GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE CONTROL FOR PROVIDING BOTH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL DATA INPUT

A scan-aware custom control for use in designing a graphical user interface is capable of being provided with both scanned input from a bar code reading device as well as standard keyboard input when desired by the operator. The scan-aware custom control is implemented by an applications developer in a similar fashion to standard text controls, and has custom properties to allow data entry parameters to be set at the time the interface is designed. The scan-aware custom control reads the custom property values from a preloaded properties file in order to configure the scanner interface in accordance with the desired symbologies to be decoded. The scan-aware custom control is implemented on a graphical user interface resident on a data entry terminal in order to facilitate data entry in both automatic and manual modes of entry.