The Anima desktop application includes a built-in scanner that lets you scan paper documents directly into Anima for processing. Instead of scanning to a file and uploading manually, documents go straight from your scanner into Anima - ready for coding, review, and filing into the patient record.
The scanner is available to all practices using the Anima desktop application. It was rolled out automatically as part of a recent update, so there's nothing extra to install or enable.
Where to find the scanner
Open the Anima desktop application and navigate to Anima Documents. You'll see the Scan document button in the toolbar on the far right hand side, next to Upload Documents.
What you'll need
The Anima desktop application (latest version)
A document scanner connected to your PC via USB
Scanner drivers installed on the PC (most scanners install these automatically - see troubleshooting below if your scanner isn't detected)
How to scan a document
Click the Scan document button in Anima Documents.
Choose your scan settings:
Quality: 200 DPI is recommended for most documents. Increase to 300 DPI only if you're seeing quality issues with small text.
Colour mode: Black & White or Greyscale for most documents. Use Colour only if documents contain colour-critical content (e.g. photos, colour-coded charts).
Source: (What your scanner type is)
Flatbed glass - scans a single page placed on the glass plate. Typically found on printer-scanners.
Document feeder (ADF) - scans a stack of pages fed through automatically.
Duplex - same as document feeder, but scans both sides of each page.
If using document feeder or duplex, choose whether to scan all pages (scans until there are no more pages) or a set number of pages.
Click Scan and wait for the pages to come through.
Review and send for processing
After scanning, you'll see a preview of your scanned pages. Before sending, you can:
Rearrange pages by dragging them into the correct order
Rotate pages that came through at the wrong angle
Remove pages you don't need
Split the document if the stack contains multiple separate letters - each split will be uploaded as a separate document
Add more pages if you forgot a page or need to add extra pages to the batch (see below)
Set a base name for the document
When you're happy, click Send for processing. The documents will be queued for processing automatically - there's no need to manually review them.
Adding more pages to a scan
If you've scanned a batch and realise you missed some pages, don't back out of the scan screen. Instead, click the Add more pages button to scan additional pages into the same batch.
This is useful when your scanner has a page limit (for example, it scans 100 pages at a time but you have 200). Simply load the remaining pages and click Add more pages to continue.
You can also change settings between scans - for example, switching from black & white to colour for a specific page, or switching from document feeder to flatbed to add a single loose page.
If the additional pages are a completely separate letter or document, it's usually better to scan them as a new batch so they arrive in Anima as a separate document.
Recommended scan settings
These settings give you the best balance of quality and speed for most documents:
Setting | Recommended value | Notes |
Resolution (DPI) | 200 DPI | Good balance of readability and file size. Increase to 300 DPI only if small text is hard to read. |
Colour mode | Black & White (or Greyscale) | Reduces file size and speeds up uploads. Use Colour only for colour-critical content. |
Troubleshooting
My scanner doesn't appear in Anima
When a scanner doesn't show up in Anima, it's almost always a driver issue. Anima works with scanners that support TWAIN drivers.
To find the right driver, search online for your scanner's brand and model number followed by "TWAIN driver" - for example, "Fujitsu fi-7160 TWAIN driver" - and follow the manufacturer's download instructions. You may need administrator access on the PC to install drivers, and a restart may be required.
If the driver is installed and the scanner still isn't appearing:
Check the USB cable is securely connected at both ends
Try a different USB port on the PC
Open Device Manager (search for it in the Windows Start menu) and check whether the scanner appears under Imaging devices. If it shows a yellow warning icon, the driver may need reinstalling.
Restart the PC and try again
If your scanner still isn't detected, reach out to the Anima team at [email protected] with your scanner make and model, and we'll help find the right drivers for you.
Scanner driver help: Ricoh scanners
Ricoh drivers install in a slightly unusual way. The downloaded file is an .exe that extracts itself into a folder - it does not install the driver directly.
Double-click the downloaded
.exefile. It will extract its contents into a folder called Disk1.Open the Disk1 folder.
Run
Setup.exefrom inside the Disk1 folder.Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
Restart the PC.
Connect the scanner via USB (if not already connected) and confirm that Windows recognises the device.
I can see the scanner in Anima, but nothing happens when I scan
Make sure there is paper loaded in the scanner's feeder tray. Most document scanners use an automatic document feeder (ADF), not a flatbed - the paper needs to be placed in the top tray, not on the glass.
If paper is loaded and the scanner still doesn't respond, try disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable, then restarting the Anima desktop application.
Scanning is slow or documents are taking a long time to upload
Reduce the DPI. Higher resolutions (300+) produce larger files that take longer to scan and upload.
Switch to Black & White or Greyscale. Colour scans produce much larger files.
Check your internet connection speed. If you're on a shared network, scanning during quieter periods can help.
The scanner didn't scan all my pages
Some scanners have a limit on how many pages they'll scan in one go. If your scanner stops before reaching the end of your stack, don't back out — click Add more pages to continue scanning the remaining pages into the same batch.
Scanned documents look blurry or text is hard to read
Increase the DPI (but note this will increase file sizes and scan times)
Clean the scanner glass and rollers. Dust and smudges can cause blurry output. Check your scanner's manual for cleaning instructions.
Check the original document. If the original is poor quality (e.g. a faded fax), the scan quality will be limited.
The scanner is pulling through multiple pages at once (double-feeds)
Fan the paper before placing it in the feeder to separate the pages
Check the paper condition. Crumpled, damp, or sticky pages are more likely to double-feed.
Adjust the feeder guides so they're snug against the edges of the paper (not too tight, not too loose)
If your scanner has a double-feed detection setting, make sure it's enabled
Need help?
If you're stuck or your scanner model isn't covered above, reach out to the Anima team with your scanner make and model and we'll get you sorted:
Email: [email protected]
In-app chat: Use the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the Anima desktop application