to combine apps, but only if they are interlocking, or at least very easy to use together. Trying to juggle 2-3 different sets of tasks / appointments / calendars just seems like it would be too cumbersome for me to stick with it, which is ultimately going to be the deciding factor about how successful the app(s) are for my needs. If I have to re-enter a new set of checklists, or even re-subordinate each subtask every time I want a checklist to repeat, I'm not going to use it very long. Just like if I have to do triple-entry bookkeeping to have an appointment or project deadline, plus have that project have a to-do list associated with it, and also have trouble integrating everything into a single calendar, I'm not going to use it very long. If any of that makes sense?

App for serously annotating PDFs.

The question has been asked several times. Even recently I;ve seen the topic, but I'm looking for something most annotation applications can't handle and I was wondering if there is an application or applications that can handle it. There are really two and half things that I would like to do.
Sometimes the margins aren't enough room for the comments I want to make. I would like to open up a gap in the text where I can write something. Basically I want to "add a page" in between text ( even if only at paragraph breaks).
The second thing is I would want at least one "comment layer" and hopefully more. By comment layer I mean a layer like in GIMP,Krita, Inksape and other drawing programs which I mark up and can shut on or off.
The third thing ( actually the half thing, because I really expect it in a decent program ) I would like is to somehow be able to save my changes to a seperate file, which I could reload later and modify the notations with out hurting the original document. In other words "export to pdf" is not the only way of saving something.
Thanks

AW: App for serously annotating PDFs.
Unfortunately you did not mention Which apps you already tested and did not find useful .
I'm sure that the Combination of your wish list Will lead to no result .Currently Im happy With ezPDF reader but Im also teting iAnnotate .
l like the Idea of saveing the annotation In a separate file . This Would also enable annotation for protected files.

Have you tried Lecture Notes. You can divide pages to create the extra page you wish. You can add multiple layers for annotating, drawing etc. and each layer is saved as a separate file.
Sent from my GT-N8000 using xda app-developers app

Another vote for lecture notes. Every time I tell myself it can't do something and I will try another app, I figure out how to do it or the new feature is released. You will not be disappointed.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk HD

GETCASHMONEY said:
Another vote for lecture notes. Every time I tell myself it can't do something and I will try another app, I figure out how to do it or the new feature is released. You will not be disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whilst I love LN, I think it is nowhere near useful for any serious PDF work.
The software is brilliant in importing PDFs, and I think that is a great functionality for ripping off bits of PDF documents and including them in handwritten notes. On the other hand LN does not (and it is not supposed to) handle PDF documents in their native format. It simply transforms them into bitmap images. When you export the notebook back to PDF the result is 6-8 times larger than the original (could be less, depending on the type of document) and it has lost all the vectorial and text content. Besides, LN struggles to import anything that has more than 100-150 pages and contains lots of objects.
I do quite a lot of proof reading of PDFs of technical publications, and I find that my note is a fantastic tool for annotating draft publications, despite having a desktop PC with a very large screen in front of me. I do not need the features requested by the OP, because the tablet is my secondary instrument and I can always go back to my PC for more complicated things. So far the most comprehensive software that I found for annotating PDFs is ezPDF, followed by Adobe Reader. I also bought LN, but that helps me in different things.
What MouseTheLuckyDog is looking for is probably an Android port of Adobe Acrobat, but I doubt we will ever see one, at least in the short term.

Floating Draw
MouseTheLuckyDog said:
The question has been asked several times. Even recently I;ve seen the topic, but I'm looking for something most annotation applications can't handle and I was wondering if there is an application or applications that can handle it. There are really two and half things that I would like to do.
Sometimes the margins aren't enough room for the comments I want to make. I would like to open up a gap in the text where I can write something. Basically I want to "add a page" in between text ( even if only at paragraph breaks).
The second thing is I would want at least one "comment layer" and hopefully more. By comment layer I mean a layer like in GIMP,Krita, Inksape and other drawing programs which I mark up and can shut on or off.
The third thing ( actually the half thing, because I really expect it in a decent program ) I would like is to somehow be able to save my changes to a seperate file, which I could reload later and modify the notations with out hurting the original document. In other words "export to pdf" is not the only way of saving something.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It allows you to write on any doc or screen on your tablet.

I don't know if this is of any use but my workflow is using Zotero within Firefox on the desktop. There is also another zotero extension that I use to sync the pdfs to dropbox, and from there onto my note via foldersync. I then read and highlight using ezpdf, then import back into zotero and this extracts all my highlighted text.

Ezpdf reader
MouseTheLuckyDog said:
The question has been asked several times. Even recently I;ve seen the topic, but I'm looking for something most annotation applications can't handle and I was wondering if there is an application or applications that can handle it. There are really two and half things that I would like to do.
Sometimes the margins aren't enough room for the comments I want to make. I would like to open up a gap in the text where I can write something. Basically I want to "add a page" in between text ( even if only at paragraph breaks).
The second thing is I would want at least one "comment layer" and hopefully more. By comment layer I mean a layer like in GIMP,Krita, Inksape and other drawing programs which I mark up and can shut on or off.
The third thing ( actually the half thing, because I really expect it in a decent program ) I would like is to somehow be able to save my changes to a seperate file, which I could reload later and modify the notations with out hurting the original document. In other words "export to pdf" is not the only way of saving something.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried this. I am I use it for work and it gives me everything I need.

edirector said:
It allows you to write on any doc or screen on your tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Editors Note: The app in question is "floating draw".
So next time I open the doc willl I see the annotations there?

I've been looking for app with similar requirements. Only apps I found that allow you to export to PDF without converting everything to images are Adobe Reader and EzPDF. Adobe has a bit limited functionality (could use an eraser or full touch rejection mode), but I think it's still the best choice available - EzPDF does everything I need, but its small icons are extremely uncomfortable.

I use Mantano. .
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

ezPDF all the way...
also see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2083668

Maybe iannotate pdf...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.branchfire.iannotate

i use both ezpdf and mantano i like them both

[APP][4.0+] New business scanner app for Android

Hi guys! Let us introduce our new Android app PDF Scanner.
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"lightbox_next": "Next",
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"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Features
* Convert your docs into PDF format
Use your phone camera to scan all kinds of paper documents, ranging from receipts, notes, invoices, business cards to contracts, whiteboard discussions, certificates, etc.
* Efficient image processing
Smart doc detection algorithm, OCR text recognition, perspective correction, rectangular trim, aspect ratio adjustment, image enhancing controls – all in one window for your convenience. This makes scanning process both easy and efficient, especially for batch processing mode.
* Text recognition, OCR
Built-in OCR system to recognise and extract text from images. All processing is performed locally right on users device, what keeps sensitive data contained and secure. You can share recognized text to any app installed on your device to create a new email, sms, translate to other languages with Google Translate (for instance), etc.
*Share PDF/JPEG Files
Convert images to premium quality PDF and Upload documents to cloud storage services: dropbox, gdocs, evernote, use mail services, bluetooth or facebook, twitter, skype, etc. with no limits and absolutely free
What makes our scanner app different from others:
- all image processing in one window, no need to switch between separate screens during image editing
- aspect ratio control feature. You can shrink/stretch image as necessary
- Built-in OCR system (50 languages supported). All processing is performed locally right on users device, what keeps sensitive data contained and secure
- both portrait and landscape UI are supported for better user experience
- no limits on number of documents, pages, etc.
Installation instructions
Permissions:
- Access Network State, Internet, Bluetooth: needed to share documents
- Write External Storage, Test access to protected storage: needed to save documents to your device
Downloads
Available on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grymala.photoscannerpdftrial
The free version has all features unlocked, however scanned documents are generated with watermark, plus there is a limit for OCR credits. You can upgrade to PRO version at any time to remove watermarks, ad banners and lift OCR limitations.
XDA:DevDB Information
PDF Scanner FREE + OCR Plugin, App for all devices (see above for details)
Contributors
GRYMALA
Version Information
Status: Stable
Current Stable Version: 1.1.10
Stable Release Date: 2014-05-11
Created 2014-05-06
Last Updated 2014-05-22

Sounds pretty good, but, link?

Chxrlyglez said:
Sounds pretty good, but, link?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks) I just have added link to the description, see Download section

Up

Very nice app.
Just a suggestion: after ocr , the app propose to share the recognised text with an app like mail message ... insteadof to have the possibility to save the text with the scanned object and to have possibility to paste the recognised text into office app.
Best regard
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Premium HD app

Hi Philippe,
Thanks for your feedback. Thats true, saving recognised text together with the scanned image is currently out of the scope of presented functionallity. It would be very helpful if you could describe how you see it. We are very opened to accept suggestions/recommendations from our users. Feel free to submit a Feature Request.

Hello Pave
Some problems I met and I would like to share:
1) the grips for modifying an image (crop/sale/perspective) are very small and often my finger press/click an icon (ocr/ upright- or scale/crop/perspective-down left)
2) when I modify a picture (filter or* crop or scale...) in order to enhance the success of ocr-ing text or just scan the interesting part, I apply filter, crop,...but after It's impossible to save the modified picture.
And when ocr is launched,* all the picture is scanned despite it was modified before.
3) please display the the active langage on the ocr icon. Long press on the ocr icon swipe the langage.*
4) When I press on save, app answers nothing to save even I modify a picture!
So it's difficult to understand the save feature:
-Save original picture?
-Save modified picture?
-Save for transforming into pdf? So why not have a icon 'scan pdf' in order to pdf-ise directly
-Save recognised text?
I send you several crash report of you
Best regards

phvo said:
Hello Pavel
Some problems I met and I would like to share:
1) the grips for modifying an image (crop/sale/perspective) are very small and often my finger press/click an icon (ocr/ upright- or scale/crop/perspective-down left)
2) when I modify a picture (filter or* crop or scale...) in order to enhance the success of ocr-ing text or just scan the interesting part, I apply filter, crop,...but after It's impossible to save the modified picture.
And when ocr is launched,* all the picture is scanned despite it was modified before.
3) please display the the active langage on the ocr icon. Long press on the ocr icon swipe the langage.*
4) When I press on save, app answers nothing to save even I modify a picture!
So it's difficult to understand the save feature:
-Save original picture?
-Save modified picture?
-Save for transforming into pdf? So why not have a icon 'scan pdf' in order to pdf-ise directly
-Save recognised text?
I send you several crash report of you
Best regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing, Philippe
In the same order you have asked:
1) the grips for modifying an image (crop/sale/perspective) are very small and often my finger press/click an icon (ocr/ upright- or scale/crop/perspective-down left)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not neccesary to press grips at all, app detects the closest grip to your finger and then you just move it as you wish. Just position your finger somewhere near the grip and try to move it. You will see that it works even though you are not pressing on the grip directly. We hope this is more convenient to user, than pressing exactly on the grip
2) when I modify a picture (filter or* crop or scale...) in order to enhance the success of ocr-ing text or just scan the interesting part, I apply filter, crop,...but after It's impossible to save the modified picture.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is strange. It works on all of our testing devices. Can you please describe the exact order of operations to reproduce this bug?
3) please display the the active langage on the ocr icon. Long press on the ocr icon swipe the langage.*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, we will think about that
4) When I press on save, app answers nothing to save even I modify a picture!
So it's difficult to understand the save feature:
-Save original picture?
-Save modified picture?
-Save for transforming into pdf? So why not have a icon 'scan pdf' in order to pdf-ise directly
-Save recognised text?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Save button in this window should just save ANY changes you have applied to the image. It appears beeing related to second problem you have mentioned. Can you please describe the exact order of operations to reproduce this bug?

Hello Pavel
1) it's OK. It's just question of training...but it's not evident for the first time.
2) OK I understand:
a) you click on edit then
b) you can modify the picture (crop/scale/perspective) with your finger. In order to 'apply' your modifications you click one more time on the crop/scale/perspective or filter icon.
c) then you can save definitely the modified picture.
But you lose original picture! May be it will be interesting to keep original if you want to do modifications later *on the original picture.
3 ) OK. Super!
4) related to 2). I sugest : Press on save icon saves modifications or results of the moment => If you modify the picture it saves the modified picture , if you do ocr, it saves the recognised text, if you pdf-ise a picture, it save the pdf. For the original picture, I suggest that it saved by default.*
I suggest also that in the "new document" view, you can see the original picture in a small vignette (as actual) but you can access (long press /swipe) to all saved objects (modified picture/ ocr text/ pdf / jpeg) related to the vignette.
5) After OCR, the app propose directly to share the result of the ocr process ! But may be, before sharing, I want to check the result of the ocr process and correct letter / sign /word that wasn't correctly recognised. So, I suggest before sharing the result of the OCR process, that the app :
a) shows the recognised text in first,
b) allow to corrects mistakes, (==> learn feature from mistakes and correction)
c) save the results
d) and then share
Note : when you share an ocr text with some app, the app opens but the ocr text didn't paste (cf memo app on note 2 - KK 4.4.2).
6) Same suggestions with transformation in pdf or jpeg : after pdf process, the app directly propose to share the pdf / jpeg with external app. But before, I want to check if the pdf/ jpeg is OK before Sharing. I want to save the pdf / jpeg in order to use it later. (the pdf appears in the RecentPages directory). So why not to display it in the new document view of the app ?
Best regards

phvo said:
Hello Pavel
1) it's OK. It's just question of training...but it's not evident for the first time.
2) OK I understand:
a) you click on edit then
b) you can modify the picture (crop/scale/perspective) with your finger. In order to 'apply' your modifications you click one more time on the crop/scale/perspective or filter icon.
c) then you can save definitely the modified picture.
But you lose original picture! May be it will be interesting to keep original if you want to do modifications later *on the original picture.
3 ) OK. Super!
4) related to 2). I sugest : Press on save icon saves modifications or results of the moment => If you modify the picture it saves the modified picture , if you do ocr, it saves the recognised text, if you pdf-ise a picture, it save the pdf. For the original picture, I suggest that it saved by default.*
I suggest also that in the "new document" view, you can see the original picture in a small vignette (as actual) but you can access (long press /swipe) to all saved objects (modified picture/ ocr text/ pdf / jpeg) related to the vignette.
5) After OCR, the app propose directly to share the result of the ocr process ! But may be, before sharing, I want to check the result of the ocr process and correct letter / sign /word that wasn't correctly recognised. So, I suggest before sharing the result of the OCR process, that the app :
a) shows the recognised text in first,
b) allow to corrects mistakes, (==> learn feature from mistakes and correction)
c) save the results
d) and then share
Note : when you share an ocr text with some app, the app opens but the ocr text didn't paste (cf memo app on note 2 - KK 4.4.2).
6) Same suggestions with transformation in pdf or jpeg : after pdf process, the app directly propose to share the pdf / jpeg with external app. But before, I want to check if the pdf/ jpeg is OK before Sharing. I want to save the pdf / jpeg in order to use it later. (the pdf appears in the RecentPages directory). So why not to display it in the new document view of the app ?
Best regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Philippe,
It is good to hear that Save button actually works as it should. Regarding your comments:
c) then you can save definitely the modified picture.
But you lose original picture! May be it will be interesting to keep original if you want to do modifications later *on the original picture.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, when you press Save button after you have edited image the edited version will be saved and replace the original one. We think about adding a new "filter", which will revert all changes and switch the image to the original picture.
4) related to 2). I sugest : Press on save icon saves modifications or results of the moment => If you modify the picture it saves the modified picture , if you do ocr, it saves the recognised text, if you pdf-ise a picture, it save the pdf. For the original picture, I suggest that it saved by default.*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have thought about that as well, this behaviour will be implemented in one of the next versions
5) After OCR, the app propose directly to share the result of the ocr process ! But may be, before sharing, I want to check the result of the ocr process and correct letter / sign /word that wasn't correctly recognised. So, I suggest before sharing the result of the OCR process, that the app :
a) shows the recognised text in first,
b) allow to corrects mistakes, (==> learn feature from mistakes and correction)
c) save the results
d) and then share
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it is a good idea itself, but we thought that one would prefer to correct/modify text in some existing text editor. So, at the current stage of app development, we would prefer to include support for different text editors rather than coding our own. However, we will keep your suggestion in mind.
Note : when you share an ocr text with some app, the app opens but the ocr text didn't paste (cf memo app on note 2 - KK 4.4.2).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you give a link to the app? We will test
6) Same suggestions with transformation in pdf or jpeg : after pdf process, the app directly propose to share the pdf / jpeg with external app. But before, I want to check if the pdf/ jpeg is OK before Sharing. I want to save the pdf / jpeg in order to use it later. (the pdf appears in the RecentPages directory). So why not to display it in the new document view of the app ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually you can open PDF for preview before you send it. Check Options and set "Open PDF" to "On".
Regarding JPG: In the main ("New document") window press on the picture icon, it will open another window where you can preview or edit image again if neccessary
Regards,
Pav

GRYMALA said:
Hi Philippe,
It is good to hear that Save button actually works as it should. Regarding your comments:
yes, when you press Save button after you have edited image the edited version will be saved and replace the original one. We think about adding a new "filter", which will revert all changes and switch the image to the original picture.
We have thought about that as well, this behaviour will be implemented in one of the next versions
Well, it is a good idea itself, but we thought that one would prefer to correct/modify text in some existing text editor. So, at the current stage of app development, we would prefer to include support for different text editors rather than coding our own. However, we will keep your suggestion in mind.
Can you give a link to the app? We will test
Actually you can open PDF for preview before you send it. Check Options and set "Open PDF" to "On".
Regarding JPG: In the main ("New document") window press on the picture icon, it will open another window where you can preview or edit image again if neccessary
Regards,
Pav
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Pavel,
"about adding a new "filter", which will revert all changes and switch the image to the original picture"
==>instead of "cancelling all changes", Why not just offer the possibility to cancelled sellectively the last change in order to choose the best change + a possibility to compare with the original picture in order to decide if the current change is the best chang.
"Well, it is a good idea itself, but we thought that one would prefer to correct/modify text in some existing text editor. So, at the current stage of app development, we would prefer to include support for different text editors rather than coding our own. However, we will keep your suggestion in mind. "
==> the problem is not if I can modify ocr text with embeded or internal editor but to hav possibility to check (with internal or external editor) the result before sharing !
On my device, when the OCR process ends,I have just the choice to share the results with an extrenal app like mail, gmail, MMS or SMS, and so on... So I can't check the results of the OCR process before I "share" it into a third app. In other word, I have to share the results of the OCR process, then correct the result directly into the app I have select to share the result of the OCR process.
"Can you give a link to the app? We will test" ==> memo.apk, a samsung app
best regards
Philippe

"about adding a new "filter", which will revert all changes and switch the image to the original picture"
==>instead of "cancelling all changes", Why not just offer the possibility to cancelled sellectively the last change in order to choose the best change + a possibility to compare with the original picture in order to decide if the current change is the best chang.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not going deep into details, there are some technical limitations to achieve that.
"Well, it is a good idea itself, but we thought that one would prefer to correct/modify text in some existing text editor. So, at the current stage of app development, we would prefer to include support for different text editors rather than coding our own. However, we will keep your suggestion in mind. "
==> the problem is not if I can modify ocr text with embeded or internal editor but to hav possibility to check (with internal or external editor) the result before sharing !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats true, but all of these apps usually have 'Share text' option, dont they? Our main idea is just to allow the user to use recognised text in other apps, where he/she can edit it and then share.
We are working on a new update already, i'll post a message once it is out
Regards,
Pav

aryanabla said:
Good job.. Have ga good days
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you

Suggestions for new features for a scan app
I would like to share with you some suggestions:
1) Until the bug isn't solved: when download langage pack, dysplay a short message "wait until the langage pack is really installed"
2) after "ocr " ing a text : the recognised text should be saved "as a note/comment" with the scanned text. Then I could :
-paste the recognised text into other app like office app,
-share quickly with an other app: mail, message, note...
What so you think about these?
best regards
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Premium HD app

1) Until the bug isn't solved: when download langage pack, dysplay a short message "wait until the langage pack is really installed"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do agree, this should be improved
2) after "ocr " ing a text : the recognised text should be saved "as a note/comment" with the scanned text. Then I could :
-paste the recognised text into other app like office app,
-share quickly with an other app: mail, message, note...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it makes sense to save recognized text and to associate it with the image.
We are currently working on the update to include some improvements discussed above. There is lots of work, plaease understand that its challenging to add new features immediately. However let me reassure you once again that we always keep suggestions from our users in mind and are constantly working to make the app better
Regards,
Pavel

Update to 1.1.12
Hi Guys!
New version is out Whats new:
1) New filter button has been added which allows to revert changes
2) Interface improvements: long click on OCR button to switch language, less ads
3) Minor bug fixes

Hello Pavel
I understand that there is a lot of work and I will be patient and wait for new version.
I have an other suggestions :
3) sometimes, ocr-ed text are scaned from news magazine.* But the article presents the text in 1 or 2 or 3 column. I think that it will be a great feature in ocr - ing a text if it was possible to set the number of column corresponding to the scaned article.
4) possibility to recognised text from a pdf.
5) to be able to scan code bar or qr code...
6) add a feature to scan and recognised quickly mail address, mail, phone number., url, ...from visit card, poster, advertising, ...
I really appreciate your attention to my suggestions.
Best regards
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Premium HD app