OCR Capability in HP printers

[PissedOffTechie]

I've just spent an hour on the phone with HP support, and I thought I'd report in what I learned.  I was passed around to three groups and eventually a supervisor.  A bit of background would probably be helpful.

My previous OfficeJet was an 8610.  It's probably 15 years old, and I've replaced the printhead A couple of years ago, but now its just not printing well at all.  The rest of the device works just fine.  This series had included on the CD that came with the printer, IRIS OCR software, which allowed you to scan documents using OCR to RTF documents, which would contain editable text.

Since the 8600 isn't printing so well, I thought I would invetsigate a new printer.  The OfficeJet Pro 8130e and 9130e series are market as supporting scanning to RTF, so they sounded like the way to go.  The major difference is a second paper tray on the 9130, but ethernet, wifi, fax, all those things I had on the 8600, so I thought these were acceptable.My only real physical complaint of the 8130 series is that the LCD screen is too small.

In reasearching models, the HP web site claims that the 8130 and 9130 models both support RTF as scan file formats.  There is no specific mention to OCR.  Here's what Pre-Sales has to say about it:

Me: I want to be able to scanb a document directly to an RTF file.

HP:Got it! No third-party software is needed to enable OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the HP OfficeJet Pro 8130e or 9130e printers—as long as you're using the HP Smart app and the setup is complete. Are you thinking of getting one?

The new 838e is Costco's version of the 8135e. It comes with 6 moths of free ink. via the InstankInk subscription.  I don't really like subscription models, but it seems to be cheaper than buying cartridges retail.

In any case, it installed just fine.  I will add that thereare multiple install paths, and they can interfere with each other, so be warned.    That being said, when I went to test the OCR capability, I found that it was missing.

The documentation states that one can use HP SCAN to scan to computer and select :Save as Editable Text (ICR)" as the option, but that option does not exist out of the box, despite a couple of articles in thsi community sting otherwise.

When pressed, HP Support said that some third party software needs to be used, but HP doesn't mention this at all in writing.  The only method Iknow of is to scan to PDF and then use somthing like Adobe Acrobat (expensive monthly or annual subscripttion).

This makes abolutely no sense to me as the HP Scan documentation says that "Save as Editable Text (OCR)" is an option.  HP Support said verbally that I would need to install a thrid party piece of software, but they make no reference to any specific software that will interface with HP Scan.

Assuming I  find some OCR software somehere that interfaces with HP Scan, there's absolutely zero information on how to get them working together.  All of the solutions I can find (free or otherwise) convert from PDFs., which is an additional step.  This stepmakes no sense t me as, HP Scan, as I mentioned previously, is supported to have "Save as Editable Text (OCR)" as an available shortcut.

Additionaly, HP support informed me (again verbally) that there is no HP printer on the market that included the built-in OCR recognition ability as I had with the old 8600.  This seems ridiculous to me, as this functionality was available 15 years ago.  

So at this point, I have the old device that scans great, but doesn;t print, and a need for printing as well.  HP printheads for the 8600 are no longer available, so buying a new third party printhead (at almost the cost of a new 8138), doesn;t seem like a prudent move.  I'm going to attempt to reasearch competing brands, and will likely return the 8138.

So in short, the sales people are selling a product with features that support says dont exist.  If anybody has had any success with OCR with any modern OfficeJet, I would appreciate learning more.

I requested that the supervisor forward my concerns upwards,   They said that they's let the software engiineers know of my concerns.  I'm not holding my breath. Sounds liike a class action lawsuit to me.

[Repairatrooper]

HP Scan software has an additional download for OCR. This is the download support page

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-universal-scan-software/2101620481

Here is the install on my laptop, note the option for editable text

[PissedOffTechie]

I had installed the Universal print drivers and as Universal Scan Drivers, as well as the HP OCR software.

The option simply does not appear on my Windows 11 desktop using my new OfficeJet Pro 8138e All-in-One..

The marketing people say that this is software works and exist,s but the technical support personnel I spoke with today said that none of the currentHP printers support what you see.  I'll add that you are using a discontinued LaserJet printer and not ancurrent OfficeJet..  My 15 year old OfficeJet 8600, also has this functionality.

[Repairatrooper]

Might be a scan software revision change that I have not installed, less likely in my opinion that old or new printer would make a difference. I am on holidays right now so that 575 is the only printer I have ready access to. Still runs exact same firmware as the brand new laserjets so I do not think the printer age is the issue.