[jbhardman]

I have an HP Officejet 5510 and need to scan to pdf in vista business. I can scan great using the Windows fax and scan utility, but no pdf options. I would love to be able to OCR as well, but that is of secondary importance next to just scanning to pdf. HP does not offer scanning software for this model on Vista.

So, does anyone know if HP's scanning software for Vista that is made for newer scanners would work with mine? If not, is there any sort of software that can do this for me? I would like freeware if possible. When I google it there are tons of shareware apps that have a time limit but I have no idea if any of them are good or just junk.

Any help will be appreciated!

[DaveA]

There are many free PDF and OCR programs out there. Just do a Google on "Free PDF" and "Free OCR" (with quotes) and you will find all kinds of them.

[jbhardman]

Originally Posted by DaveA

There are many free PDF and OCR programs out there. Just do a Google on "Free PDF" and "Free OCR" (with quotes) and you will find all kinds of them.

I'm seeing lots of free pdf virtual printers, but no free pdf scanner software... Even though it's not free, is CutePDF a good one?

[Elvandil]

VueScan is not free, but has a PDF file option. It also contains a generic scanner driver that supposedly works with most scanners. There is probably a trial.

Yes, all the "Cute" software is good. They have been around a long time. But there is also FoxIt, if you are looking for a whole PDF suite.

Word is that HP will be producing a full Vista driver for the 5510. Vista contains the generic printer driver for it (as you know). Check their site, just in case.

[DaveA]

I have never used any software that saved the output to PDF. I would save the image to my hard drive and then if it (the image) was clean I would then run it to the PDF printer and make the pdf file.

One has SO much more control in doing things this way.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by DaveA

I have never used any software that saved the output to PDF. I would save the image to my hard drive and then if it (the image) was clean I would then run it to the PDF printer and make the pdf file.

One has SO much more control in doing things this way.

It's really not that difficult to do it that way. Scan to desktop and then use a virtual printer like DoPDF to make it a PDF document. You then also have the advantage of having the document in 2 formats which can come in useful.

[DaveA]

You use the desktop and I will use the hard drive, same solution [smile]

[jbhardman]

Ok, I had thought of that but I was wondering if there was a straight scan-to-pdf option. Apparently, not for now. I'll stick with the print. Thanks!