Using Auto Focus Mode and Set Focus

  • What is the difference between Auto Focus and Set Focus?
  • How can I use them together?
  • Are they related to barcode scanning?
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Summary: This topic outlines the difference between Auto Focus and Set Focus functionalities. It also explains how to use them together and how they are related to barcode scanning.

Auto Focus Mode

Auto Focus Mode is a setting that can be defined via the Auto Focus Mode field on the Card View FastTab of page configurations. The main point of the functionality is to define the focusing behavior of the mobile application in case of manual data entry. The setting has no influence on data entry by barcode scanning. It means when the auto focus setting is provided in the page customization for a certain field, the focus won't be set for that particular field in the mobile application if the data for the previous field was provided via barcode scanning.

The options are:

  • On: the field will be in focus automatically.
  • Skip: the field will not be in focus.
  • Skip if filled: will be in focus if the field is empty.

Set Focus

Set Focus is a Conditional View Action. This means that the action will be executed if a certain condition/conditions is/are met. The functionality works with both manual and barcode scanning data entry.

There are some points that should be considered when using Set Focus:

  • Set Focus vs. Auto Focus: Set Focus takes precedence over Auto Focus. For instance, if a field is filled and the user presses Enter on the keyboard, and a Set Focus action is triggered with conditions evaluating to "true", the focus may shift to a different field instead of the next logical field.

  • Set Focus vs. Next Subpage: Set Focus takes precedence over the Next Subpage Action. If there are two conditional views, one triggering Set Focus and the other triggering Next Subpage, only the Set Focus action will be executed, and the Next Subpage action will be ignored.

  • Next Subpage vs. Auto Focus: Next Subpage also takes precedence over Auto Focus. For instance, if a field is filled and the user presses Enter, and a conditional action contains a Next Subpage, the user will be navigated to the next subpage instead of the next auto-focusable field.

  • Editable and Visible Fields Only: Set Focus can target only fields that are editable and visible. This restriction is enforced at runtime. If the target field is read-only or hidden, the Set Focus action will not execute.

  • Cross-Subpage Navigation: Set Focus can navigate between subpages. If the target field is not on the current subpage, Set Focus will move to the appropriate subpage, even if it requires moving backward.

  • Behavior on Page Opening: Set Focus is active upon page opening, allowing users to be directed immediately to an editable field.

  • Recommended Trigger Mode: It is advised to use Set Focus with the trigger mode set to Once. This configuration ensures that the focus moves only once (and no more), when conditions are true, preventing scenarios where the user is trapped in a single field. Using the Always trigger mode is possible but requires careful condition management.

  • Execution Order with Multiple Set Focus Actions: If multiple Set Focus actions are present across different conditional views and more than one condition evaluates to "true", only the first action will execute. The execution order is undefined and should not rely on assumptions based on past behavior.

  • Applicable Field Types: Set Focus is applicable to single-line text and numeric fields. It does not support opening option pickers or interacting with multi-line text fields (provided via the Visible Line Count field on the Card View FastTab of the Global Page Customization page).

  • Interaction with Hide and Read Only Actions: When Set Focus coincides with Hide or Set Read Only actions, the Hide or Set Read Only action takes precedence. These actions can deactivate the Set Focus action if executed simultaneously.

Auto Focus After Barcode Scanning

Previously, the mobile application did not support triggering Auto Focus Mode after scanning a field using either a barcode scanning device or a camera. This issue has now been resolved.

Setup

To enable this functionality, turn on the Enable Auto Focus After Barcode Scanning toggle on the General FastTab of the Global Page Customization.

This will activate Auto Focus Mode after scanning in the following scenarios:

  • Inbuilt scanners: complex barcode
  • Camera scanners: complex barcode
  • Inbuilt scanners: simple value barcode
  • Camera scanners: simple value barcode

External scanners that emulate keystrokes instead of sending an intent cannot utilize this feature properly, as barcode processing will not function after a field is focused.

To fully enable this feature, the Last Field To Validate field has been introduced in the complex barcode's field setup. This field marks the last element of the complex barcode to validate and serves as the starting point for the focusing process.

Functionality

When the Enable Auto Focus After Barcode Scanning toggle is turned on:

  • If a field is in focus and a simple barcode is scanned, it will populate the currently focused field.
  • If a field is in focus and a complex barcode is scanned, the current field will first be validated, then the complex barcode will be validated, and finally, Auto Focus will be set to the corresponding field based on the Last Field To Validate of the complex barcode setup.
  • If the current page is a multiple-sided page, Auto Focus may skip subpages to find the next suitable field, if necessary.

When the Enable Auto Focus After Barcode Scanning toggle is turned off:

  • Auto Focus will not be triggered after scanning a barcode (either a single value or a complex barcode).
  • If a simple barcode is scanned and the next empty barcode field is on another subpage, the subpage containing the corresponding field will be displayed.
  • If a complex barcode is scanned and a field is currently in focus, the current field will first be validated, followed by the processing of the complex barcode.

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