Alternative input from external barcode scanner

[boonyar]

Hi,

I have been testing using the in-built powerapps barcode scanning feature. It didnt quite work for me. When I turn on the app, the scan area which is suppose to capture the barcode becomes inactive and just shows a black image. (see attached picture) Anyone has that problem too? I have also attached screenshots of the setting for the barcode media as well as my phone system.

I have tested using various combinations and also follow the one recommended in the guide and forum. So now I am thinking if I were to purchase an external barcode scanner, is there anyway i can get its output into the text box in my powerapps?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Boon Yar

[hpkeong · Accepted solution]

Hi

I have been using and testing BarCode Scanner from day one and it works for me.

My advice:

- Would you just insert the BarCode Scanner without creating any apps just to test?

I did not encounter any problem with Win 10 PC, Android Phone (except the orientation).

For External Carcode scanner, it works just like a normal data entry/input. When it is connected to PC, and put the pointer inside any textinput, the scanned code will be appended inside. It is similar to that of Excel (append into cell).

Hope this helps.

[ExCessna]

When I first tried the barcode scanner it worked well and with a fixed focus laptop camera. Then I got fancy and added slider controls, including one for camera selection. Now, when I first load the app, the camera area is black with the message "Your camera isn't set up, or you're already using it". Neither is true...my camera is set up and I'm not using it and I can see the camera is not on. However, by sliding the camera selection to use another position and then back to the correct camera number, it starts working. I would suggest changing the camera selection to see if you have the wrong camera selected as the default.

 As the previous post indicates, you can use any barcode scanner to fill an input text box. I have used small free phone apps available for Android and iOS to scan barcodes and add the data to an input text box. 

[boonyar]

Hi hpkeong,

Thanks for your reply.

I have tried just insert the barcode element. It still appears the black screen on my Android.

For the External Barcode Scanner, as I want to use it in conjunction with the Android phone (since the built in scanner does not work) I like to connect it into the input when I bring up the app from the Android phone instead of PC. As such, I am thinking I should probably use something like a bluetooth barcode scanner to connect with the phone for the text input upon scanning. Do you happen to know or tested if this has worked with PowerApps on the mobile phone?

Thanks,

Boon Yar 

[boonyar]

Hi hpkeong,

Thanks for your reply.

I have tried just insert the barcode element. It still appears the black screen on my Android.

For the External Barcode Scanner, as I want to use it in conjunction with the Android phone (since the built in scanner does not work) I like to connect it into the input when I bring up the app from the Android phone instead of PC. As such, I am thinking I should probably use something like a bluetooth barcode scanner to connect with the phone for the text input upon scanning. Do you happen to know or tested if this has worked with PowerApps on the mobile phone?

Thanks,

Boon Yar 

[boonyar]

Hi ExCessna,

Thank you for your reply.

Is interesting about what you mentioned on the camera selection..."However, by sliding the camera selection to use another position and then back to the correct camera number, it starts working. I would suggest changing the camera selection to see if you have the wrong camera selected as the default."

May I know where to we change the camera selection in the powerapps settings?

Also when you mentioned that you use small free apps to scan and input, is that an auto population or we need to add some action buttons on powerapps to active the fee app to start scanning.

What I have tried is using Barcode Scanner App (by ZXing) on my android phone and just copy to clipboard then later paste onto the input box of my powerapps app.

Thanks in advance for your further advise and inputs

Regards,

Boon Yar

[ExCessna · Accepted solution]

boonyar,

1. Click the Barcode Scanner control (the area where the camera displays what it sees).

2. A "Barcode" tab should appear in the menu bar at the top.

3. Click "Camera". After the "= fx" you will see a number (0, 1 or 2, for example). This sets the default camera to be used on your device (for example, "0" is often the front-facing camera, "1" is the rear-facing, or vice-versa). If your scanner is not working, try a different number than the default setting.

You can add a slider control on your app screen to control this number, which is what I'm using:

1. Add the slider control.

2. Name the slider control 'Camera Select'.

3. Set the MAX value of the slider control to 1 or 2 and the MIN value to 0.

4. Click the barcode scanner control and set its "Camera"  value to 'Camera Select'.

This will allow you to make on-the-fly choices of which camera to use on your device. But a slider is not necessary if you are only using one device and set its default "camera" value to the correct camera number or are using devices that use the same camera number. Then the default camera value of the barcode scanner control just needs to be set correctly one time.

I've also used ZXing and it works nicely. You should be able to position the cursor in an Input Text box, scan and click outside the box and the result should appear in the box. If not, let me know what happens and I will check further.

[ExCessna]

bonyar,

OK. I had ZXing on my Android and tried it out. I haven't used it in awhile. I see it copies the result of a scan to the clipboard. I haven't been able to make that one work, either.

I have been using a barcode scanner app that uses an IP address to pair instead of Bluetooth and, once it scans, send a tab or linefeed as well. It works great!. I will try to find the name of it and get back to you later. You might search the store for a similar app, although Bluetooth should work to pair the Android phone with your computer, too. 

[ExCessna]

Here is the scanner I've been using: Scanner for Windows PC (Install on your computer, click Windows*.exe. This is a little dangerous downloading an .exe but I have had no problems ). Then install the Android version on your phone using this link: Scanner for Android

To use: Load the scanner in Windows. Click "Info" and it will give you an IP address at the bottom, just before the "OK" sibutton. Load the scanner in your Android phone and enter that same IP address. It should connect fairly quickly. 

[boonyar]

Hi ExCessna,

Thank you for your detailed steps. I followed using this great idea of using slider.

I did it up to Max 5... but all gave me negative results (see screenshots attached). Perhaps it is my android phone problem. This phone comes with camera and default scanner app... not sure that could have caused the conflict.

Let me try out other phones (though I did with iphone and it gives memory error) again.

Thanks for all your helpful steps and hpkeong too so far!

Cheers

Boon Yar

Value 4 and 5 has the same outcome as value 3