What is a keyboard wedge scanner?
A keyboard wedge scanner is a barcode scanner that enters the decoded barcode into the active field as if typed on a keyboard, usually followed by Enter.
Last updated
How wedge scanners work
The scanner connects by USB or Bluetooth and presents itself to the computer as a keyboard. When it reads a barcode, it sends the characters as keystrokes, usually followed by Enter.
Any program with a text field can take the input. No driver or app integration is needed.
Worked example
In this example, a picker at a packing bench scans label LP-000512. The characters L, P, dash, 0, 0, 0, 5, 1, 2 and Enter arrive in the focused field within a fraction of a second.
The web page treats it exactly like a person typing the code and pressing Enter.
How Waresify handles it
The Waresify browser terminal is built for wedge scanners. Every scan step is a single text field that submits on Enter, so a scanner and manual typing go through the same path.
The server then checks the scanned code against the task. Workers with phones or tablets can use the Waresify scanner app for iOS and Android instead.
Questions
Does a Bluetooth scanner work the same way?
Yes, when it is paired in keyboard mode, often called HID mode. Check the scanner manual for the setting.
What if my scanner does not send Enter?
Most scanners let you add an Enter suffix by scanning a setup barcode from the manual.