Filemaker to use Scanner for PDFs

[Scott Pon]

I'm not sure where to start with this problem, so if you have any advice where to go, it is appreciated.

I am running filemaker 5.5, with Filemaker Server 5, in a Windows 2000 Environment.

I am creating a Database for Purchase Orders. THe database minimizes the data entry. 2 required fields are the Customer and PO Number. I am going to concatinate them to make a file name, ie: Customer Cisco, PO# 1234 would have a filename: Cisco1234.pdf

We would like to be able to scan the actual purchase order into a file.

1) Can I have Filemaker open the scanning program?

or

2) can I have filemaker Tell the scanner to scan the document (that's in the tray) and save it as a PDF with the filename?

Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance

[SteveB]

You can have Filemaker start the scanner by using the Send Message script step. As to whether you can save the scan doc as a PDF depends upon whether the scanning software accepts command line parameters. If it does, you'll need to save the .exe statement and the command line in a field (global text) and use it in the Send Message step.

Steve