scanner input VS keyboard input

[Former Member]

Dear all,

We have a webdynpro application that receives it's input from a usb barcode scanner. The screens are working fine, but now there's an extra requirement, that for some input fields, it's mandatory that the input is coming from the scanner, and not from manual input with the keyboard.

Is it possible?

The barcode scanner behaves as an input device, without triggering events or so, so at this moment, we don't really know if the input is coming from a scanned barcode or from manual input with the keyboard.

Kind regards,

J.

PS: the scenario is where the web dynpro application runs on a desktop or laptop, so the alternative for handheld with barcodereader UIElement is not an option to solve this.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Joren,

As for your question if its possible? I don't think so.

It kind of defeats the purpose of implementing a portal. I believe on an architectural perspective, there is a degree of separation of a browser-based application and the client's OS.

In that regard, I'm not aware of the barcode reader hardware you're using if it has an API that you can somehow create a local file temporarily that you can upload to your WebDynpro Java application and utilizing an external java library to decode/recognize the read from your hardware. I guess that's the level of integration with the Portal you can achieve in this scenario.

Goodluck!

Regards,

Jan

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thx all for the help on this.

The scenario is a webdynpro application that gets input from a barcode scanner (plugged in via USB, behaving as "an" input.

If we try the solution path with javascript, what are the options there.... What actually want to know in the webdynpro, is wether or not the input is coming from the scanner device or manual input with the keyboard. Manual input with the keyboard shouldnt be possible, because we want to be sure they scanned in a barcode.

So there are two options:

1. We can check where the input is coming from, and give an error to the user that manual input is not allowed in the fields where input from scanner device is expected. (custim event trigerred via JSP or so when the data is read with the barcode scanner)

2. We disable the keyboard in some way... The down-side on this option is that it should be possible to enter manual input in some fields (not barcode related)

Kind regards,

J.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Joren,

If I was administrator at your customer I would not want any browser to be able option number 2. E.g. Your customer shouldn't want this either.

I doubt there is any standard way for the browser to tell you where the input is coming from. He probably doesn't know himself. Somekind of browser plugin could be an option; but that seems a bit complex.

My advice would be to tell your project manager that these things are not an option when using a browser as a client.

J