iOS Question How can I use an external SDK library?

[markbate]

Hi, ** health warning *** newbie numpty question

How can I use a third party iOS library in B4i ? I have an app I want to build that uses some iOS barcode scanning components - is there a way of using these in B4i ?

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I dont see anything obvious

 

[JordiCP]

First I'd search if there is some existing B4I lib that already serves your purposes.

If this is not the case, and depending on the library/SDK, you may need to write a small wrapper to access it from B4I. You'll need a local Mac to do this process.

Can you ellaborate a bit more about your exact needs and the library?

 

[moster67]

Not 100% sure what you are looking for but very often you already have equivalent functionality already available for B4i (through libraries), perhaps like this one:
https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/ibarcode-library.47354/#content

 

[markbate]

No we want to use a specific library as it we have seen it in action on iPads .. the SDK is components from Scandit - https://www.scandit.com/ they have the most performant scanning SDK on the market...

when you say dependant on SDK - what is the criteria for having to write a wrapper and I assume this comes with an overhead ??? if you have any info on what this wrapper creation entails I would appreciate it ?

Not 100% sure what you are looking for but very often you already have equivalent functionality already available for B4i (through libraries), perhaps like this one:
https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/ibarcode-library.47354/#content

No we want to use that specific library... seems to be zero documentation on how you create a wrapper and in what cases you need a wrapper created - is there any documentation you can point me too please?

 

[moster67]

No we want to use that specific library... seems to be zero documentation on how you create a wrapper and in what cases you need a wrapper created - is there any documentation you can point me too please?

Sorry, I have no personal experience with wrapping libraries for B4i. However, here is a post from where you can find more information:
https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/objective-c-writing-libraries-for-b4i.47024/

However, a quick look at the Scandit website, seems to indicate that they have simply incorporated various functionality in a single SDK. The scanning part should be covered fine with the B4i library I mentioned in my earlier post. The other things provided by Scandit, such as realtime-information, you may be able to cater for by yourself using other channels such as APIs from product suppliers. Just an idea. If you want to use their solution, all in the box, then I guess you need to write the wrapper yourself or ask someone else to do it for you (there is a job-offer section in the forum).

 

[Erel]

Moved to the questions forum.

If the SDK is not too complicated then you can use #AdditionalLib + NativeObject + native code if needed to access the SDK. This can be simpler than writing a library though it still requires some Objective C knowledge.