#54 - 440CN is dirt simple to network scan, setting it up is part of the driver installation on each machine (you have to select the option and name your computer). SCAN TO FILE and pick the destination computer, done. Have a look at your manual.

See #60 for the Word procedure.

I am so thankful that GOTD doesn't listen to all the naysayers that claim how useless this software is. I don't know how many it's useful for, but I can definitely use it. Sharing printers across the network with XP is easy, but not so for my usb scanner. Without BlindScanner Pro, when my teenage daughter, whose computer is a few feet from mine, wants to scan something for schoolwork, I need to stop working and let her use my computer to do it. That's neither fun nor productive. Thank you GOTD & Master ITC for this wonderful software. It will save me time and headaches.

By the way, BlindScanner Pro installed on both machines easily. I just needed to restart each and click yes to allow the firewall to let BlindScanner through. And I also needed to use the IP address instead of the name. Ran some test scans on my daughters computer - no problems. I'm happy!

I almost missed this one. I downloaded it the last time it was offered and I loved it then. I have several computers in my network and I have an EPSON CX9400Fax hooked up to one of my secondary computers. My main system has all it's USB ports filled and I didn't want to pick up a USB hub or an additional card. The scanner is on top of my desk so having his program makes it as if it is plugged into my main computer instead of the one beside me.

Thank you for this!

This is a fantastic software :) my all-in-one scanner/printer driver takes up 200MB installation and requires .NET. So much junk that I decided to install them inside Vmware as an appliance since I don't want background processes continuously running when I'm not using the scanner. blindscanner allows me to install a thin twain client on my other machines (some virtual) and scan from anyone of them. Wonderful!

I have a cable wired and wireless network at home with 3 desktops and a laptop. Only have room for one scanner.
This is perfect, the scanner is five feet away and now I don't have to bug my wife, where the scanner is, I don't want that resource hog scanner on my PC. :-)
Thanks for the freebie.

#54 To import an image from Word 2003, Click Insert --> Picture --> From Scanner or Camera --> BlindScanner Pro, then click Custom Insert to get to the BlindScanner Client screen.

Yeah, I still have to walk all the way across the house to load the scanner, but I can scan directly to my PC instead of scanning to my wife's then transferring the image...saves me one step.

As for sharing a scanner natively, I've never been able to get it to work...this very nicely solves that problem.

Installed on XP Home ok.

One possible glitch - I used it to remotely scan into Photoshop and it created an image nicely. However, when I went back to the scanner interface and selected a different portion of the scannable image, it created a blank image in Photoshop. By closing the scanner, saving the first image, and then reopening and using the scanner I was able to create a second image with contents. Not quite sure what the best procedure is.

What no one has pointed out regarding the beauty of remote scanning is that the remote client may have software on it, such as Photoshop, that the server/scanner machine does not. This software allows the software on the client to directly access a scanner without the need for intermediate file saving steps which may be counterproductive.

JK

I can now use my 10 plus year old scanner in vista via my win xp machine.

54. In Word go to Insert > pictures > From scanner or camera. You will get a dialog for the "Insert Picture from Scanner or Camera". Select BlindScanner Pro Under Device. Then click the button for custom insert. You will get the BlindScanner Pro client for the scanner.

I can't see why this is needed at all when WIndows XP and Vista both come with everything needed to share a scanner on a network. Just install the driver on the system where the scanner is installed and share the scanner. The driver will be downloaded automatically to any PC referening the share.

"You can start MS Word (for example) and insert image from remote scanner, just select BlindScanner Pro as your scanner."

I have the Brother MFC-440CN (network all-in-one). After installing BSP I saw no way to access my scanner, much less share. There was no option within a Word doc, for instance, to scan. Maybe this is redundant since the actual scanner is connected to the lan, not a pc. Any ideas?

#49... I for one, am not involved with this software company or another for that matter.
For me, the possible usefulness of this program is the ability to have a document(or whatever)scan and go directly to the PC without a scanner attached. In this way, I am not trying to figure out how to save/open, etc. from a flash drive. I"m not concerned with having to actually go to the scanner and feed in the document, it's the transfer of the file that's a pain. I know there are ways to do it already in XP, but I don't know how or have the desire currently ;)to take the time to do it.
This is yet another program that is useful to some, and a waste for others. I believe the negative ratings come because of the putdowns regarding the complete uselessness, rather than considering the software itself.

I installed the server on an XP Pro machine and the client on a Vista machine. I tried to aquire an image, after setting the internal IP address of the server. Presses scan and the scanner came to life. That was encouraging but nothing was transmitted. So I pressed the Preview button...and now I get the error message "Connection Closed Gracefully", so back to the server where the scanner server service was running, stopped it, ran BSPROSRV.exe and tried it all again. After getting an Access violation, the next time it actually worked. I can't wait to try it again tomorrow, but keeping on the system is doubtful.

If it helps at all...

For something like BlindScanner Pro to work I'd imagine your device has to be connected to a PC that's connected to the network -- in that case however many BlindScanner Pro clients can connect via the network to the BlindScanner Pro server, which is running on the machine connected to the scanner. The only potential extra work I can see immediately is if your network dynamically assigns IP addresses -- you might want to assign them permanently, which might involve signing onto and configuring your router or switch.

I have no experience with anything but Canon all-in-one printers, but as far as the 3 models I've had are concerned the scanner drivers are separate from the printer functions. While you can easily share a printer over your network since at least win98, that doesn't hold true with scanners in XP SP3 or Vista Home Prem SP1. So you need something like BlindScanner Pro, and you need 1 PC to be connected to your scanner. I'd guess that print servers might be irrelevant as long as you are connected to your scanner & can scan from your PC, but I may well be wrong not being familiar with every print server out there.

As BlindScanner Pro is a client/server set-up for scanning, a trial copy of what I think is their generic scanning interface is included in the GOTD download -- if you wanted to replace say the Epson scanning GUI that's one alternative. Another would be to use the WIA interface if your scanner driver (& version of Windows) supports it.

I'm getting strange vibes from this board today.
Everybody who has made a valid point on this forum as to problems or lack of usefulness of this product has been downrated to an extreme extent and those praising it highly rated.
Is the company who produce this software involved?
hmmm....

I really don't see the point in this software and it appears many others agree.
The point that you still need to load a scanner before use is true,how do all the people that state they need this program load their documents?
For all other uses of this software a shared files and printer network seems to do the job just fine for me.
Could somebody please explain solutions for this questions?
If so I would gladly give this software a trial and maybe even purchase one day when I have a few more PC's on my network

I have a psc1510 and its connected to my wifes computer and would not let me scan from it. Now I can. The software worked first time and is just what i needed. Thank you gaotd

Problem with registering: activation and then install?

Guess this would not work if my scanner is part of an all in one scanner/printer and plugged into a wireless print server :-(

It installed ok, but when tring to scan, I get a box with a red "X" that says "CONNECTION CLOSED GRACEFULLY". What the hell does that mean?

What's with all of the programs lately (including this one) that offer to do things that you can already do with XP (or Vista)?

I have been accessing my scanner from another computer on my home network for years... with no additional software installed.

#19 Bubby, I'm not sure what type of office you use that has a scanner on the second floor, sorry to hear it!

But please explain to my how you can load you documents into the scanner without making that trip in the first place. Any office I have worked at had a Full page,multipage scanner that when you walked to it were ever it was located you just placed your documents into the page holders and hit one button and either waited for them to scan or walked back to your desk, then you would use the network to locate the shared directory that the scanner scanned docs to and retrived you scanned pages and this was atleast 5years ago. Today I would think they would even have more automatic scanners setup in an office.

So, I really not sure how you can get you 20 page doc to a physical scanner located in another place without going there first so I'm not sure what this really helps. Please explain to us that not sure what this is going to help.

And another thing most networks and even home networks have device sharing:printer, scanners, most hardware you just load drivers and software on all computers hooked up and use from any computer.

I'm sorry to say but i'm really confused by this program especially since it uses a twain driver that most hardware you buy comes with or is already installed in most operating system.....hmmmm

Alas, I thought to replace my Scanner's OEM Software with BlindScanner. Perhaps, I thought (wrongly) by using a bit of "software trickery". It did NOT work for me on a single, non-networked computer (w/XPHomeSP2). Today's programs has a VERY good GUI, to be sure(!), compared to my Epson Perfection 2580's one (a buggy one!).

Can anyone suggest a work-around with using BlindScanner on just ONE computer? Heck if I know :-) Or, please suggest another favorite freeware Scanner Software for us all. Thanks!

Ummmm....I guess I just don't see the point of this. I have an all in one printer and I can do that anyway. I have 4 pc's on my home network and a little printer server box I was given (note free) and I can scan print and everything from any one of them. Apps like this have no need to be made, I mean, who REALLY uses a scanner anymore? I think I used mine once since I got it, just to see if it worked, I scanned in a hondo.

To all those who think this is only for a business using a fancy PC...Many times my daughter needs something put on her PC (no scanner). She comes to mine, we have to scan, then try to save on a flash drive so she can (hopefully)open it on her PC. Of course, this happens when I'm in the middle of doing something :)
Also, it never fails, that somehow, the item won't open correctly or something like that. So it ends up being a long drawn-out mystery to solve. To me, if this works as it says, it would at least save me a big headache from a grumpy teenager! That alone would be worth 100 thumbs up!!
Thanks GOTD!

Thanks GOTD! Wish that I knew about this software earlier this year – it would have saved me from getting 2 more all-in-one printers. [I got them cheaper than I could buy comparable scanners]. It also should allow using 1 flatbed scanner (that does transparencies) with one of our PCs that uses 64 bit Windows – the manufacturer doesn’t provide 64 bit drivers.

If it helps anyone, I was able to install both server & client on a Vista PC by installing the server first, then stopping the server service [Administrative Tools -> Services], & installing the client. I haven’t tried playing with this much yet, but I’d guess that in some circumstances the service might have to be manually stopped, &/or set to manual... Not a big deal really – there are several services I don’t use very often, & just start them manually on the rare occasions I need them.

The usefulness of this program obviously depends on your individual situation: i.e. physical placement of scanners, personalities of the people involved etc. I know I don’t mind putting whatever on the scanner, & I would certainly rather *just* do that instead of performing the actual scanning, then putting the file in whatever network folder, or emailing, or putting on disc or memory stick.

@Richard van Buren: Perhaps try something like VirtualBox or wine? Running a virtual install of Windows might come in handy for other purposes as well since it sounds like you have Windows machines too?

Has anyone tried to install this on more than one client? The program works perfectly on the first pair, but the other two computer clients pop up a "Buy Now" window. I noticed that the license one can purchase is either for 1 computer or "Enterprise," so thinking that this only works with one client. Any ideas, GOTD?

#30 "Easiness of use, scanning pages automatically from autofeeder, scanning multiple pages, supporting an automatic feeder - these are not all program features."

Given the lack of proper English usage coming from our school graduates at all levels, you would think that interpreting poor English would have become a standard (and invaluable!) business skill.

Obviously the intent of the phrase is to state that this is not a comprehensive or complete list of features.

e.g. "these are not all of the program features."

As far as usefulness in a home environment, I have at least 2 desktops, and up to 5 laptops on my network at various times--at least 4 machines reside within the same room. While I seldom need to scan things at all, I think I will find enough use for this program to appreciate having it for free. For $30 I probably wouldn't bother, as I live on SSI disability and $30 is nearly 4% of my monthly total income.

Gotta love a country where you can scavenge machines worth hundreds of dollars off the street--of course it helps to live in a college town where kids think that they are suddenly rich because someone gave them a job that actually pays--so they toss their old machines. Many haven't had to pay their own expenses and have no idea how little of that salary they will have as 'disposable income!'

This is a "learning experience."

How should I install in a setup of scanner connected to a router through a USB cable and other computers are all connected to the same router either by LAN (cable) or wireless?
In such setup which should be defined as server and which as clients?

Thanks in advanced for an answer.

G.

#21 Want to share a linux scanner?
How to share a scanner on your network. http://www.linux.com/articles/57798

Works for me!

This program is great! I didn't install the scanito portion, but I've been using it in GIMP all morning. Our scanner is hooked up to someone else's computer and everytime I need to use it I have to kick them off. This takes care of that problem. Thanks a lot GOTD! This is exactly what I've been looking for.

Also, #29 and others talking about having to get up and put something on the scanner bed, it depends on your scanner, I have a scanner (Brother-scanner,copier,fax) that can be used to scan directly from my computer to a file or email or image and then I can use however I like. I do not have to put anything on the scanning bed.

I installed both the client and server, however, I do not believe the client one got activated... I know better after the trial expires

Running Vista on stand-alone PC with All-In-One device. Tried installing server without NT option this time. Error is: Address and Port already in use. Still not certain whether to run server or client/server together. Company may not be monitoring uninstall log file at this time. I use OpenOffice and so far neither Writer or Impress can find the application either. I'll take a break and try not to think about it for a while; maybe a work-around will occur to me. This software already got my thumbs-up for what it could provide for me if we can resolve my install/run issues. Thanks everyone.

"Easiness of use, scanning pages automatically from autofeeder, scanning multiple pages, supporting an automatic feeder - these are not all program features."

Clearly, there is a typo in this description. Why would I want something where "easiness of use" is NOT a program feature?

I believe the GOTD team should fix the text so that it reads "...these are not the ONLY program features."

VNC or not, office setting or not, this software still has one HUGE drawback... You have to put the document/image/whatever into the scanner to be scanned before you can do anything - and that means walking over to the PC with the scanner attached to it to do this. Sure you can call over there and talk to whomever is at that PC - but then you stop them from doing whatever it is they're doing (as if they've nothing better to do than play "Scanner Secretary" for everyone else) and then have to describe the item you want and get them to put it on so you can "remotely scan it with minimal difficulty."). Sure it's easy and has no work involved... The person at the PC with the scanner will be doing all the work in this case - else you're walking around the office to put things in the scanner and then trekking back to your PC to remotely scan the document and hoping no one else is trying to do this too and that your document stays on the scanner long enough for you to scan - then you have to go get the original and put it away (or do we have our "scanner secretary" do that, too?)... Yeah, I can see THIS saving a lot of time and being SOOOO much more productive. Heck, at least (providing people don't use the poor sap at that PC as the "S.S.") everyone who needs to scan things will get some cardio exercise walking around the office (and not aimlessly or uselessly) once in a while. *rolls eyes* Just like the last time this was offered, I can see no real need for something like this. It just seems too impractical.

I installed the BlindScanner Pro and was able to get it to work. I would encourage anyone interested in this GAOTD to read comments #5 and #13. I was only able to get to work on my LAN by specifying the IP address but not by specifying the computer name. This software works for me at our home office since we only have one scanner to share between two desktops and two laptops. Since we do not scan that often, this is a much cheaper alternative to buying another scanner.

Stand-alone issues: Running Vista PC, attempting to install client/server on same PC, so far no luck. There are no shortcuts and the URL quick setup page is not loading properly. Following uninstall (to try a different install approach) got a why did you leave us window with email box for response. I told them my problem, now to wait a bit for them to read and respond. Meanwhile I'll try again. Thanks so far guys/gals. :)

#19, Hi BuBBY, I can certainly see some use for this. Comment about VNC was directed to those asking about using a DVD across a network and it seems there are a few with more than one PC who may benefit from the free VNC. I just hope the poor sucker on the 4th floor with the expensive scanner doesn't end up loading doc's into it for everyone else!! They may have thier own job to get on with. BTW installs, registers, and works like a charm. Thanks GOTD.

To #14 re your off-topic request. First, open "My Computer" on the computer in which the DVD drive is installed. Right click on the DVD drive and select "Properties". Depending on which version of Windows you are running, there will be a way to allow the drive to be shared on the network and to give it a "share" name. After you have done that, open windows explorer on the the computer on which you want to access the DVD drive (the client computer). On the tools menu, select "Map Network Drive". Enter the "share name" that you gave the DVD drive and select a letter on the client computer to assign to that drive. The default letter is "Z", because drive letters are automatically assigned in alphabetical order to drives that are installed on the client computer either permanently or temporarily. If the shared DVD drive is "Z", it will never conflict with the local drives. Good luck.

#20 and others with similar thoughts. This is perfect for me. I was wondering just yesterday if something like this was available. We have a desktop and a laptop. Both are usually in the same room. I don't want to spend the money on another scanner, nor do I have the room for one. Walking the five steps it would take to load the scanner woul be simpler that to scan it to the desktop computer, save it to a flsh drive and move it to the laptop, or even save it to the network and load it on the laptop.

I have only one computer (running XP sp2, Home edition) but I thought I'd install this as a spare scanning application (& just in case I get another computer). However, I'm not clear as to whether I could use this on a stand alone computer (nor whether I could install a client after the activation date). Should I should just install the server part?; and if so what's the "NT" option about?

First I have to confess, that I'm even after some years living with my computer a newbie, but learning.
Second I'm very thankful to BuBBy # 19, for the accurate and comprehensive draft proposal for a small home network, it appears very feasible even to me.
Third, I can not stand any longer all that whining about "Strictly personal usage". When you have tested this Giveaway, and will have it for your business, than please act like a business-people and buy this program.
Forth, did I say thank you for this Giveaway and those helpful advises from BuBBy?
graylox

Aaaargh, this would have been so nice: I have multiple computers on a local area network (DSL Router); unfortunately the main system (with the scanner) is a PC with Linux... Ah well, perhaps they will find something to solve that too ;); nevertheless I give this program a "Thumbs Up"!

#19, Bubby, well, maybe useful in an office with a single expensive scanner, but the giveaways are for private use only, and I doubt many of us have use for a shared scanner device...

A few people asking "why would you want this, if you have to walk across the office to insert the next page". Perhaps it isn't as noticeable if you use a $30 flatbed scanner (and it is possible to just install a scanner on every computer) - but for people who had invested in more expensive equipment - and wanted to make the resource available to multiple computers - this could be useful (and cost effective)

What about a home user who had two desktop pcs and a single scanner and limited desk space. Having a second scanner might not be possible due to lack of room. It may not be possible or practical to connect a scanner to a mobile laptop.

No one has suggested that "having to scan 20 pages one at a time - on a scanner that is two floors away is a huge time saver", but for most home users - the trek to the nearest scanner doesn't require packing a cut lunch and a change of clothes (in many cases the scanner will be in the same room)

The convenience (for me) of having the scanner software, graphics editors, ocr software, office suite all on the computer I am working on, is something I can appreciate.

I would find this software more convenient, than waiting for the "scanner computer" to be unused, then I'm able to scan my page and copy it across to my computer so I can work on it.

Having the scanner be available for use from any computer on the network immediately, is where I believe the benefit of this software lies, there is less waiting for a resource to become available.

The comments about using VNC might be OK - if the other computer isn't being used at the time, or the user doesn't mind sitting back while you effectively kick them out of their chair for 5 minutes while you commandeer their PC. With Blindscanner Pro - the user on the PC connected to the scanner doesn't need to stop whatever they are doing - "their" scanner is used without interrupting whatever they are working on.

The activation works for me. This is the full version even though the server has the activation thing going on. It works 100%, I have the paid version and this has all the same features. I know some people get upset when they don't see the words "Registered" but if it does all the same features as the paid version, then who really cares what messages it says. 2 Thumbs up for this being free (and working)!!!

This is exactly what I have been looking for and i would love to be able to use its features but i just dont´understand how and where it must be installed and/or activated.
Do I need to download & activate the prog. twice? ( on both PCs?).
Do I therefore need 2 different keys?
Would it work with scanners in "All in one" machines?
Most importantly: Did anyone manage to download actvate and use this software? If yes would He plese explain to the rest os us how he managed this amazing feat?

Ok, I'm a little bemused at why I might need to remotely use a scanner - does it come with someone to load the scanner too? ;) But let's have a try.
For #13 and others with home (or business) networks - I use RealVNC to remotely manage and use other PCs on the network. Allows you to use the remote PC as if you were there. Can be used to run a headless box. Very simple, low resource, little set up etc. There are other VNC apps too, but I've never needed more than RealVNC.

Looks like this is the first GAOTD software, that I may consider to buy for our company in near future. This work well in my tests, and have nice and clean interface, instead of many modern programs.

Note, that Scanitto in this package - demo version of different standalone program, this is not today's GAOTD issue. Scanitto not need to work BlindScanner, you can even don't install it.

BlindScanner itself seems activated successfuly, though I'm still not sure, what part (server or client) require activation (activated both computers), and would be glad if someone clarify this.

By the way, I've tried it and it worked great on my Windows XP network.

Off-topic:
I've also been looking for a way to similarly share a DVD drive from one computer to another. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Pay attention. A trial version of Scanitto is included with BlindScanner Pro but IT IS NOT REQUIRED for BlindScanner Pro to work.

Install using the server option to the computer with the scanner attached. Install as a client for all other computers on your home network. Then open an application, like Photoshop, that can use scanned images. BlindScanner Pro will show up as an option within your application. To see it in action, you can choose to view the presentation at the conclusion of the installation or just go here now:
how it works!

Scanitto is a scanning application that will eliminate the need to open a graphics application. Buy it if you want but IT IS NOT NECESSARY.