[Solved] Free scanning application that can save in PDF

[dkm777]

Hi guys,

I'm donating an old scanner that I had lying around and the biggest problem - it only comes with bare drivers. I need a scanning application that works in XP and can save multi-page documents in PDF format. The people that are going to use it are not really good with computers so it must be as uncomplicated as possible. Does such software really exist? My preliminary search only lead to paid ones.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The scanner will be able to save the pages in some type of format that is printable;

From there you need to be able to select those files and "print" them to a PDF.

So you need to get ahold of a free PDF printer and build some type of script to "print" the files.

Knowing the type of scanner always helps to see if there are options available.

 

[Kaido]

The way I've done it in the past is:

1. Picasa
2. CutePDF

Picasa lets you scan images in (TWAIN etc.) and correct them if needed (brightness, rotate, etc.). CutePDF is a virtual printer that "prints" to a PDF file. You might be able to select multiple images and print them out virtually to a PDF document. That would be a pretty easy way to do it - open Picasa, scan, print to PDF.

 

[dkm777]

The scanner is a Plustek Optic Slim 2420. It's ancient. And by "bare drivers" I mean just that - no applications or utilities whatsoever. Not even a setup.exe - I had to go to Device Manager and install it the hard way. I'll try the Picasa + CutePDF route. I just hope the ancient PC won't slow down to absolute crawl.

EDIT: found exactly what I was looking for - NAPS2. Initial setup requires expert advice, but after that it's just "insert paper -> press "Scan" button -> press "Save PDF" button".

 

[Kaido]

EDIT: found exactly what I was looking for - NAPS2. Initial setup requires expert advice, but after that it's just "insert paper -> press "Scan" button -> press "Save PDF" button".

Nice find, bookmarked! And haha at the name - "Not Another PDF Scanner"