How To Use Neatco NeatWorks With Fujitsu ScanSnap

How To Use Neatco NeatWorks With Fujitsu ScanSnap

30 Comments

Recently, Neatco was awesome enough to send me a review copy of the NeatDesk scanner with the bundled NeatWorks software. I liked both products (here’s the NeatDesk review and NeatWorks review), but since I already have a ScanSnap S300M here, and really liked Neatco’s software, I wanted to try using my ScanSnap as a scanner with NeatWorks as the software.

This is possible because Neatco will sell NeatWorks for Mac separately. Unfortunately, I don’t believe they currently sell the Windows version standalone.

The guys at Neatco are smart. Instead of being all Apple-ish and saying “our software will only work with our product!”, they recognize that people who already own ScanSnaps, and there are a lot of us, could benefit from NeatWorks as well so why not make some cash from us too. Brilliant.

Integrating NeatWorks with the ScanSnap is incredibly easy. In fact, they’ve added a menu item right into the program to set it up for you!

I made this video that goes through the steps:

In a nutshell:

  • Start ScanSnap Manager running
  • In NeatWorks, go to Scan | Fujitsu ScanSnap Settings

scansnap.jpg

  • A screen will come up telling you that ScanSnap Manager is running, and there is a button saying “Configure and restart ScanSnap Manager”. Click it.

neatworksScanSnapcheck.jpg

  • Once ScanSnap Manager restarts, you’ll have a new Profile called Scan to NeatWorks and when you check the settings, it’s configured to scan to NeatWorks.app

scansnapmanager.jpg

  • Scan a document in your ScanSnap, and it should kick it to NeatWorks for you to process. Done!

That’s it! Like I said, incredibly easy.

Is anyone out there already using your ScanSnap with NeatWorks? How’s the integration going?

UPDATE: I have tested NeatWorks using the ScanSnap S1300 and S1100. You can read about the NeatWorks ScanSnap test here.

About the Author

Brooks Duncan helps individuals and small businesses go paperless. He's been an accountant, a software developer, a manager in a very large corporation, and has run DocumentSnap since 2008. You can find Brooks on Twitter at @documentsnap or @brooksduncan. Thanks for stopping by.

Leave a Reply 30 comments

Dave - March 4, 2017 Reply

Neat desktop software V5.7, Scansnap and Windows 7 workaround.
I had used the Neat ND1000 for years and the software was awesome (Open the folder in Neat that you want the scan to go to and press the button – automatically ‘distributed’ without the time wasted on setting keywords, and the file is instantly searchable from the top-most level of your cabinet ).
The failing was proprietary formats which has cost me a couple of years of records from a system failure, so I spat my dummy in the dirt and went to Scansnap. I really wish I had just scanned everything as PDF via Neat and saved the money wasted on Scansnap. The ix500 is a beauty but the software is so time consuming and just doesn’t work the way it says it should. If you OCR a document in anything other than Adobe then Organiser won’t recognise it so you can’t apply keywords, there is no top level scan of your whole cabinet for a phrase in a document and OCR’ing documents after they are scanned in is another ridiculous waste of time.

So, the short version for anyone wanting to use Scansnap with Neat software (and I highly recommend it is;
Setup a stand alone folder that new scans via scansnap go to (yep, I’m keeping the machine)
Scan with the Abbey finereader option to that folder (finereader will automatically OCR the entire document)
Open Neat
Drag and drop the files into the required Neat folder
Job done

And, before you ask, I dont want or need cloud access, therefore Evernote and similar is a moot point and I don’t own a Mac.
I really hope this helps others in the same boat, and I really recommend trying the Neat software, it just works

    Dave - November 22, 2017 Reply

    UPDATE: So, I never ended up shifting all my new scans across into NEAT (I started to and then found the double handling of files to be too time consuming), and I found the filing to sub-folders way too tedious in scansnap so I have been scanning everything into Scansnap Organisers top level folder (the one that all fresh scans go into) and search that file for anything I need. I still haven’t worked out if there is a function that will scan the entire cabinet and sub-folders so I just have one large folder that holds the every single thing I scan and this seems to be the only way the search function will find what I need. Anything that I try to put in a sub-folder seems to be invisible to the search function, and I thought Scansnap would have been a bit more advanced than having to search each folder individually.
    The machine itself is still a dream to use and I’ve set up 4 simple profiles that all run through the OCR system as they scan in. The profiles are;
    Single sided separate
    Single sided combined
    Double sided separate
    Double sided combined

    So I’ll keep going with this system unless someone out there knows how to scan the entire cabinet, including sub-folders, in a single search request, and then I might start to organise some scans into sub-folders.
    Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences and get some feedback.
    Cheers

donna - March 14, 2014 Reply

can anyone tell me if there is a way to use the neatdesk software with pc, windows 7 i have a fujitsu ix 500 scanner and want the neatdesk software so i can scan to quick books, or does anyone know any other software like neat desk that imports into quickbooks using windows 7 with my scanner please??

Crus - December 20, 2012 Reply

I have Neatworks for Mac and ScanSnap S1500M . The trouble I am having is getting neatworks to recognize a receipt when it is an 8.5×11 receipt size. Even though my settings are for a receipt it OCRs it as a document. So I have to enter as "image only", change the settings manually and then OCR.
Grateful for any advice.
Thanks
Crus

Chris - October 6, 2012 Reply

Anyone have thoughts on how to get Neat to recognize my ScanSnap S510? I'm running Windows 7, 64 bit. I can scan with ScanSnap manager and then within Neat import scans but can't scan right into it. In fact, within Neat it doesn't even see that a scanner is connected and because the link on the menu bar is dithered out I can't make it add the ScanSnap.

I have set up Neat withing ScanSnap manager as the application to scan to but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Thanks in advance!

Darren Overby - July 14, 2012 Reply

Thanks for the post Brooks (thanks for the site too). I would like to do the opposite. I'm actually not that found of the Neatworks software because I find it too unstable and I lose scans from their proprietary approach to put all scans in one huge fat file (in my case 2.5GB). I've been slowing moving all my scans out of Neatworks and saving and tagging them with Yep as as individual PDF's on my harddrive. However, I think the paper handling of the Neatworks ND-1000 scanner is superior to my Scansnap S1500M. The Scansnap has far more misfeeds (pulling multiple sheets at once) and crooked scanning of receipts.

Darren Overby - July 14, 2012 Reply

Thanks for the post Brooks (thanks for the site too). I would like to do the opposite. I'm actually not that found of the Neatworks software because I find it too unstable and I lose scans from their proprietary approach to put all scans in one huge fat file (in my case 2.5GB). I've been slowing moving all my scans out of Neatworks and saving and tagging them with Yep as as individual PDF's on my harddrive. However, I think the paper handling of the Neatworks ND-1000 scanner is superior to my Scansnap S1500M. The Scansnap has far more misfeeds (pulling multiple sheets at once) and crooked scanning of receipts.

On the other hand, the Scanscap manager software is a superior scanner interface (IMO) however does not include document management like Neatworks. In fact, the fact that the Neatworks software can work with a Scanscap scanner has more to do with Scansnap providing flexible/extensible scanner profiles than it has to do with Neatworks offering a menu item.

Anyway, I'd like to see if anyone has managed to get Scansnap Manager to work with the Neatworks scanner. Seems it doesn't work for me.

BTW, Brooks this video of yours has saved me tons of time in my workflow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgW-ILyIVik I hope to post about how I now go from scanner, to OCRing, to tagging and filing with Yep in almost an immediately workflow. Then all scans on my desktop are synced to my laptop automatically using GoodSync. You were a huge help in this. Just thought you should know you have a fan.

Darren

    Brooks Duncan - July 14, 2012 Reply

    Awesome, thanks Darren and thanks for the feedback about the Neatworks vs. ScanSnap paper handling.Unfortunately I don't know of a way to use a Neat scanner without the Neatworks software, or at least withScanSnap Manager specifically. I'll keep my eyes open.I've been meaning to play around with GoodSync. It's on my to-do list. You like it I take it? <p style=”color: #A0A0A8;”>

      Martin - June 8, 2017 Reply

      Hi I’m a long time neat 5.7 version user and just love this software to store our files, but i just replaced the scanner with the scansnap ix500 and would like to scan directly into the neat software, as of now I’m scanning to a folder then importing them, please let me also know if you find a solution to scan directly to neat desktop software… Thanks Martin Hofer

Cheyenne - April 8, 2012 Reply

I just installed Neatworks for Mac. The instructions for the s1500m said to add NeatWorks via ScanSnap Manager "if I wish to customize scanning settings (or simply prefer to configure manually". Is there a reason that I should need to customize? If I configure via Neatworks menu; can I change my mind later & re-configure them from the ScanSnap Manager menu? I don't have a clue what I'm doing. I don't quite understand the ScanSnap software yet. I'm guessing that the OCR is somehow comming from ABBY or Acrobat? I want to be able to edit PDF's sometimes. I may use Evernote (locally) for something.

    Cheyenne - April 8, 2012 Reply

    …. Anyway, I should be able to report on how they work together; once I figure out how they work. Thanks for any help 🙂

Mike - February 1, 2011 Reply

According to the NeatWorks people, the only Fujitsu scanners that are supported to work with the software are the Fujitsu S300M and the Fujitsu S510M.

Does anybody out there have any direct experience getting NeatWorks to work with any of the newer Fujitsu models: the S1500M, the S1300, or the newest S1100? I imagine it should work, but I have yet to find anybody who has actually tried it, successfully or not.

    Brooks Duncan - February 25, 2011 Reply

    Hi, sorry for the delay. I just tested it and it worked OK for me. I posted about it here: http://www.documentsnap.com/does-neatworks-work-w…. I imagine the S1500M will be the same.

hmurchison - June 16, 2009 Reply

Costco right now has a great price on the NeatDesk ADF scanner and NeatWorks software for 299 but no Mac software. By the time I purchased the scanner with windows software and added $79 for the Mac version of NeatWorks i've blown my budget. So I'll probably stick with a Scansnap S1500M (plan to purchase) and my receipts/biz card will be handled by NeatWorks which i'll gladly pay the $79 for. That way I won't be tempted to track biz cards and receipts in DEVONthink Pro Office which I want to use research and other stuff. Glad to know the link is working. Also I'm waiting for the next major version of NeatWorks for Mac. At WWDC they were talking up new features enabled by Snow Leopard that piqued my interest

    Shyenne - March 7, 2012 Reply

    Did you ever end up using the s1500m with Neatworks software? If so; have they been compatible?

NBW - June 15, 2009 Reply

I noticed NeatWorks is at version 4 for WIndows and version 2 for Mac. Is Mac treated as a second class citizen by them?

    Brooks Duncan - June 16, 2009 Reply

    @NBW I personally don't have any insight into their version numbering, but if I had to guess I'd say that the Mac one was developed later so maybe that is why it has a lower version number. But again, I personally have no knowledge of it.

    I will say that the Mac version of NeatWorks seems pretty well received and they've made it quite slick, so I doubt it's the second class citizen issue like so many other vendors.

Stephen - June 3, 2009 Reply

I was wondering if you have tried networking the snapscan s1500m? I would prefer to try plugging it in to some kind of print server scenario (under $100). Your help would be appreciated as it does not appear to be mentioned on any other site or in documentation. I do not want to have it plugged in to a dedicated computer and would like it on the network for all to use. Thanks so much, hope you have tried it or knwow someone who has!

    racerx90 - June 9, 2009 Reply

    I don't believe you will be able to network the ScanSnap S1500M since the scanner needs local driver software (running on a computer) to function. It doesn't operate like a standalone network scanner or multifunction printer device which can be plugged into a print server and can operate on it's own.

      Brooks Duncan - June 9, 2009 Reply

      Agreed. I've actually had a note to myself for quite a while to see if
      I can figure out how to do it but have never had the chance.

      I did some searching and came across lots of people who wanted to
      network their scanners using Bonjour or something, but not a lot of
      success.

      If anyone has had any luck, let us know!

        racerx90 - June 9, 2009 Reply

        If the goal is not to have a computer directly hooked up to the ScanSnap scanner then based on the way the driver code is written (the driver directly looks at the USB bus looking for the scanner device before initialize it (meaning it requires special software to operate)), you would need to extend the USB bus over the network in order for it to work.

        While I can't say that a USB network device server such as the Keyspan will work for (it's limited in it's description), based on the product specifications it might just work.

        http://www.tripplite.com/shared/product-pages/en/…

        However, that would mean you also need specialized drivers in addition to the scanner software for each computer.

        Now if you're willing to put a dedicated system hooked up to the scanner – then you have options (while I haven't tried it, I'm pretty sure SANE could also accomplish this plus you already have at least 1 computer anyway since you're planning on sharing it.)

Brooks Duncan - June 3, 2009 Reply

Hi Ben, that's pretty weird. What kind of ScanSnap do you have and what version of ScanSnap Manager?

    Ben - June 4, 2009 Reply

    I have the ScanSnap S510M running version 2.1 L10 of the ScanSnap Manager.

    If I configure the Manager to use NeatWorks from its Settings menu, it works fine, but I just can't get NeatWorks to recognize that the Manager is installed. Weird.

      racerx90 - June 8, 2009 Reply

      Maybe try installing V2.2 L11 – I can confirm this version does work with NeatWorks (since I'm using it with the S300.) And according to the release notes, 2.1 might not have the right profile support ability anyway:

      How the latest (V2.2L11) version differs from the previous version (V2.1L11)

      1. A profile function has been added.
      2. Supports German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese (Traditional), Korean and Russian.

        Brooks Duncan - June 10, 2009 Reply

        @Ben
        Yeah, I have 2.2 L10 and it works fine for me too. I agree with racerx90. Upgrading ScanSnap Manager would be the first step. Otherwise, I guess you'd either have to contact NeatCo support to see what is up, or do as our forefathers did and add NeatWorks manually to ScanSnap Manager (which it sounds like you already did). Tres etrange.

Ben - June 3, 2009 Reply

I followed your instructions up to where I get the ScanSnap settings from within NeatWorks, but it says that ScanSnap Manager is not installed when it, in fact, is. I even quite SnanSnap Manager, launched it again, and tried to go through NeatWorks to identify it but to no avail. I just get prompted to download the app from Fujitsu's website.

Any ideas?

Nitin Badjatia - June 2, 2009 Reply

Cool. So, I have a ScanSnap that was made for Windows and I've downloaded the SS software to make it run on my Mac. Do you know if I can then run NeatWorks on the Mac with this setup?

    Brooks Duncan - June 2, 2009 Reply

    @Nitin
    While I haven't tried it myself, I'd guess that sure, as long as you have the Mac ScanSnap Manager, that is what NeatWorks interfaces with- not the ScanSnap hardware itself.

    If you try it out, definitely let us know!

    tjcarter - June 2, 2009 Reply

    Once you have the ScanSnap running on your Mac, it'd work fine. It just creates a scanning profile for you, that's all.

    racerx90 - June 8, 2009 Reply

    If using the patch I created for ScanSnap V2.2 L11 (Mac), then I can confirm it works as I've tired it before. Even profile creation works without an issue.

    Note: If you make backup first (and didn't patch the original), then NeatWorks may try to use the backup copy instead. You can check it from NeatWorks by starting the ScanSnap application to see which one it starts – if it does start the wrong one then apply the patch to it and it should work fine from that point on.

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