Windows XP scanner interface?

[D. W. K.]

I just installed a new Brother multi-function printer/scanner/copier/fax and
discovered something terrible about Microsoft Windows XP!

Apparently it seems that Microsoft wants to insist that the machine
interface with the computer through the Windows scanner dialog box! This is
the box wherein you select the source (feeder or flatbed glass), type of
scan (color, B&W, grayscale) and the paper size!

Well, Microsoft in it typical stupidity has available in the paper size drop
down list many, many different sizes of paper, most of which I would never
in my entire life ever have any use for (Japanese post card?). All these do
is clutter up the list making it very hard to look for the one you want.
Conspicuously missing, however, is "LEGAL" size paper!!! One of the most
common sizes in use today everywhere!! What were they smoking at Microsoft
when they decided that Japanese post card (and many other useless sizes) was
more important that common "Legal" size paper (8.5" x 14" for those of you
at Microsoft)???

In addition, in the various options for type of scan, such as color or B&W,
the default scan resolution is 100 d.p.i.!!! You can change it to a higher
resolution... but you have to do this EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU SCAN!!! Then,
when you do this the selector for type of scan moves to "Custom". There is
no way I can see to set the default resolution for color, black & white or
grayscale to anything other than the 100 d.p.i. it is hardwired at!

Is anyone else familiar with this issue and does anyone have any sort of
solution to this? I am having a real hard time understanding how Microsoft
can be employing people that are as completely stupid and moronic as those
that designed this interface!

Thanks to anyone that can help!

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hi,

All the scanner functions are driver dependant. Windows can only display the scanner functions which are offered by the
device drivers. You may want to visit the Manufacturer website and download the latest drivers for your multifunction
hardware.

I am having a real hard time understanding how Microsoft can be employing people that are as completely stupid and
moronic as those that designed this interface!

Microsoft did not design the multifunction hardware nor its drivers. Please refrain from using such inflammatory
language on public newsgroups.


--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
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[D. W. K.]

Thank you for responding but, with all due respect, what you are saying is
not true. There is a thing called "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)" that
controls the interfacing of scanners. I know this for two reasons. First I
spent about an hour and a half on the phone this morning with Brother
International tech support trying to get this machine installed and they
told me of this fact. Secondly, the device interface I encounter with the
Brother scanner is exactly the same as the interface I was forced to use
just yesterday when I had my previous HP LaserJet 3030 attached to the
computer. I know this interface is NOT from Brother or, for that matter,
from HP because it is identical. Besides... it has that typical "Microsoft"
look and feel to it. One more thing, when using any software that accesses
the scanner the name of the acquisition device in the "Select Device" drop
down list starts with WIA, proof that Windows is interfering with the use of
the machine.

Thanks,

DWK

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hi,

Directly quoting from http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/wia/wia/overviews/startpage.asp

"The Microsoft Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) application programming interface (API) is standardized for acquiring
digital images from devices that are primarily used to capture still images and for managing these devices."

You can get more info about the WIA here:

About Windows Image Acquisition
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ia/overviews/aboutwindowsimageacquisition.asp

If you want to access the added functionalities of your scanner/printer, please use the specialised software that comes
with it.

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://aspnet2.com/mvp.ashx?AnandoChatterjee

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
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[D. W. K.]

So... you admit that "WIA" IS a Microsoft abomination!

There IS NO OTHER INTERFACE OPTION AVAILABLE and there is no "specialized
software" that I can find!

Why does this "WIA" interface offer all manner of paper sizes that are
completely USELESS and clutter up the drop down list, yet offers NO option
for Legal sized paper? The Brother install CD had to include a special
utility just to add "Legal" size to the paper list!!! What can possibly be
the excuse for this? Why does it not allow me to "remove" paper sizes that I
will never in ten lifetimes have any use for? They just get in the way and
make it harder to find what I need!!!

Why does this "WIA" interface insist on defaulting the resolution to 100 dpi
for scans yet offer no option to set the default to anything else? One must
reset this resolution higher EACH AND EVERY TIME!!! It will not remember the
settings. If you do set it to anything other that 100 dpi the selection for
scan type moves down to "Custom", regardless of what it was before!!!

Now do not try to convince me that this is not a Microsoft idiocy!!!! I have
been dealing with computers and Microsoft for over 18 years and I know very
well that this company is known all over for producing garbage software!
They have caused me enormous frustration and wasted time over the years!
They make me so angry I just go ballistic!! They are prone to do things that
make absolutely no sense at all!

But thanks anyway,

DWK

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hi,

The very basic 'plain-vanilla' drivers are included in Windows XP so that the basic functionalities of the hardware can
be utilised. Anything above that is the resposibility of the hardware manufacturers. If you did not get a specialised
software with the all-in-one, please contact the manufacturer.

If you have any suggestions for Microsoft, you may post them here:
http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://aspnet2.com/mvp.ashx?AnandoChatterjee

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
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[D. W. K.]

Hi Anando:

I understand what you are saying and I have, in fact, been writing to
Brother International about this matter. Thanks for the "suggestion" link, I
will send Microsoft a suggestion about this (as if they care what I think).
Just the same, even for a basic "plain-vanilla" driver there is absolutely
NO EXCUSE for leaving out "legal" size paper or not designing the driver to
remember the resolution settings of the user. It's just like Outlook Express
not having a "print preview" like every other program has.

As a matter of fact, I am sure the code to tell this WIA driver to set the
default resolution to 100 dpi must exist somewhere, probably in the
Registry. What I would like to know, perhaps from some hacker out there, is
where would I look for this code and how can I tweak it to something higher,
such as 300 dpi. Or, maybe there is some third party software out there than
can replace this scanner interface with something much better. I think I
will go now and do a search. :O)

Regards,

--
DWK
Simi Valley, CA
USA

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hi,

Have you checked out this link ? This place might have some software for your specific printer/scanner/fax.

http://www.brother.com/E-ftp/info/index.html

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://aspnet2.com/mvp.ashx?AnandoChatterjee

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[D. W. K.]

Thank you! Yes, I have checked it out. Unfortunately, the links on this site
do not respond when I click them. I even have the URL in my "Trusted Sites"
to no avail! Just the same, however, I know these links would only take me
to the Brother download site (where I have been numerous times) which does
not have anything new or different from what I got on the original install
CD.

Thanks just the same!

DWK :O)

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

I hope it works out for you. Good luck !

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://aspnet2.com/mvp.ashx?AnandoChatterjee

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[D. W. K.]

Thanks! I can only hope that Microsoft continues to get an "earful" from the
public enough to improve the "WIA" interface. In the mean time I am going to
keep the pressure up on Brother International to actually write a decent
scanner interface themselves.

Just this morning, in fact, I had to fax 20 various documents over to
Countrywide in Texas regarding my construction loan. Since there were
various types of papers I could not run them through the sheet feeder. I had
to place each one, one at a time, on the scanner glass. Well, this was VERY
TEDIOUS process because, thanks to Microsoft's "oversight", I had to go
through a 5-step process for each and every sheet I scanned into my fax
program. First, from inside Winfax, I had to select Insert From Scanner,
then select the letter size paper (WIA defaults to the top most listed paper
size in the drop down list which now, due to the Brother utility, is legal
size paper), then I have to select Scanner Glass (it defaults to Sheet
Feeder), then I have to select Black & White (defaults to Color Image), then
I have to select Custom Settings to change the resolution to 200 dpi
(defaults to 100 dpi) which is the fax resolution setting I need. Then, and
only then, could I select Scan. I had to do this with each of the 20 pages!

If Microsoft had been thoughtful enough or if Brother had not been lazy and
had written their own interface driver I could have set it for the first one
and it could have remembered the settings for all the others. It would have
saved me a lot of time and needless work.

Anyway, that's why I get so angry at large unresponsive companies that have
no brains!

Thanks and Take care,

DWK