25+ years of experience in archive digitization

ALTO XML Data Conversion

EasyData converts every digital image into the ALTO XML format, widely accepted in the archives and library world. This makes your organization’s content accessible to the general public. Our OCR technology ensures affordable, high-quality text recognition, making your content instantly searchable in PDF format and professionally accessible via the ALTO XML standard.

XML ALTO

This site already explains XML elsewhere. Another XML format commonly used in the archival world is the XML ALTO format. ALTO is an XML schema containing metadata to describe the layout and content of textual sources, such as books or newspapers. The standard was initially developed to describe OCR text and layout information for digitized materials. In plain terms, all text and content is fully described.

ALTO XML in Practice

ALTO XML provides an XML encoding that stores document text and images along with the corresponding image coordinates. This allows users to view the full original page in their browser and zoom in on specific text or smaller images.

The ALTO XML text and image coordinates make this possible. EasyData has implemented a practical SaaS solution for this data conversion, aligning with our vision for Business Process Management.

Data Conversion

EasyData has made ALTO XML production accessible for both large and small collections. Our data conversion method is scalable, and we can apply different techniques tailored to project requirements. This approach not only reduces costs but also delivers better results.

For data conversion, we vary OCR and page segmentation technologies based on the request. This eliminates “hidden ALTO errors” that competitors often encounter.

Automatic Data Conversion

EasyData’s ALTO XML data conversion typically operates automatically. Our solution makes ALTO XML production feasible for collections of any size, reducing conversion costs and speeding up results. EasyData employs various Machine Learning networks to ensure high-quality automated data processing.

With tools like a Grafana dashboard, clients can monitor the process themselves—an especially useful feature for larger projects, appreciated from a project management perspective. This visual tracking provides transparency in your Digital Transformation journey.

Cloud OCR and XML ALTO Export

The OCR Cloud utilizes multiple Machine Learning algorithms. These individual networks combine into what can best be described as artificial intelligence. EasyData is not unique in this—there is a general shift in OCR technology toward Machine Learning networks and Cloud OCR services.

Our clients are noticing these developments and increasingly considering reprocessing their already digitized archives through Cloud OCR services. The goal? A significantly better OCR result—achieved via an Online OCR service without the hassle of expensive hardware or on-premise installations!

Faster Text Loading with ALTO XML OCR

This means that when you visit a newspaper archive website, you can zoom in just like in Google Earth—from the full newspaper page down to that tiny obituary of your great-grandfather you’ve been searching for. This zoom technology is enabled by the ALTO XML structure.

Without ALTO, such a complete page would be an enormous file, making loading times unbearably slow. Imagine if Google Earth had to display all street-level data of the entire globe in your browser—it wouldn’t work. That’s why the ALTO XML format is a game-changer for the archival world.

This translation maintains the original meaning while adapting it for readability in English. Let me know if you’d like any refinements!