How can I fax to my printer from the computer???

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Level 1

21 points

How can I fax to my printer from the computer???

HELP!! I'm using a Canon MP780 multi-function printer. When I connect it to my PC, I am able to go to a Word document, print it, but select the MP780FAX and I can fax the document from the computer. Does anyone know how I can do this on the Mac? Canon says Apple won't let you. Are there any other brands of printers that will allow this, or is there a different application? without having to use E-Fax?

Thanks!

William

intel macbook (black) 2GB, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Canon Pixma MP780 Multifunction Printer/Fax

Posted on Feb 7, 2008 6:45 PM

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Answer 1

Dave B.

Level 4

2,080 points

Feb 7, 2008 7:02 PM in response to wpiacenti

Your subject line asks about faxing from your computer to your printer, but the body of the message seems to ask about sending something you created in Word as a fax to someone else's fax machine. If the former, I'm not sure what the point of that would be. I don't see a difference between that and just printing. If the latter, you have to have a dial up modem installed in your Mac or get Apple's (or another brand) separate USB modem in order to fax from your computer. If you were able to do it on your PC, it had to have a modem installed. I have a G5 which has an internal modem and have faxed from it several times. My MacBook would have to use an external USB modem to fax. Hope this makes sense. Tell me if I've missed what you said.

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Answer 2

wpiacenti Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 7, 2008 7:04 PM in response to Dave B.

Thanks for the quick reply. Let me try to explain a little more. The modem is actually in the MP780 Printer that I have. The reason to send the word document that I create on my mac to someone else's fax machine is so that I DON'T have to print it out, then fax it on my fax machine.

On my PC, I can just create that document (or any document for that matter) and when I select the printer, I can choose my Canon MP780fax. A little dialog box pops up and i type in the phone # and the actual printer/fax starts to dial and connect and send the document. It was sent to the printer through the USB cable from my PC so I never needed to actually print it out before faxing.

I'm trying to find a printer that can do this with OSX or maybe there's another way that I don't know about.

Again, thanks for the quick reply!

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Answer 3

Dave B.

Level 4

2,080 points

Feb 7, 2008 7:19 PM in response to wpiacenti

Got it - the problem is setting up and or using the modem inside the printer. The Canon website specs for that printer does say OS X compatible, but if Canon support is telling you it won't work I imagine that part of the driver that runs the dialog box and dialer isn't implemented in the Mac version. Just guessing here.

They cost $49 but you could get this USB modem from Apple and fax directly from your Mac without printing but that would be a shame having another modem in your printer.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=MA0 34Z/A

I guess you could ask Canon if that's the reason it won't work, and if so when they plan to update the Mac driver to use the modem. You might get an unsatisfactory answer, though!

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Answer 4

wpiacenti Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 7, 2008 7:26 PM in response to Dave B.

Thanks...yep, i got the same info you have. I guess they just don't like the canon yet.

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