Barcode scanner sample

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Shows how to obtain a barcode scanner, claim it for exclusive use, enable it to receive data, and read a barcode.

Note: This sample is part of a large collection of UWP feature samples. You can download this sample as a standalone ZIP file from docs.microsoft.com, or you can download the entire collection as a single ZIP file, but be sure to unzip everything to access shared dependencies. For more info on working with the ZIP file, the samples collection, and GitHub, see Get the UWP samples from GitHub. For more samples, see the Samples portal on the Windows Dev Center.

This sample shows how to:

1. Obtain the barcode scanner

   Uses a DeviceWatcher to enumerate and select the first barcode scanner.

2. Claim the barcode scanner for exclusive use

   Uses ClaimScannerAsync to claim the device.

3. Add event handlers

   Uses DataReceived and ReleaseDeviceRequested events.

   When an application gets a request to release its exclusive claim to the barcode scanner, it must handle the request by retaining the device; otherwise, it will lose its claim. The second scenario in this sample shows the release and retain functionality. The event handler for ReleaseDeviceRequested shows how retain the device.

4. Set active symbologies

   Uses the GetSupportedSymbologiesAsync method to determine which symbologies are supported by the scanner and the SetActiveSymbologiesAsync method to specify which symbologies are active.

5. Set symbology attributes

   Uses the GetSymbologyAttributesAsync method to determine what symbology attributes are supported by the scanner and the SetSymbologyAttributesAsync method to enable or disable them.

6. Control camera-based barcode scanners

   Detects camera-based barcode scanners by checking the VideoDeviceId property and shows an in-app preview of the barcode camera. Shows and hides the video preview window with the ShowVideoPreviewAsync and HideVideoPreview methods. Controls the software trigger with the StartSoftwareTriggerAsync and StopSoftwareTrigger methods.

The app package manifest shows how to specify the device capability name for the Point of Service (POS) devices. All POS apps are required declare DeviceCapability in the app package manifest, either by using "PointofService" as shown in this sample or by using a device specific GUID, such as "C243FFBD-3AFC-45E9-B3D3-2BA18BC7EBC5" for a barcode scanner.

Note The Universal Windows app samples require Visual Studio to build and Windows 10 to execute.

To obtain information about Windows 10 development, go to the Windows Dev Center

To obtain information about Microsoft Visual Studio and the tools for developing Windows apps, go to Visual Studio

Related topics

Reference

Windows.Devices.PointOfService namespace
Supported Point of Service Peripherals
USB HID POS Scanner specification
Windows app samples

Related samples

• BarcodeScanner sample for JavaScript, Visual Basic, and C++/CX (archived)

System requirements

• Windows 10

Build the sample

1. If you download the samples ZIP, be sure to unzip the entire archive, not just the folder with the sample you want to build.
2. Start Microsoft Visual Studio and select File > Open > Project/Solution.
3. Starting in the folder where you unzipped the samples, go to the Samples subfolder, then the subfolder for this specific sample, then the subfolder for your preferred language (C++, C#, or JavaScript). Double-click the Visual Studio Solution (.sln) file.
4. Press Ctrl+Shift+B, or select Build > Build Solution.

Run the sample

The next steps depend on whether you just want to deploy the sample or you want to both deploy and run it.

Deploying the sample

• Select Build > Deploy Solution.

Deploying and running the sample

• To debug the sample and then run it, press F5 or select Debug > Start Debugging. To run the sample without debugging, press Ctrl+F5 or selectDebug > Start Without Debugging.