# Barcode scanner This page explains how a wireless barcode scanner works with OpticCount, how to pair it with a phone, and when it beats the phone camera. ::: tip TL;DR The scanner pairs over Bluetooth and behaves like a **keyboard**: every barcode is "typed" into the field that has the cursor. Before you scan, make sure the cursor is in **Item Identifier**. On iPhone, double-tap the round button on the back of the scanner to bring the on-screen keyboard back. ::: ## How the scanner "talks" to the app A barcode scanner is an input device. Every scanned barcode is written into the active text field, exactly as if you had typed the digits. That is why it works in any field that accepts an item identifier: **Item Identifier** and **Location** on the Count page, item search on management pages, and identifier fields in dialogs. Quick check: open the Notes app on the phone and scan a barcode. If the digits appear, the scanner is connected. ## Pairing the scanner with a phone ### Turning on and checking the battery The indicator lights on the back of the scanner: | Lights | Battery | |---|---| | 4 green | full | | 3 green | about 75% | | 2 green | about 50% | | 1 green or blinking | charge it | - Press and hold the main button until a blue light starts blinking. ### Pairing over Bluetooth 1. Turn on Bluetooth on the phone. 2. Open the Bluetooth settings and look for `OpticCount-scanner-X` in the device list. X is the number printed on the sticker on the back of the scanner. 3. Select the scanner and wait for the connection to complete. ### Testing in the app 1. Tap **Start Scan** on the main menu. 2. Tap the **Item Identifier** field until a blinking cursor appears. 3. Scan a barcode. The barcode appears in the field and the item is added to the list. ### Showing the keyboard on iPhone When a scanner is connected to an iPhone, iOS treats it as a keyboard and hides the on-screen keyboard. To type by hand: - Double-tap the round button on the back of the scanner quickly. The keyboard appears; after typing, continue scanning as usual. ::: info The app's own virtual keyboard The quantity window has a virtual keyboard of its own, which works even when the system keyboard is hidden. On iPhone with a scanner, leave **Hide Virtual Keyboard When Editing Quantity** off. ::: ## Hiding the keyboard while scanning On a device with a built-in or wireless scanner, the phone keyboard that opens every time you tap a field hides half the screen. The **Show Option to Hide Keyboard During Scanning** setting under [Count Settings](/en/guide/settings#count-settings) solves this. 1. On the Count page tap the cog → **Count Settings**. 2. Turn on **Show Option to Hide Keyboard During Scanning**. A floating **Show Keyboard** / **Hide Keyboard** button appears at the bottom of the screen, and the keyboard starts hidden. 3. Scan one item after another. Every barcode registers, and the field stays active and ready for the next scan. What happens while the keyboard is hidden: - The phone keyboard does not open, even when you tap the **Item Identifier** or **Location** field. - Tapping **Show Keyboard** or **Hide Keyboard** keeps the cursor in the field you were working in, item or location. - After the **Item Not Found in Catalog** dialog or an error message, the cursor returns to the field. The dialog buttons do not "steal" the cursor, and a scan that arrives while a dialog is open is not typed into the field. - The button appears in count and borrower loan and return modes. It does not appear in picking, document creation or receiving. ### Scanning while "Item Not Found in Catalog" is open In every mode, the **Item Not Found in Catalog** dialog opens with no button pre-selected, so a scan cannot press one by accident. A scan while the dialog is open plays the failure sound, the dialog stays open and the scanned barcode is not counted. Close the dialog with **Got it**, **Close** or **Add to Catalog**, then keep scanning. ## Battery and charging - Charge the night before a count. A full charge takes about two hours and lasts roughly 8 hours of continuous work. - Bring the charging cable, and a power bank for a long count. - Use breaks for a short top-up when a high scan volume is expected. ## Troubleshooting - **The scanner is not in the Bluetooth list** → make sure it is on; turn Bluetooth off and on; if it still does not show, hold the button for 10 seconds until a blue light blinks at the bottom of the scanner. - **The scanner is connected but sends nothing** → tap the **Item Identifier** field so the cursor is in it; if still nothing, disconnect and reconnect Bluetooth. - **The phone keyboard pops up and covers the screen while you scan with a scanner** → turn on **Show Option to Hide Keyboard During Scanning** and work with the keyboard hidden. See [Hiding the keyboard while scanning](#hiding-the-keyboard-while-scanning). - **The failure sound plays and the item is not counted** → the **Item Not Found in Catalog** dialog is probably open. Close it and scan again. - **The barcode arrives with wrong characters** → switch the phone keyboard to English before scanning (check in Notes or WhatsApp). - **The barcode shows in the field but the item is not found** → check the [barcode settings](/en/guide/settings#barcode-transformation-rules): shortened barcodes, transformation rules, space removal. ## Scanner or phone camera | Situation | What fits | |---|---| | Hundreds or thousands of scans in a row | scanner – ergonomic grip, no camera focusing | | Weak light, glossy surfaces, worn labels | scanner | | Old phones or kosher phones without a decent camera | scanner | | Rotating team, no extra equipment | camera – works on any phone without pairing | | Frequent switching between scanning, entering quantities and taking photos | camera | For most businesses the phone camera is enough. Turn on **Scan with Smartphone Camera** in [Settings](/en/guide/settings) and see the [scanning tips](/en/guide/counter#_4-camera-and-scan-target). ## Tips - Start at 15–30 cm and adjust to the code density. - Turn on the scanner's beep or vibration so you know every scan registered. - Clean the scanner window – dust hurts recognition. - Before a scanning run, make sure the cursor is in the right field, otherwise the barcode is "typed" somewhere else. ## Related pages - [Count page](/en/guide/counter) – scan into the Item Identifier field - [Personalization Settings](/en/guide/settings) – hide the keyboard and set barcode processing - [Inventory count](/en/modules/inventory-count) – run a full count with the scanner - [FAQ](/en/faq) – common scanning problems