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Swapped Characters when Scanning

When scanning barcodes with mobile devices, it may occur that letters or numbers appear swapped in the scan result—for example, PRODUKTION-01 is recorded as PORDUKTION-10. This behavior can happen sporadically and affects various barcode types as well as different character orders.

Cause​

This issue is typically not related to the web browser or web application, but rather to specific settings in the scan engine of the device (such as Zebra DataWedge). A misconfiguration, especially in the keyboard output section, can cause characters to be delivered in an incorrect order.

Note:
The issue affects various barcode types and can randomly swap both letters and numbers.

Solution​

  1. Check scan engine settings:
    Open the configuration menu of your scan engine (e.g. DataWedge profile on Zebra devices).
  2. Review the inter-character delay setting:
    Pay particular attention to settings such as "Keystroke Output" or "Intercharacter Delay". If this value is set too low, transmission issues may occur.
  3. Recommended adjustment:
    Gradually increase the delay (e.g. to 10–50 ms) and test the result. On Zebra DataWedge, you can find this option at:
    DataWedge Profile > Keystroke Output > Intercharacter Delay.
  4. Save the profile and re-test.

Further information​

  • Many scan engines from other vendors offer similar settings—check those configurations as well.
  • The issue should be fully resolved after adjusting the setting.
  • If the problem persists, check your scanner for defects or try a different barcode for testing.