Wedge scanner not working on iOS

[rodavrow]

I purchased the iOS app as I need to be able to use it with my wedge scanner, however while it will enter it's output into text fields it crucially does not work in barcode reading mode.
I checked all the settings and it is definitely sending a new line at the end - \n -(Checked by viewing the hex output and it was as expected).

[SchrodingersGat]

Please provide some more information here, as "does not work" could mean many different things.

• In "wedge" mode does the app send any information to the server?
• If so, what data is being sent?
• You can turn on barcode logging (in the server) to store scanned data
• Are you seeing any error messages in the app?

[rodavrow]

Description

When using the external barcode scanner mode (keyboard wedge) with a handheld barcode scanner connected to an iPhone, the app does not recognize or process scanned barcodes. The scanner correctly sends barcode data as text followed by a newline character (\n), but the app does not respond to the input.

Environment

• Platform: iOS (iPhone)
• Scanner Type: Handheld barcode scanner (keyboard wedge mode)
• Scanner Output: Text + newline (\n)
• Barcode Type: InvenTree generated barcodes
• App Setting: External Scanner selected in Barcode Settings

Steps to Reproduce

1. Connect a handheld barcode scanner to an iPhone (via Bluetooth or Lightning/USB-C)
2. Open the InvenTree app
3. Go to Settings → Barcode Settings
4. Set "Barcode Scan Controller" to "External Scanner"
5. Navigate to any barcode scanning feature in the app
6. Scan an InvenTree generated barcode with the handheld scanner

Expected Behavior

The app should capture the barcode data sent by the scanner and process it, displaying the matched item or appropriate response.

Actual Behavior

Nothing happens. The barcode is not recognized or processed. The scanner is confirmed to be working correctly (sending text + newline), but the app does not capture the keyboard input.

Root Cause

The issue is in lib/barcode/wedge_controller.dart at the KeyboardListener widget (lines ~109-126). On iOS, Flutter's KeyboardListener requires its child widget to be focusable in order to receive keyboard events.

The current implementation has a CircularProgressIndicator wrapped in a SizedBox as the direct child of the KeyboardListener. Neither of these widgets are focusable, which means the KeyboardListener never receives keyboard events on iOS, causing it to silently ignore all input from the handheld scanner.

This is an iOS-specific behavior - Android's implementation of KeyboardListener is more lenient and doesn't strictly require a focusable child, which is why this issue likely wasn't caught during development if testing was primarily done on Android.

Additional Context

• The camera-based barcode scanning works correctly on iOS
• The scanner can be confirmed working in other apps (e.g., Notes app shows the scanned data)
• This appears to be specific to iOS; the issue may not exist on Android

[SchrodingersGat]

@rodavrow thanks for the additional info. And, it sounds like you have a workable solution? Can you please submit a PR to address this?

[rodavrow]

I did run it through CoPilot and it made a suggestion, however after spending all morning setting up an old Macbook to try and create a dev environment I had no luck getting the app to execute on my iPhone at all.

But hopefully this is pointing in the right direction, it certainly seems to make sense. If I get time I will try again, but please don't rely on that as it it unlikely I will be successful. If someone else could investigate this and finalise the fix then I would be most appreciative.

[Idea-Junkie]

@rodavrow what barcode were you trying to scan? I am having a similar issue with my android mobile scanner with a built in "external scanner". It seems to be doing it for my digi-key barcodes only however. Where I don't get a response from the server at all

This may be a different issue entirely, or related to #542 . In which case we think this is unrelated I will promptly open a different issue.

[SchrodingersGat]

@Idea-Junkie digikey barcodes have hidden character separators which make them not work very well with wedge scanners under android. Not sure about iOS but I have had similar issues with a wedge scanner. The camera scanner works OK

[SchrodingersGat]

@rodavrow did you get your dev environment setup?

[PDXDave23]

Anything ever come of this bug? I am having the same issue. A wedge scanner does not work with iOS app. Wedge scanner works perfectly with our Android tablets.