ScanSnap ix500 Mojave

Scansnap has always been delayed when providing updates for annual macOS operating system updates. I went ahead and installed Mojave, and am accumulating a small backlog of scans. I think I read mid-October for the arrival of ScanSnap’s compatibility update.

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@jmayhugh - Aggregating my experience with the ScanSnap S1500M and posts in several discussion threads in this forum, there are 3 workarounds (all avoiding using the “dreaded” Windows :grinning:):

  1. Download and install the ScanSnap Manager v 6.3 L50 (designated for the ScanSnap model S1300i). Link: Link to SS Manager v 6.3 L 50. Then install the update for v 6.3 L 70. I was given this information (and the link) initially by a ScanSnap support rep by email in November 2017. At that time the latest update version was L61, now it’s L70.

  2. (alternate for workaround #1) Download and install the ScanSnap Manager installer for the SS model iX500 for macOS 10.13. Link: Link to downloads for SS model iX500. Then do the “online update” from within the SS Manager software. You will need to ignore a prompt to set up wireless functionality, as the S1500M does not have this capability.

  3. [#3 is optional] Dedicate an older Mac (in my case a 2010 MacBook Air running macOS 10.13 High Sierra) for scanning, directly connected by USB to the ScanSnap scanner. An older Mac Mini would be good for this purpose also.

Workaround #1 is in place for my late 2014 retina iMac and workarounds 2 and 3 for my 2010 MacBook Air. Both methods now work for the ScanSnap S1500M with the computers running macOS High Sierra. I will upgrade the late 2014 iMac to macOS Mojave at a later date. If the ScanSnap S1500 still works, great - I’m done “fiddling” for a while. If not, I’ll just use the MacBook Air/ScanSnap combo for my scanning needs, saving files to DropBox - which immediately syncs to the Mac.

It’s a shame to jump through all of these hoops; I’m disappointed that Fujitsu does not support macOS upgrades in a timely manner. This is especially egregious for the iX500 model ScanSnap, the current model currently advertised on Mac Power Users podcasts. Judging from my experience running the iX500 software and the S1300i software for my ScanSnap S1500M, there is apparently enough similarity between these three scanners to allow running the same software for any of them.

Hope this helps …

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Interesting. I get an error message when I try that upgrade. I need to go back and see if my software needs an intermediate upgrade before trying to install 6.3 L70.

So those of y’all with an ix500 and Mojave, are you using OCR and Hazel rules. Earlier the issue was with OCR hanging.

That resolved my issue!

Goodness, thank you! I will try this out.

Regular scanning has worked fine for me; but CardMinder won’t recognize and convert cards.

I had an access error, “which I said ‘yes’ to” but I had walked away and I wonder if the software had given up.

I tried adding CardMinder to Full Disk Access in security – Didn’t help.

It scans the cards; then “chokes” and says, “Unable to perform recognition. (97)”

So the cards are there; but it doesn’t/can’t OCR them.

And, I can’t find that error (so far) online.

Which is the “master” OCR program for all the apps? … I’m willing to add that to full access and see if that does it.

Thanks!

–Tim

Background info:
macOS 10.14
“Maxed out” MacBookPro11,3 [MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)]
ScanSnap Manager Version 6.3 L70
CardMinder Version 5.3.60 (1001)
Ran the ScanSnap Manager update program and it did not “see” anything to update.

Had an error initially when first went into Mohave but iX500 seems to scan OK. Going to test thoroughly later today as I have loaded of scanning to do!

I’m not having Mojave issues with Scansnap Manager with my S1500. It works fine, excepting of course the warnings about it being 32-bit. I can’t speak to the OCR issues as I rely on Evernote and Devonthink to do the OCR’ing.

My understanding is that Scansnap Manager has been sunset and will not be updated to 64-bit. Several of its auxiliary applications stopped being supported several years ago. It continues to work fine in Mojave, but for how long, we don’t know.

Scansnap Home is the replacement for Scansnap Manager and is 64-bit. It is compatible with scanners as far back as the iX500. Unfortunately, it does not, at least officially, support my S1500. However, it’s difficult to complain too much about a decade’s worth of support - many manufacturer’s are far less generous.

VueScan, which is 64-bit, does support the S1500, and works fine. (It also has OCR, although I’m not sure how good it is.) If you are using Scansnap with Hazel rules to control filing the scans, then VueScan will provide the needed functionality once Scansnap Manager stops working. Once I realized that VueScan works, I stopped worrying; the loss of Scansnap Manager will be pretty much a non-event.

The main software still works for me (posted earlier).

The card program does not (yet?). … I’ve seen some info. here on ScanSnap Home; but want the original software to work – No idea if they’ll really update it or not.

I’ve found the following, deep in their FAQ pages:

http://www.fujitsu.com/global/support/products/computing/peripheral/scanners/scansnap/faq/ssee-mojave.html

“Funny” thing is there’s a page just like this, without the footnotes, and both pages say updates will be posted there.

No “last status” or “posted on” date to give an idea how old the FAQ update is – Or, if there is, I didn’t see it (could be right in front of my eyes). If it’s in red, my eyes are filtering it out b/c I’m seeing a bit of red now (angry) and that would make the text vanish. Sigh!

What are some alternate scanning programs?

I know Evernote (some premium levels) could handle business cards; but it wasn’t my goal to add another subscription service.

Wasn’t there a great program that “brought old scanners to life”? It’s prob. 32 bit and no updates scheduled :frowning:

I’m not “super-angry,” just disappointed.

Was just about to write a glowing review of the ix500 (recent convert) and Mojave happened. Since I’m “newly arrived at the party,” I didn’t know Fujitsu was slow to update their software.

But, as mentioned before, it still works for the basic need (for me – maybe I’m an exception to the rule). It scans and OCRs basic pages and receipts, etc.

YMMV!

Best,

–Tim

Wasn’t there a great program that “brought old scanners to life”? It’s prob. 32 bit and no updates scheduled :frowning:

Perhaps you are referring to VueScan

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How did you get it installed? Mine is asking me to select a scanner from the list and the S1500M is not listed. When I select the iX500 the installer cannot find it. I can’t get beyond this. If you a url from where you downloaded your version of ScanSnap Home I’d like to try that install.

Thank you

I don’t recall. I probably just selected ix500 for the heck of it since the S1500M wasn’t listed. Regardless, the Manager program downloaded to my Downloads folder, I opened and ran it like any normal application.

Looks like Fujitsu has removed the ScanSnap Manager program that I downloaded and which preceded the latest, Home. When I did my download, the new scanner wasn’t out, so the older Manager program was available.

Has anyone been able to get ScanSnap Home (released on Nov. 21, 2018, to replace ScanSnap Manager) to work with the iX500 and Mojave on a 2017 iMac using a USB3 connection? I can’t even get it to connect with the scanner.

Yes I loaded Scansnap Home its junk most of the features and convinces we had with Manager are gone! Not useful at all. I ripped it out and reloaded Manager… But card minder won’t read business cards or fill out data fields… should not have gone to MoJave!!!

I’ve got a Scansnap ix500 which works fine in Mojave, but I understand that the Scansnap Manager software is 32-bit, and won’t be upgraded to 64-bit. My workflow involves creating searchable PDFs and uploading them to DEVONthink Pro Office, which Scansnap Manager does really well. I’ve read that the replacement Fujitsu software doesn’t create OCR searchable PDFs.

I downloaded VueScan, as recommended here and elsewhere, but although it can create the searchable PDFs, it doesn’t send them to DEVONthink. To get that done I would need set up another procedure. Maybe I could develop some Hazel rules, but I’ve never had much success with Hazel.

I also downloaded ExactScan, which not only creates searchable PDFs, but also sends them to DEVONthink, if you tell it that DEVONthink is the default app to open when displaying the finished scan. ExactScan Pro is US99.00 and VueScan Pro is about the same.

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Hi,

For those with ix500, make sure to upgrade the ScanSnap firmware to 0T00 before you migrate to ScanSnap Home (the 64 bit version). Without the upgrade, Wi-Fi may not work for you. It didn’t for me.

Link:
http://origin.pfultd.com/downloads/ss/sshinst/m-tool/PfuSsFirmwareUpdate.zip

Oddly, I am unable to locate this upgrade on Fujitsu’s website. I got the link directly from their customer support team after many iterations of troubleshooting my wi-fi problem.

I too mourned the demise of ScanSnap Receipts but there are other good receipt management apps out there.

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Hi – The instructions for updating the firmware posted on Fujitsu’s website refer to performing the update from within ScanSnap Home, not ScanSnap Manager. Not wanting to mess it all up, I’m reluctant to just run the PfuSsFirmwareUpdate app directlyfrom the Finder.

How did you perform this upgrade?

Thanks for your help.

Your mission: have business card, want contact in your contacts app.
Business scanner app developer mission: obtain as many other people’s business contacts as possible and keep them in a database, presumably in order to monetize.

I have previously used ScanBizCards by CircleBack but was put off by its demands to upload my contacts to its server to share with other users, requests for access to my contacts and offers to upload just a photo of the card to its server for later processing.

Privacy policy here: scroll about halfway down to read about the Business Contact Database.

I’d rather pay for an app that met my needs without having an agenda of its own.

Adobe Scan and Microsoft Office Lens can both scan business cards, so I’ll investigate what they do with the data…

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