Scanner does not work

[windyweather]

On ASUS TF300 tablet, using Android 4.2.1 I'd like to use Book-Catalogue, but the scanner does not work.

Trying to scan a book, a window appears with Google in the upper left, and a circle with flashing dots. This scanner does not read bar style [not dot style] ISBN codes from the back of books.

Is there a problem with some setting that I need to change, or is the wrong scanner being launched? The Goodreads app does provide a scanner that does work, but it shows a red line across the bar code rather than a circle with flashing dots.

Thanks, ww

[Grunthos]

Please go to 'Help'->'Send Information' so we can get some details.

[windyweather]

The app reports that there is no information to send.The app didn't crash, only the scanner wouldn't scan the codes. Is there another way to provide the information you want?

[Grunthos]

'Help'->'send Information' will send what we need.

[Grunthos]

...or failing that a screen capture of the message that says "there is no information to send".

[windyweather]

Here are some screenshots:

http://s1123.photobucket.com/user/windygamer/library/SupportPics/BookCatalog?sort=9&page=1

As you can see I was able to scan a book, but the barcode is out of focus and the book sort of scanned by accident. I tried, but could not scan it again.I have uploaded a scan from the GoodReads app, which works reliably so you can see the difference in the scanner interface.

ww

[Grunthos]

So...what happens when you press "Send Information"?

[windyweather]

As you can see from the screenshot, you get a message that says there is "no debug information available".

[Grunthos]

Try installing the pic2shop scanner

[Grunthos]

Ah, I missed the message, thanks!

[windyweather]

Pic2shop works fine. It focuses quickly and shows a red line rather than the funny circle. Scanned the book rapidly with no problems. It forces portrait mode for the scanner interface tho, which is not ideal for a tablet.

[Grunthos]

you get a message that says there is "no debug information available".

OK, this is a bug. As a temporary work-around, so that I can get the info I need, can you:

• go to 'Admin & Prefs'->'Copy Database' (near the bottom of the list)
• go to 'Help'->'Send Information' again

This should bring up an email. Feel free to delete the database it attaches (or not).

Let me know how you go!

[Grunthos]

You may also find that Zxing works for you; it depends a little on the camera you have.

[windyweather]

Email with database is on it's way. ; ) Thanks for your quick response. I look forward to a fix. I'll watch here in case you need more information or have something for me to try. Thanks, ww

[Grunthos]

Two things to try:

1. install the Zxing scanner; then when you want to scan a book, select this scanner (and/or set it as default)
2. If (1) does not work, install the pic2shop scanner and go into 'Admin & Prefs'->'Other Preferences'->'Preferred Scanner' and select 'Pic2Shop Scanner', and see if it solves the problem.

Let me know how you go.

[windyweather]

Zxing works very nicely. I didn't know that the scanner app was also a "plugin" for other apps that need a scanner. Great feature. The Zxing scanner looks a little better than the GoodReads scanner actually. I see that book catalog has integration with GoodReads.

Thanks, Problem solved. Except for the other problem that older books don't have ISBN barcodes, but UPC barcodes. Sure would be nice if those older books could be scanned and looked up to put them in my database.

Or if I could type in my ISBNs into a text file and import them so I could do it by the batch rather than one at a time on the tablet. I'd use a real computer to enter the ISBNs and then copy them [or email them] to the tablet to enter them. Anyway, that's another problem.

Thanks for solving the primary problem, ww

[Imkal]

Hi Windyweather,

If you have all your books registered on Goodreads, you can import them all directly in Book Catalog. If you don't, the easiest, is to prepare a CSV file with the ISBN, try to import it in Goodreads and then from Goodreads into Book Catalog. The books that would not import into Goodreads, you would then have to add them manually in the CSV export file of Book Catalog with a minimum info and then try to complete their records using the update fields function from Book Catalogue after you import the updated CSV in BC.

At least that's how I did for my libraries.

[windyweather]

Thanks. I'll give that a try. ww

[Grunthos]

Another option here (if you don't have any edits on the first ab of existing books in your catalogue) is:

• create a CSV file with _id (blank), author_details = 'Unknown', title='Unknown', and an ISBN (or maybe ASIN, not sure)
• import this file
• go to 'Admin & Prefs'->'Automatically Update fields' and make sure author/title is set to 'Overwrite' and everything else is set to 'Update if Missing'.