We are looking into adding unique barcodes to each asset in the city that we maintain with integration with feature services hosted on ArcGIS online using the Collector App. I have come across this articlehttp://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2014/06/15/do-more-with-collector-using-barcode-scanners/#comment-6359by Jeff Shaner that shows that you can purchase seperate barcode scanners to use with collector but wondering if collector can use the camera that is already on the iPhone or iPads that we use in the field daily?
I know that there are many apps which have the ability to scan barcodes and pay or get additional information on items (Apple Store App) and there are plenty of QR code readers out there that the iOS devices can use. How can I use that technology that would scan a bar code, pull up the feature and location within collector and edit attributes the attributes of this barcode.
Thank you !
If you are using a barcode scanner like the one in the blog you could setup in your map feature search on your layers and have it run against the barcode field. When you open the map up in Collector you can run a search and choose the scanner option on the keyboard and that would grab that string and run it against your configured feature search and locate the feature where you can view it on the map, view its details or edit it. I have not done much research into QR code scanners on iOS but I am looking into a keyboard option for Android and seeing if the same workflow mentioned above will work with that.
Thanks for the reply but I do not want to purchase the scanner I want to use the camera app to do the scanning feature? Is there a way to trick the app to use the camera as a barcode scanner?
Richard CitkowiczGIS AnalystCenter City DistrictPhiladelphia, Pa. 19106(p) 215-440-5575Fax 267-440-5575
Richard Citkowicz
GIS Analyst
Center City District
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
(p) 215-440-5575
Fax 267-440-5575
Besides copy/paste between scanner app and iOS Collector , I don't see a way yet. Maybe after iOS8 which supports custom keyboard is released, it could be feasible.
http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2014/06/15/do-more-with-collector-using-barcode-scanners/
It looks like iOS 8 is available now. Has anyone been able to test this functionality? We really would prefer to use the phone's camera rather than an external device.
Its a workaround but you can get a free barcode scanner, scan the barcode, copy it to the clip board, go back to Collector and paste it into the attribute cell.
There is also free open source software called ZBar that can scan pictures of barcodes that are saved in a folder on a PC.
Yes thanks for the suggestion of the PC software that reads photos of tags, but the workaround that is mentioned really does not make the job any easier. I believe sooner rather than later we will be able to have a custom keyboard that will read barcodes, and have the search box able to turn on the flash and camera to scan a barcode in order to populate it. Also when we edit a text field or an attribute we should have the ability to use the flash and camera to scan the barcode to populate it.
Thanks
Rich: How are you coming along on this project? Have anything yet? Need a tester? Please let me know, we are very interested in seeing how this would work.
Thanks,
Patricia Moehring
City of Lebanon, OH
Hi Patricia,
Yes, there is a barcode scanner that works with the iPad as an external Human Interface Device (HID) bluetooth device. Initially we were having a problem getting the codes to enter into the fields in Collector. What caused this was that the device was not setup to be an HID. The setup is done by scanning a specific qr code from the manufacturer.
I cannot remember the scanner make or model, but it was advertised as working with the iPad
Richard
For Android devices, I am able to use the barcode keyboard scanner by Tec-it. There is a free trial. THe actual app is $3.99. I am able to use it in order to scan a barcode from my android smartphone, and it then automatically translates barcode text into the entry field. This way I am able to scan a barcode on an asset in the field and have the label number populate in the field within the ArcGIS collector app. I don't know if they have an equivalent app for Apple devices.
Sasha: Thank you for the info. The field guys really like this -- saves their fat fingers from hitting the wrong keys!
I am trying to migrate some of our business from Fulcrum to Collector, but the stumbling block is barcode scanning which the fulcrum app has natively and uses the internal camera in the device. Is there going to be proper native internal camera barcode reading in collector any time soon?
Had this request 5 years ago. What I still don't quite understand is, Survey123 can use the built-in camera as barcode scanner, many free mobile Apps can use built-in camera as barcode scanner, why Collector can't.
Vote up:-) https://community.esri.com/ideas/14709
Hi Jack,
FYI, this functionality is on the Dev roadmap for the new, next generation Collector for ArcGIS (Aurora) app.
Hope this helps,
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