Using ADF with a 962 and Microsoft Office Document Scanning

Question

I have a 962 and am trying to get scanning from the ADF to work well with Microsoft Office Document Scanning (the scanning software that comes with Office 2003).  In the software I can select the scanner to use, and for some reason the 962 shows up twice.  I think perhaps it's because the 962 comes with both TWAIN and WIA drivers, but this is just a guess.   Anyway, if I select one of the 962 entries then the 'Use automatic document feeder' checkbox is unchecked but greyed out.  If I select the other 962 entry then the checkbox is enabled.  The problem is that when I select the 962 entry that has the enabled ADF checkbox and then proceed to check it, then I am unable to scan a document.  The software just hangs when I click the Scan button (it doesn't matter if I have checked the 'Show scanner driver dialog before scanning' checkbox or not).   On the flip side, if I select the 962 entry that has the greyed out ADF option then I am able to successfully scan.  The problem is that it wont keep pulling pages through the ADF automatically, I have to enable the 'Prompt for additional pages' option and then click 'Continue' after each page is scanned.   What I'm looking to do is put a pile of documents in the ADF and click Scan, and have it then scan all the documents in the ADF and prompt me when it is all done.  Seems like this is what the ADF is all about right?   Are there known incompatibilities with Microsoft Office Document Scanning?  Am I fighting a fruitless battle here?  Should I return my printer?   So far I'm a bit dissapointed, but I'd really like to make this work.   -Brett-

Printboy007 · Answer

Which version of Office 2003 are you using? You might be on to something here, because here is what I found:

PC with Office 2003 Basic installed - Using TWAIN interface, the 'Use auto document feeder' checkbox was grayed and not selected. In this scenario, placing more than one document in the ADF performed exactly as you described, if you wished to scan more than one doc at a time, you needed to check the box to 'prompt for multiple pages' and do it manually.

However...

PC with Office 2003 Professional - Using TWAIN interface, the 'Use auto document feeder' checkbox was grayed out BUT selected. In this scenario, placing more than one document in the ADF worked correctly, it would automatically scan as many pages were in the ADF and then allow you to make changes.

So, this may indeed be a bug with the driver, or a quirk with the different versions of Office 2003. I'll let you know what else I find...

BrettRobi · Answer

I am using Office 2003 Professional.   It's off that you seem to be seeing different behavior than I.  I just can't get it to do anything with the 962 selection that lets me enable ADF.  Maybe I should reinstall my 962 drivers?

Printboy007 · Answer

Yeah, you might want to try that.  If it's an option for you, you might even re-install Office too.  I would uninstall the 962 drivers, then uninstall office.  Then re-install office, then the 962 software.  If it's not an easy option for you to uninstall Office, then at least try the 962 drivers.  Keep in mind, I have still not been able to actually enable the ADF support, it has just either been there, or not. :(  When it's there it works, when it's not it doesn't.  I'll keep playing with it and let you know what I find...

BrettRobi · Answer

I reinstalled the 962 drivers (the latest from Dell) and now see a slightly different, but still defective, result.

Now I am able to acquire scans from the 962 using the ADF as expected, but when it gets to the point where it would normally then bring up the Microsoft Office Document Imaging window it just hangs. I never see that window.

Incredibly frustrating.

Printboy007 · Answer

Have you tried both of the 962 options in the drop down field after you re-installed?  You were correct on your assumption that one is for TWAIN, and the other for WIA...

BrettRobi · Answer

Yes, I had to fall back to using the one that has the ADF checkbox greyed.  It works, but I have to click 'Continue' for each page I was to scan.  THe other driver just plain hangs.

Printboy007 · Answer

You're on to something here.  From what I understand, a fix is in the works.

BrettRobi · Answer

Do you have inside info?  Do you work for Dell?

Derby Dog · Answer

I recently purchased this all in one to replace my old HP device.  The big draw for me was the flatbed scanner with ADF.  Unfortunately I have been told that this device is  not fully TWAIN or WIA compliant.  Specifically in the TWAIN specification, trying to set CAP_FEEDERENABLED fails.  The device should allow this capability to be set, per the TWAIN specs, as the device does have an automatic document feeder.   I am going to open a trouble ticket with Dell on this before my return period has expired.  This is an important capability for me.

laleyan1 · Answer

I had similar problem before:

If I use the WIA driver it works OK (no ADF)

If I use the TWAIN it works only is specific cases (one of them is after driver reinstall and another was something to do with preview first - do not remember)

I spend hours (days) with customer support and they did not help me at all. Every time uninstall, install - seems like this is all they know. They even blamed the printer and sent me a replacement even if I told them it should be 99.9% PC side issue.

In mine case it was not scaning from the printer panel nor from the control center. It was just hanging. It was not scanning from any application with TWAIN.

Finally I had upgraded the XP do SP1 and SP2 and it started working with both SP's.

Message Edited by laleyan1 on 06-15-2005 04:46 PM

Message Edited by laleyan1 on 06-15-2005 04:48 PM

Derby Dog · Answer

My AIO962 is working just fine.  The flatbed and ADF scanner components both work correctyly (I am using XP professional SP2).  The problem I am having is when using a third party application that expects the device to be TWAIN or WIA standards compliant.  This device is not.   If I load documents into the ADF and scan them, they do scan.  However, if I tell the program I have 5 pages to scan but only load 4 documents into the ADF, then the AIO962 will choose to scan the flatbed glass for the 5th document.  Instead it should send a message back to the calling program that the ADF is empty.   Obviously there is an ADF sensor that determines whether or not there are documents in the ADF, so this should not be a difficult firmware fix.  It is just frustrating that, although I can scan/fax/copy/print, I cannot scan the way I want using the program that I want to use.

BrettRobi · Answer

Well consider yourself lucky then.

I also am running a 962 on XP sp2 and have a different experience. Using the Microsoft Office Document Scanning app that comes with Office 2003 Pro I am unable to make the ADF automatically pull each sheet. I can put in 5 sheets but have to press Continue in the Doc Scanning UI to get it to pull the next sheet (pressing COntinue 4 times for 5 sheets).

I'm pretty dissapointed in the 962 for this reason. I still use the ADF a lot since it is much more convenient that the flatbed, but it is still a far cry from what the 'features' of this scanner promise. It's been months now and I had hoped Dell would update the firmware to address this. Now I'm guess they've already moved on to whatever printer/scanner they are planning to release next and have abandoned this 962 'thing'.

-Brett-

ahenry91011 · Answer

Brett

I just got frustrated enough with my Dell 962 and Microsoft Office Document Scanning.

I did a google search and found your posts from last year.

Did you ever find a way to scan with Microsoft Office Document Scanning and have it scan all of the documents on the ADF w/o having to hit the "continue" button every page?

Alex Henry

Printers

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