Getting started with application development

Build and configure custom capture applications for your business requirements. Use the Datacap Application Wizard to build custom applications that are based on provided templates. Configure the applications with prebuilt actions and rules by using either Datacap FastDoc or Datacap Studio. You can further customize your applications by developing your own actions, rulesets, and tasks.

The following tasks represent the steps necessary for creating a custom application for document capture:

1. Start the administrative version of Datacap FastDoc.
   1. In the Windows Start menu, start Datacap FastDoc (Admin).
   2. Select Local for the connection type and click Login.
   The FastDoc program opens.
2. Open the Application Wizard.
   The Application Wizard icon is in the FastDoc window header, next to the account name.

   The wizard guides you through the steps for creating your application and uses one of the following application templates:

   • Use the Forms application template for structured images where you know the types of data that you want to capture and where that data is on each image. For example, a 1040EZ tax form and the types of data on the form, such as name and address, are in the same location on every 1040EZ form. The Forms application template sets up a workflow that you can match against document fingerprints.
   • Use the Learning application template for structured or semi-structured forms where you are receiving the documents from third parties (for example: invoices). Each time a form from a new source is identified, a fingerprint (template) is created. Some or all of the field data is in the same location on the forms from a single source. The Learning application template sets up a workflow where you can add rules for Datacap to learn the different document formats as they are encountered.

     For images where the data is not found, the verifier is prompted to click the image and identify where the data is located. This Click N Key process populates the data into the data set so that the Learning application can automatically find the data the next time that type of image is encountered. In the hotel example, after the unstructured hotel bill is processed, the zones are saved to capture data directly. Each time that an unstructured image with the same format is encountered, the data can be captured directly.

   Ensure that the application name does not contain Unicode characters or blank spaces.
3. After you complete the wizard, log out of FastDoc.
4. Ensure that the Datacap Server Service is started.
5. Log in to FastDoc again.
   Select Datacap Server for the connection type and click Login. On the login page, you can now choose your custom application in the Application field. Specify the login credentials for the Datacap Server.

   Important: Do not directly modify the template applications or foundation applications (APT, mClaims) that are provided by IBM®. Instead, create new applications based on them, with unique names, and then change those new applications. If you modify the templates or a foundation application, an update or reinstallation of the Datacap software overwrites your changes to those applications.
6. Add processing steps as are required by your business needs.
   1. First, configure your export options. With a clear understanding of where you need to finish, you can make choices to arrive at the appropriate final state.
   2. Set up your workflow tasks and batch profiles, and add and configure rulesets for your application.