Wireless Barcode Scanner User Manual

Introduction

The Wireless Barcode Scanner app turns your Android smartphone or tablet into a professional barcode scanner with excellent communication functions. With this solution, TEC-IT offers a cost effective and flexible alternative to hardware scanners. This app scans linear and 2D bar codes and provides protocols like Bluetooth, TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP, or a WebSocket.

Download & Installation

The Wireless Barcode Scanner app can be tested as free demo version. This version replaces the scanned barcode data in irregular intervals with a demo-text. Please upgrade to the full version (via in-app purchase) to remove this limitation. Download the app using the links below:

• Wireless Barcode Scanner for Android (Google Play)
• For users with volume license requirements, TEC-IT offers a bulk-license version of the app

Initial Steps

After the installation, you have to perform the following steps:

• Initial Configuration
  The app asks you if you want to transfer data to a remote target system or if you want to store data locally, when starting it for the first time. This configuration can be changed anytime under Settings > Data link > Data transfer.
• Connection Type
  If you want to transfer data, please select the required connection type (Bluetooth, TCP, WebSocket, etc.). Connection types can be changed anytime under Settings > Data link > Connection type.
• Grant App Permissions
  Next, the app asks you to grant the required app permissions (Camera, Location, Storage). App permissions can be changed anytime under Settings > About > App permissions.

User Interface

Menu

The main menu ( ⋮ ) shows the following entries:

• Forms
  Select a predefined input form or use the built-in form editor to create or share a custom data entry form.
• History
  Shows a list with the recently captured data.
• Details
  Shows details of the last status messages.
• License Details
  Purchase and manage licenses.
• Settings
  Adjust a number of options for supported barcode types, character sets, camera scanner preferences, history behavior, etc.

Toolbar

Rotation Lock
The App can be used in portrait or landscape orientation. Lock the desired orientation by tapping on this button.

Connection State
Shows the current connection state in the respective color (see next point for details).

Forms
Click this button to select the desired data entry form for data collection.

Manual Input
Tap this icon to enter barcode data manually.

Connection States

A green icon indicates that connection to your target is established, sent data will be transmitted to the connected target.

A grey icon indicates no data transfer option is configured, data is stored locally.

A red icon indicates a connection error, data can't be transmitted and will be stored locally. Please check internet connectivity and your data link configuration.

Scanning

Scan View
Wireless Barcode Scanner uses the integrated camera of the device to scan barcodes. Open the scan view by tapping the scan button and position the barcode within the rectangle so that the entire barcode can be detected by the viewfinder.

Scan Data
The successfully captured barcode is immediately displayed above the scan button. The data is saved in the local storage and automatically transmitted over the specified data link (more on this in the Local Storage).

Supported Barcodes
Wireless Barcode Scanner supports the most common 1D/linear and 2D barcodes like UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, 2 of 5 interleaved, Codabar, GS1 DataBar (RSS-14), RSS Expanded, QR Code, Data Matrix.

Batch Scanning
Enable the batch scanning mode, if you want to scan multiple barcodes sequentially in series. This feature can be activated in the Settings.

Responses

Wireless Barcode Scanner can display data related server responses, so-called Status Messages. Supported message formats are plain text and HTML. Please note that it is also possible to have different response messages with different vibration feedback/sounds (e.g., to indicate valid/invalid/double scans). You can enable or disable responses or adjust response timeouts in the settings. For details, please contact us.

Forms

Input forms allow you to capture and send combinations of different input types. In this menu you can choose between different predefined input forms or you can create your own individual forms. For specific requirements, we also provide custom forms on demand.

The form editor currently supports the following input types:

• Barcode
• Checkbox
• Date
• Date & Time
• Image (from camera or from file chooser)
• List Box
• Location
• Number (e.g., quantity)
• Static Text
• Stopwatch
• Text
• Time

Please note: Data captured with the input form Barcode is transmitted as plain text. Data from all other input forms is forwarded as a JSON array.

History

Wireless Barcode Scanner saves the captured data into the History. The history contains the list of the most recently scanned data including information like transmission status, scan time, send time and the received status message.

A long tap on an item opens the detail view, showing the scan/send time and the received status message. Selected items can be deleted or marked as transmitted/untransmitted. If data transfer is enabled, the app will try to send untransmitted items automatically in the background.

Open the drop-down menu () and choose History. The following actions can be performed:

Delete selected entries in the local storage

Export selected items as CSV file

Mark entries as transmitted or untransmitted / view details

Settings

Wireless Barcode Scanner offers a number of settings. Open the menu by tapping on the -icon and select Settings. The following adjustments can be made:

License State

View current license information or purchase a valid license.

General

Scanner Configuration

Buttons
Configure the scan button(s). You can use the default camera scanner or a built-in scan-engine (if applicable).

Camera Scanner Configuration

• 1D / Linear Barcodes
  Enable or disable linear barcode types.
• 2D Barcodes
  Enable or disable 2D barcodes.
• Barcode Character Set
  Available character sets: Automatic (Default), ASCII, Latin, UTF-8, UTF-16, Korean (949), Russian (20866), Japanese (Shift-JIS), Traditional Chinese (950) and Tranditional Chinese (Big5).
• Remove Symbology Identifier
  Enable or disable the symbology identifier at the beginning of the barcode data.
• Flashlight
  Enable or disable the flashlight for scanning. (Please note that the flash function is not compatible with all devices.)
• Autofocus Mode
  Enable or disable the autofocus mode for scanning. Autofocus enables the integrated camera to focus on the scanned motive automatically.
• Batch Scanning
  Activating the batch mode enables to scan multiple bar codes sequentially in series. To stop the running scan process, tap the Back-button of the smartphone.
• Pause Between Scans
  Define the break between the individual scans in batch mode in milliseconds.
  

Configuration for Built-In Scan-Engine
Settings for additional built-in scanners like Unitech PA700. For other devices, please contact us!

Prefix and Suffix

• Prefix
  You can define a prefix that is prepended to the scanned data.
• Suffix
  You can define a suffix that is appended to the scanned data.

Offline/Online

• Local Storage
  Open and edit the local storage.
• Size
  Define the maximum number of storage entries.
• Offline Scans
  Define the maximum number of offline scans.
• Send Errors
  Set the number of error messages after which the app should go offline.
• Resend Interval
  Resend unsent data in offline mode after given interval.
• Waiting Time
  Define the waiting time for a status message.

Status Message

• Status Messages
  Enable or disable the display of status messages received from the target system.
• HTML Format
  Specify the format of the status messages (plain text / HTML).
• Actuality
  Specify the timeout for showing response messages.
• Minimum Display Time
  Define the minimum display time for info messages.
• Maximum DisplayTime
  Define the maximum display time for info messages.
• Character Set
  Define the character set of the info messages.

Data Link

• Data Transfer
  Define if the scanned data should be transferred or stored locally.
• Connection Types
  - Bluetooth-Client
  - Bluetooth-Server
  - HTTP-Client
  - TCP-Client
  - TCP-Server
  - UDP-Client
  - WebSocket -Client
  - WebSocket-Server
  
• Configuration
  Enter the paired device, host name or IP address (for client connections).
• Ask for Preferences
  If checked, the app will ask you for the settings after each start. If unchecked, the previous settings are applied.

Behavior

• Manual Barcode Input
  Define if manual barcode input is allowed or not.
• Feedback on Success
  Choose sound and/or vibration or deactivate both options.
• Feedback on Error
  Choose sound and/or vibration or deactivate both options.
• Feedback on Data Link Status Change
  Choose sound and/or vibration or deactivate both options.
• Sleep Mode
  Enable or disable sleep mode.

Lock Configuration

Enable this function and enter a password to protect your configuration. This is a very valuable feature, if several employees use the app with the same settings (e.g. for company-wide data collection). Once enabled, the following areas can be locked individually:

• Lock Settings
  If locked, a password is needed to open the Settings.
• Lock Form Editor
  If locked, a password is needed to create/edit/delete forms.
• Lock Form Selection
  If locked, a password is needed to change the selected form.

Import/Export

• Import
  Import preferences from a configuration file.
• Export
  Export preferences to a file.

About

License State

View current license information or purchase a valid license.

About

• App Permissions
  Set your app permissions.
• Brief Manual
  The manual of Wireless Barcode Scanner will be shown in a HTML-file.
• TEC-IT Blog
  Visit the blog of TEC-IT.
• YouTube Videos
  On our YouTube channel you will find a number of helpful videos about our software products.
• Privacy Policy
  Current privacy policy and terms.
• Device ID
  The device ID of the smartphone or tablet.
• About
  Displays the current app version and the usage rights.

Privacy & Security

TEC-IT respects your privacy. Your data is safe.

Wireless Barcodescanner does not log, store or forward typed text, passwords or other personal data. Please contact us if you have any concerns regarding phishing, key logging or spying.