Summary:
- Get the Linux drivers from the Canon site
- Choose *.rpm.tar.gz format
- Untar: tar-xzf rpm.tar.gz
Drivers: You must visit the Canon-Europe site: http://www.canon-europe.com/Support/Consumer_Products/products/Fax__Multifunctionals/InkJet/PIXMA_MX_series/MX924.aspx?type=download&language=EN&os=Linux
Download 2 RPM tarballs for use on Fedora
Installation: TBD
This blog: http://www.ernielevesque.net/its-scangearmp-using-canons-mutli-function-printer-scan-utility-with-linux/
points out that you need to use the command-line util "scangearmp" to invoke Canon's linux scanner utility. I can only assume that "Scan Gear MP" implies "multiple pages"(?). Anyway, the name is not documented anywhere I can find....thank god for this blog and the internet!
Connection: I am just using the USB connection for now; no wireless features enabled yet.
Alternative: I have used VueScan in the past and it worked well (http://www.hamrick.com/). I will later evaluate this as an alternative to the Canon scangearmp utility.
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Original post:
ernie levesque's clues
travel, software and moreit’s scangearmp ! using canon’s mutli-function printer scan utility with linux
I bought a Canon Mx-922 “all-in-one” printer, scanner, fax. copier. I was hoping to use is a printer and an occasional copier but I also wanted to use it to rid myself of the last vestiges of my filed papers. Some of my papers have to be kept as originals, of course. I have to keep deeds and titles but a lot of what I have I mostly likely will never need for anything except maybe a reminder. These papers have no legal value as originals. That was the plan but it ran into some problems at the outset.
The printer itself is easy to set up. It is wireless and you can set it up with WPS or with a pass phrase. You could also set it up with a Ethernet connection. I have a router that allows me to connect a printer but I chose the WPS option and the three computers on my network were installed and working in minutes. I should mention that all if these computers are Linux or Android based.
The scanner was an entirely different story. I expected that the scanner would work like my canon scanner. I bought the canon scanner years ago. It is a single page flat bed scanner and it was plug and play ready the first time I used it. Xsane recognized the scanner over USB immediately. I expected that this new device would work similarly but it did not. I connected it directly to one computer using the USB port but it did not recognize the device.
I was able to find out with some research that Canon had a utility called Scangear. I went to their website but I could not find any Linux software available for the MX-922. A little more research led me to the Canon European site. The utility is located here:
http://www.canon-europe.com/Support/Consumer_Products/products/Fax__Multifunctionals/InkJet/PIXMA_MX_series/MX924.aspx?type=download&page=1
You’ll notice that the device is MX-924 not MX-922 in the URL but the software is for the 920 series. To get the actual download you have to select the download tab and then the operating system (Linux) and the language (English). The offer the complete source library if you want to make your own options but I selected the Debian package.
The package unzips to include an “install.sh” file. I opened a terminal window and went to the directory containing the file and ran it (./install.sh). Everything worked just fine but my computer still did not recognise the scanner. I was very frustrated at this point and I gave up for a day.
On the following day I searched for new information but this time I only looked for the name scangear. I did not reference my printer or Linux. I came across one page where the writer spelled out that scangear is not just a set of drivers, it is also a scan tool and that tool is called “scangearmp”. I gingerly typed the name into a terminal window and was greeted by a info window that said there was no scanner. I couldn’t believe it! Then I noticed that I could “scan” again for scanners. I did this and it found my scanner and poped up a full fledged scanning tool. I was estatic!
Now I’m able to scan multiple pages, on both side, from my computer. The tray hold between 20 and thirty pages and the finished product is a PDF file. All and all it is very useful tool. Why couldn’t they just call it “scangear”? I know that the “mp” at the end probably means “multi-function” but why not just use the name used to document the tool? And, why not put Linux based software on the US site? Why make me find it on the European site?
| JULY 25TH, 2013 | POSTED IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE |
