A Firefox extension for scan & upload document?

Question

Do you know such an extension that provides easy document scanning in Firefox? We are building a web site and we want visitors to be able to upload scanned documents to it. The normal procedure for that is:

1. Scan the document via Gimp, Photoshop or some other scanning software.
2. Save the file.
3. Navigate to the upload web page.
4. Find some sort of HTML input type file on that page.
5. Browse and find the saved file.
6. Submit the form.

I want an extension or plugin that automatize that process and do everything with 1 click - scan the document with some default settings (for example "grayscale, 300 dpi") creates temporary file, fills the page input field and deletes the temporary file after upload.

I tried lots of googling but the term scan in combination with everything web-related gives zillions of virus, malware and port scanners...

Answer 1

I don't think this is easily possible...especially not through a Firefox-AddIn. Scanning of an image isn't a trivial task (at least not in Windows) and can get tricky (f.e. is it a TWAIN or WIA device?). You need access to the device and necessary libraries, but Firefox-AddIns are encapsulated within Firefox itself, written in JavaScript which does not provide native library support in any way.

Step 3 upward should be easily possible to write an AddIn for.

Edit (after the comment of Idigas): Writing a simple application for this might be a better solution, since it does not necessary need the browser to be opened and can access everything it needs for scanning. But without knowledge of your Web-Application it's a hard thing to judge, what's the best way.

Answer 2

It's not possible as far as I know. But you can try to find library for scanners. Then write win app which users that library and send scanned file automatically to your site. Pros: you don't attach user to use one browser or maybe OS (app is written in Java). Cons: you have to know how to program or find some one who can do it for you.