1. A character data processing apparatus comprising: a scanning means for scanning an original document carrying handwritten character data to produce electric image data; character extraction means for extracting each character from the image data; character identification means for identifying the characteristics of the extracted character; and character processing means for processing the identified character into printed character data; the character identification means comprising a character shape detector for detecting the shape of the extracted character which is one of a plurality of shapes; the character shape detector comprising a character stroke extractor for extracting the number of strokes of the extracted character, and a character shape estimater for estimating the shape of the extracted character depending on the extracted number of strokes.