STRUCTURAL DECOMPOSITION IN HANDWRITING

The invention relates to a method for processing lists in handwriting (IN), comprising: initially classifying each of a plurality of text lines (LN) as a distinct text item (TI) which is not part of a list; and a classification process comprising a pattern detection in each text line (LN) for classifying each text line starting with a predetermined list symbol (BT) as a distinct list item (LI) which is part of a list; determining an item indentation (22) of each text item (TI) with respect to a reference position (30) and determining for each list item (LI) a text indentation (24) representing the indentation of text comprised in said list item; and a merging step for merging, as part of a same text item (TI), or as part of a same list item (LI), if predefined conditions are met. A text structure data model may then be generated based on a result of the merging process, thereby defining each text line (LN) as part of either a text item (TI) or a list item (LI).