>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>I am developing a program that will be working on Surface tablet. These tablets have cameras. Do you know if it is possible to use the camera to scan barcode into a VFP application form textbox?
>>>
>>>With a quick Google search I didn't find any obvious answer. It looks like there may be 2 issues to overcome:
>>>
>>>1. Is the camera good enough - focus close enough/high enough resolution to read a bar code e.g. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_rt-windows_store/surface-barcode-reader/5961cb6b-7919-4a6a-8150-fd5a492b8591
>>>
>>>2. It might require some sort of driver to make the camera appear as an auxiliary keyboard or Human Interface Device (HID in MS parlance). There are some apps such as https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/scan-qr-code-and-barcode-reader/9wzdncrdr9tp , but they work by processing the captured image and then effectively calling ShellExecute() to bring up a browser if a URL is scanned, NotePad for text etc. Instead, you need straight keyboard emulation. I haven't found anything that does that. Even if you do, you'd first need to ensure #1 above, that the camera is physically capable of resolving a bar code.
>>>
>>>If it's for heavy-duty use such as retail POS then you'd be better off attaching a dedicated USB bar code scanner. Surface Pros have only 1 USB port but you can attach a powered USB3 hub to give more. You can also get USB "mini docks" which can include things like wired Ethernet, HDMI for an external monitor as well as more USB port(s).
>>
>>First, thank you very much for your message. Interesting that the customer found the same URL you found (in item 2.). But I agree with you, and was thinking, that have a dedicated "gun" type scanner may work better. Probably not as easy to carry as using the camera. But turning the Surface up and down and sideways to point the camera at the barcode label may not so easy either. I will look for a USB-type dedicated scanner. I wish I had a Surface to play around but can't afford to spend several hundred just to play. Again, than you.
>
>For a dedicated scanner for a Surface Pro, a Bluetooth unit might be a more convenient choice. There are inexpensive units available such as https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Wireless-Supports-Computers/dp/B00MO9VRD4/ .
>
>If there might be any issues with low battery or electromagnetic interference then a wired USB unit would be better.

I didn't even think of Bluetooth as a way to "attach" the scanner. Thank you. I may ask the customer to let me buy one Surface so that I can play with it and then ship to them (they are on the West Coast). This way I can test and see how it works.