Barcode scanner (USB) on tablet

[bangkok]

I was looking for a solution to plug, via USB port, a simple barcode scanner on an Android tablet.

I looked on google. and it seems, it could be difficult.

first problem, tablets with "mini USB" plug.

Regular barcode scanner like this one
http://www.amazon.com/Contact-Barcode-S ... B000GGTTC8

... have regular USB plug.

Anyway.

I bought a tablet Arnova 10 G2, because it has a regular USB port.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXK5KtLRts0

And I just plug the barcode scanner, i launched a LiveCode app, with a text field, and i'm able to scan a barcode, the text is going without hassle into the text field.

The 10 model might be too big. I'm going to try the Arnova 7.

I want to create an inventory application... with one of those tablet, a regular barcode scanner, a Wifi connexion, a livecode app that will scan a product barcode, then send the code to a Livecode Server on the local network, where a script will query the stock database, and send back the result to the android tablet.

Big advantage : the cost is low, compared to a dedicated wireless barcode scanner solutions. Inconvenient : the screen is rather large. impossible to put it into a pocket for instance.

Now, i have a small Archos too :
http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archo ... ws&lang=en

looks like a telephone. The size would be perfect for an inventory control system. But it has a "mini USB" port.

Do you you think i can find like an adaptator "mini USB port" - > "regular USB port" ?

[Mark]

Hi,

Sure, any computer store has those adapters. It is hardly an adapter. It is just a short cable with two different plugs. I have one for my Android tablet.

Best,

Mark

[bangkok]

Indeed...

I've got confused with micro, mini USB. I'm going to try an micro USB adaptator. It would be perfect for the small Archos 32.

[jacque]

You could also use the back camera and Monte's barcode external. Then you wouldn't need a physical scanner.

[qberty1337]

Have you ever heard of USB OTG? USB On-The-Go is basically an adapter that converts mini-usb to USB. For Android devices, it's pretty popular this year with almost every new android device supporting USB OTG. It allows you to interface the Android OS to whatever peripheral.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EFl8UEAMcw

[Gfw]

I have a Nexus 7 running 4.2.1 - my objective is to use an external ?USB bar code scanner.

I can get the bar code scanner to work, but then there is no keyboard available. Unplug the scanner and the keyboard returns. Anyway to get both functional at the same time?.

[hoburne]

Hi all,

Sorry for thread hijacking! I am also trying to use an android tablet with a USB barcode scanner. The tablet http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/tabl ... v-v97.html is just a generic mid-spec unit with micro-usb. it came with an adapter to USB so all seems good. I plugged my scanner into the tablet, opened a browser to google and scanned a barcode. The code came up and worked fine.

When I launch my app the openStack forces a focus a text field, which shows the on-screen keyboard - i then scan the barcode and nothing happens. The app stays active, doesnt crash but doesnt seem to get any input from the scanner. Being that the scanner puts the barcode number into google I am assuming I am doing something wrong with my app - maybe the options I choose when building the stand-alone?

I am using android version 4.0.4 - perhaps the first step is to update to the latest os?
Any advice for an Android newb would be appreciated!

thanks.
(again sorry for the hijack! )

[snm]

Do you focus on some field?

Marek

[Gfw]

Don't know if is true, but apparently the way that the mini USB works, any plugin that operates like a keyboard is assumed to be a keyboard and therefore the key board doesn't function.

USB scanners will apparently work, but they seem to be rather costly. I have kind of given up on the USB scanner and unfortunately my Nexus 7 only has a front camera.

If you have a two camera (front and back) tablet, try the Tec-IT Barcodescanner Keyboard (Demo and paid versions) - I have used it on my HTC Evo 3D phone and it seems to work great. I have no relationship with Tec-It except that they responded to a question that I sent them regarding a USB keyboard on my Nexus.

[hoburne]

Thanks...

@ Marek - yeah the stack is simply a proof of concept so I have a button the looks like this:

Code: Select all

on mouseUp
  focus on fld "fldInput"
end mouseUp

'fldInput' being a text field that is waiting for a barcode number to be entered.

@ Gfw - thanks for the pointer. So the tablet assumes the barcode scanner is a replacement for the on-screen keyboard? Being that the on-screen kb still pops up does this mean my app hasn't found the usb scanner?

[Gfw]

So the tablet assumes the barcode scanner is a replacement for the on-screen keyboard? Being that the on-screen kb still pops up does this mean my app hasn't found the usb scanner?

That could be, or maybe all is working for you. The issue that I had was I could get the bar code scanner to work, but then there is no keyboard available. If I unplugged the scanner the keyboard returns and would work.

[geekhunter]

Not sure if the firmware on this scanner also works with Android, but they appear to have addressed the issue with iOS by means of "double-clicking" the power button the handheld wireless scanner. A double-click on the scanner will toggle the input on the app between the scanner and the screen-based keyboard. Could be a good alternative solution if you want a truly standalone scanner option (assuming it works the same way on Android).

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VhtttoC6 ... htttoC6ROs

If you have an update for how you solved your problems with the scanner vs. keyboard issue that is more elegant, I'd love to hear about it. I'm starting to work on a project for my wife's classroom that requires the use of a handheld scanner and being able to use an android device for the actual application would be a big plus (serious reduction in cost!).