Systems and methods for simplified scanning using multi-function devices

A scanner is connected to a host computer. A scanner control routine is installed onto the host computer and used to generate and forward control signals to the scanner or multi-function device. Using the scanner control system, manager or routine, one or more scanned image destinations are defined and one or more scanning parameters are defined that are particularly appropriate for each such scanned image destination. Each scanned image destination is associated with one of a number of pre-named scanner destinations that can be selected using the scanner. These pre-named destinations usually have generic or otherwise meaningless names that are not associated with any particular destination or location. The user uses the control panel of the scanner or multi-function device to select one of the pre-named destinations. The scanner or multi-function device forwards this selected destination to the host computer. The scanner control system, manager or routine on the host computer converts the selected destination to the actual destination or location previously associated with that selected destination. The scanner control system, manager or routine then causes the host computer to "pull" a scanned image from the scanner or multi-function device based on the scanner parameters previously defined for the actual destination or location corresponding to the selected pre-named destination.