Handle barcode scan in Java

Question

I want to have my application react to barcodes being scanned to trigger button presses. For example the user could scan the ((PRINT)) barcode to activate the print button.<

Answer 1

I had a problem just like yours, and created a project (currently proof of concept with some problems) to make barcode handling in swing easier.

It is based in the fact that the barcode readers emulate a keyboard but differently to humans they "type" with a constant timing. It will basically allow you to listen to "barcode read" events.

The project location: https://github.com/hablutzel1/swingbarcodelistener

Demo usage:

public class SimpleTest extends JFrame {
    public SimpleTest() throws HeadlessException {

        // start of listening for barcode events
        Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().addAWTEventListener(new BarcodeAwareAWTEventListener(new BarcodeCapturedListener() {
            @Override
            public void barcodeCaptured(String barcode) {
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(SimpleTest.this, "barcode captured: " + barcode);
            }
        }), AWTEvent.KEY_EVENT_MASK);
        // end of listening for barcode events


        getContentPane().setLayout(new FlowLayout());
        getContentPane().add(new JLabel("Capture barcode demo"));
        getContentPane().add(new JTextField(25));
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SimpleTest simpleTest = new SimpleTest();
        simpleTest.setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        simpleTest.setVisible(true);
        simpleTest.pack();
    }
}

It has some problems now but as a starting point I think it is ok, if you have time to improve it it would be great.