Important information about SimulScan:
The most important SimulScan capabilities, including multi-barcode scanning and OCR A/B capture for travel documentation, are being migrated to the internal scanning framework that runs on all Zebra devices. Once complete, capabilities formerly available only through SimulScan will be accessible through DataWedge and Android intent APIs. Therefore, Zebra strongly recommends that partners develop a migration plan to DataWedge for all applications that currently use SimulScan.
Key migration dates:
- Dec. 31, 2019 - Final day to buy SimulScan licenses
- Dec. 31, 2020 - End of support for licensed SimulScan API features
- Device end-of-life - End of support for non-licensed SimulScan API features
- For more information, refer to the full alert:
See Full Alert
Important
When acquiring data with a custom enterprise app, SimulScan features can be accessed directly through API calls or indirectly through DataWedge, a free app preinstalled on all Zebra Android devices. For organizations without an existing custom app that accesses device hardware, DataWedge might be the easier and faster method of using SimulScan. To further simplify implementation, SimulScan includes a number of default Templates designed to cover most common scanning scenarios. For more advanced use-cases, custom Templates can be created using Template Builder.
Use with DataWedge
DataWedge can acquire barcodes and other textual data using the device camera or 2D scanner; all API calls are handled internally. DataWedge can apply powerful processing capabilities to manipulate acquired data according to an infinite set of custom rules, and then pass that data in various ways to virtually any app. DataWedge is designed to cover most scanning use cases, and setting up SimulScan with DataWedge takes just a few minutes.
Zebra recommends testing the DataWedge method first, and to begin an API integration project only if DataWedge does not meet application requirements.
Use with SimulScan APIs
For applications that already interface with device hardware and/or are performing image capture or other complex acquisitions, it can sometimes be necessary or preferable to access SimulScan through its APIs. And while DataWedge itself can capture images, it delivers acquired images using an intent, which requires custom program code to process.
The SimulScan APIs (depicted below) are accessed from within EMDK for Android, Zebra's development environment for building Android applications. Click on the image below to leave SimulScan docs and open EMDK's SimulScan API documentation.
See also the following SimulScan API Guides and Tutorials:
- SimulScan API Programmer's Guide
- Using the SimulScan API with EMDK
- Capturing Critical Data with SimulScan APIs
