The Barcode tool allows a mobile user to scan a barcode directly into a mobile form by using the mobile device's camera. doForms has also integrated the scan APIs of both Zebra and Honeywell. If doForms is loaded on a device from one of these vendors, the standard scan API is automatically replaced. For devices with physical scan buttons, you can use standard text fields versus the scan tool. That is because these devices have a feature called keyboard interrupt which will place the scan result directly into your text field as if you typed it. doForms has added many features into the text tool to support scanning. Because of this, doForms is able to support almost all devices that support keyboard interrupt.
The Barcode tool provides the ability to parse the returned barcode into multiple data fields and assign them as "destination" fields to other fields in the form.
To scan a barcode from within a form, the user taps the "Scan" button in the field, and the mobile device's camera or 2d imager activates and allows the user to scan a barcode. Upon scanning, the barcodes alphanumeric sequence is transferred to the barcode field.
Supported barcode formats include:
- UPC-A
- UPC-E
- EAN-8
- EAN-13
- Code 39
- Code 93
- Code 128
- QR Code
- ITF
- Codabar
- RSS-14 (all variants)
- Data Matrix
- PDF 417 alpha quality
- Aztec alpha quality
Properties
Default value: The value of the field first presented to the user when they see the question. Unless the question is marked as “Read Only”, the mobile user will be able to change the value. This is very useful where the answer to a question is likely to repeat itself over and over. Setting a default value minimizes the work for mobile users. Note that repeating values can also be set on the mobile app using the “Remember Answer” option.
Button type: Choose between a button with the text Scan or a barcode icon.
Type: Specifies the type of value used in the barcode, either String or Numeric.
Format
Allow edit: This setting allows the user to re-scan a barcode if necessary. If this setting is unchecked once the user scans the first barcode the field will become read only and they will not be able to re-scan. Note that this option can not be changed after the form has been published. This ensures that the same Allow edit option was used for all the information collected.
Allow manual entry: Sometimes a barcode is damaged or unreadable. This option allows the user to scan or manually type in the barcode.
Display barcode image: Place a barcode image in the form based on the value entered in the barcode field. Requires an internet connection.
- Hide scan value: Remove the barcode text and only display the barcode image.
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Barcode type: Select your barcode type.
There are several options for setting the barcode text that will be used to generate the image:
- Click the scan button in the field to turn on your camera's red line scanner or 2D imager (Zebra & Honeywell) and scan a barcode.
- Manually enter a value. Check the Allow manual entry option to allow this.
- Use a device that supports scanning and keyboard interrupt to scan a value into the field. Check the Allow manual entry option to allow this.
- Enter a default value when you build the form.
- Pull the value from another field using the If, Then Else action. For example, point to a Calculation field that combines multiple values to generate a multiple field QR code.
Length: If desired, select the Length checkbox and enter values in the Minimum and Maximum fields that appear when select this setting. These values act to validate the character length of the barcode input in terms of a minimum and a maximum number of permitted characters (note that spaces are counted).
- Cannot exceed maximum: Used with manual entry. Stop accepting characters when the maximum length has been reached.
- Ignore scan if exceed limit: Used with scanner. Don't place the scanned value into the field if it does not meet the length criteria. For example, if the length is set to Maximum 6 characters, and the user scans a tag with 8 characters, an error message will display and nothing will be entered.
Appearance
Rules & Permissions
Actions & Logic
Auto Start Scan: This option automatically activates the 2d imager on a Honeywell or Zebra device as soon as the barcode question gets the focus.
Parse by delimiter: Parse a barcode into destination fields based on delimiter characters contained in the barcode.
- Delimiter fields: Set the Start delimiter, Separation delimiter and End delimiter to use.
- Destination fields: As the system breaks up the barcode into separate items, each item is placed into a destination field in the order in which they are parsed.
Example: With delimiters { | } the barcode {John|Smith|(555)123-1234} would be parsed into three fields: "John", "Smith", "(555)123-1234".
Example: With delimiters { | } the barcode 123{Item|200}456 would be parsed into two fields: "Item", "200".
Parse by number of characters: Parse a barcode into destination fields by counting the number of characters in the barcode.
Example: With entries in the # column of 3, 2, 3 the barcode SKUAB123 would be parsed into three fields: "SKU", "AB", "123".
Example: With entries in the # column of 3, 2, 3 the barcode SKU00123456 would be parsed into three fields: "SKU", "00", "123".
Action button only: This setting provides for a single action button to start the scan. The fields will automatically be populated into the destination fields and the button will disappear once selected.
Jump to next question: Jump to the next available field after a scan is successful. When inside of a table or grid the users will have the ability to jump to the next column in the table/grid or the next row after a scan is successful.
Barcode requires an advanced license or above.