ScanningHowTo

Revision 10 as of 2006-06-15 22:11:29

Clear message

Scanning in Ubuntu is actually quite easy. This guide will walk you through how to use your scanner and what to do if Ubuntu cannot find you scanner.

Does my scanner work with Ubuntu?

There are three ways to see if you scanner works in Ubuntu:

  1. Simply plug it in a try it! If it is a newer USB scanner, likely it will just work

  2. Check HardwareSupportComponentsScanners which is Ubuntu specific

  3. [http://www.sane-project.org/sane-backends.html SANE project listing of support scanners] - The SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) project provides most of the backends to the scanning software on Ubuntu

Using your scanner

Most of the time, Ubuntu will simply detect your scanner and you just be able to use it. To scan a document, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Place what you want to scan on the scanner

  2. Go to Applications --> Graphics --> XSane Scanning image program

  3. Alternately, pressing the scan button on the scanner should also work

What if it says "No devices available"?

There are two reasons why you might get this message.

  1. Your scanner is not supported in Ubuntu. The most common type of scanner not supported is old parallel port or Lexmark All-in-One printer/scanner/faxes
  2. The driver for your scanner is not being autoloaded

  3. If your scanner is a Mustek 1200 UB Plus you will need this file http://www.meier-geinitz.de/sane/gt68xx-backend/firmware/sbfw.usb then rename it to "PS1fw.usb" then put the file in the directory "/usr/share/sane/gt68xx" (remember to give read permission to all users)

Manually installing a scanner

There are some scanners that have less than complete drivers from the SANE project. They can sometimes be used, but not all the features may work. These scanners are:

  • HP 4200
  • HP 3300C
  • HP 4300C
  • Agfa Snapscan Touch
  • HP 4400C
  • HP 4470C

  • Make sure the [:AddingRepositoryHowto:Universe repository] is enabled. The easiest way to do this is probably through [:SynapticHowto:Synaptic].

  • Get the drivers by searching Synaptic for libsane-extras or at a terminal type: 

sudo apt-get install libsane-extras
  1. Edit the /etc/sane.d/dll.conf and enable the right driver for your scanner. Look for the lines that say: 

# The following backends are not part of the SANE distribution
# but are provided by the libsane-extras Debian package

Below it are several commented out lines. Uncomment (delete the #) the right one for your scanner, as follows:

  • HP 4200 - uncomment the hp4200 line.

  • HP 3300C, HP 3400C, HP 4300C, Afga Snapscan Touch - uncomment the niash line.

  • HP 4400C, HP 4470C - uncomment the hp_rts88xx line.

4.) Fire up sane and scan away.

Note: Because of the way Linux's hotplugging stuff works, you may need to plug in the scanner after the computer has booted. If you're having problems seeing the scanner, you might want to try this.

Specific Models

Some specific models have been documented here:

Helping Ubuntu support more scanners

There are a number of ways you can help Ubuntu support more scanners

  • Support the SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) project, which provides most of the scanning backend information. [http://www.sane-project.org/contrib.html Contributing to SANE]

  • When purchasing a new scanner, always ask if it works in Linux
  • Contact the manufacturer about supporting your scanner under Linux. Make certain you tell them about the SANE project

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