This is an example that wants to show how a Flutter application could be integrated with Datalogic SDK.
The example is written in Kotlin for the native part.
We are assuming to have a Flutter application already been created by following the tutorial Install | Flutter. The purpose of the app is to show how to:
- Receive a barcode content in the Android part and transmit it to Flutter part 1.1 – through System Intent (by using the Datalogic Intent Wedge) 1.2 – through code (by using SDK ReadListener)
- Enable/disable the Scan Engine’s Triggers
Overview A Flutter application is made up of a Dart part common to several operating systems and a part specific to the operating system on which the application is running, in this case, Android. (see more at: Writing custom platform-specific code | Flutter)
When a barcode is read, the value is passed from the Android part of the app to the Flutter application via an EventChannel. Upon reading the barcode, the content is received in the native Android part of the app and the code will then be transmitted to the Flutter part using the mechanisms provided.
1 - Receive a barcode content in the Android part and transmit it to Flutter part
1.1 - Receive a barcode through Datalogic Intent Wedge
Android code: A broadcast receiver is registered and is waiting for data coming from Datalogic Intent Wedge. When a new code is received a Flutter EventChannel is used to pass the code from the Android code to Flutter code.
kotlin
class MainActivity : FlutterActivity() {
private val ACTION_BROADCAST_RECEIVER = "com.datalogic.decodewedge.decode_action"
private val CATEGORY_BROADCAST_RECEIVER = "com.datalogic.decodewedge.decode_category"
private val EXTRA_DATA_STRING = "com.datalogic.decode.intentwedge.barcode_string"
private val EVENT_CHANNEL_BARCODE_INTENT = "app.channel.event.barcode_intent"
private var receiver: BroadcastReceiver? = null
private var filter: IntentFilter? = null
override fun configureFlutterEngine(@NonNull flutterEngine: FlutterEngine) {
super.configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine)
EventChannel(flutterEngine.dartExecutor.binaryMessenger, EVENT_CHANNEL_BARCODE_INTENT)
.setStreamHandler(object : EventChannel.StreamHandler {
override fun onListen(args: Any?, events: EventChannel.EventSink) {
receiver = BarcodeIntentReceiver(events)
filter = IntentFilter()
filter!!.addAction(ACTION_BROADCAST_RECEIVER)
filter!!.addCategory(CATEGORY_BROADCAST_RECEIVER)
registerReceiver(receiver, filter)
}
override fun onCancel(args: Any?) {
// Edit June 2026: unregister receiver to avoid accumulation on app backgrounding (see post #8)
receiver?.let {
try {
Log.i("BCL", "EVENT_CHANNEL_BARCODE_INTENT has been canceled")
unregisterReceiver(it)
receiver = null
filter = null
} catch (e: Exception) {
Log.e("TAG", "Error unregistering BroadcastReceiver", e)
}
}
}
})
}
private fun BarcodeIntentReceiver(events: EventSink?): BroadcastReceiver? {
return object : BroadcastReceiver() {
override fun onReceive(context: Context, wedgeIntent: Intent) {
val action = wedgeIntent.action
if (action == ACTION_BROADCAST_RECEIVER) {
barcode_text = wedgeIntent.getStringExtra(EXTRA_DATA_STRING)
events?.success(barcode_text)
}
}
}
}
}
Flutter code:
In the Flutter code we can use an EventChannel listener inside a StatefulWidget to wait for the barcode coming from the Android part:
dart
class IntentBarcodeReader extends StatefulWidget {
const IntentBarcodeReader({Key? key}) : super(key: key);
@override
State<IntentBarcodeReader> createState() => _IntentBarcodeReaderState();
}
class _IntentBarcodeReaderState extends State<IntentBarcodeReader> {
static const EventChannel scanChannel = EventChannel('app.channel.event.barcode_intent');
String barcode = "no intent data received";
@override
void initState() {
super.initState();
scanChannel.receiveBroadcastStream().listen(_onEvent, onError: _onError);
}
void _onError(dynamic data) {
print("Error");
}
void _onEvent(dynamic data) {
setState(() {
barcode = data;
});
}
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Text(barcode);
}
}
1.2 - Receive a barcode through Datalogic SDK
Android code: A ReadListener is registered and is waiting for data coming from the Scan Engine. When a new code is received a Flutter EventChannel is used to pass the code from the Android code to Flutter code.
kotlin
class MainActivity : FlutterActivity() {
private var decoder: BarcodeManager? = null
private var listener: ReadListener? = null
private val EVENT_CHANNEL_BARCODE_LISTENER = "app.channel.event.barcode_listener"
override fun configureFlutterEngine(@NonNull flutterEngine: FlutterEngine) {
super.configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine)
EventChannel(flutterEngine.dartExecutor.binaryMessenger, EVENT_CHANNEL_BARCODE_LISTENER)
.setStreamHandler(object : EventChannel.StreamHandler {
override fun onListen(args: Any?, events: EventChannel.EventSink) {
try {
decoder = BarcodeManager()
// Create an anonymous class.
listener = ReadListener { decodeResult ->
events?.success(decodeResult.text)
}
decoder!!.addReadListener(listener)
} catch (e: DecodeException) {
//Log.e(LOGTAG, "Error while trying to bind a listener to BarcodeManager", e)
}
}
override fun onCancel(args: Any?) {
// Edit June 2026: remove listener to avoid accumulation on app backgrounding (see post #8)
decoder?.let {
try {
Log.i("BCL", "EVENT_CHANNEL_BARCODE_LISTENER has been canceled")
it.removeReadListener(listener)
decoder = null
} catch (e: Exception) {
Log.e("TAG", "Error removing ReadListener from BarcodeManager", e)
}
}
}
})
}
}
Flutter code: In the Flutter code, we can use an EventChannel listener inside a StatefulWidget to wait for the barcode coming from the Android part. The widget is programmed like the previous one (point 1.1), only the channel on which it is waiting is changed — this widget is waiting on channel ‘app.channel.event.barcode_listener’:
dart
class ListenerBarcodeReader extends StatefulWidget {
const ListenerBarcodeReader({Key? key}) : super(key: key);
@override
State<ListenerBarcodeReader> createState() => _ListenerBarcodeReaderState();
}
class _ListenerBarcodeReaderState extends State<ListenerBarcodeReader> {
static const EventChannel scanChannel = EventChannel('app.channel.event.barcode_listener');
...
The previous examples are showing a communication through EventChannel from Activity to Flutter. In the second part, Flutter calls the Activity through a MethodChannel:
2 - Enable/disable the Scan Engine’s Triggers
Android code:
kotlin
class MainActivity : FlutterActivity() {
private var decoder: BarcodeManager? = null
private val METHOD_CHANNEL_BARCODEMANAGER = "app.channel.method/barcodemanager"
override fun configureFlutterEngine(@NonNull flutterEngine: FlutterEngine) {
super.configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine)
MethodChannel(flutterEngine.dartExecutor.binaryMessenger, METHOD_CHANNEL_BARCODEMANAGER)
.setMethodCallHandler { call, result ->
if (call.method == "startTrigger") {
//Log.i(LOGTAG, "startTrigger MethodChannel Called")
var bm = BarcodeManager()
bm.pressTrigger()
}
if (call.method == "stopTrigger") {
//Log.i(LOGTAG, "stopTrigger MethodChannel Called")
var bm = BarcodeManager()
bm.releaseTrigger()
}
}
}
}
Flutter code: In the Flutter code, we can use a MethodChannel inside a StatefulWidget that through a GestureDetector appropriately invokes the methods of the Android part.
dart
class DecodeButton extends StatefulWidget {
const DecodeButton({Key? key}) : super(key: key);
@override
State<DecodeButton> createState() => _DecodeButtonState();
}
class _DecodeButtonState extends State<DecodeButton> {
static const platform = MethodChannel('app.channel.method/barcodemanager');
bool _hasBeenPressed = false;
@override
void initState() {
super.initState();
}
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return GestureDetector(
onTapDown: (_) { startTrigger(); },
onTapUp: (_) { stopTrigger(); },
onPanEnd: (_) { stopTrigger(); },
child: Container(
padding: const EdgeInsets.all(60.0),
decoration: BoxDecoration(
color: _hasBeenPressed ? Colors.amber : Colors.lightBlue,
borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(8.0),
border: Border.all(width: 5),
),
child: const Text('Scan'),
),
);
}
void startTrigger() async {
try {
platform.invokeMethod('startTrigger');
setState(() {
_hasBeenPressed = true;
});
} on PlatformException catch (e) {
"Failed to get startTrigger: '${e.message}'.";
}
}
void stopTrigger() async {
try {
platform.invokeMethod('stopTrigger');
setState(() {
_hasBeenPressed = false;
});
} on PlatformException catch (e) {
"Failed to get stopTrigger: '${e.message}'.";
}
}
}
This app is an example and it is not intended to be a complete guide to integrate Flutter with the Datalogic SDK. At this link, it is possible to download the apk. Note that before receiving the barcode via intent, the intent wedge must be active and the configuration parameters (action, category, etc.) must be at default values.
