Integrating DataWedge into your Cordova application

<ul>
<li>Would you prefer a dedicated Cordova plugin for Javascript?</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Yes</strong>
<ul>
<li>Would you like to access EMDK profile functionality through Cordova?</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>​Yes</strong>

Darryn, thank you for your reply!&nbsp; I am following the readme, but I still don't see data on the UI.&nbsp; A couple of questions, though.&nbsp; One obvious, one not so obvious...

Where it says:
Associate the profile with <strong>com.zebra.zebracordovademo </strong>with * Activities (Note: You need to have previously run the application on the device to complete this step).
Should that be:
<strong>com.zebra.datawedgecordova</strong> (which is the only com.zebra* in the list so I'm assuming the latter is correct)

Simarlarly where it says:
Configure the intent output plugin to send broadcast intents to <strong>com.zebra.cordovademo.ACTION</strong> (Note: the action changed with the update made in March 2018).
Should that be:
<strong>com.zebra.datawedgecordova.ACTION</strong> (not so obvious, but I don't see a com.zebra.cordovademo in the code).

I have done both, but still no data in the UI.&nbsp; I'm messing around with a couple other plug-ins that I've found around.&nbsp; I'll post any successes I may have with those.

Thank you!

Although it seems logical, I was doing several tests in my application with the bar reader, make the profile settings and the steps mentioned above, until I got to the point of obtaining data through the reader, I realized that by selecting the input ( give a touch) then I used the reader and automatically filled the selected input, for my part I am all "Ok" thank you very much Darryn Campbell

I am trying this on a TC70. I am following but it is not working for me.&nbsp; It has DataWedge 6.2.24.&nbsp; I've added the profile, but the app keep telling me to set up a profile on 6.3 and prior.&nbsp; I'm trying to get scanning working from a reactjs build into Cordova and figured this would be a good start.&nbsp; I'm kind of a newbie to Android / ReactJS / Cordova...a triple whammy, so any suggestions are welcome!&nbsp;

Hi Aaron, If the device only has DataWedge 6.2 then the application has no way of knowing which version of DataWedge is present because the GetVersion API was only introduced in DW 6.3 (I guess I could have done something to make that more intuitive, such as removing the warning when a scan is received).&nbsp; If you are following the steps in the <a href="https://github.com/darryncampbell/DataWedgeCordova/blob/master/README.m…; file to configure the profile then you should see scanned data on your UI when you scan a barcode - if you see scanned data then the app is working, if not then there is probably some setup issue with DataWedge and please ensure you are following all the steps in the ReadMe.

I will fix that the application package and action over the next few days (the screenshots are accurate). You should be able to import the following profile which is known to work in the mean time: <a href="https://github.com/darryncampbell/DataWedgeCordova/releases/download/v0…;

Hello Mr. Campbell,

I've been able to use the approach you describe above to successfully receive scan intents from the wedge and also trigger a soft scan from my Ionic-Cordova app. However, I am not able to receive an intents from the core DataWedge API. Some of the one-way calls appear to work (I was able to send an 'ENABLE_DATAWEDGE' command to turn on the DW after I manually turned it off) but I'm receiving no intents from the API. This is what I'm trying to run:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; //Communication from DataWedge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; window.plugins.intentShim.registerBroadcastReceiver(&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; {&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; filterActions: [&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'com.symbol.datawedge.api.RESULT_ACTION',&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'com.zebrascan.ACTION'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ],&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; filterCategories: [&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'com.android.intent.category.DEFAULT'&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; },&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; function(intent) {&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; alert(JSON.stringify(intent));
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; //Scan result&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if (intent.extras['com.symbol.datawedge.data_string'] != null) {&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $rootScope.$broadcast('zebraScan', {code: intent.extras['com.symbol.datawedge.data_string']});&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; //API version&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; else if(intent.extras['com.symbol.datawedge.api.RESULT_GET_VERSION_INFO'] != null) {&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $rootScope.$broadcast('dwVersion', intent.extras['com.symbol.datawedge.api.RESULT_GET_VERSION_INFO']);&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; );
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; //Get DW version&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; window.plugins.intentShim.sendBroadcast(&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; {&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; action: 'com.symbol.datawedge.api.ACTION',&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; extras: { 'com.symbol.datawedge.api.GET_VERSION_INFO': '' }&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; },&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; function() { console.log('Getting Version Info!'); },&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; function() { alert ('Failed to get version info!'); }&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; );

This works fine if I'm receiving the scan intents (from a real button press or soft trigger), but I can't get anything else from the API. My end goal is to programmatically load a profile into the DataWedge based on the DataWedge version number (in case profiles become incompatible over DataWedge versions). The profile will simply enable outputs via intent by broadcast with a simple intent name. Aside from this command, I was also trying the IMPORT_PROFILE intent, but I didn't get anything back from that either, even though the file was where it needed to be and I could import it manually from the location specified in the intent.

This is DataWedge version 6.8.50 running on an MC3300. I'm running Cordova 8.1.2 and it is an Ionic v1 app with v4.12.0 of the CLI installed.

Hi Ian,

There are two types of returns and I'm not sure which one(s) you are referring to, it may be both...
- Returns from calls like GET_VERSION_INFO where you expect to receive version info back.&nbsp; This is actually used in the demo app to populate the "DataWedge version" field so you should see that field populated without having to make any changes to the demo app.
- Return values from calls that support returns (like IMPORT_CONFIG) as detailed at <a href="http://techdocs.zebra.com/datawedge/7-2/guide/api/resultinfo/">Intent Result Codes - Zebra Technologies TechDocs</a> .&nbsp; In this case you need to specify SEND_RESULT as part of the intent extras which is missing from your code sample, above.

For your use case, rather than trying to import profiles it may be easier to create the profile from within the app (as the sample does)?&nbsp; Just a thought.

Thanks for the pointers. After reading some of the API documentation more carefully I noticed that the category filter for core API stuff is
android.intent.category.DEFAULT

So it lacks the com. prefix. After adding this to the filterCategories array I can now receive responses from the API:
window.plugins.intentShim.registerBroadcastReceiver(
&nbsp; {
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; filterActions: [
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'com.symbol.datawedge.api.RESULT_ACTION',
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'com.zebrascan.ACTION'
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ],
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; filterCategories: [
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'com.android.intent.category.DEFAULT',
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'android.intent.category.DEFAULT'
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ]
&nbsp; },
&nbsp; function(intent) {
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; console.log(JSON.stringify(intent));
&nbsp; }
);

I was also missing the SEND_RESULT and COMMAND_IDENTIFIER extras, which are both required for responses. So sending an intent with optional output correctly looks like this:
window.plugins.intentShim.sendBroadcast(
&nbsp; { action: 'com.symbol.datawedge.api.ACTION',&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; extras: { 'com.symbol.datawedge.api.IMPORT_CONFIG': { 'FOLDER_PATH': 'path'},
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'SEND_RESULT': 'true',
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 'COMMAND_IDENTIFIER': 'CfgImport' }
&nbsp; },
&nbsp; function() { console.log('Importing Config!'); },
&nbsp; function() { alert ('Failed to import DataWedge Configuration!'); }
);

For our application, it might be more desirable to load profiles from files instead of specifying them with the API, because this would make it possible to handle API profile/config format changes without

Hey Darryn,
Can you help me?

It is possible to create a PWA and access the datawedge of the TC 51 / TC 56 using the side buttons to scan without the need to install an APK.
Just only via browser in Chrome of android?
I am trying to access via android chrome and it does not detect the datawedge

Tks

Hi Rafael, you would need to use DataWedge keystroke output and capture the input in a form within your PWA.&nbsp; You would not be able to use Android Intents.

Unfortunately, I tried importing the profile and now I am getting "Unfortunately, DataWedge has stopped." and I can't get it to go away.&nbsp; I'm not sure how to fix that aside from restoring the phone.&nbsp; Any suggestions? Otherwise, I'll go that route.

I've been trying to solve this problem for 2 days but I still can not, I have version 6.2.23 of DataWedge on a Zebra TC 70x device, I do not achieve the expected result, I'm doing everything possible

I meant to finish that last sentence by saying "without code changes", but I'm thinking now SET_CONFIG is the way to go, because we can just use JSON files on our dev server without dealing with the details of the Android file system.

Hi Darryn,

We're new to Zebra at our company and I have one general question related to Cordova which I think may be more closely related to your feedback questions.

Is it possible to have a Cordova app call an API to use the built-in device scanner (e.g. on a TC56) but without having to use the DataWedge? Kind of like how Enterprise Browser can call the Barcode API directly without DataWedge?
Assume that may need a dedicated JavaScript Plugin for Cordova? If so, I second a vote for you guys to create a Cordova JS plug-in (for in-built hardware scanning without DataWedge in this case).

A bit of background, I'm coming from a SAP Cloud Fiori Client Developer perspective as we will be rolling out Fiori apps to our TC65's globally and want to use the native laser scanning as tightly and efficiently as possible. We would build custom SAP Fiori Client (Cordova) APK's and like to include a Cordova plug-in to get access to the scanner hardware within our apps. It would be really nice to have an officially supported Cordova plug-in for this (you know how it is in large Enterprise, we want supported stuff due to this probably running on hundreds and potentially thousands of TC65's within our company). We don't really want to use Enterprise Browser as Android Fiori Client (Cordova) is much nicer under the SAP Fiori apps scenario and includes some SAP specific optimisations.

Thanks for a great blog.

Brendan...

Hi Brendan,

It would be possible to use the built-in device scanner without DataWedge but it does need a dedicated Cordova Plugin to achieve that.&nbsp; Nearly 4 years ago I did do a proof of concept for such a plugin but this was abandoned for several reasons including issues running on M+ - it was released under MIT so you are welcome to use any of the code: <a href="https://github.com/darryncampbell/EnterpriseBarcodePoC">GitHub - darryncampbell/EnterpriseBarcodePoC: Enterprise Browser Proof of Concept</a> .&nbsp; It was however <strong>never</strong> supported.

Thank you for the feedback that you would like an officially supported Cordova plug-in &amp; we'll take it on board however I'll be honest that the company has made a strategic investment in improving Enterprise Browser to be the platform of choice for SAP Fiori apps.&nbsp; I strongly suspect the team would rather improve Enterprise Browser to make it more appealing to SAP Fiori users and I'll pass your feedback along to that team.

Probably not the answer(s) you were looking for but I hope that helps.

Darryn.

Hi Darryn,

Thanks for the detailed reply. Yes, not the answer I was hoping for but I do understand Zebra's reasons and focus on Enterprise Browser. Being supported is of course of high importance to us. I am already trialing Enterprise Browser with our Fiori apps and will discuss this further internally within our organization to decide our path forward.

Regards,

Brendan