How do I get my TWAIN scanner to work on Yosemite
How do I get my twain scanner to work on Yosemite?
Canon Pixma MX 860-OTHER, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), Printer works, scanner doesn't
Please read Mac Basics: Using a scanner - Apple Support.
15 replies
Thanks for the info, but this does not address the fact of how to get my Airport Extreme to find my scanner which uses the TWAIN platform which is no longer supported by Apple, now rendering my scanner useless. It has been suggested that I connect the USB cable directly to my Mac, but the set-up of my office doesn't allow me to do that. I'm looking for a patch or fix that will allow the Airport Extreme to find the scanner.
Thanks,
IBEGB
Try this option: http://www.ellert.se/twain-sane/
I came across this plan somewhere else before I came here and found it did not solve the problem. I tried again today and still no success. My love for Apple products is quickly fading because of their disregard for people like me in their upgrades. It seems to be Apple's way or the highway. I do appreciate your help though.
Thanks
IBEGB
What is your scanner's exact model number or designation?
I seem to recall finding at least one other option on this site for older scanners. If you provide its model number I might be able to resurrect that Discussion.
This is a Canon Pixma MX860 copier/scanner. I wonder if there's anything that can be done with the Airport Extreme to allow it to communicate with the scanner. Does the OS control that also?
Thanks
IBEGB
Possibly. When you select that printer in System Preferences > Print & Scan, does a Scan tab appear as in the following screenshot?
If not, you might be successful in downloading and installing a driver for an earlier version of OS X. I assume you looked for one on this page:
It will detect you're using El Capitan, for which no printer drivers are available, or required. Some all-in-ones though might require a driver for functions other than printing.
Try selecting a driver for Yosemite (for example) and creating a new print queue using that driver. The Yosemite driver ought to function in El Capitan, unless it requires root access to install something in a protected folder (which is no longer permitted).
Since it's a network printer / scanner might need to refer to this:
http://downloads.canon.com/wireless/router_network_change_mx340_mp495_mx860_mp98 0_mp620_mac.pdf
John Galt wrote:
It will detect you're using El Capitan,
I see that you're still using Yosemite. In that case there should be no question; the Yosemite driver should work.
NO scan tab appears in system preferences for this unit. I have downloaded and installed all the appropriate printer and scanner drivers that were suggested. The canon unit has been connected by usb to my Airport Extreme however, and not directly to the iMac as the room set up won't allow that without some major alterations. The drivers were installed in that manner, but the Airport Extreme will only communicate with the printer and not the scanner. This is very frustrating.
Thanks
IBEGB
The canon unit has been connected by usb to my Airport Extreme ...
That explains the problem. The USB port on an AirPort Extreme may be used only for printing to a multifunction device. Please read Uses for the USB port of AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express - Apple Support.
Fortunately your Canon Pixma MX860 is a wireless multifunction device. It is intended to be used wirelessly, so do not connect its USB port to anything. The only cable connected to it should be its power cord. You can place the printer anywhere within the range of your wireless network.
Refer to Canon's instructions that I provided earlier, and set it up as a wireless device. Apple's instructions are here: OS X Yosemite: Add or remove a printer. Follow the instructions under Add a Wi-Fi or network printer.
Please note that a wireless printer is not synonymous with an AirPrint printer. Your Canon is wireless, but it is not an AirPrint printer: About AirPrint - Apple Support.
The following is important: A printer (or in your case, a multifunction device) connected to a USB port and the same printer connected to your wireless network might as well be two different printers, as far as the Mac is concerned. Since the USB port on the Extreme can be used only for printing, and that is not what you want, I suggest you delete the printer completely from System Preferences > Print & Scan. Reset the printer to factory defaults according to its instructions, and then set it up as a wireless printer. Unplug its USB cable and put it away.
That will accomplish what you seek.
Everything went well until it came to connecting to the wifi network using the canon IJ network tool. When I chose find it automatically, it did not connect and instead opened up a help window. When I used the enter IP address manually option, the tool quit unexpectedly. There were also two different IP addresses given, one from the Network preferences and a different one from the Canon tool. I tried them both with no luck. What a mess!
IBGB
When I used the enter IP address manually option, the tool quit unexpectedly.
Annoying, but not surprising. Most of these companies have no idea how to develop for OS X.
If Canon's software isn't cooperating, try adding the Pixma MX860 as an IP printer manually, using Print & Scan.
Refer to OS X: How to connect to an IP-based printer or AppleTalk printer via IP - Apple Support. It contains some instructions for determining the printer's IP address, which must be established before proceeding. Once you can "ping" the printer, then select an appropriate Canon driver from the "Use" dropdown menu.
Your goal is to add that device to your wireless network, so that it doesn't require a USB cable connected to anything.
As for "Protocol" I don't know what to suggest so you will have to experiment. Since all printers are different, as that document states it's not possible to provide more specific instructions.
If you can apply these instructions to get the printer to print wirelessly, you will be one more step to getting it to scan as well.
Let me know how far you get.
I couldn't get the printer protocol choices to show, and on, To connect to an IP-capable printer #8, no address field or place to enter an IP address. So for the third time I called Canon and finally got a tech person who got me through this mess. I can't thank you enough for your help and for sticking with me through all of this.
Loads of thank yous,
IBEGB
Glad you got it fixed. Did Canon have you add the printer using Print & Scan as I described, or did they finally get their software to work?
He had me do so many different tasks I'm not really sure what got the connection, but I think it was while we were in Print & Scan. Again, thank you for your positive, long term support.
IBGB
How do I get my TWAIN scanner to work on Yosemite