Hello.

I am trying to install my scanner.

It is a "hp scanjet 3970".

I have started the installation of the right version of backend "SANE", that corresponds with my scanner. I can't manage to complete the installation as described in the "Read Me"-file of the backend software, because I don't understand all of the instructions.

Actually, if I get that backend SANE installed correctly, I should be able to do the settings in my scan program "Kooka", that will then allow me to use my scanner.

But I will be grateful, if some people could help and guide me trough these last steps. Thank you.

Here is what has piled up as information, etc., up and til now.

Recapitulation/Summary:

It is all about Trying the backend (SANE) in Kooka (which is the default scan program).
(There are also other scan programs, as „xsane“, or „xscanimage“. But, well, I do have „Kooka“, and not the other ones. „Kooka“ is installed on my operation system by default. So I will be using that scan program. This scan program, the so called „Kooka“, used together with the backend SANE, respectively, together with version 1.0.18 of SANE, should allow me to use my scanner.
...Or maybe I would have to add another backend, as well, to it. I am not sure. But I hope, not.

Anyway, it looks like I am alble to see whole context of the proceedure.

So, here is how I got to do my summary, and see the context:

As far as I can see, I have allready downloaded the right version of backend SANE.

But I looked at that page to where your link links, once again, and realised that there where a few screenshots on it. They had to be enlargend, by clicking on them. I clicked on the one, that is right there, near to the link for the download: What I could see, was the application and scan program „kooka“, that is my default scan program of my operation system. I could see, that when it is fully working, the application is nicely filled out with all sorts of nice windows. Well my „Kooka“ looks half empty right now, only half alive and half usable.
Nevertheless, there is a card named „Help“, where you get to read the handbook. It is always a good idea to read the handbooks. So I started reading it, and it says the following on the first page:
It says that Kooka enables scanning using SANE libraries, and that therefore SANE, the package, must be installed to use Kooka.
Further the handbook is mentioning character recognition and the text recognition program gocr., and how to install „gocr.“.
Character recognition should be completed, so that the recognized material can be opened in the text editor Kate, etc., etc.

But then again, it looks like my scanner is not supported by SANE, lookin at the page of the supported scanners. - Or maybe, it is just not updated.

But then again, I read about somone, who died nevertheless download SANE, but had to do some tweeking, and finally got the same scanner running and working. What sort of tweeking he did, I was not able find out, till this moment.

By continuing reading the handbook, I further understand, that after installing SANE one has to do the relevant settings inside of „Kooka“, the default scane program of the opreation system.

Excursion:
Buts lets go back to the page you gave the link for: The page I was talking about, at first. So what about that screenshoot, and the other screenshoots, there?:
This is what is says:
„Backend to control HP Scanjet 3900 series scanners in linux (hp3800, hp3970, hp4070, hp4370 and those which use RTS8822 chipset). Written in C, using libusb libraries, it runs as stand-alone application and integrated in SANE project.“

Well, it says that it is backend, and that it is integrated in SANE project.

It looks like something like this:

1.)I have the application/software „backend to control the scanner“, which is actully part of SANE, if you will.
2.)Then I have SANE downloaded (and installed?)
I installed this about SANE:
hp3900-sane1018_src_0.7.tar.gz
The „Read Me“ gives the following information:



With this document you will find the patch that modifies the stable branch of
SANE backends 1.0.18 to add the backend that allows to use hp scanjet 3900
series scanners.

Steps to install the backend are the following ones:

1- Download the sources of the stable branch of the version 1.0.18 of SANE in:
SANE - Download

2- untar the downloaded file into the wished directory:
tar xfz sane-backends-1.0.18.tar.gz

3- Go to the generated directory:
cd sane-backends-1.0.18

4- Copy the patch into sane-backends-1.0.18 directory:
cp <path>/hp3900-sane1018_0.7.diff

5- Apply the patch:
patch -p1 <hp3900-sane1018_0.7.diff

6- If you want to compile only the backend for hp3900 series scanners type:
export BACKENDS="hp3900"

7- Compile and install SANE in traditional way typing:
./configure
make
make install

Backend is still in development status. So all scanner functions are not
implemented and due to it's a bit unstable, you may need to reset scanner
after using it.“

Final thoughts/conclusion:

Well it looks to me, as if I have downloaded „the right SANE“, partly installed it, but that I did not actually complete the installation as instructed in the „Read Me“-file (numbers 3.) till 7.)).

So that I am able to scan using the SANE libraries, I must get my scan application „Kooka“ to help me do this.

I understand now, that I would have to do the following proceedure:

1.)Complete the installation of SANE.
2.)After that is done, I will have to do all the necessary settings inside of the scan program „Kooka“.
3.)When SANE is installed properly, and „Kooka“ configured properly, my scanner should be
able to get recognized, respectively detected, and therefore, I should be able to get my scanner working then.

Here, again, the summary, that I brought at the beginning of this post:

Recapitulation/Summary:

It is all about Trying the backend (SANE) in Kooka (which is the default scan program).
(There are also other scan programs, as „xsane“, or „xscanimage“. But, well, I do have „Kooka“, and not the other ones. „Kooka“ is installed on my operation system by default. So I will be using that scan program. This scan program, the so called „Kooka“, used together with the backend SANE, respectively, together with version 1.0.18 of SANE, should allow me to use my scanner.
...Or maybe I would have to add another backend, as well, to it. I am not sure. But I hope, not.

Thank you, for your attention.

Alexander