topic Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes? in ArcGIS Collector Questions

Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

Center_City_DistrictPhiladelph — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 16:00:27 GMT

Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

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 !

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

RussRoberts — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 16:55:42 GMT

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.

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

Center_City_DistrictPhiladelph — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:15:28 GMT

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 Citkowicz
GIS Analyst
Center City District
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
(p) 215-440-5575
Fax 267-440-5575

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

MiaogengZhang — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:53:13 GMT

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.

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

DanAllen — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:55:02 GMT

http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2014/06/15/do-more-with-collector-using-barcode-scanners/

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

BrandonKeinath1 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:05:48 GMT

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.

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

GaryMorris1 — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:16:46 GMT

Has anyone release a custom keyboard that can scan barcodes? I haven't seen one yet.

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

MiaogengZhang — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:20:40 GMT

I know some one is trying but met issues: ios8 - Custom Keyboard IOS 8/XCode 6 Objective C - Stack Overflow

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

RichardHughes2 — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 19:05:04 GMT

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.

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

Center_City_DistrictPhiladelph — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 19:13:03 GMT

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

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

GaryMorris1 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:33:40 GMT

It turns out that Apple will not allow access to the camera from a custom keyboard. So that means no bar code reader in custom keyboards.

Bar code reading would have to be added to the Collector in order to support this. This is already suggested in ideas.esri.com. You can vote it or comment on it here: ArcGIS Idea - ArcGIS Collector Using Ipad camera for scanning bar codes

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

PatriciaMoehring — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 20:45:07 GMT

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

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

RichardHughes — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 21:30:43 GMT

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

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

PatriciaMoehring — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:01:44 GMT

Ok thanks for the info!

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

PatriciaMoehring — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 12:27:35 GMT

Do you think it could have been an BarcodeGuy’s UnionNet SP2100?

Patricia

GIS Specialist

O: 513.228.3242

F: 513.933.7208

M: 513.505.5227

E: pmoehring@lebanonohio.gov <mailto:pmoehring@lebanonohio.gov>

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

BrandonKeinath1 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 13:11:52 GMT

Just so I'm clear you're still talking about something external to the Ipad and not the Ipad's built in camera? I'd still be interested in the model you're using an a little explanation as to the workflow in the field for using it as a HID.

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

PatriciaMoehring — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 13:19:48 GMT

Brandon: Richard would have to speak on the workflow since he actually has it working. However, today I researched an external scanner “BarcodeGuy’s UnionNet SP2100” which appears to do everything except push the button. It will also come with the SDK! So, if you are a programmer or know one then the sky is the limit!

Right now you can’t necessarily do both on the iPad because you can normally only have one app open at a time. However, I believe someone was taking about trying to redesign the keyboard to have a scanner button.

It sure seems like someone somewhere has to have this together! We can’t be inventing a new wheel here! Could we?

Anyway, if you find more; please share!

Thanks,

Patricia

GIS Specialist

O: 513.228.3242

F: 513.933.7208

M: 513.505.5227

E: pmoehring@lebanonohio.gov <mailto:pmoehring@lebanonohio.gov>

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

BrandonKeinath1 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 13:38:30 GMT

Hi Patricia,

It would be nice if it was all together but the scanner you found seems like a good option. Have you checked out the options listed in the original posting Do more with Collector using barcode scanners | ArcGIS Blog ? I haven't done a ton of research on the external scanners but I'd be interested in your pros/cons. I like the option of having the SDK.

Best,

Brandon

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

RichardHughes — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 13:48:37 GMT

The we use is the Socket Mobile 7XIRx.

Re: Collector - Can you use camera to scan barcodes?

PatriciaMoehring — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 15:15:00 GMT

Thanks Richard! Are you guys looking to try and do something with the iPad keyboard or was that someone else?

Patricia

GIS Specialist

O: 513.228.3242

F: 513.933.7208

M: 513.505.5227

E: pmoehring@lebanonohio.gov <mailto:pmoehring@lebanonohio.gov>