Using an Epson scanner

Please open a terminal and type:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install xsane

Hi Marco,
Followed your commands. Opened Xsane but it says `No devices available` Please advise
William

Have you downloaded and installed the scanner-specific addons from http://www.avasys.jp/lx-bin2/linux_e/spc/DL1.do?
file names most probably are iscan_2.26.4-2.ltdl7_i386.deb or iscan_2.26.4-2.ltdl7_amd64.deb and iscan-data_1.9.0-1_all.deb, installation instructions in userg_revN_e.pdf

Hi Manfred
Is this the file? William

home > Linux Driver >

   All-in-Ones (Multifunction Inkjet Printers)

    Download   All-in-Ones (Multifunction Inkjet Printers)

  Printer Driver

  Download for Epson ME 320/330,Epson Stylus NX125/NX127/SX125/TX120/TX121/TX123/TX125/TX129 for Debian GNU/Linux 5.0

         Installation file

            file size

              /

            md5sum

          pips-nx125nx127-debian4.0-3.8.0-1-CG.tgz

No, this is not the file. You are on the right page, but this is not the file you need.

Go to http://www.avasys.jp/lx-bin2/linux_e/spc/DL1.do
Scroll down until you see the heading 'Form for download'
mark 'Epson ME 320/330,Epson Stylus NX125/NX127/SX125/TX120/TX121/TX123/TX125/TX129'
scroll further down to 'Questionnaire'
for Distribution select 'Ubuntu'
for Distribution version select '10.04'
click on 'Next'

On the page that opens you see the heading 'Printer Driver': you can ignore that (you say that printing already works ok)

Scroll further down to the heading 'Scanner Driver'
and download the data package (in the version below deb package): iscan-data_1.9.0-1_all.deb
and download the core package (either the "deb 32bit package [libltdl7] (for Ubuntu 8.10 or later)" or the "deb 64bit package [libltdl7] (for Ubuntu 8.10 or later)" the 32bit package if you are running Ubuntu 32bit version, the 64bit package if you are running the Ubuntu 64bit version): iscan_2.26.4-2.ltdl7_i386.deb or iscan_2.26.4-2.ltdl7_amd64.deb
Still further down there is the manual below the heading 'installation method': userg_revN_e.pdf
When following the the user guide always select the instructions for Debian packages, not those for RPM.

Hi Manfred,
I have downloaded three iscan packages and manual. Xsane still says `no devices available`
Please advise. William

Have you followed all instructions in the manual?

What is the output of the following commands:

sane-find-scanner
dpkg -l | grep sane
dpkg -l | grep iscan

Please open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and issue these commands. one by one. When done select all text (edit - select all), copy it (edit - copy) and paste into a new message of this question thread.

Hi Manfred,
Looked at manual but uncertain about commands shown prefaced by hash.
Result your commands follows. The last one does not look sensible William

william@william-desktop:~$ sane-find-scanner

  # sane-find-scanner will now attempt to detect your scanner. If the
  # result is different from what you expected, first make sure your
  # scanner is powered up and properly connected to your computer.

  # No SCSI scanners found. If you expected something different, make sure that
  # you have loaded a kernel SCSI driver for your SCSI adapter.

found USB scanner (vendor=0x04b8, product=0x085c) at libusb:001:002
  # Your USB scanner was (probably) detected. It may or may not be supported by
  # SANE. Try scanimage -L and read the backend's manpage.

  # Not checking for parallel port scanners.

  # Most Scanners connected to the parallel port or other proprietary ports
  # can't be detected by this program.

  # You may want to run this program as root to find all devices. Once you
  # found the scanner devices, be sure to adjust access permissions as
  # necessary.
william@william-desktop:~$ dpkg -l | grep sane
ii  libsane                               1.0.20-13ubuntu2                                API library for scanners
ii  sane-utils                            1.0.20-13ubuntu2                                API library for scanners -- utilities
ii  xsane                                 0.996-2ubuntu3                                  featureful graphical frontend for SANE (Scan
ii  xsane-common                          0.996-2ubuntu3                                  featureful graphical frontend for SANE (Scan
william@william-desktop:~$ dpkg -l | grep iscan
william@william-desktop:~$

Ubuntu uses a different approach to grant administrative privileges to a user than most of the other Unix versions.

Whenever you see a command in the manual preceded by a # sign you should execute the command with sudo.

e.g. when you see
# dpkg -i iscan_xxx.deb
you should execute the command
sudo dpkg -i iscan_xxx.deb

I hope that is the hint you need.

Hi Manfred,
I tried the install command as per manual but it does not work- see below.
William
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg --install iscan-data_$ver-$rel_all.deb
[sudo] password for william:
dpkg: error processing iscan-data_-.deb (--install):
 cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
 iscan-data_-.deb
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg --install iscan_$ver-$rel_$arch.deb
dpkg: error processing iscan_-.deb (--install):
 cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
 iscan_-.deb
william@william-desktop:~$

In the command you have to replace $ver, $rel and $arch with the correct values for the current version (the real file name of the file that you have dowloaded).

e.g.

sudo dpkg --install iscan-data_1.9.0-1_all.deb

Hi Manfred,
Yes I realised  this after I sent-apologies.
I managed to install with Gdebi installer  but installing iscan data first! Then using terminal with sudo iscan to open the program If I try to open from accessories I get error--could not send command to scanner. I can now at least  scan documents using Image scan.
However Simple scan gives error--Unable to connect to scanner
and Xscan gives error-- failed to open device
Please advise,
William

Have you changed the permission on the scanner device as shown on page 9 of the manual?
Does sane-find-scanner detect the scanner?

Hi Manfred,
I get following using find scanner. I am unsure what to do next.Please advise.
William

william@william-desktop:~$ sudo sane-find-scanner
[sudo] password for william:

  # sane-find-scanner will now attempt to detect your scanner. If the
  # result is different from what you expected, first make sure your
  # scanner is powered up and properly connected to your computer.

  # No SCSI scanners found. If you expected something different, make sure that
  # you have loaded a kernel SCSI driver for your SCSI adapter.

found USB scanner (vendor=0x04b8 [EPSON], product=0x085c [EPSON Epson Stylus SX125 Series]) at libusb:001:003
  # Your USB scanner was (probably) detected. It may or may not be supported by
  # SANE. Try scanimage -L and read the backend's manpage.

  # Not checking for parallel port scanners.

  # Most Scanners connected to the parallel port or other proprietary ports
  # can't be detected by this program.
william@william-desktop:~$

-

ok, your scanner is there, and sane is able to find it and correctly identifies it as Epson SX125.

What is the output of

ls -l /proc/bus/usb/001/003

You might have to change the file protection settings on the device with the command

sudo chmod 0666 /proc/bus/usb/001/003

(see the "Image Scan!" User's Guide, page 9 [note: due to pages with roman numbers at the begin, page 9 is the 13th page in the pdf document])

Hi Manfred,
Tried those commands  no sucess, see below.William

william@william-desktop:~$ ls -l /proc/bus/usb/001/003
ls: cannot access /proc/bus/usb/001/003: No such file or directory
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo ls -l /proc/bus/usb/001/003
[sudo] password for william:
ls: cannot access /proc/bus/usb/001/003: No such file or directory
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo chmod 0666 /proc/bus/usb/001/003
chmod: cannot access `/proc/bus/usb/001/003': No such file or directory
william@william-desktop:~$ ls -l /proc/bus/usb/001/003
ls: cannot access /proc/bus/usb/001/003: No such file or directory
william@william-desktop:~$

-

Seems that the Epson manual describes the things different from how Ubuntu does it.
Just to check, execute the following commands and post the output:

sudo sane-find-scanner
ls -laR /proc/bus/usb

Hi Manfred,
Same result.William-see below
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo sane-find-scanner
[sudo] password for william:

  # sane-find-scanner will now attempt to detect your scanner. If the
  # result is different from what you expected, first make sure your
  # scanner is powered up and properly connected to your computer.

  # No SCSI scanners found. If you expected something different, make sure that
  # you have loaded a kernel SCSI driver for your SCSI adapter.

found USB scanner (vendor=0x04b8 [EPSON], product=0x085c [EPSON Epson Stylus SX125 Series]) at libusb:001:004
  # Your USB scanner was (probably) detected. It may or may not be supported by
  # SANE. Try scanimage -L and read the backend's manpage.

  # Not checking for parallel port scanners.

  # Most Scanners connected to the parallel port or other proprietary ports
  # can't be detected by this program.
william@william-desktop:~$ ls -laR /proc/bus/usb
ls: cannot access /proc/bus/usb: No such file or directory
william@william-desktop:~$

Apparently on Ubuntu there is no /proc/bus/usb but /dev/bus/usb

sudo sane-find-scanner
ls -laR /dev/bus/usb
grep -i epson /etc/udev/libsane.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/*-libsane.rules

Hi Manfred,
Looks hopeful ?? See below.William
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo sane-find-scanner
[sudo] password for william:

  # sane-find-scanner will now attempt to detect your scanner. If the
  # result is different from what you expected, first make sure your
  # scanner is powered up and properly connected to your computer.

  # No SCSI scanners found. If you expected something different, make sure that
  # you have loaded a kernel SCSI driver for your SCSI adapter.

found USB scanner (vendor=0x04b8 [EPSON], product=0x085c [EPSON Epson Stylus SX125 Series]) at libusb:001:004
  # Your USB scanner was (probably) detected. It may or may not be supported by
  # SANE. Try scanimage -L and read the backend's manpage.

  # Not checking for parallel port scanners.

  # Most Scanners connected to the parallel port or other proprietary ports
  # can't be detected by this program.
william@william-desktop:~$ ls -laR /dev/bus/usb
/dev/bus/usb:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 60 2011-08-02 20:45 .
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 60 2011-08-02 20:45 ..
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 80 2011-08-17 09:39 001

/dev/bus/usb/001:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root     80 2011-08-17 09:39 .
drwxr-xr-x  3 root root     60 2011-08-02 20:45 ..
crw-rw-r--  1 root root 189, 0 2011-08-17 15:01 001
crw-rw-r--+ 1 root root 189, 3 2011-08-17 15:01 004
william@william-desktop:~$ grep -i epson /etc/udev/libsane.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/*-libsane.rules
grep: /etc/udev/libsane.rules: No such file or directory
grep: /etc/udev/rules.d/*-libsane.rules: No such file or directory
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo grep -i epson /etc/udev/libsane.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/*-libsane.rules
grep: /etc/udev/libsane.rules: No such file or directory
grep: /etc/udev/rules.d/*-libsane.rules: No such file or directory
william@william-desktop:~$

issue the command

sudo chmod 0666 /dev/bus/usb/001/004

and then try using the scanner with Simple scan and Xscan again.

and try (sorry for the error in filenames):

grep -i epson /lib/udev/libsane.rules /lib/udev/rules.d/*-libsane.rules

Hi Manfred,
Simple scan Xscan and Image scan now work Many thanks Latest output see below. Will they all still work after power down or restart?
William
william@william-desktop:~$ grep -i epson /lib/udev/libsane.rules /lib/udev/rules.d/*-libsane.rules
grep: /lib/udev/libsane.rules: No such file or directory
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 636U | Epson Perfection 636U
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 610 | Epson Perfection 610
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1200U | Epson Perfection 1200Photo | Epson Perfection 1200U / 1200 Photo
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Expression 1600 | Epson Expression 1600
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1640 | Epson Perfection 1640
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1240 | Epson Perfection 1240
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 640 | Epson Perfection 640
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Expression 1680 | Epson Expression 1680
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1250 | Epson Perfection 1250Photo
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1650 | Epson Perfection 1650
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 2450 | Epson Perfection 2450
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 660
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 2400 | Epson Perfection 2400
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 3200 | Epson Perfection 3200
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1260 | Epson Perfection 1260Photo
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1660 | Epson Perfection 1660
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1670
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 1270
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 2480 | Epson Perfection 2580
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 3490 | Epson Perfection 3590
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 4870 | Epson Perfection 4870
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Perfection 4990 | Epson Perfection 4990
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson V700 | Epson V750 | Epson V700
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson V750
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-5200 | Epson CX-5400 | Epson CX-5200
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-5400
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-3200 | Epson CX-3200
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-6300 | Epson CX-6400 | Epson CX-6300
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-6400
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson RX-600 | Epson RX-600
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson RX-500 | Epson RX-500
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-5400 | Epson CX-5400
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson Stylus CX-1500
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-4600 | Epson CX-4600
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-3600 | Epson CX-3650 | Epson CX-3600
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-3650
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson RX-425 | Epson RX-425
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson RX-700 | Epson RX-700
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson RX-620 | Epson RX-620
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-6500 | Epson CX-6600 | Epson CX-6500
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-6600
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson AcuLaser CX11 | Epson AcuLaser CX11NF | Epson AcuLaser CX11 series
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson DX-3850 | Epson CX-3700 | Epson CX-3800
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson DX-3800 | Epson DX-3850 | Epson CX-3700
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-3800 | Epson DX-3800
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-4800 | Epson CX-4800
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-4200 | Epson CX-4200
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-5000 | Epson DX-5000 | Epson DX-5050
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson CX-5000 | Epson DX-5000 | Epson DX-5050
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson DX-6000 | Epson DX-6000
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson DX-4050 | Epson DX-4050
/lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules:# Epson DX-7400 | Epson DX-7400
william@william-desktop:~$ sudo chmod 0666 /dev/bus/usb/001/004
[sudo] password for william:
william@william-desktop:~$

Glad to hear that the scanner now is working (at least temporarily).

After a reboot, or after unplugging and re-plugging the scanner it will most probably not work again as it should, because the device by default gets created with too strict access rights.

As far as I know creating an entry in /lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules should take care of this.

Please check the entries for the other Epson scanners in the libsane.rules file, if there is already an entry with the hex codes 04b8 and 085c.
If not, create one similar to the existing ones, must most probably look like:

# Epson SX125
SYSFS{idVendor}=="04b8", SYSFS{idProduct}=="085c", MODE="666", GROUP="scanner"

(Editing has to be done with a command like "gksudo gedit ...")

Hopefully that cares for everything.

sorry, the text to enter most probably is wrong,

# Epson SX125
ATTRS{idVendor}=="04b8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="085c", ENV{libsane_matched}="yes"

Hi manfred,
I entered "gksudo gedit "on the terminal  and got the result below
Is this OK? Please explain.
William

william@william-desktop:~$ sudo chmod 0666 /dev/bus/usb/001/004
[sudo] password for william:
william@william-desktop:~$ # Epson SX125
william@william-desktop:~$ ATTRS{idVendor}=="04b8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="085c", ENV{libsane_matched}="yes"
ATTRS{idVendor}==04b8,: command not found
william@william-desktop:~$

Sorry, this was a misunderstanding.

you have to do:

gksudo gedit /lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules

and put the these two lines into that document if they do not exist (preferably just below the entries for the other Epson printers/scanners)

# Epson SX125
ATTRS{idVendor}=="04b8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="085c", ENV{libsane_matched}="yes"

(These lines are the text that you have to put into the libsane.rules document, not commands to execute.)

Hi Manfred,
Edited the file.
Restarted scanner and simple scan still works!
Many thanks for your help,
William

The crucial point will be if the scanner is still working as it should after the next reboot of the computer.

If you then again get error messages (unable to connect etc.), a workaround should be to do "sudo sane-find-scanner", and to issue "sudo chmod 0666 /dev/bus/usb/<first id>/<second id>" replacing <first id> and <second id> with the two numbers displayed by sane-find-scanner after in the line "at libusb:<first id>:<second id>"

thanks Manfred Hampl your tips helped solving same problem!!
the key in all this is:

installing the iscan data first then the core package

let me sum up this:

1- go to: http://www.avasys.jp/lx-bin2/linux_e/spc/DL1.do?

get and install:

* iscan-data_1.9.0-1_all.deb
* iscan_2.26.4-2.ltdl7_i386.deb or iscan_2.26.4-2.ltdl7_amd64.deb

2-in Terminal:

gksudo gedit /lib/udev/rules.d/40-libsane.rules

Add:

# Epson SX125
ATTRS{idVendor}=="04b8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="085c", ENV{libsane_matched}="yes"

to the libsane.rules document

3-you have to check which usb the printer is plugged to:

sudo sane-find-scanner

4- now set pemission: say usb is...... libusb:001:002

sudo chmod 0666 /dev/bus/usb/001/002

reboot

Hi Manfred,
Just to confirm the 3 scanner  programs are  still working as  they should
after the  reboot of the computer or turning off the scanner.
Many thanks again for your advice,
William.

Happy to hear that finally the scanner is doing what it is supposed to.

If you do not have any further issue related to this question, please mark
that question as solved.

I found this exchange between William and Manfred very helpful indeed in getting my Epson Perfection V200 recognised by Xsane and SimpleScan - my thanks to both. I'd been trying to get the scanner working for some time on my new system.

I followed Manfred's instructions step-by-step until his "Have you changed the permission on the scanner device as shown on page 9 of the manual? Does sane-find-scanner detect the scanner?", when my scanner suddenly came to life! I rebooted and both Xsane and SimplScan can now locate my V200. Hope it continues to work whenever i open my system.

For reference, I use the distro SolusOS Eveline 1.1 on a machine I put together myself, using an Intel Core i3 proc.