Tech: Where did my scan go?

Subject: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 04:21 PM

I seldom (if ever) have made a document scan, but today I did, on my Brother MultiFunction printer, with the result to be saved to file.

When I told it to save the files, the computer screen (Dell Inspiron 560, Windows 7) SEEMED to show that it was saving to CONTROLCENTER4. Then I had to figure out where CONTROLCENTER4 was, so that I could copy the files to a flash drive, for transplantation to another computer. I had not noted what names were assigned to the scan files, more's the pity.

Looking in Program Files (x86), I found a directory called (Whoopee!) CONTROLCENTER4, but a directory search found no files bearing today's date and time.

I still have the original document, so I can scan it again, but even if I somehow didn't finish the scan process, I still would have to be able to find the new scan-and-save.

Now what? And Where?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 05:03 PM

What are you saving the file as? Is it a bitmap or a TIFF or a PDF?

Probably the easiest way to figure out what it did the first time is to run the operation again, and when you are asked to save the file, look to see where it is being saved. I find if an Adobe product is involved it wants to save to the last place that I scanned and saved a file to. If I don' remember to change the target I have to go looking for it.

There are several types of scanning software. Adobe will save as a PDF, WIA saves as a bitmap, Twain will save as several forms. If you know the output file type you can search with a wildcard by date.

*.pdf or *.tiff, etc. This can be a pain, so it's probably easier in the long run to rescan it and make a specific target folder for all of your scans. I have one on my desktop that is default.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 05:27 PM

I agree that it's a pain, Dave. Every scanner has its own habit, and Windows Fax & Scan also does weird things.

Oftentimes, scanners put scans in a folder in "My Documents" or "Documents." The folder has "scan" or "scanning" as part of the folder title.

The advice from SRS is sound - I've done the same. But like you, I don't scan enough to get used to the process, and I have to learn it all over again each time I do it.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Nick
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 05:52 PM

Could also try searching machine for documents and images created today

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Nick
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 05:54 PM

Or try scanning again and at the 'save' point you'll probably see your scan already in the folder it will save it in.

Also possible that the scanning software has a preferences/options/general tab which will tell you where the default directory is

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 06:31 PM

Okay, I re-scanned and found the images. I don't know what scan software was used by the Brother MFC. The images were jpg.

I found them in C:\users\dave\controlcenter4\scan, if anyone
is interested.

Thanks for the replies and help, allabody.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 11:53 PM

I do a lot of canning & still have trouble finding scans, especially after I recently replaced my bulky 10 year old Epson with a compact $39 Canon.

Situations like this remind me of something a colleague said in the 70s referring to hardware shop, the old-fashioned type where you could buy a few nails or screws rather than a packet of 50 or 100 (not a computer shop, they weren't around in those days!) The old style of shop sold you what you wanted, the new bigger conglomerate sells what they think you should want.

This business model replaced the old one in all fields

sandra

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 12:30 AM

If it saved as a jpg then the scanner probably uses Twain software, in the "for what it's worth" category of information.

You may want to look in your start menu at all programs and see what ControlCenter4 is all about. A Google search says that ControlCenter4 is Brother software - here is a link - you may want to go look for an instruction file.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: GUEST,Marianne S.
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 01:41 AM

Someone told me that TWAIN stands for Technology Without An Interesting Name.

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Ole Juul
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 04:38 AM

"Situations like this remind me of something a colleague said in the 70s referring to hardware shop, the old-fashioned type where you could buy a few nails or screws rather than a packet of 50 or 100 (not a computer shop, they weren't around in those days!) The old style of shop sold you what you wanted, the new bigger conglomerate sells what they think you should want. This business model replaced the old one in all fields."

DOS was more like a hardware store, and I still use that. I never went to MS-Windows because it imposed things on me. So 15 years ago I went to Linux instead. Now even that community is taking the attitude that they know what the user wants. So, I had to move to FreeBSD in order to keep the old hardware store approach.

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 04:41 AM

My old Dell All-in-one used to scan as JPEG so the images ended up in My Pictures unless I moved them elsewhere. My present HP gives you various options of which I use PDF-searchable, and scans go to My Scans as Scan 1, 2, 3, etc. I then rename them, and move to the appropriate folder in My Documents, e.g. Trish's tunes, sub-folder Scottish Tunes. (Most of my scans are music scores!) I use HP's own software from the computer, not from the printer (which does have a scan button).
If I can't find a file later, I'll go to My Documents and type the name in the Search box: you don't have to have the exact file name, as it will pick up any of the key words in the title.

Subject: RE: Tech: Where did my scan go?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jun 14 - 02:05 PM

My Documents and My Pictures are the usual culprits unless I take the time to specify.