64-bit Writer can't use scanner: forced to move to 32-bit version

[MassimoMula]

Hello,
I am (well, I actually was) using 64-bit LO v. 5.3.7 on my home PC, with Windows 7 Pro.

Yesterday, I tried to acquire an image into Writer but the Select Source window was empty and no scan was possible.

I’ve got two scanners installed on my system: a “several-years-old” flatbed Epson Perfection 3270 and the one embedded in the Lexmark MX317DN Multi-Function laser printer, which i just bought a couple weeks ago: apparently none of them can be used with Writer.

After some investigation, I remembered an issue I had several months ago with a popular graphics software (Corel Paint Shop Pro): it was 64-bit, too, and claimed to be impossible to use 32-bit TWAIN drivers. Solution: use the 32-bit version of the applicaton.

So, I tried installing the 32-bit LibreOffice and voila, both the scanners are now working.

I wonder if there can be a way, for 64-bit LO, to use 32-bit TWAIN/WIA scanner drivers, since hardware vendors do not appear so much 64-bit-oriented.

As I said, I’ve recently bought a new multifunction printer and it just came with 32-bit drivers.
Of course, the vendor claims it’s “compatible with 64-bit OS”… not a word about “64-bit applications”.

Cheers,

Max - Italy

[mikekaganski]

EDIT 2018-12-30:

TWAIN support is finally implemented for 64-bit LibreOffice on Windows in upcoming (summer 2019) v.6.3 (tdf#114635). It does not need 64-bit drivers, or any third-party software, and should just work.

===

First - there is a work to enable support for 64-bit TWAIN in LibreOffice (tdf#114635). It would enable using 64-bit TWAIN drivers… if a vendor supplies them, which is very rare. However, there are third-party pseudo-drivers that allow using 32-bit drivers as 64-bit (i.e., they are 64-bit, and work as a layer between the 64-bit applications and 32-bit real drivers): VueScan is one of them.

But actually, WIA support is badly needed (tdf#105762).

[MassimoMula]

Hello Mike, Thanks for your reply.
I’ll give VueScan a try and possibly update this post.

Thanks again,
Max.

[Pops1]

I’m having same issue with an Epson V370, Epson say it supplies a 64bit driver but as you say its only 64bit OS compatible. Libre say its Epson’s problem Epson say its Libre’s so here I am stuck wih 32bit Libreoffice that works fine with my scanner but being 32bit crashes if it has more than 2 to 4 images loaded in a document. I tried Vuescan only with the 32bit Libre but its not good to use image crop lines jump all over so I’m not impressed enough to reinstall Libre 64bit. I wait to see how you get on.

[MassimoMula]

I’m having same issue with an Epson V370, Epson say it supplies a 64bit
driver but as you say its only 64bit OS compatible. Libre say its Epson’s
problem Epson say its Libre’s so here I am stuck wih 32bit Libreoffice that
works fine with my scanner but being 32bit crashes if it has more than 2 to
4 images loaded in a document. I tried Vuescan only with the 32bit Libre but
its not good to use image crop lines jump all over so I’m not impressed
enough to reinstall Libre 64bit. I wait to see how you get on.

Hello,
as I said in my post, I “solved” this problem by installing 32bit LibO…
I also found an Italian blog where many people complain about the same problem. Many of them solved with a generic Twain driver.
Unfortunately it’s Italian-only, so you may need some online translator.

If you are lucky enough, your scanner is already in the .inf file and it could work as-is, or maybe you can try adding your scanner’s USB\VID&PID string in the proper sections of that file and give it a try.

I downloaded that driver but didn’t try it, hope it can be useful to someone.
Max.