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PaperPort 14 Scanner Connection Tool - Fix Scanning Problems in PaperPort 14
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Joe Winograd, Fellow&MVE
50+ years in computer industry. Everything from development to sales. CIO. Document imaging. EE MVE 2015, EE MVE 2016, EE FELLOW 2017.
This article discusses the PaperPort 14 Scanner Connection Tool, which Nuance provides at no charge in order to fix scanning problems in Windows 8. Furthermore, users of PaperPort 14 in Windows 7 and Windows 10 have reported that the tool works in those versions of Windows, too.
PaperPort is a popular document imaging/management product from Nuance Communications, previously known as ScanSoft. PaperPort is in widespread use by both individuals and businesses.
Article Update on 25-Sep-2015: This article was originally entitled PaperPort 14 - Fix Scanning Problems in Windows 8, but reports from users, as well as my own tests, have confirmed that the tool works in Windows 7 and Windows 10, so I decided to rename the article more appropriately. Note that using the tool in Windows 10 is discussed in Tip#4 of this Experts Exchange article:
PaperPort 14 in Windows 10 - A First Look
The current version of PaperPort is 14, and it is the only version that supports Windows 8, as documented in the PaperPort knowledgebase article, Nuance product support for Microsoft Windows 8. Even though PaperPort 14 supports W8, there are known scanning problems. To fix these problems, Nuance developed (and offers at no charge) the PaperPort 14 Scanner Connection Tool. You may download it from here:
http://supportcontent.nuance.com/paperport/14/PPScnConnTool.exe
To install it, exit PP14 and simply run the downloaded executable. You'll get this User Account Control dialog if UAC is turned on:
After clicking the Yes button on the UAC, you'll get this dialog:
Click the Enable button and you should get this successful installation dialog:
You may want to click the Yes button to put a shortcut to it on your desktop to make it easier to run if you need the tool again (you should run it again if you reinstall, upgrade, or repair PP14; or if you install new or upgraded scanner drivers). I had it create the shortcut, although I like a very clean desktop, so I moved the shortcut off the desktop and into the PP14 program group.
Now when you run PP14 it will be using this new Scanner Connection Tool, which also solves the problem of a grayed-out Scan button, as discussed in the PaperPort knowledgebase article, PaperPort Scan button is grayed out within PaperPort 14. Although the article talks specifically about a grayed-out PP14 Scan button, PaperPort users have reported that the tool fixes other scanning problems, such as a grayed-out "Display scanner dialog box" and "Show Capture Assistant" checkboxes in the Scan or Get Photo pane:
There are also reports that it fixes "problem communicating with TWAIN device" and being "unable to find your scanner". Furthermore, although Nuance says this tool is for W8, I received reports from several users saying that it fixed problems in W7 and W10. Here are two examples:
If you find this article to be helpful, please click the thumbs-up icon below. This lets me know what is valuable for EE members and provides direction for future articles. Thanks very much! Regards, Joe
Article Update on 25-Sep-2015: This article was originally entitled PaperPort 14 - Fix Scanning Problems in Windows 8, but reports from users, as well as my own tests, have confirmed that the tool works in Windows 7 and Windows 10, so I decided to rename the article more appropriately. Note that using the tool in Windows 10 is discussed in Tip#4 of this Experts Exchange article:
PaperPort 14 in Windows 10 - A First Look
The current version of PaperPort is 14, and it is the only version that supports Windows 8, as documented in the PaperPort knowledgebase article, Nuance product support for Microsoft Windows 8. Even though PaperPort 14 supports W8, there are known scanning problems. To fix these problems, Nuance developed (and offers at no charge) the PaperPort 14 Scanner Connection Tool. You may download it from here:
http://supportcontent.nuance.com/paperport/14/PPScnConnTool.exe
To install it, exit PP14 and simply run the downloaded executable. You'll get this User Account Control dialog if UAC is turned on:
After clicking the Yes button on the UAC, you'll get this dialog:
Click the Enable button and you should get this successful installation dialog:
You may want to click the Yes button to put a shortcut to it on your desktop to make it easier to run if you need the tool again (you should run it again if you reinstall, upgrade, or repair PP14; or if you install new or upgraded scanner drivers). I had it create the shortcut, although I like a very clean desktop, so I moved the shortcut off the desktop and into the PP14 program group.
Now when you run PP14 it will be using this new Scanner Connection Tool, which also solves the problem of a grayed-out Scan button, as discussed in the PaperPort knowledgebase article, PaperPort Scan button is grayed out within PaperPort 14. Although the article talks specifically about a grayed-out PP14 Scan button, PaperPort users have reported that the tool fixes other scanning problems, such as a grayed-out "Display scanner dialog box" and "Show Capture Assistant" checkboxes in the Scan or Get Photo pane:
There are also reports that it fixes "problem communicating with TWAIN device" and being "unable to find your scanner". Furthermore, although Nuance says this tool is for W8, I received reports from several users saying that it fixed problems in W7 and W10. Here are two examples:
A note to confirm that this tool is effective with Windows 7 as well. I couldn't access Capture Assistant at first and the Tool fixed that.
So, if you're having problems scanning in PP14 with W7, W8, or W10, this tool is worth a try. If you do find that it solves your PP14 scanning problem, please add a comment to this article with your version of Windows and what the problem was that this tool fixed. This will be a great aid to other members.
Although Nuance says that it is exclusively for users of Windows 8, several people have found that it can also mend scanner issues with earlier versions of Windows.
If you find this article to be helpful, please click the thumbs-up icon below. This lets me know what is valuable for EE members and provides direction for future articles. Thanks very much! Regards, Joe
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14 Comments
This did not help. Since the last auto-update in Windows 10 PaperPort Professional 14.5 won't recognize one of my two scanners. Neither your site nor the manufacturer's latest drivers have been of any help - especially baffling as Nuance is the software bundled with the scanner. The Xerox DocuMate 152i is no longer listed as a compatible scanner.
Active today
Hi Gregory,
First, I see that you joined EE today — welcome aboard! I'll do my best to try to help you.
Do you have Patch 1 installed? If not, I recommend doing that, as PP14.5/Patch1 is the only Windows 10-compliant version of PaperPort. This EE article explains how to get it (at no cost):
How to install the Patch 1 update for PaperPort 14.5
Reinstall the Scanner Connection Tool after installing Patch 1. If it still doesn't work, read this other EE article:
PaperPort 14 in Windows 10 - A First Look
Perhaps some of the Tips in there will help.
Of course, having a driver that works in your version of Windows (including bit level — 32-bit or 64-bit) is critical. I checked the Xerox website for your DocuMate 152i and it shows that it has drivers for W10, including ISIS, TWAIN, and WIA. You may download them from here:
http://www.xeroxscanners.com/en/us/products/drivers.asp?PN=97-0084-00U
Note this comment at that site: "You must uninstall your current driver and OneTouch software to install an updated driver."
I much prefer ISIS drivers over TWAIN and WIA, and PP14.5 fully supports ISIS, so try that first (nothing wrong with TWAIN and WIA, so try them, too). Also, reinstall the Scanner Connection Tool after reinstalling the scanning drivers. Regards, Joe
First, I see that you joined EE today — welcome aboard! I'll do my best to try to help you.
Do you have Patch 1 installed? If not, I recommend doing that, as PP14.5/Patch1 is the only Windows 10-compliant version of PaperPort. This EE article explains how to get it (at no cost):
How to install the Patch 1 update for PaperPort 14.5
Reinstall the Scanner Connection Tool after installing Patch 1. If it still doesn't work, read this other EE article:
PaperPort 14 in Windows 10 - A First Look
Perhaps some of the Tips in there will help.
Of course, having a driver that works in your version of Windows (including bit level — 32-bit or 64-bit) is critical. I checked the Xerox website for your DocuMate 152i and it shows that it has drivers for W10, including ISIS, TWAIN, and WIA. You may download them from here:
http://www.xeroxscanners.com/en/us/products/drivers.asp?PN=97-0084-00U
Note this comment at that site: "You must uninstall your current driver and OneTouch software to install an updated driver."
I much prefer ISIS drivers over TWAIN and WIA, and PP14.5 fully supports ISIS, so try that first (nothing wrong with TWAIN and WIA, so try them, too). Also, reinstall the Scanner Connection Tool after reinstalling the scanning drivers. Regards, Joe
Active today
Hi Myrna,
Thank you for joining Experts Exchange today and reading my article. I take it from your comment that you found it helpful. :)
Welcome to EE! Regards, Joe
Thank you for joining Experts Exchange today and reading my article. I take it from your comment that you found it helpful. :)
Welcome to EE! Regards, Joe
I have been running Paperport 12 for years. Two days ago I updated Windows 7 and now PaperPort 12 will NOT run. I have reinstalled, I had a tech look at it. Not happening. So if I purchase Paperport 14 will it run? I don't have the time to play with this program, I just need my scanner working. Thank you
Active today
Hi Tina,
Thanks for joining Experts Exchange today and reading my article — Welcome Aboard!
I can't say if PaperPort 14 will run on your system. Of course, it should run — but PaperPort 12 should run on W7, too. So there may be some other problem unrelated to PaperPort that is causing the scanner not to work. One test is to see if another program can scan. Try the built-in Paint app in W7 — click the drop-down, then "From scanner or camera" (or try any other app that you prefer, such as Acrobat, IrfanView, paint.net, etc.).
The most common culprit when a scanner doesn't work is the scanning drivers (ISIS, TWAIN, WIA/WIA2). The first thing I suggest is to install the latest drivers from your scanner manufacturer's website, being to sure to get the correct bit level for your version of W7, i.e., 32-bit or 64-bit. After installing the latest scanning drivers, try PaperPort 12 again, although I suggest upgrading (at no charge) to PP12.1, as explained in my EE article:
PaperPort 12 - Free Upgrade to Version 12.1
That said, I do recommend purchasing PaperPort 14. Both the standard edition and Professional edition are reasonably priced at Amazon these days. It is version 14.0, but you may upgrade to PP14.5 (at no charge), as explained in my EE article:
PaperPort 14 - Free Upgrade to Version 14.5
Then install the Patch 1 update and you'll be on the latest release, which works fine in W7 (and PP14.5/Patch1 is the only W10-compliant version of PaperPort). Installation of the Patch 1 update is explained in my EE article:
How to install the Patch 1 update for PaperPort 14.5
After that, install the PaperPort 14 Scanner Connection Tool, as described in this article. Regards, Joe
Thanks for joining Experts Exchange today and reading my article — Welcome Aboard!
I can't say if PaperPort 14 will run on your system. Of course, it should run — but PaperPort 12 should run on W7, too. So there may be some other problem unrelated to PaperPort that is causing the scanner not to work. One test is to see if another program can scan. Try the built-in Paint app in W7 — click the drop-down, then "From scanner or camera" (or try any other app that you prefer, such as Acrobat, IrfanView, paint.net, etc.).
The most common culprit when a scanner doesn't work is the scanning drivers (ISIS, TWAIN, WIA/WIA2). The first thing I suggest is to install the latest drivers from your scanner manufacturer's website, being to sure to get the correct bit level for your version of W7, i.e., 32-bit or 64-bit. After installing the latest scanning drivers, try PaperPort 12 again, although I suggest upgrading (at no charge) to PP12.1, as explained in my EE article:
PaperPort 12 - Free Upgrade to Version 12.1
That said, I do recommend purchasing PaperPort 14. Both the standard edition and Professional edition are reasonably priced at Amazon these days. It is version 14.0, but you may upgrade to PP14.5 (at no charge), as explained in my EE article:
PaperPort 14 - Free Upgrade to Version 14.5
Then install the Patch 1 update and you'll be on the latest release, which works fine in W7 (and PP14.5/Patch1 is the only W10-compliant version of PaperPort). Installation of the Patch 1 update is explained in my EE article:
How to install the Patch 1 update for PaperPort 14.5
After that, install the PaperPort 14 Scanner Connection Tool, as described in this article. Regards, Joe
This is obviously the site for Paperport problems. My Paperport stopped working a couple of days ago and I tried everything for 2 days until I found the comment about the registry key setting Paperport browser preference to Firefox. I changed it and like magic paperport opened and worked. Unfortunately another problem that is an inconvenience rather than critical has developed. Before Paperport refused to open I was running version14 which had been on my computer with windows 8.1 when I upgraded to Windows 10. That version worked for months on Windows 10 until the problem a few days ago. In trying ti fix it I have of course installed version 14.5 and the 14.5 patch. Now the program works but the scanner interface is not behaving as it did. I use an Epson Perfection V500 Photo scanner. In Paperport I check the display the scanner interface button so I can preview and set the scanning area. Before all these problems the scanner interface and the preview window would always stay on top of the Paperport window. Now when i preview, the preview window disappears behind the Paperport window and sometimes when I change the scanning area in the preview window, then the scanner interface window disappears behind the Paperport window. I can work around it but is a real pain in the neck. These are not windows that can be minimized or restored from the task bar . Any idea how to fix this?
Active today
Hi Frank,
Thank you for joining Experts Exchange today and reading my article — Welcome Aboard! To your post:
> I changed it and like magic paperport opened and worked
We have Andrea Carli to thank for that!
> installed version 14.5 and the 14.5 patch
That was the right thing to do, as 14.5 with Patch 1 is the only Windows 10-compliant version of PaperPort. Let's make sure you have that...what are the Version and BUILDID? You can find them in Help>About.
> the preview window disappears behind the Paperport window and sometimes when I change the scanning area in the preview window, then the scanner interface window disappears behind the Paperport window
I don't know why the change from 14.0 to 14.5/Patch1 would cause that. In any case, two ideas for you:
(1) PaperPort has always been very sensitive to the scanning drivers (ISIS, TWAIN, WIA/WIA2). Download the latest drivers from the Epson site for your Perfection V500 Photo:
https://epson.com/Support/Scanners/Perfection-Series/Epson-Perfection-V500-Photo/s/SPT_B11B189011
I don't have that scanner, but I'm guessing that it has TWAIN, WIA, and WIA2 drivers. PaperPort should detect and support all of them...try all of them.
(2) Install the PP14 Scanner Connection Tool discussed in this article after you install the new Epson drivers.
Regards, Joe
Thank you for joining Experts Exchange today and reading my article — Welcome Aboard! To your post:
> I changed it and like magic paperport opened and worked
We have Andrea Carli to thank for that!
> installed version 14.5 and the 14.5 patch
That was the right thing to do, as 14.5 with Patch 1 is the only Windows 10-compliant version of PaperPort. Let's make sure you have that...what are the Version and BUILDID? You can find them in Help>About.
> the preview window disappears behind the Paperport window and sometimes when I change the scanning area in the preview window, then the scanner interface window disappears behind the Paperport window
I don't know why the change from 14.0 to 14.5/Patch1 would cause that. In any case, two ideas for you:
(1) PaperPort has always been very sensitive to the scanning drivers (ISIS, TWAIN, WIA/WIA2). Download the latest drivers from the Epson site for your Perfection V500 Photo:
https://epson.com/Support/Scanners/Perfection-Series/Epson-Perfection-V500-Photo/s/SPT_B11B189011
I don't have that scanner, but I'm guessing that it has TWAIN, WIA, and WIA2 drivers. PaperPort should detect and support all of them...try all of them.
(2) Install the PP14 Scanner Connection Tool discussed in this article after you install the new Epson drivers.
Regards, Joe
I installed the latest drivers already. The twain driver is the same. The WIA driver doesn't have the changing focus problem but i just don't like it as well as the twain. Maybe i can get used to it. I have the scanner comnection tool but it is stand alone and won't even run unless the scanner connection box won't open. Do you know how to uninstall the Epson scanner drivers before reinstalling new ones. I couldn't figure out how.
I
I
Active today
Hi Frank,
> I have the scanner comnection tool but it is stand alone and won't even run unless the scanner connection box won't open.
I don't understand that comment. The PP14 Scanner Connection Tool discussed in this article is a tool that you run outside of PaperPort (and after exiting PaperPort) that installs some software to correct PP14 scanning problems. It's a good idea to run it again whenever you install/upgrade scanning drivers.
> Do you know how to uninstall the Epson scanner drivers before reinstalling new ones.
No, I don't have any Epson scanners (and my clients don't have any). For most scanners, it is done via Control Panel>Programs and Features. Does a search in Programs and Features for "epson" turn up anything?
The end of your last post has a new paragraph starting with "I" and nothing after that. If you meant to have more comments there, please try again. Regards, Joe
P.S. I gave some kudos to Andrea and you at my latest PaperPort article. Thanks again to both of you!
> I have the scanner comnection tool but it is stand alone and won't even run unless the scanner connection box won't open.
I don't understand that comment. The PP14 Scanner Connection Tool discussed in this article is a tool that you run outside of PaperPort (and after exiting PaperPort) that installs some software to correct PP14 scanning problems. It's a good idea to run it again whenever you install/upgrade scanning drivers.
> Do you know how to uninstall the Epson scanner drivers before reinstalling new ones.
No, I don't have any Epson scanners (and my clients don't have any). For most scanners, it is done via Control Panel>Programs and Features. Does a search in Programs and Features for "epson" turn up anything?
The end of your last post has a new paragraph starting with "I" and nothing after that. If you meant to have more comments there, please try again. Regards, Joe
P.S. I gave some kudos to Andrea and you at my latest PaperPort article. Thanks again to both of you!
I was out of town for a couple of weeks and away from my computer. I contacted Epson support and they were friendly but really couldn't help . Found the correct way to uninstall and reinstall the Epson software and drivers so I did that and reinstalled the scanner connection tool and ran it. Nothing has changed. do you have any other suggestions?
Active today
Hi Frank,
> Found the correct way to uninstall and reinstall the Epson software and drivers so I did that and reinstalled the scanner connection tool and ran it.
That all sounds good.
> Nothing has changed.
Not so good. (: OK, so the WIA driver keeps focus but the TWAIN driver loses it. I've never seen that before, but my gut tells me that it has nothing to do with PaperPort, although I could be wrong about that. I never tick "Display scanner dialog box", as I prefer to create many scanning profiles and configure the params in Settings for each profile so that I can do all my scanning with just one mouse click. So, I don't have any experience with what you're seeing and can't think of anything else beyond what I've already suggested, i.e., the latest scanning drivers, PP14.5, Patch 1, Scanner Connection Tool.
To see if PaperPort is the culprit, try some other software that supports scanning via TWAIN. A good, free one is IrfanView. It will take you just a few minutes to download, install, and test it with the TWAIN driver. Will be interesting to see if you have the same problem when using the TWAIN driver with IrfanView. Regards, Joe
> Found the correct way to uninstall and reinstall the Epson software and drivers so I did that and reinstalled the scanner connection tool and ran it.
That all sounds good.
> Nothing has changed.
Not so good. (: OK, so the WIA driver keeps focus but the TWAIN driver loses it. I've never seen that before, but my gut tells me that it has nothing to do with PaperPort, although I could be wrong about that. I never tick "Display scanner dialog box", as I prefer to create many scanning profiles and configure the params in Settings for each profile so that I can do all my scanning with just one mouse click. So, I don't have any experience with what you're seeing and can't think of anything else beyond what I've already suggested, i.e., the latest scanning drivers, PP14.5, Patch 1, Scanner Connection Tool.
To see if PaperPort is the culprit, try some other software that supports scanning via TWAIN. A good, free one is IrfanView. It will take you just a few minutes to download, install, and test it with the TWAIN driver. Will be interesting to see if you have the same problem when using the TWAIN driver with IrfanView. Regards, Joe
Thanks again for all your help . I tried scanning in Irfanview ,which I already use as my default photo viewer. All the scanner dialogues stay on top unlike paperport. I also use use several database programs from Fnprogramvare, Catvids & Catraxx which I frequently scan from and they keep all the scanning windows on top too. So I think it is something in Paperport 14.5 that was changed from Paperport 14 but I am not knowledgeable enough to find it since I know nothing about coding. The support person at Epson told me that there are sometimes settings in programs to keep a program on top (which I knew) but that there was not such a setting in the Epson driver. I cant find one in Paperport if there is one hidden somewhere. He suggested using one of the little programs available that let you select an open window to keep on top. I downloaded Turbotop and it will keep the Scanner dialog on top but doesn't remember that setting so you have reset it every time you run Paperport and the scanner. This all leads me to believe that there is a registry setting somewhere that controls this behavior and maybe some one will find it sometime. Meanwhile I'll just have to reduce the size of my Paperport window and keep it to the right side of my screen so that the scanner dialogue will remain visible on the left.
Active today
Hi Frank,
Since IrfanView and those other apps keep the TWAIN window on top, it does sound like a PaperPort issue, although I've never seen it before. In fact, I have a somewhat opposite problem, i.e., the scanning dialog steals focus on every page from an ADF, making it just about impossible to use the computer while scanning with PaperPort. I submitted the following question to Nuance support a few years ago when I was trying to help a PaperPort user with the problem:
Since IrfanView and those other apps keep the TWAIN window on top, it does sound like a PaperPort issue, although I've never seen it before. In fact, I have a somewhat opposite problem, i.e., the scanning dialog steals focus on every page from an ADF, making it just about impossible to use the computer while scanning with PaperPort. I submitted the following question to Nuance support a few years ago when I was trying to help a PaperPort user with the problem:
This is one of those long-standing PP issues and I'm wondering if you know of a solution. It doesn't affect me much because I have a separate computer that does scanning with PP14.5. But it drives many users nuts and I'm trying to help one right now. The issue is that when scanning a multi-page document, the PP scanning manager (with both Display scanner dialog box and Show Capture Assistant unchecked) steals focus on every page. It makes it just about impossible to use your computer for any other purpose while PP is scanning a large document. Do you know of a fix or work-around?The response, which Nuance game me permission to share publicly, was this:
Nuance has determined this behavior cannot be changed in 14 and will be investigated for inclusion in 15.Back to your problem, I'm not aware of any setting in PaperPort or even its registry entries that controls the "always on top" behavior of scanning drivers. Your idea of reducing the size of the PaperPort window so that the scanning dialog remains visible on the left side sounds like a decent work-around. Let's hope that PaperPort 15 solves both your problem and mine. Regards, Joe
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