Knowledgebase

Question: Do I need a scanner to use ABBYY FineReader?
Answer: No, you do not need a scanner to run the program. You can use image files, for example, photos from your digital camera.

Question: Does the program run under Windows Vista?
Answer: Yes, Windows Vista is supported. To learn more about program compatibility, visit the System requirements page on our site.

Question: Does ABBYY FineReader 8.0 use the 64-bit capabilities of Windows Vista 64-bit?
Answer: No, ABBYY FineReader 8.0 runs as a 32-bit application under Windows Vista 64.

Question: Do I have to activate ABBYY FineReader 8.0 each time I reinstall it?
Answer: You can reinstall the program on one and the same computer without activation unlimited number of times. However, if computer configuration was substantially changed, hard drive was formatted or operational system was reinstalled before reinstalling the program, you will need to go through the activation process once again, during which you will be given a new activation code (activation file).

Question: When I try to activate the program, the message appears: “Activation failed. Your serial number cannot be activated automatically. You may be trying to activate more copies of the program than is provided for by the End User License Agreement”.
Answer: This message appears if all automatic activation attempts for your serial number have been used up. You need to contact your local support team. Note that you have to register your copy of the program before writing or calling. Please specify the serial number when contacting the service.

Question: What is Installation ID? What information is used for this parameter?
Answer: Installation ID is automatically built by the program on the basis of technical information about the computer the installation is carried out on. Personal data on the user and the computer, that could identify the user, is NOT used for this parameter. You will receive your personal activation code that will be given on the basis of the serial number and Installation ID parameter.

Question: How can I activate the program if I don’t have Internet access?
Answer: You can obtain the activation code: 

• By visiting our site from another computer (only for Professional Edition). 
• By sending, from another computer, a copy of the activation letter to the automatic activation address. Important! Don’t change the text in the letter and don’t add a signature. The activation code (or activation file) will be sent to you automatically in a couple of seconds. 
• By calling +7 495 7833700;

Question: How can I change the interface language?
Answer: To change the interface language, do the following:

1. Go to Tools> Options and click the General tab;
2. Select the desired language in the Interface language dropdown menu.
3. Click OK.
4. Restart ABBYY FineReader.

Question: What scanning settings are preferable for recognition purposes?
Answer: Resolution: 300 dpi for standard texts (font size 10 and larger) and 400-600 dpi for texts with small font (font size 9 and less). Color: Gray. If you scan in gray mode, brightness will be adjusted automatically.

Question: Why does the following message appear during scanning: Cannot open TWAIN source?
Answer: If this message appears, your scanner driver must be installed incorrectly. To solve the problem, do the following:

1. Exit ABBYY FineReader 8.0.
2. Save the Twack_32.zip application to the hard drive of your computer.
3. Extract the archive and run Twack_32.exe.
4. n the main window of TWAIN_32 Twacker go to File>Acquire.
5. In the dialogue box that appeared, click Scan.

If the scanning was successfully completed in Twacker, start ABBYY FineReader 8.0 and try to scan the image once again. 
If the scanning was not completed in Twacker, go to File>Select Source, then, in the list, select the driver that corresponds to your scanner, then click Select and repeat step 4. If the scanning was successfully completed in Twacker after selecting a new driver, select this driver in ABBYY FineReader 8.0 by going to Tools>Options and then clicking the Scan/Open tab, and start the scanning process. 
If, in Twacker, there is no working driver in the list, reinstall the drivers supplied with your scanner.

If the error persists, contact the Technical Support Service. In your letter, specify the serial number, describe the situation in detail and attach a report file.  

Question: What does ABBYY Screenshot Reader do?
Answer: ABBYY Screenshot Reader is a bonus application to ABBYY FineReader. Screenshot Reader takes screenshots of any section of the screen, recognizes text and tables on this screenshot and saves the recognition results to clipboard or an external application.

Question: How do I obtain an ABBYY Screenshot Reader activation code?
Answer: In order to use ABBYY Screenshot Reader, you must register as an ABBYY FineReader user. You can register on our site, on the Registration page, or by going to Help>Register in the program.

If you didn’t find an answer to your question in this FAQ, you can contact our technical support service. To receive free technical support, do the following:

1. Register the product on the Registration page.
2. Formulate a detailed question.
3. Create a report file.
4. Take a screenshot of the error message or program window if it may help make your question more precise.
5. Send us an e-mail or make a call. For address and telephone number of the office in your region, see Support contacts.

How do I create a report file?
If the program is installed and runs correctly, do the following:

1. Start the program.
2. Go to Help > About…
3. In the dialogue box that opened click System Info…
4. In the Ainfo application that opened click Save As...
5. You will be prompted to save the report file Ainfo.~a~ on your hard drive.

If the program is not installed or doesn’t start, do the following:

1. Open the Support folder on the installation disk or in the folder the distributive was downloaded into.
2. Run Ainfo.exe from this folder.
3. In the window that opened click Save As...
4. You will be prompted to save the report file Ainfo.~a~ on your hard drive.

How do I take a screenshot?
To take a screenshot and save it, do the following:

1. When the image in question (for example, an error message) appears on screen, press the Print Screen key on your keyboard (it is located in the top row of the block of keys above the arrow buttons. An exact copy of the displayed image will be added to clipboard.
2. Start any image editor (for example, Microsoft Paint) or text editor (for example, Microsoft Word) and paste the image from the Clipboard (right-click anywhere and select Paste from the drop-down menu or press Ctrl+V).
3. Save the file.