How can one send a PDF file from MacOS (Mojave) to an HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 printer for Faxing?

[Gnossos]

I clicked on the Driver tab and saw only HP Easy Start. I downloaded it, unzipped it, and copied the unzipped file to my Applications. Then I ran it. It took me to this page, where I clicked the Install HP Smart button. This opened my App Store, where there was a Get button, which I clicked. Then there was an Install button, which I also clicked. Finally, the app was installed, and the App Store shows a grayed out button saying "Purchased," just as before.

Before doing this I also checked HP Easy Start and HP Smart that were already installed. I already had HP Easy Start 2.10.0 (201112), and the version I installed was 2.10.0.201112, which appears to be the same even though the punctuation differs. If so, downloading and installing HP ES was a waste of time.

HP Smart is still 3.5 (260) even though I reinstalled it from the downloaded HP ES.

What was it Einstein said about doing the same thing that doesn't work over and over again?

I'm beginning to doubt this is a driver problem. If it were, this would imply the original drivers were released and distributed even though they were incapable of sending faxes from the computer, something the documentation says is possible. IMHO, this could only happen without any QC whatsoever.

Oh, BTW. I just checked the Fax Queue, and it says "Communication Failure." This is not very meaningful, since we're talking about two separate communication channels: (1) Computer to Printer and (2) Printer to Fax Recipient. But I don't see how an old driver can cause a communication failure.

[Gnossos]

I had to send a fax today (6/1). I knew I had this deadline when I started this thread on 5/19, but I thought (hoped?) almost two weeks would be sufficient time to sort this out. Obviously, I was wrong.

When I sent the fax today, I first printed out the document on the printer. There was no sign of a communication issue between the computer & printer. Then, when I fed the physical document into the printer and it sent the fax, there was no communication issue on that end. So I have absolutely no idea what the communication error could possibly be.

But having invested so much time in this already, I don't want to drop it now. So please help me resolve this.

Thank you.

[Jay_G24]

Print a fax test report and share the results -

Run a fax test from the printer control panel to identify issues with the printer, phone line connection, or fax settings.

1. On the printer control panel, select Run Fax Test or Fax Test Report in the Fax or Setup menu.

Keep me posted!

[Gnossos]

I ran this test: Fax > Setup > Tools > Run Fax Test.

TL;DR: Everything seems fine.

All seven items in the top panel of the report, from Fax Hardware Test to Fax Line Noise Test, were "PASS." And the next line says, "Your HP device has passed the fax test."

Nothing in the fax settings seems odd. In fact, nothing in them seems to have anything to do with computer-to-fax communications.

[Jay_G24]

 Uninstall HP Smart installed.

please delete from /Users/Username/Library/Application Support/HP Smart. Then delete HP Smart from the Applications folder and reinstall from the Mac App Store.

On APP Store, HP Smart is a free app and will never show as purchased. It will have a Get button and then it will show as open once downloaded.

Hope this helps!

Let me know!

[Gnossos]

I deleted:

HP Smart from ~/Library/Application Support

and

from /Macintosh HD/Applications

(doing the latter used App Cleaner).

Then I opened the App Store and reinstalled HP Smart. It still shows "Purchased," with no "Open" anywhere in sight.

[Jay_G24]

We have tried all the troubleshooting steps from our end, I think this issue needs some additional technical assistance that can be better provided through one-on-one interaction or a remote session with our HP Support team.

Please reach out to HP Support in your region for further assistance.

Hope this helps!

[Gnossos]

OK. Thanks.

I believe I tried this earlier and could not reach the Support team because my printer is out of warranty. This time I was able to get a case # and phone #. I won't have time to call them for several days, probably no earlier than Wed. or Thur., but I'll see if this works. IIRC, the last time I called, the wait was several hours.

But I'm sure I tried contacting HP by phone before resorting to this forum. It's been so long, I don't remember exactly what brought me here.

So, please keep this case open until I have a chance to try voice support again.

[Jay_G24]

Yes, the thread will be open.

Do let us know the outcome.