The new update to the application shows the option to scan documents at the bottom of the home page, and when you click on it, the camera opens in order to direct it to the documents or papers that you want to photograph (Tickup)

Google has added a new feature to its “Files” file management application in the Android system in order to allow users to photograph or “scan” documents directly through the application, and convert them into a digital image.

The new update to the application shows the option to scan documents at the bottom of the home page, and when you click on it, the camera opens in order to direct it to the documents or papers that you want to photograph.

It is also possible to add an image manually from the images already stored in the device, and when taking the image, the application allows various editing options such as cropping, rotating, adding a filter, etc. before saving. Note that the scanned documents are saved in “PDF” format in a separate subfolder called “” Scand" in the Documents folder.

This feature relies on machine learning features and Google's document scanning API to recognize and process documents on the device.

Google had also added this feature to the “Drive” cloud storage application, with the feature of displaying suggestions for relevant titles based on machine learning for automatic naming of scanned documents.

It is worth noting that Google is launching the document scanning feature as a side update to the application via its servers, and has already added this feature to the application in its Pixel phones, and it is expected to expand its scope to include more devices during the coming period.

Google has added many improvements to the file management application regarding the interface and improving file search.

How do you scan a document and save it in files using the Google application?

If you want to scan and digitize a document from a physical copy of the document or another screen, the Files app offers two scanning modes to do so: automatic and manual.

Here's what scanning a document looks like with either:

  • Open the Files app.

  • Tap the Scan button, and if you're asked for camera permission, give the files access to your device's camera.

Scan tag in the app

  • If you want to scan documents automatically, choose “Auto Scan”, then point your phone camera at the document you want to scan, and the Files application will scan it automatically.

    Click "Done" to save the scan.


    Automatic scanning tag in the application

  • If Auto Capture scanning doesn't appear the way you want, choose manual mode, then point the camera at the document and press the capture button to scan.

    Click OK to save.

Choose a document or image to scan

  • Head to the Scanned folder in the Files app to find the scanned documents.

Edit scanned documents in the Google Files app

The Files app lets you edit the scanned document right after it's been scanned, which is useful when you want to edit documents before sharing them with someone or storing them offline.

As of the time of writing, Google offers four editing tools: crop, rotate, filters, and cleanup.

  • Cropping

    : It automatically crops documents appropriately, however if you feel that some important information is being deleted from the document, you can click “Crop and Rotate” on the preview screen (after scanning the document) and manually crop it as you want.

  • Rotate

    : This tool - as the name suggests - allows you to rotate documents, and it can be useful when the scanner scans documents in an incorrect direction, and you can find the rotate option within the Crop and Rotate tool.

  • Filters

    : If you want to improve the appearance of scanned documents - perhaps because the text is illegible - the filter tool contains some useful options that may help you. Auto, for example, is one of these options, and it automatically enhances brightness and contrast to improve the visibility of the document. .

    Likewise, there is color, which enhances colors, and grayscale, which converts a color document to grayscale.

  • Cleaning

    : It is one of the most useful editing options in files. You can use it to erase stains, fingers, etc. from scanned documents, and you get five different brush sizes to choose from based on your requirements.

Source: websites