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Prevent Manual Typing in Text Field Used for Barcode Scanning

Kodali MaheshJul 9 2026

Hi everyone,

I have an Oracle Forms application with a text item used exclusively for barcode scanning.

My requirement is:

  • The cursor should be placed in the text item.
  • Users should be able to scan a barcode using a barcode scanner.
  • Manual keyboard typing should not be allowed.
  • Copy/paste should also be prevented.

I understand that most barcode scanners work in keyboard wedge mode and send keystrokes just like a keyboard, so Oracle Forms cannot easily distinguish between scanned input and manually typed input.

As a workaround, I am considering validating the barcode based on its expected length. However, I would like to validate the input while the user is entering characters (i.e., as each character is received), rather than waiting until the item loses focus.

My questions are:

  1. Is there an item-level trigger in Oracle Forms that fires after each character entered into a text item?
  2. If not, what is the recommended approach to prevent or detect manual typing while still allowing barcode scanner input?
  3. Has anyone implemented a similar barcode-only input field in Oracle Forms? If so, what solution did you use?

Any suggestions or best practices would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

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Added on Jul 9 2026
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