monicaga
Level 1 (4 points)
iPad

Q: using a bluetooth scanner on an ipad mini, without it stopping the on screen keyboard

I am using an ipad mini for work, and require a barcode scanner to scan products. the one I currently have is Bluetooth. when it is connected to the ipad, it stops the on screen keyboard from working. I need to be able to scan and type using the on screen keyboard. currently having to turn off the scanner repeatedly to be able to type. does anyone have a solution to this issue?

iPad Mini, iOS 9.2

Posted on Aug 18, 2016 4:37 PM

Close
monicaga

Q: using a bluetooth scanner on an ipad mini, without it stopping the on screen keyboard

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 18, 2016 4:41 PM in response to monicaga
    Level 10 (122,076 points)
    Apple Music
    Aug 18, 2016 4:41 PM in response to monicaga

    If you mean scanning a bar code, try restarting your iPad ...

     

    How to restart

    1. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red slider appears.
    2. Drag the slider to turn your device completely off.
    3. After the device turns off, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button again until you see the Apple logo.

     

    If that doesn't help, if you installed a third party app to scan codes, delete that app then re download it from the App Store.

  • by monicaga,

    monicaga monicaga Aug 18, 2016 4:57 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Aug 18, 2016 4:57 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    no sorry that's not the issue. the scanner works fine. I need to be able to use the Bluetooth barcode scanner at the same time as having the on screen keyboard available. when I connect using the Bluetooth barcode scanner, the iPad seems to think of it as an external keyboard, which stops the on screen keyboard from working.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Aug 18, 2016 5:15 PM in response to monicaga
    Level 4 (3,693 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 18, 2016 5:15 PM in response to monicaga

    That may be the way it's implemented, unfortunately. But there are scanner apps for iPad that use the camera for input. Could you use one of them?

  • by monicaga,

    monicaga monicaga Aug 18, 2016 5:17 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Aug 18, 2016 5:17 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    no that wont work! I need to have the POS system I use open to set qtys and make comments in. thanks for your help though.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Aug 18, 2016 5:45 PM in response to monicaga
    Level 4 (3,693 points)
    Apple TV
    Aug 18, 2016 5:45 PM in response to monicaga

    Right. The problem is that Bluetooth devices communicate using a profile defining messages that must be supported by the iPad. This iOS: Supported Bluetooth profiles - Apple Support lists the supported profiles. Since there's no distinct  profile for barcode scanners or POS devices, your scanner is being tricky and pretending to be a keyboard (HID) profile. That means the iPad really thinks you're using a keyboard. You might try adding a Bluetooth keyboard, if you have or can borrow one, but that may show that it can only handle one keyboard at a time.