About EMDK For Xamarin

EMDK For Xamarin 4.0

Overview

EMDK for Xamarin is an IDE extension that provides developers with a comprehensive set of tools to easily create powerful line-of-business applications for Zebra Android devices using C# skills and tools. EMDK for Xamarin includes class libraries, sample applications and source code, and all associated documentation for building applications that take full advantage of the power of Zebra devices.

EMDK for Xamarin inserts the Zebra-exclusive Profile Manager technology within the IDE, providing a GUI-based development tool for configuring Zebra devices. This allows developers to write fewer lines of code, produce fewer errors, and reduce overall development time and effort.

Supported Devices

EMDK-X has been designed to work with all Zebra mobile computers running Android.

Devices tested and validated:

Mobile devices

  • MC33 - Nougat, Oreo
  • PS20 - Oreo
  • TC20 - Nougat
  • TC25 - Nougat
  • TC51 - Marshmallow, Nougat
  • TC52 - Oreo
  • TC56 - Marshmallow, Nougat
  • TC57 - Oreo
  • TC70x - Marshmallow, Nougat
  • TC72 - Oreo
  • TC75x - Marshmallow, Nougat
  • TC77 - Oreo
  • VC80x - Nougat
  • WT6000 - Nougat

Scanners and imagers

  • DS2278
  • DS3608
  • DS3678
  • DS8178
  • LI3608
  • LI3678
  • RS507
  • RS4000
  • RS5000
  • RS6000

New in v4.0

Now supports MX 9.0, which adds the following features and enhancements on devices running Android Oreo 8.1 and newer:

  • Enhanced Battery Manager now allows an admin to:
    • Specify a critically low battery threshold
  • Enhanced UI Manager now allows an admin to:
    • Control user access to the Large Key Indicator (MC93 device only)
    • Turn the Large Key Indicator on or off (MC93 device only)

Also now supports MX 8.4, which adds the following features and enhancements on devices running Android Oreo 8.1 and newer:

  • Enhanced GPRS Manager now allows an admin to:
    • Specify the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) type for an Access Point Name (APN)
    • Specify APN MVNO Match Data
  • Enhanced UI Manager now allows an admin to:
    • Control user access to the On-Screen Power Button
    • Control user access to the Status Bar
  • Enhanced Wi-Fi CSP can now enable/disable:
    • Aggregated MAC Protocol Data Unit (AMPDU)
    • Gratuitous ARP address resolution protocol
    • 2g Channel Bonding (40MHz-wide channel in 2.4GHz band)
    • Configuration of Extended WLAN settings

Now supports Secure Access Module (SAM) APIs for conducting secure NFC transactions on Oreo-based TC77 and TC72 devices with SAM hardware.

SAM APIs can be used to:

  • Enumerate available SAMs in the device
  • Connect to a SAM
  • Close a connection with a SAM
  • Send APDU commands
  • Retrieve the active SAM slot
  • Check current SAM status (regardless of SAM connection status)
  • Check the SAM type (supports Calypso, FeliCA and MIFARE)

Note: SAM APIs support only transceiver commands with the SAM. For NFC tag reading and tag-related transactions, Zebra recommends using the standard Android NFC APIs.

API Enhancements

Enhanced Barcode Manager API adds the following features on devices running Android 8.1 Oreo:

  • Support for GridMatrix Symbology and Label type:
    • ScannerConfig enum GridMatrixInverse describes Enable/Disable/Auto options for decoding GridMatrix barcodes with inverse reflectance.
    • ScannerConfig enum GridMatrixMirror describes Enable/Disable/Auto options for decoding mirrored GridMatrix barcodes.
    • ScannerConfig.DecoderParams.GridMatrix parameter inverse allows selection of an option from GridMatrixInverse enum.
    • ScannerConfig.DecoderParams.GridMatrix parameter mirror allows selection of an option from GridMatrixMirror enum.
  • Added the following ScannerConfig.DecoderParams.Signature decoder parameters:
    • width sets the width of the image.
    • height sets the height of the image.
    • format sets the image format.
    • jpegQuality sets image quality to .jpeg.
    • bpp sets the bits-per-pixel for a monochromatic image.
  • Added ScannerConfig.DecoderParams.I2of5 decoder parameter:
    • febraban can enable or disable insertion of special "check" characters in the transmitted data stream of Interleaved 2 of 5 barcodes that are of length 14 and meet specific Febraban criteria.
  • Added ScannerConfig.ScanParams scanner parameters:
    • decodeScreenNotificationTime sets the length of time (in milliseconds) to display the screen overlay upon successful decode.
    • decodeScreenTranslucencyLevel sets the percentage of translucency of the decode screen notification overlay.
  • Added a ScannerConfig.MultiBarcodeParams parameter:
    • instantReporting can enable or disable instantaneous reporting of unique barcodes. Enabling this parameter ignores the value of multiBarcodeParams.barcodeCount param and reports the scanned data to the user instantaneously, without waiting until the end of the scanning session.
  • Added support for Bluetooth scanner DS8178:
    • New BarcodeManager.DeviceIdentifier enum for selecting the DS8178 Bluetooth Scanner.
    • Digimarc decoding support for rear camera (formerly supported only on internal imagers).

Deprecations

Support ends for targeting devices running Android 6.x Marshmallow. EMDK for Xamarin 3.0 was the final version to support Marshmallow targets. EMDK for Xamarin 4.0 supports only devices running Android 7.1.2 Nougat or newer.

Version History

Added in 3.0

Development Environment

  • Now fully supports NuGet package management
  • Now supports for Visual Studio for Mac OS

Device Support

Adds support for the following mobile computers running Android 8.1 Oreo:

  • PS20 Personal Shopper
  • TC52 Touch Computer
  • TC57 Touch Computer
  • TC72 Touch Computer
  • TC77 Touch Computer

Also added support for:

  • LI3608 Rugged USB scanner
  • LI3678 Rugged Bluetooth scanner
  • WT6000 Wearable computer running Android 7.x Nougat
  • DS2278 Standard range barcode scanner

API enhancements

Applies only to devices running Android 8.1.0 (Oreo) and higher.

Enhanced Barcode Manager API

  • Supports new symbologies and label types: GS1 Datamatrix and GS1 QR Code
    • Differentiates between Datamatrix and GS1 Datamatrix label types
    • Differentiates between QR Code and GS1 QR Code label types
  • Added Digimarc decoding through a reader parameter:
    • New digimarcDecoding parameter in ImagerSpecific class (supported on internal imagers only)
  • Supports character set selection, including the following new parameters in ImagerSpecific, CameraSpecific and LaserSpecific classes:
    • characterSetSelection - Sets the character set used to decode the returned barcode data. Generally set to match the encoding of the physical barcode to be scanned (AUTO, ISO_8859_1, Shift_JIS, GB18030, UTF_8).
    • autoCharacterSetPreferredOrder - Sets the preferred character set order to decode the barcode data when character set selection is set to "Auto."
    • autoCharacterSetFailureOption - Used as the character set (NONE, ISO_8859_1, Shift_JIS, GB18030, UTF_8) if the system cannot find a character set from the preferred order that can correctly decode the data.
  • Supports Zebra DS2278 Bluetooth scanner:
    • New enum under BarcodeManager.DeviceIdentifier for selecting the DS2278.
  • Supports PRESS_AND_SUSTAIN AimType for RS6000 and RS507 Bluetooth scanners.

Personal Shopper API

  • Supports PersonalShopper API for use with Zebra PS20 Personal Shopper device.
    • Supports Cradle API
    • Supports Diagnostic API

Other API Enhancements

Enhanced Barcode Manager API:

  • Adds support for LI3608 rugged USB scanner
    • A new enum under BarcodeManager.DeviceIdentifier can be used to select the LI3608
  • Adds support for LI3678 rugged Bluetooth scanner
    • A new enum under BarcodeManager.DeviceIdentifier can be used to select the LI3678

Enhanced Notification Manager API:

  • A new getDeviceIdentifier() method in DeviceInfo class identifies the notification device
  • A new enum DeviceIdentifier supports getDeviceIdentifier() with following values:
    • DEFAULT - default
    • BLUETOOTH_IMAGER_RS6000 - Bluetooth imager RS6000
    • EXTERNAL_VIBRATOR1 - External Vibrator

Software Support

Support for MX 8.2 provides the following enhancements:

  • Enhanced UI Manager adds these new features:
    • Enable/disable long-press on HOME key
    • Enable/disable date in Notification panel
    • Enable/disable long press on Recent Apps header icon to control access to app info

Support for MX 8.1 provides the following enhancements:

  • Enhanced Power Manager adds these new actions:
    • Specify an on-device file to verify an OS update
    • Specify whether to suppress auto-reboot following an A/B upgrade
  • Enhanced Battery Manager adds these new actions:
    • Enable/disable use of Battery Swap Mode UI
    • Enable/disable “battery charging” LED
  • Enhanced Bug Report Manager adds a new action:
    • Specify a time before expiration (in days) to store or email bug reports or send them to the cloud
  • Enhanced Cellular Manager adds these new actions:
    • Enable/disable user access to public land mobile network (PLMN) a device uses
    • Specify the MCC/MNC network PLMN LockSet
    • Show/hide PLMN lock UI
    • Determine the status of PLMN lock UI
    • Enable/disable Dual SIM Standby
    • Get the status of DSDS
  • Enhanced DHCP Option Manager adds these new actions:
    • Enable/disable requests for a custom DHCP option from server
    • Request or disable a specified DHCP Option
    • Enable/disable sending of a custom DHCP Option to server
    • Send or disable a specified DHCP Option
    • Send a value with a specified custom DHCP Option
  • Enhanced License Manager adds these new actions:
    • Specify an Activation ID to return a license from the device
    • Specify server friendly name for returning one or all licenses and for deleting license source
    • Select the license source type to be used to return one or all licenses
  • Enhanced Settings Manager adds these new actions:
    • Enable/disable the slide out drawer for accessing Android system settings
  • Enhanced UI Manager adds these new actions:
    • Enable/disable Split Screen mode
    • Enable/disable Do Not Disturb mode
    • Enable/disable Multi-user mode
  • Enhanced Wi-Fi adds these new actions:
    • Enable/disable MAC address randomization
    • Enable/disable Call Admission Control
    • Enable/disable user control of Hotspot state (active/inactive)

Sample Code

  • Code samples for EMDK for Xamarin are now available only online; sample code is no longer installed on the development host as part of the EMDK installation.
  • Help files for EMDK for Xamarin are now available only online; help is no longer installed on the development host as part of the EMDK installation.

End of Support

IMPORTANT: EMDK-X 3.0 no longer targets devices running Android 5.x Lollipop or older.

DEVICES NO LONGER SUPPORTED with Lollipop (and older):

  • ET5x
  • MC18
  • MC32N0
  • MC40
  • TC70
  • TC75
  • TC8000
  • WT6000

Software Support

On Mac OS, now supports Visual Studio for Mac

Also supports MX v8.0 in Profile Manager, which added the following features:

  • Enhanced App Manager adds these new actions:
    • Clear Application Cache
    • Enable/disable All GMS Applications on the "Safe to Disable" list
  • Enhanced License Manager adds these new actions:
    • Select a licensing file to be embedded in the XML
    • Select a preactivated license source
    • Query product-specific license information
    • Specify product name to be queried
    • Select the method used to supply the license .bin file
  • Enhanced Power Manager adds a new action:
    • Enable/disable PTT and scan buttons to wake the device from suspend mode
  • Enhanced Settings Manager adds a new action:
    • Enable/disable tethering and portable hotspot features
  • Enhanced UI Manager adds these new actions:
    • Enable/disable the Magnification Gesture
    • Show/hide the Virtual KeyBoard while Physical Keyboard is active

Deprecations

  • SecureNFC APIs allow applications to perform secure communications with the NFC tags such as MifareDesfire, MifarePlus SL3 using the Secure Access Module (SAM). These APIs remain supported but are no longer being advanced.

  • The ContinuousRead class, used to enable continuous scanning, remains supported but is no longer being advanced. Zebra recommends using the aimType, sameSymbolTimeout, differentSymbolTimeout of the camera-, imager- and laser-specific reader parameters (since v2.7).

  • The picklist field, used for enabling picklist mode, remains supported but is no longer being advanced. Use the picklistEx field instead (since v2.7).

  • Configuring DataWedge using EMDK Profile Manager has been deprecated. Zebra recommends using DataWedge intent-based APIs to configure DataWedge profiles going forward (since v2.7).

  • No longer supports Visual Studio 2013 or Xamarin Studio (Mac/Windows)

  • This is the last version to support Visual Studio 2015

Added in 2.7

Enhanced Barcode Manager API:

  • Supports Multi-barcode decoding
  • New MULTI_BARCODE value in enum ScanMode enables simultaneous decoding of multiple barcodes
  • New MultiBarcodeParams class in ScannerConfig adds barcodeCount parameter to set the barcode count to be scanned
  • New PRESS_AND_SUSTAIN AimType avoids canceling a read by subsequently pressing the trigger button (TC20/TC25 devices only)

Enhanced SerialComm API:

  • flowControlMode under Serial Config takes RTS_CTS, XON_XOFF and NONE values

Enhanced Profile Manager DataCapture:

  • Supports Serial Input plug-in
  • Support Zebra DS-3608 scanner
  • Support for Multi-barcode decoding:
    • New Multi Barcode Scanning Mode option in Reader parameters enables simultaneous decoding of multiple barcodes
    • New Barcode count field under Multi-barcode parameters allows a barcode count to be set
  • Supports sending ENTER command as a string
  • Enhanced support for Inter-character delay
  • New PRESS_AND_SUSTAIN AimType avoids canceling a read by subsequently pressing the trigger button (TC20/TC25 devices only)

Beta support for Visual Studio on Mac OS X

  • Support ends for Visual Studio 2013 for Windows
  • Support ends for Xamarin Studio for Mac and Windows

Support for MX 7.2 adds the following Setting Types and features:

  • Enhanced Display Manager CSP:
    • On VC80 devices, adds the ability to force the display to “Stay Awake” and remain on.
  • Enhanced Power Manager CSP:
    • Turn ON/OFF “Doze Mode” energy saving features on the device. When enabled, only specially designated apps can prevent the device from entering a low-power state to preserve battery life.
  • Enhanced Remote Scanner Manager CSP:
    • Supports RS-507 and DS-3608 scanners
  • Enhanced Settings Manager CSP:
    • Enable/Disable application notification control on devices running Android Nougat

Deprecations

  • Support for configuring DataWedge using EMDK Profile Manager is deprecated. Profile Manager capabilities categorized under Data Capture are still supported but will no longer be advanced. Zebra recommends using DataWedge intent-based APIs to configure DataWedge profiles going forward.

  • Support for the ContinuousRead class is deprecated. This class, which can be used to enable continuous scanning, is still supported but will no longer be advanced. Zebra recommends using the aimType, sameSymbolTimeout, differentSymbolTimeout reader parameters for the device camera, imager or laser.

  • Support for the picklist field is deprecated. This field, which is used for enabling the picklist mode, is still support but will ultimately be replaced by the picklistEx field.

Compatibility Notes

  • When upgrading to a new version of EMDK for Xamarin, previous versions must be uninstalled. Failure to remove previous versions will result in an incomplete installation of the new extension.
  • Support for KitKat (Android 4.4.3 or higher) devices has been dropped.
  • For devices running Android Lollipop or higher, a device-specific update is distributed with the latest BSP or security incremental patch for that device.