looking to scan documents directly to be uploaded to a webpage

I was hoping to do this from a flash plugin, kind of how flash accesses the microphone or webcam b开发者_运维技巧ut it doesn't seem possible. Is this going to be possible using Java, or ActiveX, or some other strategy that I haven't looked at yet? The idea is to do it without a client install, or at least something lightweight and browser and platform independent, (and possibly the moon on a stick as welll ;-))

Your only real hope is ActiveX, both Flash and Java applets run in a security sand box that prevents access to resources like scanners. All you need for ActiveX controls is for it to be signed by a trusted CA and you get full access to the local machine so in theory you can do what ever you want. ActiveX is of course not browser or platform independent, so it might not be a suitable choice.

You may get some milage with Java webstart or .NET's click once deployment, both are like an easy local install that'll keep it's self up to date, there a good half way house, but aren't hosted in the browser.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, good luck