VRS
3.5 Frequently Asked Questions VRS 4.2 is the most recent release of the VirtualReScan (VRS) product.
VRS 3.5 is the only release of VRS 3.x that is currently supported by Kofax Technical Support.
If you are currently using a registered copy of VRS 3.0, VRS 3.05, or VRS 3.1, you can upgrade your VRS product to VRS 3.5 at no charge. The VRS 3.5 program can be downloaded from VRS 3.5 Downloads page.
If the FAQs below do not provide you with the information you need, please visit our Knowledgebase to search for the information.
1. What new scanners are certified in version 3.5
All version 3.1 scanners certified with a Component Install are certified with VRS 3.5. These are:
Download the latest VRS 3.5 Scanner Certification list in pdf format.
2. What Operating Systems are supported in version 3.5?
VRS 4.0 supports the following operating systems.
3. What are the new features in version 3.5?
The following new features are found in the VRS 3.5 product.
4. What scanners now support endorsing?
VRS 3.5 supports endorsing with the following scanners:
5. What types of applications are supported by VRS version 3.5?
VRS 3.5 supports all ImageControls-, ISIS-, and TWAIN-based applications. VRS is certified for use with wide range of ImageControls-developed applications including Kofax Ascent Capture. VRS 3.5 has also been tested and certified with the following ISIS & TWAIN applications:
If you don’t find your ISIS or TWAIN scan application in this list, it should still work. If you experience any issues with your application, contact us at vrs@kofax.com.
6. I don't have any additional USB ports available on my PC for the VRS license key. What should I do?
A USB hub can be purchased, which will provide additional USB ports.
7. Are the USB hardware keys compatible with the USB 1 and USB 2 standards?
Yes.
8. Is Version 3.5 a hardware or software product?
Version 3.5 is a VRS solution that supports a wide range of
scanners, from workgroup models to production color models. Some
of these scanners incorporate Kofax hardware to assist in the
image processing due to their very fast performance.
The lower end models do not require the assistance and the image
processing can be done on the PC. Regardless of the type of scanner,
VRS 3.5 provides the same look and feel as well as the same great
results.
9. Can I use VRS 3.5 with my existing Fujitsu M4097D/ M4099D VRS scanner?
Yes, but you must purchase an upgrade kit which includes a new VRS board which is installed inside the scanner, a new Adrenaline board for the PC, a new cable, and the VRS installation CD. Contact you local Kofax sales office for specific pricing information.
10. Can I use VRS 3.5 with my Bell & Howell 8000 Plus Series, or Ricoh IS450DE VRS?
No. Version 3.5 is not downward compatible with these scanners. Please continue to use the currently shipping versions of VRS for these scanners.
11. How can I upgrade my version of Software VRS to version 3.5?
VRS 3.5 can be downloaded from the Kofax Web site. Go to
www.kofax.com/products/virtualrescan/.
You can also purchase an upgrade kit to upgrade any version of
Software VRS to VRS 3.5 by ordering part number UP-2000-0000.
12. What additional languages is VRS 3.5 translated into?
13. I used to have to be an Administrator or have Administrator privileges in order to use VRS 3.0, 3.05, and 3.07. Is this still the case in VRS 3.5?
No, you no longer have to be an Administrator or have Administrator privileges in order to use VRS 3.5. However, you DO need to have Administrator privileges in order to install VRS 3.5.
14. VRS 3.5 now includes the ability to create PDF files. How do I take advantage of this capability?
PDF file creation is supported when an ImageControls application is used with VRS 3.5.
Applications using the TWAIN or ISIS interface provided by VRS
do not have this capability.
When scanning, the user can now select PDF as a file type from
the storage filter dialog. In addition, the compression type selected
will be used to compress the image prior to storing it within
the PDF file.
15. Is there any other text that will be added by VRS to the PDF file?
Yes. When endorsing, the endorsed string will be added to the PDF file as hidden text.
16. Does VRS version 3.5 require an Adrenaline SCSI controller?
That depends. For any scanner which uses a hardware VRS solution, an Adrenaline board is required and included in the bundle. For all other categories of VRS, the Adrenaline board is optional, but highly recommended for the best overall VRS experience.
17. I can purchase VRS for Personal Scanners and VRS for Professional Scanners with or without the Adrenaline 450, 650, and 650i board. When should I select one over the other?
By purchasing a Kofax Adrenaline 450, 650, or 650i board, you
are certified to have a quick and easy installation along with
Kofax’s world-class technical support. Kofax has
certified its Adrenaline 450, 650, and 650i boards with VRS scanners
to ensure the best possible solution for a document imaging system.
Kofax recommends using the
Adrenaline 450 with the VRS Personal scanners and the Adrenaline
650 and 650i with the Professional, Low-Volume, Mid-Volume, and
High-Volume scanners.
18. Are there any optional hardware components needed for VRS to work?
Any of the required image processing hardware for the scanner
is already incorporated in the scanner. VRS 3.5 is available with
and without Adrenaline hardware. It is highly
recommended that you use a VRS-certified Adrenaline 450, 650,
or 650i board for your VRS document imaging solution.
19. Does VRS version 3.5 support USB Scanners?
Yes. Please consult the list of certified scanners or available in PDF
20. What non-Kofax SCSI controllers should work with VRS version 3.5 ?
The following SCSI controllers should work with VRS version 3.5:
Please note however, using an Adrenaline board will often improve
scanning throughput because they are designed for scanning, while
Adaptec or other non-Kofax SCSI boards are not. Because other
SCSI boards are intended to be used with CD-ROMs, DVDs, and hard
disk drives, they use small blocks of memory to transfer the data
from the device to the host. When the larger image data generated
by scanners is transferred through non-Kofax SCSI boards it takes
longer and, as a result, the scanner’s throughput is reduced.
Adrenaline boards are designed to handle this larger amount of
data and can, therefore, allow
scanners to run at their rated speed.
21. Can I use VRS 3.5 with an Adrenaline 850S board?
No. Currently we do not support the Adrenaline 850S or 1700S with VRS 3.5.
22. What Advanced Image Processing is included with the Pro + Adrenaline 650i, LV, MV, and HV VRS Solutions?
For those bundles including the Adrenaline 650i board, users
will have access to the Enhanced Barcode Engine (EBC), patch code
detection engine, and a range of Image
Enhancement Filters. For USB and Firewire scanners, USB dongles
are included to enable these features.
23. What is the difference between VRS with and without AIPE?
While VRS provides world-class thresholding, cropping, and deskew, AIPE (or the Adrenaline Image Processing Engine) is a Kofax software product that adds a range of black and white image processing functions to your ImageControls scan application. The most important functions are: the Enhanced Bar Code engine, Patch Code detection, Forms Recognition, On-the-Fly Rotation, Line Removal, and a range of Image Enhancement Filters.
24. I have VRS with AIPE. I have noticed that the Adrenaline Image Processing Engine also has crop and deskew functions. Should I use crop and deskew in VRS or in the Adrenaline Image Processing Engine?
Always use crop and deskew in VRS and disable crop and deskew
in the Adrenaline Image Processing Engine. VRS performs crop and
deskew on the grayscale image; the
Adrenaline Image Processing Engine performs these functions on
the binary black and white image. VRS’ grayscale image processing
is far superior and produces sharper, more accurate, and more
compact images than any binary image processing.
25. I already bought VRS. Now I want to add the Adrenaline Image Processing Engine to be able to read bar codes and patch codes. Is that possible?
Yes, but how depends on which version of VRS you purchased. [If you require more information on the individual products, part numbers, or pricing, feel free to contact your local Regional Sales Manager or Kofax Inside Sales.]
26. What scanners are supported in version 3.5?
VRS 3.5 now supports over 60 certified scanners including support for TWAIN scanners (See the list for more details).
27. There are so many scanners now certified with version 3.5, can Kofax help me make the right choice?
VRS improves the image quality of all certified scanners dramatically
and makes it possible to scan a wider range of documents without
touching any settings. The final
choice of which VRS-certified scanner you choose is related to
many factors, such as speed of the scanner, need for simplex or
duplex, dimensions of the scanner, flatbed or ADF, price range,
etc. We recommend that you use our
Scanner Configurator
to help you make the most appropriate selection for VRS. In addition,
you can check out the for links to scanner manufacturers’
Web sites to help you make your choice.
28. I just installed VRS and now I want to use it with another scanner. How do I switch scanners?
Every time you want to add another VRS scanner to your system,
just run the VRS installation program again and select the scanner
you want to add. The installer
automatically defines the ideal VRS default values for the selected
scanner. Once you have installed VRS for each of the scanners
you intend to use, you can use the Restore Default Values utility
(RDV) to easily switch between scanners. The RDV installation
is copied to the hard disk when VRS is installed. Simply refer
to the VRS Users Guide for information on locating the installation
files for RDV and installing it.
29. Will Kofax add more scanner models to the list of certified scanners?
Yes. However, be aware that VRS can only function with scanners
that output color or gray images. If a scanner can only output
black and white images, it will never work with
VRS. We are continuously working on expanding the number of VRS-certified
scanners by monitoring this segment of the market. If you have
any recommendations or requests, please send them to vrs@kofax.com.
30. I’m using a non-certified scanner with VRS, and I don’t get the image quality that I expect from VRS. Can I call for support?
Kofax puts a lot of effort in testing its products before bringing them on the market. By combining VRS with a certified scanner, you know that we have done extensive testing with that scanner and with all supported Windows operating systems. If a scanner didn’t make the list of certified scanners, there is a very good technical reason. We recommend using VRS only with VRS-certified scanners. The Kofax support center is equipped with certified scanner equipment alone and is not able to provide support when a non-certified scanner is combined with VRS.
31. Where can I find more information on how to use the VRS interactive sliders as well as other features and settings to adjust my images?
The new and improved VRS User’s Manual provides instructions and descriptions for all the powerful VRS features and functions. In addition, the VRS Quick Reference Guide provides a general overview of all the available features and functions. Kofax also offers VRS training sessions via the internet from time to time. These VRS Webinars provide in-depth explanations on how to use and get the most out of VRS. You can find more information on these Webinars at www.kofax.com/events/webinar/index.asp#vrs
32. How do I know whether my ISIS or TWAIN application will work with VRS? Is there a list of certified applications?
Yes. See question 5 above.
33. I am using a TWAIN application and switch from one VRS scanner to another for demonstration purposes. The TWAIN source in my TWAIN selection box is always called “Kofax Software VRS – TWAIN”. How does it know which scanner to work with?
In the Windows control panel, you’ll find a Kofax utility called KSM. Through that utility you can set a scanner source as the default scanner source. The Kofax Software VRS TWAIN source always works with the default scanner source. However, the source type should always be a VRS type, otherwise errors may occur. Please refer to the VRS User’s Manual for more details.
34. I am using an ISIS application and switch from one VRS scanner to another for demonstration purposes. The ISIS source in my ISIS selection box is always called “Kofax VRS Scanner”. How does it know which scanner to work with?
In the Windows control panel, you’ll find a Kofax utility called KSM. Through that utility you can set a scanner source as the default scanner source. The Kofax VRS ISIS driver always works with the default scanner source. However, the source type should always be a VRS type, otherwise errors may occur. Please refer to the VRS User’s Manual for more details.
35. My application does not work with VRS. What do I do?
Please contact Kofax Technical Support by sending an email to support@kofax.com. Be sure to include the following information your email.
Kofax is continuing to increase the number of applications in its certification list. Any and all recommendations are welcomed.
36. Does my scanning application need to be updated to work with VRS?
No. VRS was specifically designed so that no ISV (Independent Software Vendor) would be forced to make changes to their scanning applications. After installation, VRS appears as another scanner in the scanner selection window of your application.
37. How do I get VRS to work with my scanning application?
Setting up VRS is easy. With your scanning program already installed
on your PC, install VRS. The VRS installer will ask you to select
the scanner you want to use. Once the VRS software has been installed,
launch your scanning software as usual.
When selecting the scanner you would like to use from within an
ImageControls scan application, you will see a scanner source
entitled, “[Your Scanner Model] with VRS”. As soon
as you select this scanning source, VRS is activated. With ISIS
or TWAIN scan applications, just select the“Kofax VRS Scanner”
or “Kofax Software VRS – TWAIN” scan source
in your application’s scanner selection window.
38. How can I get programmatic control of VRS in my application?
Currently, this capability is not available.
39. How fast will VRS run my scanner? Will VRS slow down my scanner?
To do its advanced image processing, VRS switches the scanner to grayscale mode. VRS then analyzes and processes the grayscale image before it is converted to a black and white image. Some scanners slow down when used in grayscale mode. Because the PC performs all image processing, the speed of the PC’s processor and the amount of memory also influence the throughput. We tried out all certified VRS scanners and checked the maximum speed. See the VRS 3.5 Certification List for more details.
40. Why doesn’t VRS work with B/W only scanners?
Because VRS requires the grayscale image to perform its industry-leading image processing, VRS can only support scanners producing grayscale or color.
41. Can I install VRS 3.5 with other versions of VRS?
It depends. You can install 3.5 over previous version of Software VRS 3.05 and 3.07. If you are upgrading from older versions of VRS (2.0, 2.1, or 3.0) you should uninstall the current version before installing VRS 3.5. Refer to the VRS Installation Guide for information on uninstalling VRS or contact Kofax Technical Support (at support@kofax.com).
If you would like to upgrade please go to www.kofax.com/products/virtualrescan/
to
download VRS 3.5 or you can contact your reseller. An upgrade
kit can be purchased by ordering part number UP-2000-0000. Unfortunately,
VRS 3.5 cannot be installed on the same PC that has earlier VRS
1.0 versions installed.
42. Is there a functional difference between VRS for Personal Scanners and the VRS for Professional Scanners Version?
The less expensive VRS for Personal Scanners is limited to basic
flatbed scanners such as the Canoscan 650U or HP 6350. The VRS
for Professional Scanners works with any
certified VRS scanners including the personal HP scanners. The
functionality of VRS for Personal Scanners and VRS for Professional
Scanners is the same.
43. Does my scanner need to produce a black background for VRS’ deskew to work?
No. VRS does not require a black background in order to deskew an image. VRS is capable of deskewing an image based on content.
44. Does my scanner need to produce a black background for VRS’ autocrop and black border removal to work?
Yes. When you use a scanner that produces a white border around the images, VRS is not able to automatically crop the image to its original dimensions. The autocrop and black border removal options are automatically grayed out when VRS detects a scanner producing images with white borders. In the list of certified scanners, there are a number of scanners producing black borders around the images. See VRS 3.5 Scanner Certification List for more details.
45. Does VRS support grayscale and color scanning?
Yes. VRS does support grayscale and color scanning. The throughput speed depends on the speed of the scanner you use.
46. Does VRS do any image processing when scanning in grayscale or color?
Yes. VRS can perform color and grayscale deskew and crop. You
can also use VRS’ unique interactive interface to adjust
color and grayscale brightness and contrast. Just as
in Black and White mode, VRS updates the color and grayscale image
in real time, while adjusting the brightness and contrast sliders.
However, any filters or sliders in the noise tab are inactive
when scanning in color or grayscale. These filters are reserved
for black and white scanning only.
47. Is there a demo version of VRS?
Yes, you can run a demo version of VRS with the personal and professional class scanners. When you use VRS without a hardware key, it will give a warning and switch to demo mode. In demo mode, VRS stamps a Kofax logo on a random number of images in a random place of the image. Feel free to install VRS without a hardware key on as many PCs you desire. For the LV, MV, and HV scanners you will need the required Adrenaline board to run version 3.5.
48. When I install VRS, a program called VRS Scan Demo is also installed. Can I use this application for production scanning as well?
No. The VRS Demo program is, as the name indicates, software to demonstrate the capabilities of VRS (both Hardware VRS and VRS). This program is limited, and you can only scan 100 images in 1 document. You cannot produce more than 1 document, and when you exceed the limit of 100 images, the software will prompt you to delete images to be able to continue scanning. For details on how the VRS demo software works, please refer to the VRS Scan Demo Quick Reference bundled with every VRS. When you are interested in a production version of the software, we’d like to know. Please write to vrs@kofax.com.
49. Where do I direct VRS product comments and/or suggestions?
If you have comments on the VRS product, wish to ask questions about future releases of VRS, share ideas, or ask about a good reference site, please send your input to vrs@kofax.com.
The Kofax VirtualReScan Technical Support group is skilled in all aspects of PC hardware compatibility, including Kofax controllers and drivers, SCSI adapters, and ISIS and TWAIN drivers.
Use the following options to contact the VRS Technical Support group.
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