I have problem with barcode scans when using Google Keyboard 5, any advice?

[AC Question]

I have problem with barcode scans when using Google Keyboard 5

I'm having problems scanning barcodes after an automatic update installed Google Keyboard version 5.
The barcode scanner is configured to add a new line character (\n) as a suffix to the scanned value so that the focus is moved automatically to the next field once the value has been entered, ready for the next value to be scanned.
The problem occurs when the last field is reached. There is no ‘next line’ to go to so the ‘next line’ character is added to the scanned value. As a result, the value is not correct.
This problem only seems to occur with Google Keyboard version 5. I didn’t have it when working with version 4. The problem doesn’t occur with Android Keyboard (AOSP) version 4.2.2 either.
I’ve tested using several different applications and the behaviour is always the same. When a value is scanned into the last list of a form, the new line character is appended to the scanned value.
I’ve tried using the Tab character (\t) to pass to the next line. This works OK for the last line problem but causes another problem in ‘Search’ type fields because the ‘Enter’ action doesn’t occur.
I’ve tried various combinations of Carriage return (\r), Backspace (\b), New line (\n) and Tab (\t) but I can’t find anything that will work in both the Search tab fields and also the last line type fields.
Can anyone provide any advice about how I might be able to get around this?
Thanks for your help.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Re: I have problem with barcode scans when using Google Keyboard 5

Welcome to the forums. Have you tried a cache clear for the app?

 

[AlexStevenson]

Re: I have a problem with barcode scans when using Google Keyboard 5

Thanks. I hadn't tried clearing the cache, but I have now. Unfortunately it didn't help.

I'm sure that the problem is linked to the keyboard. It happens in all applications that use forms with single line input fields.
I tested with a barcode containing Google. When I opened the navigator and scanned the code into the address bar, the address wasn't found because a blank character had been inserted at the end.
The same barcode works fine with the the previous version of the Google keyboard and also with Android keyboard 4.2.2. It only with Google keyboard v5 that it doesn't work.

I tested with the Contacts app too by adding the Nickname field to the bottom of the form and then scanning a value into it. Wth the older keyboard versions it workend fine, but with Google keyboard v5 a blank space was inserted at the end of the value.

It seems that it is not correctly managing the escaped character that it is receiveing from the barcode reader.