I have a Brother MFC-J870DW all-in-One printer. How can I change the Preview scan default preference from "Document Feeder" to "Flatbed?" Is there a Terminal command for this?
Mavericks 10.9.2
iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)
What software are you using to scan? Image Capture or a Brother app?
Preview (Import from scanner...)
Sorry, but I'm not sure what exactly you mean: there is a Preview application as part of OS X, but that has nothing to do with scanning.
I can see a preview window in both Image Capture and my Epson scanning utility and I can do quite a few adjustments:
Epson San Utility window with scanner glass or autom. document feeder options:
Image Capture (in your Applications folder):
So, which app are you using?
I'm using OSX Preview app. Not Image Capture, and not a Brother app. Im Preview, you can scan directly . (File > Import from scanner...)
Then the scan window opens to expose this:
Not actually. The Preview menu, "Import from scanner," just opens the Image Capture application.
Fine. Where can I change the default to Flatbed?
Image Capture shows only a check box for document feeded (on or off), so is there a control to keep it off?
I can't confirm this right now because my scanner is not connected, but if you use the Preview app's menu, you will always get the default setup.
If instead, you open Image Capture directly, and then you set your options and perform your first scan, closing and reopening the app will remember your prior settings.
Give it try.
Nope. Plus, Scanning via Preview is much easier (no need to select a device). I still think there has to be a Terminal command to set that.
Thanks for all your help, though. I learned a lot.
Lanny wrote:
Not actually. The Preview menu, "Import from scanner," just opens the Image Capture application.
Are you sure that it opens the Image Capture app? I just opened Preview, went to File---> Import from Canon MG5300 series. All it did was to open another window in Preview. It's a different set up than IC.
If I were to open IC right now, I'll see the Canon scanner under the Shared tab. Clicking on it gives me a little warning that the scanner can't be opened/used because it's being used by the application Preview.
However, the OP is asking how to set the scanner to scan from the flat bed as a default. OP I am assuming that you've looked on your Brother's menu directly on the scanner? I only have a flat bed, so no feeder for me for scans. However I do have a paper tray and a back feeder for paper to be used for printing. I can choose which would be the default for that on the printer, I believe.
Also, how is your Brother hooked up? Is it directly to your Mac via USB? Or is it over the network? I know this, if it's via the network. You can't simply press "scan" on the Brother directly and expect the Mac to know that you've just pressed Scan. But if it's hooked up via USB, the Mac will open an app and begin the scanning process. Which app, I don't know and I don't know if you're given a choice for default. It maybe Image Capture or Preview.
If you have the ability to, could you hook up the Brother via USB. Go through the set up process and see if you like it like that? I assume that the Brother will know that you've opened the flat bed and when you pressed scan it'll scan from the flat bed rather than from the feeder.
KOT
The Brother is hooked up to my iMac via USB, and is also WiFi'd so I can print from my ipads. FWIW, i checked this at a friend's house with his Canon. Same result. I will have to dig out the Brother documentation and check further. Mind you, i have no problem scanning ... But it sometimes takes me a few moments to remember to change the default feed.
Since you have it hooked up via USB. Open System Preferences---> Printers&Scanners and see if there are any settings under the Scan tab for any "default" settings. I would if I could, but I only have a flatbed.
KOT
Well, it appears that your screenshot (which is from Image Capture), shows the dropdown - yes, Document feeder is selectecd - can you not simply choose the flatbed?
Of course, and I do, but that's why I asked the question in the first place.
Printers&Scanners and see if there are any settings under the Scan tab for any "default" settings
FYI: This is also Image Capture.
I remember the old days of OS 6 or so when all you had to do was hold down the option(?) key when making such a selection changed the default. But yes, I'm dating myself.
How to change scanner default from Feeder to Flatbed?
