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jvinch
Copper Contributor
Dec 28, 2021
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Archive Workflow - Scan PDF, Read Barcode, Create Folder and Store PDF

Relatively new with Teams (+Sharepoint) and we're trying to see if we can automate an existing paper-based document archiving workflow. Here's what we're trying to accomplish:

  • Scan paper files on scanner (TBD, office MFP or otherwise - we'd ideally define a workflow that is scanner independent)
  • First page of the scanned stack of papers has a barcode which represents an unique order number.
  • Interpret the barcode (order number) and create a folder with that number in a Teams/Sharepoint Document Library
  • Move the scanned PDF in its entirety to this folder.

Does anyone have any idea if this is possible - and if so, perhaps shine some light on how to accomplish this?

Thanks!

  • Hi,
    Technically this should be feasible, but you will need to make first a POC to be sure you can read the barcode from the PDFs using a PDF library (Open / third party) for that. Once you have solved the Bar Code reading, the rest of the requirements are feasibly by designing for instance a processing architecture that gets every PDF uploaded to a "Hot folder" in SPO. For every PDF file:
    (1) The Bar Code is read by the business logic designed and implemented in the processsing layer.
    (2) The Bar Code read is interpreted so the business logic can either decide a folder on a destination document library or doing something extra
    (3) The file is moved to the destination folder

    As an example of third party library that can process barcodes in PDF files: https://products.aspose.com/barcode/net/

    Hope it helps!
  • Hi,
    Technically this should be feasible, but you will need to make first a POC to be sure you can read the barcode from the PDFs using a PDF library (Open / third party) for that. Once you have solved the Bar Code reading, the rest of the requirements are feasibly by designing for instance a processing architecture that gets every PDF uploaded to a "Hot folder" in SPO. For every PDF file:
    (1) The Bar Code is read by the business logic designed and implemented in the processsing layer.
    (2) The Bar Code read is interpreted so the business logic can either decide a folder on a destination document library or doing something extra
    (3) The file is moved to the destination folder

    As an example of third party library that can process barcodes in PDF files: https://products.aspose.com/barcode/net/

    Hope it helps!

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