Network scanning

Question

LDMartin1959 Author

Level 1

27 points

Network scanning

I am new to Mac's so please bear with me.

I have an HP wireless multifunction unit. I have installed the latest HP software, and my Mac OS is updated to the latest version. I can connect to the unit fine. However, there is a feature to the scanner which is called 'scan to network folder'. Basically, this allows you to initiate a scan at the unit and send it to a shared folder on a computer. This is handy since when scanning documents which have to be placed on the glass since the multifunction is not next to the computer.

The problem I am having is that I can not get the scanner function to connect to the shared folder on the computer. The folder is "/Users/Leslie/Public/Suite 1157 Network Scans". The IP address for the computer is 192.168.0.106, and the plain text network name for the computer is 'R_Steele'. I have tried every configuration of the path possible and the scanner still reports that it is unable to connect to the shared folder.I have sharing on for that folder, it is set to read/write and I can not get the scanner to connect to the folder.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Mar 24, 2011 9:33 PM

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Answer 1

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Mar 24, 2011 11:08 PM in response to LDMartin1959

HP's information says you must turn on the SMB option in the sharing preferences. You didn't mention the exact version of HP printer so I found a page for one of them that describes the setup procedure.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&obje ctID=c02588080&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=4214021#A1

They recommend creating a new user specifically for scanning, but I think you can actually use one of your Public folders on your existing account.

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Answer 2

LDMartin1959 Author

Level 1

27 points

Mar 25, 2011 6:24 AM in response to dechamp

Well, dang it, you're right. I left out the model of printer. 😟 Sorry about that (and I was trying so hard to give all the pertinent information...) For the record, it's an OfficeJet 8500.

I will look at the instructions at the link you provided. Thanks. Now I just hope I can figure out what printer whats the share path to be since the one the install created didn't match the actual directory structure.

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Answer 3

LDMartin1959 Author

Level 1

27 points

Mar 25, 2011 6:50 AM in response to LDMartin1959

Well, we're not there yet, but we're making progress. The error message has changed and now says to make sure the remote computer is turned on. Since I am access the embedded web server from the computer in question, it is clearly turned on. The path that the printer software set initially did not include the "User" directory in the network path. I have since tried it with and without. No luck. Any more tips?

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Answer 4

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Mar 25, 2011 11:36 AM in response to LDMartin1959

Just a thought, but I'd probably prefer that the folder the scanner copies to not be in a user's folder at all. I'd explore creating a folder at the root of the drive that all users can use. I'm working with a similar issue at a small windows computer office. They just got a new Ricoh commercial printer/fax/scanner that's networked. I'm resetting all of their machines to the same workgroup and creating a folder at the root of one of the machines that is shared with read/write permissions by all users on the network.

Unfortunately, I've been working on this system for a couple of weeks to get it where it is now, due to their vendor not showing up with all of the parts for the system (no fax board installed in the printer, etc.) I've got to do my work without disrupting the business, so I'm working slowly with the people in the office...

The Ricoh Vendor/Technician just wanted to set up the network scanner to email the scans. Unfortunately, the volume of data would overwhelm the company's existing email service, and they are not inclined to get a new gmail or hotmail account. One advantage to setting up a Gmail IMAP account would be that the scans would be available to all machines with access to the account, including machines on other networks.

The HP support page for your printer is at:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&obje ctID=c01617096

I recently set up one of these printers for a windows network and decided to use a Dropbox.com folder at the root of one of the machines. All other machines have the same Dropbox account and the Dropbox folder is in their user/Documents folder so it's working well for them.

Hope some of this helps.

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Answer 5

LDMartin1959 Author

Level 1

27 points

Mar 25, 2011 12:55 PM in response to dechamp

I had found that link but thanks for the confirmation. Unfortunately, the scan-to-web service is still unable to log into the computer and find the folder. Not sure what the issue is, although over on the HP forums, this has been an issue since Snow Leopard was released and to date no one seems to know the cause--much less the solution--and HP is not saying anything about the issue. I guess they figure if they keep their head buried in the sand long enough the problem will 'go away'.

At this point (since we have progressed from the initial issue and error message) it appears to be something in the shares configuration, and I'm gonna guess it is due in part to the Windows-centric design of the function. I also found the following note buried on HP's web site (I say hidden because the link to the document is actually dead and I had to use Yahoo to find the actual hiding place of the document):

+NOTE: HP Direct Digital Filing does not support Active Directory. Scan to Network Folder is supported only in Mac OS X (v10.5). Fax to Network Folder is supported in Mac OS X (v10.4) and Mac OS X (v10.5) or later.+

I think the wording here is very significant to my issue since I am using 10.6.7 on Scan to Network is "supported only in Mac OS X (v10.5)", not "10.5 or later".

This would not be the first time HP has thrown their users under the bus; they did a similar thing with their SmartWeb Print utility, indicating it was compatible with Firefox, then pulling FF compatibility for reasons of which I am suspicious.

At this point, I am going to keep looking for a solution while at the same time suspecting that there is no satisfactory solution at present. I will keep my eyes and ears open but I'm thinking that HP has finally sold their souls to Redmond and I will have to choose another brand come time to replace this printer.

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Answer 6

dechamp

Level 4

3,495 points

Mar 25, 2011 4:20 PM in response to LDMartin1959

For a recommendation, I'd choose the Brother series of printers. They came out with their version2 drivers while Snow Leopard was still in beta. Imagine my surprise when I saw the Scan button in the printer cue and the printer show up in Apple's Image Capture program in SL beta. I was scanning over the network with a beta OS just fine.

I picked up a MFC-9840CDW when the price dropped under $600 two years ago. Network scanning works well with Mac's (I haven't bothered setting it up for my PC's as they are not my work machines and are able to print just fine). Since SL was released I've gotten at least two updates from Apple for the Brother printers on my network.

HP's (and to a lesser degree, Epson's) lack of support for new OS's is now legendary. They took a very long time (several months, sitting on their hands and only developing drivers for their new printer models) to come out with drivers for Vista and Leopard/Snow Leopard. A lot of people blamed Microsoft (and a lot of the problems in Vista) for changing the printing system, (Apple changed theirs also), but other companies like Brother didn't expect you to buy a new printer when you upgrade your OS. They were proactive with their development to utilize new features available in the OS before the final SL Release Candidate was released. I'll expect the same kind of support for Lion.

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Answer 7

LDMartin1959 Author

Level 1

27 points

Mar 25, 2011 8:09 PM in response to dechamp

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip.

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