5 ms·

I haven't been using it too much yet but I am really impressed by paperless-ngx so far. It just works(TM) and the auto-tagging functionality is surprisingly goo

by matrss 3y ago

I haven't been using it too much yet but I am really impressed by paperless-ngx so far. It just works(TM) and the auto-tagging functionality is surprisingly good, even with just a few documents in it. Does anyone have a good scanner recommendation though? I am eyeing the Brother ADS-1700W since it seems to be recommended often, but I would really like to use the "scan to webhook" feature (it's 2023 after all) instead of SMTP or whatever else are the options I would have with the Brother.

draugadrotten 3y ago
Recommendation: https://www.quickscanapp.com/ https://www.quickscanapp.com/ I am using iPhone as a scanner and it automatically scans, OCRs, uploads and ingests to the paperless-ngx instance, even remotely using tailscale. The iPhone camera is more than good enough for scanning documents.
- bovermyer 3y ago
  Thank you for this! This reduces the friction for scanning documents a _ton_. I love that it integrates with Paperless so well!
- matrss 3y ago
  I don't have an iPhone, but on Android there is the "Paperless Mobile" app (https://github.com/astubenbord/paperless-mobile https://github.com/astubenbord/paperless-mobile), which can be used to scan as well. There are just some documents that I would prefer to have in proper and consistent "document scanner"-quality; I am always having a hard time with lighting using those phone scanners (although Paperless Mobile is one of the better ones I have used).
  - westurner 3y ago
    Would a document capture camera with a [ring] light also work?
    - matrss 3y ago
      Those still have the speed disadvantage of a phone camera and need more space than a compact document scanner, I'd imagine. I guess a ring light for my phone would be an improvement; using the builtin flash usually leads to very uneven lighting in the scan.
      - westurner 3y ago
        IIRC there are certain models of sheet-fed duplex scanners that work with Linux (with e.g. a lower-wattage Pi)
- bretto13 3y ago
  I had used this app prior to the addition of the Paperless-ngx integration and it worked well, but with that functionality added it's just so easy to scan and be done. I have a Brother scanner as well that I'll still use to import longer documents or anything I want in the best quality, but for 95% of things importing from this app works perfectly.
- deanc 3y ago
  Thank you also for the tip on this one. Took a bit of work to get it working with my setup but have it working flawlessly.
pintxo 3y ago
I am scanning from my Brother multi-function device to an SMB share, which paperless monitors for changes. Works like a charm. You can even bulk move files there using your local file manager.
- rubenbe 3y ago
  Which type of brother printer do you use? And do you use it under Linux?
  - senectus1 3y ago
    I'm using a Brother MFC-L3770CDW (Colour laser, with a duplexing scanner). Very reasonable price and super capable device, works fine with linux.
  - lakomen 3y ago
    I wish I could selectively subscribe to comments on HN, but I have to comment to do that. So this is my subscription comment. #metoo
  - moontear 3y ago
    There is a long list of supported scanners directly from Paperless: https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/wiki/Scanner-&-Software-Recommendations https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/wiki/Scanner-... Personally I go with Brother ADS-1700W. I don't use it under any operating system since it is Scanner > SMB share.
  - alexdoesstuff 3y ago
    Brother DCP-L2550DW here. One of the cheapest b/w multifunction devices with automatic document feeder and reasonable print and scan performance. Works like a charm on Linux, Windows, Android, and IOS. I am using it with [NAPS2](https://www.naps2.com/ https://www.naps2.com/), which is brilliantly simple, multi-platform, free, and open-source.
  - pintxo 3y ago
    Just one of their Color-Laser scanner/printer combos. Works like a charm for iOS, Linux, MacOS, Windows.
andrew_eu 3y ago
I've had great luck with an Epson Workforce scanner. Originally I got it to scan ~10k family photos -- took about 1 hour and entirely smooth. In that case I scanned to a USB drive attached to the scanner (since each photo was a separate file). For Paperless I use the Epson Smart app, scan the document with whatever settings, remove/rotate pages as needed, and then share it to Paperless with Paperless Share [0]. Many network attached scanners can scan to SMB, no device needed, but I kind of like the human-in-the-loop aspect. Since my Paperless server runs on an HDD next to the scanner I can actually hear once the file lands which is quite satisfying. [0] https://github.com/qcasey/paperless_share https://github.com/qcasey/paperless_share
tecleandor 3y ago
I'll start with Paperless NGX sooon, and after looking around for lots of document scanners with autofeed (that are quite expensive) I found that in my office they were getting rid of a big multifunction HP printer that was sitting unused since COVID and remote work, and I got that for free. I'll clean all the rollers and stuff next week and test it :P

by matrss 3y ago

draugadrotten 3y ago

Recommendation: https://www.quickscanapp.com/ https://www.quickscanapp.com/ I am using iPhone as a scanner and it automatically scans, OCRs, uploads and ingests to the paperless-ngx instance, even remotely using tailscale. The iPhone camera is more than good enough for scanning documents.

bovermyer 3y ago
Thank you for this! This reduces the friction for scanning documents a _ton_. I love that it integrates with Paperless so well!
matrss 3y ago
I don't have an iPhone, but on Android there is the "Paperless Mobile" app (https://github.com/astubenbord/paperless-mobile https://github.com/astubenbord/paperless-mobile), which can be used to scan as well. There are just some documents that I would prefer to have in proper and consistent "document scanner"-quality; I am always having a hard time with lighting using those phone scanners (although Paperless Mobile is one of the better ones I have used).
- westurner 3y ago
  Would a document capture camera with a [ring] light also work?
  - matrss 3y ago
    Those still have the speed disadvantage of a phone camera and need more space than a compact document scanner, I'd imagine. I guess a ring light for my phone would be an improvement; using the builtin flash usually leads to very uneven lighting in the scan.
    - westurner 3y ago
      IIRC there are certain models of sheet-fed duplex scanners that work with Linux (with e.g. a lower-wattage Pi)
bretto13 3y ago
I had used this app prior to the addition of the Paperless-ngx integration and it worked well, but with that functionality added it's just so easy to scan and be done. I have a Brother scanner as well that I'll still use to import longer documents or anything I want in the best quality, but for 95% of things importing from this app works perfectly.
deanc 3y ago
Thank you also for the tip on this one. Took a bit of work to get it working with my setup but have it working flawlessly.

pintxo 3y ago

I am scanning from my Brother multi-function device to an SMB share, which paperless monitors for changes. Works like a charm. You can even bulk move files there using your local file manager.

rubenbe 3y ago
Which type of brother printer do you use? And do you use it under Linux?
- senectus1 3y ago
  I'm using a Brother MFC-L3770CDW (Colour laser, with a duplexing scanner). Very reasonable price and super capable device, works fine with linux.
- lakomen 3y ago
  I wish I could selectively subscribe to comments on HN, but I have to comment to do that. So this is my subscription comment. #metoo
- moontear 3y ago
  There is a long list of supported scanners directly from Paperless: https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/wiki/Scanner-&-Software-Recommendations https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/wiki/Scanner-... Personally I go with Brother ADS-1700W. I don't use it under any operating system since it is Scanner > SMB share.
- alexdoesstuff 3y ago
  Brother DCP-L2550DW here. One of the cheapest b/w multifunction devices with automatic document feeder and reasonable print and scan performance. Works like a charm on Linux, Windows, Android, and IOS. I am using it with [NAPS2](https://www.naps2.com/ https://www.naps2.com/), which is brilliantly simple, multi-platform, free, and open-source.
- pintxo 3y ago
  Just one of their Color-Laser scanner/printer combos. Works like a charm for iOS, Linux, MacOS, Windows.

andrew_eu 3y ago

I've had great luck with an Epson Workforce scanner. Originally I got it to scan ~10k family photos -- took about 1 hour and entirely smooth. In that case I scanned to a USB drive attached to the scanner (since each photo was a separate file). For Paperless I use the Epson Smart app, scan the document with whatever settings, remove/rotate pages as needed, and then share it to Paperless with Paperless Share [0]. Many network attached scanners can scan to SMB, no device needed, but I kind of like the human-in-the-loop aspect. Since my Paperless server runs on an HDD next to the scanner I can actually hear once the file lands which is quite satisfying. [0] https://github.com/qcasey/paperless_share https://github.com/qcasey/paperless_share

tecleandor 3y ago

I'll start with Paperless NGX sooon, and after looking around for lots of document scanners with autofeed (that are quite expensive) I found that in my office they were getting rid of a big multifunction HP printer that was sitting unused since COVID and remote work, and I got that for free. I'll clean all the rollers and stuff next week and test it :P