Network Scanner Options

If you want to scan directly into FileCenter, your scanner has to provide a TWAIN driver. Network scanners don't normally offer TWAIN drivers. But you still have a number of options:

FileConvert

If you're wanting to convert your scans to PDF and make them searchable, our FileConvert product will do this for you. Network scanners usually save out new scans to a predesignated folder on the network. FileConvert can "watch" this folder and automatically convert each scan that arrives.

FileConvert also supports our "Separator" technology. Separators are special cover sheets that you create and print in FileConvert. The cover sheet can tell FileConvert where to save the converted document. This lets you scan, convert, and save out your scans in one step.

Inbox

If your primary concern is opening/editing these scans or organizing them in FileCenter, FileCenter Professional's "Inbox" feature can be very helpful. To set up the inbox, create a new cabinet that points to the scanner's output folder, then select the "Use as Inbox" option for the cabinet.

In practice, you just hit the "Inbox" tab in FileCenter. This will split the screen, showing the new scans on the top and your FileCenter cabinets on the bottom. You can then open the scans in FileCenter or quickly drag/drop them where they belong in your cabinets.

Many offices use a combination of these options: They use FileConvert to make their incoming scans searchable, then use Separators or the Inbox to organize the newly-converted scans.

TWAIN Options

A few network scanner manufacturers (Xerox and Canon, to name two) distribute an application called Fiery Remote Scan (for Windows) that allows you to access the scanner on your desktop through a TWAIN driver. This is all you need to scan directly into FileCenter.

Search your scanner manufacturer's support site to see if they provide support and downloads for Fiery Remote Scan. If so, install and run it, then enter the appropriate IP address for your scanner.

If you set it up correctly, it will show up as a scanning source in FileCenter (click the drop-arrow next to the "Scan" button and select "Source"). Now try a scan from FileCenter. This should establish a connection with the network scanner, initiate a scan, and display the scanned image. You can use the Advanced Scan (with the "Show Scanner Dialog" option in FilePDF) to see all scanning options that are available.