HP Scan: Option to scan to searchable PDF is gone

[277DWUser]

I had to reinstall my Windows 10 a few days ago. I then installed the recommended drivers for the Color Laserjet Pro MFP 277DW printer. However, the option to scan to a searchable PDF is now missing in HP Scan. The option was definitely there before and a reason why I bought the machine.
I also installed Readiris but the option is still missing. The notice that OCR is no longer part of the driver and that you should install HP Universal Scan software instead is of no use to me as it is not offered for my printer.

Can you tell me how to get the function back? I would prefer to be able to download the old driver. I don't need new features, I just want the ability to scan to searchable PDFs back in HP Scan.

Many thanks in advance.

[Andr-1611]

Hi @277DWUser 

only download: Readiris Pro 

"Expand all" and reaad

If this SW does not work, then download the SW from here: Readiris Pro 16 for Windows 

Hope this helps! Keep me posted.
Andr-1611

If my post resolved your problem please mark this post as an "Accepted Solution".
Or click on the YES button to reply that the response was helpful and/or to say “Thank You”.

[277DWUser]

Hi Andr,

first of all, thank you for your answer! What I probably should have written is that I have uninstalled the driver and Readiris.
So just to be on the safe side: Should I install Readiris Pro only or the complete driver ("HP_Color_LJ_Pro_MFP_M277-full-solution-22047") and after that Readiris?
Sorry if I'm a bit dumb, but printer drivers seem to be about the hardest thing to install on Windows.

Also, what do you mean by ""Expand all" and reaad"? Does "Expand all" mean unzip? And what ist reaad? I'm not a native speaker...

Thanks again

[ShlomiL]

Hi @277DWUser,

Expend and read referred by @Andr-1611 to the Description section in the link, which includes the installation instructions:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/hp-color-laserjet-pro-mfp-m277-series/708...

You must install the HP Full Feature Software first:
https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/LES/M277/HP_Color_LJ_Pro_MFP_M277-full-solution-22047.exe

Only then install IRIS OCR from the link above by extracting the ZIP file and launching Setup.exe

Shlomi

[277DWUser]

Hello Shlomi,

I have now installed both programmes again exactly as you wrote (in fact, I had done it the same way the first time). The option "Searchable PDF" is still missing in HP Scan, as you can see from the pictures (first one showing the option is missing, second one showing the installed software as visible on the desktop).

Kind regards

[Andr-1611]

Try this Solution:

1. Download only this file: https://ftp.hp.com/pub/scanners/HPScanExt/HPScanExt.msi
2. Close all programs

Open up the run command with the "Windows Key + R" key combo > in folder Downloads double-click on the msi.

OPTIONAL:

Add HP Scan Extended shortcut to Taskbar / Send to Desktop / Pin to Start
• Open File Explorer > Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP Scan Extended\bin
• Right-Click on "HPScan.exe" > Select Pin to Taskbar / Send to Desktop / Pin to Start

[277DWUser]

Hi,

did that but still no searcable PDF option as in the screenshot.

Kind regards

[Dragon-Fur]

Everyone >>> Apologies for jumping in unannounced.

@277DWUser 

Honestly, this is another guess - no MacOS in our home office.

If you have backups of your data from before you reloaded Windows,

If you had downloaded the Full Feature Software / Full Solution Software installation package (for example, into Downloads),

(then)

Try / Consider

Uninstall the full driver printer software

Restart the computer and log in

Install the full solution software using the installation package retrieved from your backups

Restart the computer and log in

Install the Iris OCR software

Restart the computer and log in

What?

The embedded OCR feature was removed from many (all??) printer installation packages  mid-2022.

At least in my case, I do not know the reason -- I believe it might have been a licensing issue.

If your original full solution software included the ability to support OCR in the first place,

(then)

Installation packages downloaded before OCR was removed still retain the OCR feature.

This is where it might get complicated for software that was / should be able to use Iris OCR software.

More guessing.

IF the older installation package included the hooks (code) for the OCR software, whether that OCR software was embedded or if the OCR hook was simply a mechanism to allow for installing the Iris OCR package (on top of the full solution software)

(then)

Installing the printer software using the older installation package for the full driver printer software and (then) Installing the Iris OCR software might work.

What else?

One more guess - then I'm "out of here"...

The following software - if available in your region / language and OS - might include the OCR feature you are seeking.

I've used this software on and off for years (in Windows).

After you open the website, click to open where you can find the files for your Operating System.

NAPS2 – “Not Another PDF Scanner” (Free – Donations gladly accepted by the NAPS2 organization)

• Download-Save-Install >  NAPS2 
• Not another PDF Scanner – free program scans PDF files and image(s) as .jpeg or PDF file(s).
• Not always simple “Plug and Play”, nonetheless, this free software is powerful and configurable.
• NAPS2 might require that the full driver printer software is installed.

Notes

• Includes an OCR feature – may need Ghostscript add-on (See NAPS2 forum entry)
• Read the Support pages for information
• Read the Getting Started guide
• Combining files?  Read the Command Line Usage guide > Select Combining and Converting Files
• NAPS2 might support higher resolutions while still using the ADF

==============================================

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[ShlomiL]

Hi @277DWUser,

This is expected, IRIS OCR is a different scan software and won’t add searchable PDF into HP Scan itself.

Open the IRIS Pro software and scan, then save the scan job as PDF.

Shlomi

[277DWUser]

Hi Dragon-Fur,

first of all, thank you for the detailed advice. Unfortunately, I no longer have the old driver. Installing it was also my preferred solution. I guess I will resign myself to using two programmes for scanning in the future.

But again, many many thanks!