Installation, activation and default keyboard setting procedures

Datalogic QuickBoard is an Android application that provides a virtual keyboard, or Input Method Editor (IME), for Datalogic devices. It is similar to the built-in virtual keyboard, but it can be customized with user-defined layouts and supports additional features such as access to function keys and scanning. It requires no changes to existing applications, although an app can be modified to take advantage of some enhanced features.

Making QuickBoard the keyboard your users actually see, however, is not just a matter of installing it. An Android IME has to be installed, then enabled, then selected as the active default — and in a fully automated deployment it is that last step where most projects get stuck.

Overview

Layouts are designed in Scan2Deploy Studio and deployed with the profile, so every device in the fleet gets the same keyboard: keys, rows, colours and per-input-type behaviour are all under your control. The layout adapts automatically to the type of data the input field expects — text, numeric, e-mail, password, phone, date — and an application can request a custom layout of its own through privateImeOptions.

The optional toolbar above the layout adds a scan button that behaves exactly like any physical scan trigger on the device, so an operator can capture a barcode into a field without reaching for the trigger, and a settings button for adjusting appearance and behaviour locally.

QuickBoard is supported on all Datalogic devices running Android 11 or above, including Skorpio X5 and Memor 20 on Android 11 and 13. It is not supported on Android 10 and earlier.

QuickBoard is not preinstalled. Add it to your profile from the Mobility Suite Updates table on the Scan2Deploy Studio Save and Scan page.

Deployment

Whatever tool you use, the same three things have to happen on the device:

  1. Install the QuickBoard APK — via Scan2Deploy Mobility Suite Updates.
  2. Enable the IME — the Android secure setting enabled_input_methods must include com.datalogic.ime/.ImeService.
  3. Select it as the active keyboard — the Android secure setting default_input_method must be set to com.datalogic.ime/.ImeService.

On a device with a physical keyboard, such as the Skorpio X40/45, Skorpio X5, Falcon X60/65, there is a fourth step: after a factory reset Android's Use on-screen keyboard option is off by default, and no virtual keyboard will appear at all until show_ime_with_hard_keyboard is enabled.

Steps 2 and 3 can be done by hand from the Settings app, which is fine on a test unit. For a fleet they need to be automated — and both OEMConfig and Scan2Deploy can do it.

Deploying without scanning a barcode

Scan2Deploy profiles are normally applied by scanning a QR code. When devices are enrolled and managed by an EMM, you will usually want the profile to arrive silently instead — no operator, no barcode.

Scan2Deploy Agent accepts profile data through a broadcast intent, which most EMMs are able to send. The mechanics are covered in Apply a Scan2Deploy profile through intents.

For all the information and instructions on how to install, properly set up, and troubleshoot the Datalogic Quickboard, read the post How to set QuickBoard as the default IME.

References

Questions about QuickBoard or Scan2Deploy? Ask on the Datalogic Developer forum, or open a ticket through Datalogic Technical Support.