JP2734628B

PURPOSE:To automatically detect the error of area designation by scanning the boundary line of a designated area, extracting a feature on the boundary line and controlling transition to character recognizing operation when this feature does not satisfy a prescribed condition. CONSTITUTION:An operator designates the area, which is defined as a recognizing object, in a document on a medium by an area designating means 6 equipped with a tablet and a mouse, etc. When the feature on the boundary line of the area designated by this area designating means 6 is extracted and this feature does not satisfy the prescribed condition, a control part 5 controls the transition to the character recognizing operation. When the feature on the boundary line of the area satisfies the prescribed condition or when the operator instructs continuation, a character recognition part 4 executes character recognition to the recognizing object in the area designated by the area designating means 6. Thus, the automatic detecting function of the error in the area designation can be provided.