About Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows

Overview

The Scan-To-Connect (STC) Utility simplifies the pairing process for Zebra Bluetooth scanners with a PC/tablet. It enables multiple Zebra Bluetooth scanners to pair with a PC/tablet in one simple step, without having to modify your app.

The number of paired scanners will vary depending on the PC's capabilities. Testing is required to determine PC's maximum.

Unlike standard HID keyboard, the STC Utility supports enhanced HID keyboard, which assures your data is received by your Windows PC. If corrupted, it will be retransmitted. If lost, you get an error beep to rescan item.

Supported Devices

For the compatible devices list, please visit following page.

https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/utilities/cordless-scantoconnect.html

Supported Operating System

Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows support the following Windows operating systems.

  • Windows 11 64bit
  • Windows 10 32bit
  • Windows 10 64bit

Dependencies

.NET framework v4.7.2 or higher is required.

NOTE: Visit https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet-framework to download the .NET framework.

Version History

Version 4.02.0007 - 04/2023

  1. Windows 11 support added.
  2. Bug fix - The correct pairing barcode is now generated for “Zebra Printer Option” when the Enhanced HID communication option is selected.

Version 4.02.0006 - 03/2021

  1. Added enhanced HID support for corded USB scanners.
  2. Added hot swap support for improved staging of Bluetooth dongles (i.e. plug in dongle A, print pairing barcode, then unplug dongle A, and plugin in dongle B....).
  3. Added support to print pairing barcode to Zebra printers that support the ZPL programming language.

  4. Added “Corrupted Configuration File” error, which identifies an incompatibility caused by a configuration file created from an older version of this STC utility. Solution - Create a new configuration file using this version of the STC utility.

Version 4.01.0002 - 04/2020

  1. Bug fix - Improved Unicode support for non-printable characters like the key mapping of a "Ctrl + ]" in German

Version 4.01.0000 - 03/2019

  1. Simulated HID Keyboard output, now handles German by setting “Keyboard emulation/locale” to “Default” in the SDK demo application. Other languages supported include English and French.
  2. Added Caps Lock Override support in Enhanced HID mode.
  3. Added Emulate Keypad support in Enhanced HID mode including with leading zeros.
  4. Added Keyboard Country/Code Type support in Enhanced HID mode.

Version 4.00.0015 - 08/2018

  1. Utility now handles ADF (pass through of ASCII characters), when ADF rule is programmed on scanner. Note STC utility still does not handle some ADF functionality like pause, caps lock over-ride, inter-key delays ...
  2. Improved pairing robustness when connecting multiple scanners to utility, no longer impacted by Windows OS limitation.
  3. Improved device connection stability.
  4. Added Bluetooth wedge emulation functionality.

Version 3.01.0000 - 06/2017

  1. Changed default app configuration, so that “Set factory default” option will be disabled by default.

Version 3.00.0003 - 04/2017

  1. Added extended pairing barcode support.
  2. Added settings page.
  3. Added option to print the paring barcode in different sizes.
  4. Added option to resize the on-screen barcode.
  5. Application can be configured as a production version without exposing settings.

Version 2.00.0000 - 02/2016

  1. Rebranded to Zebra Technologies.

Version 1.00.0000 - 12/2015

  1. Initial release.

Installation and Configuration

Overview

The Scan-To-Connect utility automatically determines the PC/tablet’s Bluetooth MAC address and embeds that information into the STC pairing bar code. Scanning this STC pairing bar code establishes a connection between your cordless Bluetooth scanner and PC/tablet. The Bluetooth connection is made seamlessly using the computer’s pre-existing Windows Bluetooth driver.

In addition to containing the PC/tablet’s Bluetooth MAC address, the STC pairing barcode also contains a setting to program your scanner’s communication protocol and optionally reset your scanner back to factory defaults.

STC Utility UI Walkthrough and Configurations

Home Screen

Below is the main window of Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows which display the pairing barcode.

Figure 1: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows Home Screen

This screen contains,

  1. STC paring barcode.
  2. Settings button to navigate to settings page (Can be hidden – See Setting page / Deployment suggestions)
  3. Application "Close to Tray" button.
  4. List of Enhanced HIB Keyboard Scanners.

Settings Screen

Below is the settings page of the Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows.

Figure 2: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows Settings Screen

This screen contains,

  1. Back button to navigate to Home screen.
  2. About button to navigate to About screen.
  3. Restore Default button to revert all your scanner’s parameter settings back to their factory default state.
  4. The Communication Protocol drop down list allows you to select the required protocol for the scanner. Your communication protocol selection will automatically be built into the STC pairing barcode.
  5. Set factory default toggle switch to set the scanner to its factory defaults settings upon reading the paring barcode. This configuration only available when the Barcode Type is set to ScanToConnect suite.
  6. Show Print Button on App screen is to configure whether to show the print button on the Home page.
  7. Display Bluetooth Address under pairing barcode toggle switch is to configure whether the host Bluetooth address to be display under the paring barcode on Home page.
  8. Option to resize pairing barcode toggle switch is to configure the whether the slider control to display on Home page to change the size of paring barcode.

Deployment Suggestions Screen

Suggestions on how to deploy the STC utility can be found on the application by clicking on the “Deployment Suggestions” link on the settings page.

Figure 3: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows Deployment Suggestions Screen

To do a deployment in a productions environment:

  1. From the settings screen, configure the application as required.
  2. Close the application to have the settings written to the “ScanToConnectWindows.exe.config” file.

  3. Copy the "ScanToConnectWindows.exe.config",

    1. From: "C:\ProgramData\Zebra\Scan-To-Connect\" directory
    2. To: "C:\ProgramData\Zebra\Scan-To-Connect\ProductionConfig\" directory

Installing the Solution

Install Scan-To-Connect

The following steps show the process to install Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows.

  1. Go to https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/utilities/cordless-scantoconnect.html
  2. Scroll down to the Software section and select and run the relevant OS download for your PC.

  3. The Zebra CoreScanner Driver is a prerequisite for both the 32bit and 64bit setup programs. The installation process checks for the CoreScanner driver on the target PC. If the CoreScanner driver is not present, or is outdated, clicking Install adds updated drivers before installing the Scan-To-Connect package.

    Figure 4: Installation of Zebra CoreScanner Driver Window

    The Microsoft .NET Framework is also a prerequisite for Zebra Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows. If .NET is not available in the system, the installer lists it as a requirement and installs it as part of the setup process.

  4. Click Next in the Welcome window.

    Figure 5: Welcome Window

  5. Review the license agreement and click Yes to accept.

    Figure 6: License Agreement Window

  6. The user can select the destination folder by clicking Browse and selecting the drive and folder in which to install the Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows.

    Figure 7: Destination Folder

  7. Click Install to install Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows.

    Figure 8: Ready to Install Window

  8. As the installation proceeds, the status displays.

    Figure 9: Installation Status Window

  9. When the installation is complete, the following window displays. Click Finish.

    Figure 10: Installation Complete Window

Silent Unattended Installation of the Zebra Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows

The CoreScanner driver require the Microsoft 2017 C++ Redistributable Package which automatically installs if it is does not already exist on the host PC. For an unattended installation, a complication arises if the 2017 C++ Redistributable is not pre-installed. By default, Microsoft triggers a reboot of the PC after the C++ Redistributable installation. In this case, a reboot is injected into the overall silent install process (which may then also require a login).

To avoid the interruption, the 2017 C++ Redistributable can be downloaded from Microsoft (see links below) and pre-installed silently while suppressing the reboot using the command line switches /install /quiet /norestart. This delays the required reboot and allows custom silent CoreScanner and Scan-To-Connect Utility installs to be performed using subsequent commands.

The Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2017 can be downloaded from the Microsoft website (see links below). The appropriate file vc_redist.x86.exe (32bit version) or vc_redist.x64.exe (64bit version) must be selected and downloaded. The command line to perform its install silently without reboot is:


vcredist_x86.exe /install /quiet /norestart

or,


vcredist_x64.exe /install /quiet /norestart

The required reboot must be performed at the end of the overall installation process to ensure correct operation.

The Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows and prerequisite CoreScanner driver are packaged using the Flexera InstallShield installer program. The installer program supports command line switches to record custom responses that can be used to create a silent install response file. These response files, ending in the file extension .iss, may then be used to perform a silent installation of the CoreScanner driver and Scan-To-Connect Utility components on production PCs.

Silent Install Command Line Options

Command Line Switch Description

Table 1: Command Line Switch Description

Switch Description
-s Silent mode. The -s switch runs the installation in silent mode using the responses contained in a recorded response file.
-r Record mode. The -r switch displays all the setup dialogs and records the chosen responses in the file specified with the -f1 switch described below.
-f1 Specify custom response file name and path. The -f1 switch specifies where the response file is located for the -s switch, or where it should be created when using the -r switch. Specify an absolute path; using a relative path yields unpredictable results.
-f2 Specify alternative log file name and path. When running an installation in silent mode (using the -s switch), the log file is created by default in the same directory and with the same name (except for the extension) as the response file. The -f2 switch enables you to specify an alternative log file location and file name. Specify an absolute path; using a relative path yields unpredictable results.

When executed from a command prompt, the example below uses the -r and -f1 switches to record your responses to the setup prompts into a custom response file:


"Zebra_CoreScanner_Driver_(64bit)_v3.07.0004.exe" -r -f1"c:\path\CSsetup.iss"

The responses chosen using the command above are saved in the specified response file and can then be used as input to silently install the CoreScanner with those chosen responses on production PCs.

The next example shows how the -s switch uses the response file created with the previous command to perform the silent install:


"Zebra_CoreScanner_Driver_(64bit)_v3.07.0004.exe" -s -f1"c:\path\CSsetup.iss"

Note that there is no space between the -f1 switch and first quotation mark for the custom response file. Additionally, you would perform the above steps for the silent installation of the Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows. Record the Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows response file using the -r switch on a PC that does not yet have Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows installed:


"Zebra_Cordless_Scan-To-Connect_(64bit)_v4.02.0006.exe" -r -f1"c:\path\STCsetup.iss"

Then use that resulting response file with the -s switch to install silently on other PCs:


"Zebra_Cordless_Scan-To-Connect_(64bit)_v4.02.0006.exe" -s -f1"c:\path\STCsetup.iss"

If necessary, the -r switch option can also be used to record a custom response file for a silent removal of a program by running the command on a PC that has that program already installed.

2017 C++ Redistributables v14.16.27012 Download links:

x86: https://download.visualstudio.microsoft.com/download/pr/d0b808a8-aa78-4250-8e54-49b8c23f7328/9c5e6532055786367ee61aafb3313c95/vc_redist.x86.exe

x64: https://download.visualstudio.microsoft.com/download/pr/9fbed7c7-7012-4cc0-a0a3-a541f51981b5/e7eec15278b4473e26d7e32cef53a34c/vc_redist.x64.exe

Components and Folder Paths

Table 2: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows Components

Component Description Installation Path
STC folder STC installation folder. User can customize this location. x86 - %ProgramFiles%\Zebra Technologies\Barcode Scanners\Scan-To-Connect
x64 - %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Zebra Technologies\Barcode Scanners\Scan-To-Connect
Configuration files Default location of configuration Files ProgramData\Zebra\Scan-To-Connect
Configuration files (production) Default location of the production configuration Files ProgramData\Zebra\Scan-To-Connect\ProductionConfig

Scan-To-Connect Barcode Printing

The Scan-To-Connect (STC) Utility enables user to print barcodes from the utility itself, using Zebra printers.

Zebra Printer

Requirement

  1. Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows v4.02.0006 or higher.
  2. Zebra printer driver installed. (Driver should match with the printer using).
  3. Connected Zebra barcode printer.
  4. Bluetooth availability in the host device (Installed PC/Laptop).

Steps

  1. Open Scan-To-Connect Application. App will open with the startup screen. If you can see Printer Icon icon in the bottom right corner like following photo, please skip step 2. If you cannot see the printer icon, please follow step 2 to enable printer icon.

    Figure 11: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows Home Screen

  2. Click Settings top right corner and you will get the setting window like below.

    Figure 12: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows App Settings Screen

  3. Toggle the button related Show Print Button on App Screen setting. And it will change blue color to indicate the option turned on.

    Figure 13: Enable Printer Button

    Click Back arrow Settings top left corner to direct startup window of the Scan to Connect application. Now the printer icon should available like the step 01 screen.

  4. Click Print Icon in the Startup screen. From drop down select Zebra Printer.

    Figure 14: Select Printer

  5. In the following screen,

    Figure 15: Zebra Printer Settings

    1. Bluetooth Address – This represents the Bluetooth address that needs to print in the barcode. Default it takes the Bluetooth address of the inbuilt host’s or plugged adapter. To print an external Bluetooth address, place a tick in the Manually Enter Bluetooth Address. The given BT Address should match the XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX format. If the validation is failed, the following message will pop up when trying to print the barcode.

      Figure 16: Invalid Bluetooth Address

    2. Zebra Printer – Installed Zebra Printer Drivers will list in the drop down. Select the matching driver with the connected printer.
    3. Zebra Template – Printing Layout can set to this field by browning the windows explorer. This file defines the layout for the fed paper (sticker) to the printer. (Padding, orientation etc.). To add a custom file, uncheck Use Default Template and click Browse Template button to select the customizes template file.
    4. Number of Copies – This will define how many copies need to print in a single trigger of print event. Range of copies is 1 to 99. (Printing can be triggered by clicking the print icon or attach the relevant printer).
    5. Auto Print When New Dongle is Connected – If this option is turned on, whenever a new BT dongle connected, or inbuilt BT turned on from off, it will automatically print a Scan to Connect barcode by triggering print state if the printer is connected.
    6. Print Button - Clicking this icon will print barcodes according to the above-mentioned configurations. (As an example: if typed 4 copies, single print click will print four times.)

Other Printers

Requirement

  1. Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows v4.02.0006 or higher.
  2. A printer with the driver installed.
  3. Connected Zebra barcode printer.
  4. Bluetooth availability in the host device (Installed PC/Laptop).

Steps

  1. Open Scan-To-Connect Application. App will open with the startup screen. If you can see Printer Icon icon in the bottom right corner like following photo, please skip step 2. If you cannot see the printer icon, please follow step 2 to enable printer icon.

    Figure 17: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows Home Screen

  2. Click Settings top right corner and you will get the setting window like below.

    Figure 18: Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows App Settings Screen

  3. Toggle the button related Show Print Button on App Screen setting. And it will change blue color to indicate the option turned on.

    Figure 19: Enable Printer Button

    Click Back arrow Settings top left corner to direct startup window of the Scan to Connect application. Now the printer icon should available like the step 01 screen.

  4. Click Print Icon in the Startup screen. From drop down select Zebra Printer.

    Figure 20: Select Printer

  5. Select the barcode size that need to print (This are predefined sizes and must select most suitable size for the requirement.)

    Figure 21: Select Other Printers

  6. After selecting the size, it will navigate to the printer setup window. This will be different to each of the printer that going to use with the installed driver. This will also allow PDF printers as well if any installed drivers.

    Please note the following window will be coming from the printer driver and it will be not the same for you.

    Figure 22: Printer Settings

    Please make the setting as you required and click Print.

If anytime happen to face following screen, please check if the installed device has activated Bluetooth. If not turned On the BT or connect a dongle. Doing so automatically redirect to the start-up screen as in Step 01. No need to restart the application.

Figure 23: Bluetooth Radio Not Found

Download Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows

IMPORTANT: Zebra recommends using the latest release whenever possible.


To Download Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows:

  1. Visit the Zebra Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows download page and select the desired download(s).
  2. Proceed to the Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows release notes for the version details.
  3. Proceed to the Scan-To-Connect Utility for Windows setup section for installation and configuration instructions.