How to install Gotec Slim scanner model 6760 on Ubuntu Linux

Many year ago I bought a Gotec Slim scanner model 6760 with 24000 dpi, and upto 48 bits using USB interface.

Later I found that it was also called Plustek OpticSlim 2400+

Flatbed Scanning: Yes Film Scanning: No Document Feeder: No Windows: Yes Mac: No Linux:  No* USB: Yes SCSI: No Firewire: No Network: No USB Vendor ID: 07b3 USB Product ID: 0454

* did not came with a driver for Linux, but linux community did the magic.

Technical Specification:

• Technology: CCD colour sensor
• Optical resolution: 1200 x 2400 dpi
• Interpolated resolution: 24000 dpi
• Maximum scanning area: A4 (210 x 297 mm)
• Scanning method: single pass
• Lamp: cold cathode
• Interface: USB version 1.1
• Connector: USB type B
• Net weight: 1.4 Kg
• Size: 378/257/33 mm (Lenght/Width/Height)

Buttons – quick functions (need driver/software):

• Copy: Send scan to printer
• OCR: Converts image to text – Optic Character Recognition
• E-mail: Sends image or text to e-mail client
• Custom: user programmable
• Scan: Start the scanning application

Capture modes:

• Colour depth upto 48 bits
• Gray scale upto 16 bits
• White and black: 1 bit

Energy needed:

• Uses power from USB port
• Voltage: 5 VDC
• Maximum current : 500 mA

So first we need to check:

desktop:~$ sudo lsusb

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0424:2504 Standard Microsystems Corp. USB 2.0 Hub

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

Bus 006 Device 007: ID 07b3:0454 Plustek, Inc.

...

desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install xsane
...

desktop:~$ scanimage -L

device `gt68xx:libusb:006:007' is a Plustek OpticSlim 2400 flatbed scanner

desktop:~$ sudo mkdir /usr/share/sane/gt68xx

desktop:~$ sudo cd /usr/share/sane/gt68xx

Now two options to follow:

OPTION 1: Use existing driver from driver deposits on the web

desktop:~$ sudo wget http://people.freenet.de/go-mcpop/{driver.firmware}

where {driver.firmware} is the name of your scanner driver

that can be similar to: xxx.fw or xxx.usb

OPTION 2: Best option, use your windows driver CD files

You should find the driver on a windows system that you installed it, check for the cis3R5B1.fw usually can be found at C:\Program Files\Leadership\GOTECxxx or on the CD that came with your scanner (or zipped file), there are three installation files 'data1.cab', 'data2.cab' and 'data1.hdr'. Extract them to a temporary directory (for exemple: /home/{user}/tmp )

http://www.leadership.com.br/downloads/Drivers/6760.zip

Note that some Microsoft cabinets (.cab files), cannot be unpacked with cabextract, because they are InstallShield cabinets, which can only be unpacked with unshield.

desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install unshield

Go to the directory where you saved the data1.cab and do this:

desktop:~$ mkdir tmp

desktop:~$ unshield -d ./tmp x data1.cab

Now go to tmp directory where you extracted the data1.cab and delete all with nautilus or a pcmanfm file manager to find the driver cis3R5B1.fw or similar to this name xxxxx.fw (usually there are more than one because windows installers are for different windows versions.

Then, copy the driver to /usr/share/sane/gt68xx using this command:

desktop:~$ sudo cp cis3R5B1.fw /usr/share/sane/gt68x

Next rename (copy) the drive to the name we need it to be called

desktop:~$ sudo cp cis3R5B1.fw gt680xfw.usb
desktop:~$ sudo chmod a+r /usr/share/sane/gt68xx/{driver.firmware}

desktop:~$ sudo sane-find-scanner

[sudo] password for {username}: xxxxx

# 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=0x07b3, product=0x0454 [1200dpi USB Scanner], chip=GT-6816)

at libusb:006:007

# 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.

Be very, very carefull now. You need to know how to use “vi” first.

A brief resume of vi the commands you will need:

type 'i' means insert (just the i letter without the single quotes)

type '{ESC}' leave insert mode (the ESC key on your keyboard)

type 'dd' means cut the line I am on to clipboard buffer

type 'p' means past clipboard buffer after my position

type 'P' means past clipboard buffer before my position

type ':q!' quit without saving (loose all modifications make)

type ':wq!' quit

As a good practice, always, is to issue a {ESC} just to be sure, after a command.

desktop:~$ cd /etc/sane.d

desktop:~$ sudo vi /etc/sane.d/gt68xx.conf

As a reference where you will put the modification, search for “usb 0x07b3” and add it before the “section” that you just found.

Now lest modify the the conf file, issue a insert command a vi and copy and past the following:

##############################################################################

##############################################################################

#Autodetect Plustek OpticSlim 2400

override "plustek-opticslim-2400"

model "OpticSlim 2400 Plus"

usb 0x07b3 0x0454

# firmware file /usr/share/sane/gt68xx/gt680xfw.usb

firmware "/usr/share/sane/gt68xx/gt680xfw.usb"

# vendor Plustek

# model OpticSlim

##############################################################################

##############################################################################

Finish with a {ESC} and with the ':wq!' command (without the single quotes)

If all is correct, return to your home directory

desktop:~$ cd /home/{username}

Now check that your scanner is installed and ready

desktop:~$ scanimage -L

device `gt68xx:libusb:006:007' is a Plustek OpticSlim 2400 flatbed scanner

Now using ubuntu software center, install Skanlite, which I believe is the best option.

For the Windows 7 x64 users, the OpticSlim2400plus_V4101.zip from the plustek works.

http://downloads.plustek.com/downloads/english/driver/OpticSlim2400plus_V4101.zip

Have fun.