# How to use the barcode scanner? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask for Help\ **Created:** [June 21, 2023, 10:46am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-use-the-barcode-scanner/63007 "2023-06-21T10:46:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bradley\_Gibson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/bradley_gibson/32/58297_2.png) [@Bradley\_Gibson](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Bradley_Gibson)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 10:46am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-use-the-barcode-scanner/63007/1 "2023-06-21T10:46:49Z")
Has anyone actually got the barcode scanner to actually work? Ive tried everything at this point. Ive tried putting it on form screens, edit screens and its not writing. Ive also tried using a detail screen to capture the barcode but it seems that it only shows the value as long as you hold the barcode up to the camera. My Use Case: I am building a inventory system where inventory comes in boxes. The barcode is on the outside of those boxes where I do relations and lookups to get the Product and the quantity in the box. That stock is then added to the current inventory when scanned in. **(I want to be able to click on add)** ![SCR-20230621-lnuh](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/3/2/32272f437fc0c2f831b48d4352da6eb7885521aa.png) **(And just scan the barcode into the add form like it shows on the documentation)** ![SCR-20230621-lnyy](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/a/9/a9b85cb506b29e2f18d5b721c69629abbdadc53a.jpeg) Can someone please assist me with this. It seems the documentation is out dated and no other treads on the community has answers to this. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Gabriele](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/joe_gabriele/32/57595_2.png) [@Joe\_Gabriele](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Joe_Gabriele)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-use-the-barcode-scanner/63007/2 "2023-06-21T13:59:07Z")
I have a scan barcode button, but not in a form, which writes the scanned code into a text column, which I can then run relations on. Because form data isnt submitted until after hitting the submit button, I dont believe you can run a relation on it prior. Youll need to use a custom form vs native form ---
**Author:** ![ThinhDinh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/thinhdinh/32/49_2.png) [@ThinhDinh](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ThinhDinh)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-use-the-barcode-scanner/63007/3 "2023-06-21T23:37:05Z")
> [@How do I create a custom form?](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-do-i-create-a-custom-form/25014): > > I’m just dropping this here so I have something to refer people to when they ask. This is a simple concept app (copyable), that demonstrates the following techniques: Building custom forms for adding and editing list items (as an alternative to the native forms provided by Glide) Preventing duplicate new entries using [User Specific Columns](https://docs.glideapps.com/all/reference/data-editor/user-specific-columns) and [Relations](https://docs.glideapps.com/all/reference/data-editor/computed-columns/relation-column) Enforcing mandatory input items The use of visibility conditions and user specific booleans to control user flow There is nothing particula… Here’s how to create a custom form. ---
**Author:** ![Bradley\_Gibson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/bradley_gibson/32/58297_2.png) [@Bradley\_Gibson](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Bradley_Gibson)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 8:51am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-use-the-barcode-scanner/63007/4 "2023-06-22T08:51:41Z")
I’ve done it on multiple types of pages and it doesn’t seem very thought out. I found the same solution yesterday after a lot of struggle. I also write it to one column and then I do add rows to another with that scanned item. This way of doing it seems really tedious. One way of explaining why I think so is that some times the barcode scanner doesn’t read anything and it inputs a blank row on the “add row table”. To fix this I added a wait for condition on the action to check if the column was actually filled with data. But now if you add multiple scanned codes you would have to add a set column value to remove that value that is already entered in the field to let the wait for condition do a proper check. I feel like the way the barcode scanner worked on classic apps is far superior to how it is working now. Maybe I am missing something, but can It really be that hard to use? And Another problem with the barcode scanner. On my iPhone13 when I open the scanner. The camera jumps around trying to find the barcode instead of letting me move the phone so the barcode is in view. I feel like this was implemented to make it easier to use but it is actually making the barcode harder to use. ---
**Author:** ![ThinhDinh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/thinhdinh/32/49_2.png) [@ThinhDinh](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ThinhDinh)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-use-the-barcode-scanner/63007/5 "2023-06-22T23:54:29Z")
> [@new zebra Barcode Scanner | New Feature](https://community.glideapps.com/t/barcode-scanner-new-feature/27536/35): > > Manan, for use cases that are heavily reliant on barcode scanning we do not recommend Glide’s standard scanner. We’ve partnered with Dynamsoft and can easily integrate their scanner into an existing Glide app. You are able to purchase plans directly through them on their website, [Dynamsoft Barcode Reader SDK online store](https://www.dynamsoft.com/store/dynamsoft-barcode-reader/). Their scanner is much faster and has way more features, including QR code scanning. Before you purchase a plan please PM me so I can ensure you are on the appropriate plan. Ad… Maybe you can try reaching out to Dynamsoft to see if it works better for the new Glide Apps. ---
**Author:** ![Bradley\_Gibson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/bradley_gibson/32/58297_2.png) [@Bradley\_Gibson](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Bradley_Gibson)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 7:43am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-use-the-barcode-scanner/63007/6 "2023-06-23T07:43:09Z")
Thanks for this. I have contacted him. But I dont know why they are pushing people to 3rd party services instead of just fixing the barcode scanner. 1. Fix the jumping around of the camera 2. Stop it from entering empty values 3. It should be an action where the scanned value can be used To check criteria. Is the scanned barcode on the system etc. So I guess a conditions tab on the actual scanner action. Apart from that I didn’t find any problems with speed. The barcode scanner at this point feels like an after thought.