Checking back to see if anyone is using Scansnap succeessfully with Mojave. It seems like Fujitsu is slow to update each year.
I think they wait for the final release of Mojave before they send out there own update.
Just checking back to see how the latest beta is playing with ScanSnap software. Any new feedback? I love my Fujitsu, but is it just me or is there support of the software waning? Last time I checked it was still 32 bit as well, although my understanding is that this is still OK with Mojave.
Another voice of concern regarding ScanSnap software support for macOS.
Back in January of 2017 I contacted Apple tech support and Fujitsu tech support regarding problems with PDF files created by the ScanSnap, associated with macOS Sierra 10.12.3 release. Among other problems, the OCR layer was broken - no files could be created with OCR support. Later, in Nov 2017, with macOS High Sierra, PDF files created with the ScanSnap were corrupted by out-of-order pages. I have been told that these problems were due to Apple’s new implementation of PDFkit, the macOS software that supports PDF files. These problems were resolved eventually, but a few bugs persist even today.
A Fujitsu tech support rep, after some delay, advised me (by email) to download and install version 6.3 of the Fujitsu software, designed for the iX500 model. My scanner is the S1500M model, for which the latest software support posted on the Fujitsu website is version 3.2, apparently from several years ago.
This, along with comments from others above, makes me concerned about ongoing support for the ScanSnap line for the Mac. If macOS Mojave “breaks” the Fujitsu drivers again, I will have to choose between keeping the Fujitsu scanner and updating to macOS Mojave.
Someone, elsewhere in this forum, suggested using the scanning software VueScan with the ScanSnap scanner. Does anyone have experience with this?
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Still the MPU team keeps on telling how great the Fujitsu ScanSnap software is. Which it actually isn’t (IMHO).
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I’m using Vuescan with my old Epson Perfection 4870 Photo flatbed scanner and still running ScanSnap with my S510M. I can do a vew quick tests to see if I can run VueScan with the ScanSnap scanner later today and report back.
Edit
Decided it would take only a few minutes so tested it:
VueScan works well with teh scanner, recognized it and all its features upon startup with no problems. However it does not appear to connect to the OCR options at all. Since OCR on the ScanSnap is separate SW I am not surprised. I never use OCR on scanned documents so that wouldn’t bother me but YMMV. I think you can work on getting the OCR to work outside the actual scanning but I don’t know how.
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Please note that last time I checked Vuescan was not working for all ScanSnap models.
@temtexdent - Yes, there are certainly issues, and I am not aware that Katie and David have mentioned these on the MPU podcasts. I contacted Katie by email regarding these problems in January 2017. She was kind enough to reply, stating that she was aware of the issue with Preview corrupting the OCR layer, subsequently resolved. She mentioned further that she used PDFPen for OCR functionality, thereby resolving the issue for her.
I’m not ready to commit to PDFPen just for the purpose of adding OCR functionality, since I already use and like PDF Expert (that lacks OCR capability) for my limited needs to fill in or sign forms or to make annotations. Most of my workflow involves simply filing forms while scanning, with no further steps required. If the basic ScanSnap functionality “breaks” with new releases of macOS, then the ScanSnap is effectively useless for my workflow. I’m worried …
@OogieM - Thank you, helpful information about VueScan.
My nearly-paperless document system is set up to work on a “stock” iMac. The PDF files are stored simply in the macOS file-and-folder organization, with no additional software or databases (e.g., Evernote, Devonthink, etc) required.
Is anyone aware of another scanner that has the robust paper-handling features of the ScanSnap, but has better software/driver support for macOS? I’m willing to cast about for alternative OCR solutions, but rock-solid stability with macOS is an absolute requirement for my scanning needs.
Here we go, sorry the article is in German (or Japanese for the original message), use Google translate for your language:
SV600, iX 100, iX 500, S1300i and S1100
S1500M, S510M, S500M and S300M
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I said it before - although in more political correct terms - but Fujitsu’s ScanSnap support is horrible. Their hardware is expensive and they expect you to buy a new scanner every few OS upgrade. In the other room I have a perfectly fine ScanSnap S1300 which I can’t use anymore because of the software - and no, this particular model does not work with 3rd party software, I’ve checked that. No more Fujitsu for me.
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Is your S1300 so different from the supported S1300i ?
Apparently. Even if other models are supported, the S1300 isn’t.
My six-year-old S1500M will be DOA on Mojave. Notice on Fujitsu website –
ScanSnap S1500/S1500M Compatibility Status With macOS Mojave v10.14
ScanSnap S1500/S1500M does not support macOS Mojave. There are no plans for adding support in the future since the support for ScanSnap S1500/S1500M has already ended.
@vco1 - I am coming around to your point of view also. My ScanSnap S1500M, purchased in either 2012 or 2013, is also not supported. This is unacceptable. If this were a cheap, under-$100 scanner, I would understand discontinuing support for new OS versions after a few years. The Fujitsu ScanSnaps, however, are expensive and marketed to professionals. It is not unreasonable to expect support for several OS upgrade cycles.
A technical consideration - apparently the current ScanSnap version (iX500) is not that different from my version, the S1500M. The latest software version available for the S1500M is out of date by several years. As explained in another post, a Fujitsu support representative advised me to install the current Fujitsu software version (v 6.3 L70) designed for the iX500 - it works on my S1500M. I mention this to support the idea that it would not be that difficult for Fujitsu to support the older models.
If I replace my S1500M with the current model iX500, I would be concerned that another replacement might be needed soon. It is my understanding that the iX500 has been on the market already for several years.
Don’t forget that the ScanSnap was plagued with software issues in the last couple of years (see link in this forum: “ScanSnap Online Update” thread.
With these issues in mind, I plan to encourage Katie and David to reconsider running ads for the ScanSnap. Fujitsu does not have a good track record with ScanSnap continuing support on the Mac.
*Edited to add: The “current” version of the ScanSnap, the iX500, was introduced in Jan 2013. Is it going to be obsolete soon?
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Surprised to see so much complaining about this considering that Apple themselves obsoletes much of their own hardware with their OS upgrades. My 7 year old MacBook Pro won’t run with Mojave either!
I just got off the phone with Fujitsu support and she told me that I could download the driver for the ix500 as a workaround and it should work. Caveat from Fujitsu: First see if the S1500M works under Mojave on its own. If not, call Fujitsu support - 800-626-4686, option 1 for help. If that doesn’t work, I’m switching to an Epson WorkForce scanner.
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Point taken, but not exactly a fair comparison, in my view. The OS is fundamental and intimately involved with the computer so incompatibilities are understandable. A scanner is a peripheral. Would you expect a disk drive, monitor or printer to be be obsolete after 2 or 3 OS upgrade cycles? Even after several changes in disk drive connection standards (ATA, IDE, SATA, SCSI, PCIe), I can connect and use (at least externally) very old disk drives with the appropriate connectors, adapters or expansion cards. I’m not sure what Fujitsu has done with its software, but it “breaks” easily as pointed out in this and other forum threads. Is there some reason why Fujitsu cannot use software that is compliant with a standard (TWAIN-compliant, maybe?) that would improve compatibility with OS upgrades?
I would point out again (see previous post) that Fujitsu’s current scanner, iX500, was introduced 5 1/2 years ago. When will it be obsolete?
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Of course it does not specify what “later date” means.
I’ll certainly agree about using a standard (firmware) interface. That has killed many a peripheral I’ve bought with changing OSes which didn’t have drivers for the specific interface. Regarding the iX500 and the future, I’d expect the only guarantee is that it will get driver support as long as they are still making them. Much like the case where “mission critical” software breaks with a new OS, you always have the option to stick with the old.
The weird thing is that Fujitsu’s software just ‘breaks’ with every OS upgrade. Lots of software continues working. It’s not that Apple changes all their api’s with each upgrade of Mac OS. One would almost start thinking that Fujitsu is doing this deliberately.
Taking everything into consideration, my only conclusion can be: no more ScanSnap for me. As much as I liked my S1300.