Tips To Learn How To Go Paperless | DocumentSnap Paperless Blog

One issue with the Fujitsu ScanSnap and OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard that I forgot to mention the other day is the ABBYY FineReader that comes bundled with it.

When scanning with the version of Finereader that ships with the ScanSnap S510M and S1500M, you may get an error message like “File not created with ScanSnap”.

This is a known issue and according to this bulletin from Fujitsu Support, it will be fixed “within 2009″.

Fujitsu has assured me that they’re working on it, so hopefully we’re not talking December 31 here!

I personally do not use FineReader.. anyone have any workarounds for the Snow Leopard issue that they use? Leave a note in the comments.

Update: Thanks to reader Spike in the comments for the tip, ABBYY has released a version of FineReader Express Edition that supports Snow Leopard. More info here.

Update #2 Nov 19/09: The ABBYY FineReader for ScanSnap Snow Leopard Update is now available.

Often when there is a review or article about the Fujitsu ScanSnap, there are commenters saying that they already have a multifunction all-in-one or flatbed scanner, so why would they need to pay for something that just scans?

I’ve decided to outline some of the pros and cons of each.

Multifunction All-In-One/Flatbed

• Often cheaper – You can usually find a multifunction or flatbed scanner for much less money than a ScanSnap
• Can scan books/3D Objects – Since it’s flatbed, if you can put it on the scanner you can scan it. The ScanSnap can only scan flat things
• TWAIN compatible – Most of these scanners are TWAIN compatible, which the ScanSnap is not. This means you can initiate the scan from other applications
• Manual unless you have a document feeder type – Many flatbed scanners do not have a document feeder, or even if they do you have to manually flip the paper over to scan both sides.
• Flat – Because the ScanSnap’s paper path is not 100% straight, if you are scanning photos etc. it may be better to do it on a flatbed

Fujitsu ScanSnap

• Scans both pages at same time – Don’t underestimate the usefulness of this. When you have a lot of paper to go through, having to do just one pass and bring in both sides at once can be a huge time-saver
• Discards blank pages – When you are doing double-sided scanning, having it discard blank pages automatically is both a time and a space saver
• Handles different size paper – With some flatbed/multifunctions, in the rare case where they have a document feeder, you have to have all the paper the same size when you feed in a stack. The ScanSnap will handle a stack of different sized pages no problem.
• Smaller footprint – Depending on whether you get the desktop model like the S1500 or a portable one S300, it is 1/3 or more smaller than a flatbed
• Portable versions can power from USB – If you have the S300 or S300M, you can run it off the USB instead of plugging it into the wall. This can be handy if you need to be portable or want to scan somewhere where a plug isn’t handy
• Incredibly easy to use with 1 button – Again, don’t underestimate the usefulness here. If something is not simple you (or at least I) won’t do it on a regular basis. Throwing the paper in and hitting a button is as simple as it gets.

So which is better, a ScanSnap or an all-in-one?

Like most things, it depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to scan lots of books or photos, a flatbed is probably a better choice. Something like the Canon MX850 is probably good, because it at least has a document feeder for those times you do want to scan some paper.

However, if you are wanting to scan documents on a regular basis, my personal opinion is that a Fujitsu ScanSnap is the way to go. The speed, ease of use, and included software will make a big difference.

Have I forgotten any pros and cons for either? Leave a comment and let us know.

Photo by Legozilla

While the Fujitsu ScanSnap might be super-easy to use with only one button, there is a lot going under the hood to make it work that way. When you have problems like paper jams or more than one page getting pulled through, it might be time to replace (or at least clean) your consumables.

What On Earth is a Consumable?

A lot of people don’t know this, but there are a few parts in your ScanSnap that should be replaced every once in a while to make sure that it keeps running in top shape. Consumable is just a fancy word for those parts.

How Do I Know When Its Time To Replace?

The most obvious answer is when you start having problems. If you start getting multiple paper feed problems or paper jams, that’s an alarm.

However, the ScanSnap Manager does tell you when it is getting time to replace two parts in particular: the Pick Roller and the Pad Assembly.

Checking Your Consumables

The screenshots you see here are for the Mac, but it is the same concept with Windows. Just right click on the System Tray instead of the Dock.

First, right-click on ScanSnap Manager (with the ScanSnap open so that it is powered on) and choose Check Consumable Supplies.

Once there, you will be shown some useful information.

This screenshot is from the ScanSnap S300M, so your values may be different. On the left you see the “Target Value to change supplies”. For the S300M, Fujitsu recommends that you change the Pick roller every 100,000 sheets and the Pad Assembly every 10,000 sheets.

On the right, the first box is the total number of pages that this ScanSnap has scanned. The bottom two boxes are the number of scans that have been done since the Pick Roller and the Pad Assembly have been replaced. You can see that I have not yet needed to replace them.

The reset buttons are so that when you do replace a part, you can hit “Reset” to set it back to zero for that new part.

Which Part Do I Need?

The easiest way to find your part is to Google the part number. The prices vary wildly but are not too expensive. Click on the part number to do a Google search to find places in your area that do mail order. You can also ask the place where you bought the ScanSnap too, but I am guessing online is cheaper.

Pick and Pad What?

A Pick Roller is what does the pulling into the document feeder. It works with the Pad Assembly to pull the paper in. The Pad Assembly is like the brake pad in your car. It is what separates the pages.
If either the Pick Roller or Pad Assembly are worn down or excessively dirty, you are going to get multiple pages pulled through the ScanSnap.

Cleaning and Replacing The Pick Roller And Pad Assembly

The best way to clean and/or replace the parts is to follow the instructions in the Operator’s Guide. If you can’t find yours, here are links them on Fujitsu’s website. You’ll want to look at Chapter 8 and 9.

• ScanSnap S300 Operator’s Guide
• ScanSnap S300M Operator’s Guide
• ScanSnap S510M Operator’s Guide
• ScanSnap S510M Operator’s Guide
• ScanSnap general documentation page

How many pages does your ScanSnap’s Total Page Count show?