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Power Apps - Building Power Apps
Unanswered

Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

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Posted on by 67

Hello, can you disable the virtual keyboard in a specific text field of a mobile app?

I am working with a scanner and it is somewhat annoying because the virtual keyboard is always activated when I read a barcode.

  • SebAtkins Profile Picture
    2 on at
    Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)
    @sohilbhalla  could you possibly re-attach the guide or the link please?
  • catto-coffee Profile Picture
    2 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    Thank you for sharing the details of your configuration! I followed everything, including the Zebra scanner setting steps and having everything tabindex -1 except for the text input. As well as the set focus to the hidden button mentioned.

    It works well, except when you try to scan faster, then nothing gets inputted and it goes to the powerapps support webpage. Could it be due to the tab events? Not sure how to fix this bug.

  • sohilbhalla Profile Picture
    70 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    @ValiantKillmore Yes this is a bit of a configuration, but a one-time setup. My app was completely dependent on the Zebra external scanner and not on the device camera, so it was a necessary configuration for me.

  • sohilbhalla Profile Picture
    70 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    @Steef  I understand. I think I also faced this issue earlier. So in order to solve this, your textbox needs a companion 😁

     

    Add a button to the screen which is positioned above the textbox on the screen order from top to bottom ( Y unit for button should be less than textbox). Hide that button as well behind the rectangle. Make sure the tab index of the button is -1. As fig shown below, The big rectangle is a textbox and small is a button.

     

    sohilbhalla_0-1704877778186.png

     

    Then at the end of the OnChange event of the textbox set the focus to the button eg SetFocus(Btn_ScanHidden);

    I believe this will avoid the Keyboard been opened and also the next scan should work without tapping on the screen.

     

    Do let me know the outcome. All the best!

     

     

     

     

  • Steef Profile Picture
    2 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    Hi, I followed your manual and created the profile and power app accordingly.

    I successfully can show the scanned value in a label so the <tab>scannedvalue<tab> is working but although the input field is not selected the keyboard shows up after a few seconds.

     

    I'm using a Zebra MC220J.

    Also when the scan is done and I want to scan again it's not working. I have to tick on the screen once before I can scan again.

     

    Any idea what I can try?

  • ValiantKillmore Profile Picture
    59 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    Oh wow, that does sound like a lot of work for something so basic, but I will give it a go!
    Thanks for the documentation on it! : )

  • sohilbhalla Profile Picture
    70 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    Follow the attached document to configure zebra scanner for powerapps and once done, create a simple screen with a textbox and hide that textbox behind a rectangle and set the tab index of the textbox as 1.

     

    Modify OnChange event of the textbox to set a variable like Set(scannedtext,Self.Text) and then display it on a label.

     

    Scan the code with the external scanner which will fire the onChange event of textbox  and you will get the scanned value without keyboard being popped up. Enjoy!!

  • ValiantKillmore Profile Picture
    59 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    @sohilbhalla 
    Hey, sorry for the late response, was on a long holiday break : D
    We're using Zebra TC26 data terminals. We have an app designed for warehouse usage and there are a few places where we specifically want to disable the virtual keyboard for both screen real estate and to not allow people to write in barcodes by hand.

  • sohilbhalla Profile Picture
    70 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    Hi @ValiantKillmore @Mach_GO_GO_GO ,

     

    What devices are you running the power apps on?

  • ValiantKillmore Profile Picture
    59 on at
    Re: Disable virtual keyboard in text field (Mobile app)

    Also have the same struggle here with data terminals. Bumping this up and gonna vote on the idea panel for this to be implemented in power apps by default as an option

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