Add Camera

Shared instructions: shared-instructions.md — read first.

References:

• dataverse-reference.md — File/image column upload patterns (Step 7–8)

Add Camera

Internal helper. Users should invoke /add-native camera, /add-native image-picker, /add-native barcode-scanner, or /add-native qr-scanner; /add-native routes here after resolving the capability.

Generate typed camera + image-picker wrappers, an optional barcode/QR scanner control, and optional custom-upload guidance for Dataverse image/file workflows.

This skill only writes JS files under src/native/. It does not install modules and does not touch package.json or app.config.js — the underlying Expo modules (expo-camera, expo-image-picker) and their config plugins must already be shipped by the microsoft/power-platform-skills/plugins/mobile-apps/template#main template. If they're missing, STOP and tell the user the template doesn't ship them yet.

Why: customer binaries are built from a pre-built rewrap base, not from the customer's package.json. Adding a native module here would compile against modules the binary doesn't actually contain, causing runtime crashes after rewrap. See /add-native for the same hard rules.

Two modules are required (must already be in package.json):

• expo-camera — live viewfinder, barcode scanning
• expo-image-picker — gallery selection + quick camera capture (simpler API, no viewfinder)

Dataverse File/Image boundary: for normal Dataverse File/Image form fields, screens should use FilePicker / ImagePicker from @microsoft/power-apps-native-host (see /add-native File/Image Picker Ownership). /add-native camera owns custom camera/gallery/scanner workflows, such as a dedicated evidence-capture screen, barcode/QR scan gate, or gallery-selected image that is transformed before saving.

Pen/signature boundary: signature, sign-off, ink, drawing, or pen capture belongs to /add-native pen-input (which routes internally to the pen helper). Both camera photos and pen signatures can persist to Dataverse Image/File columns, but the capture wrappers are separate.

Workflow

1. Verify project → 2. Verify modules are template-shipped → 3. Write camera wrapper → 3b. Write scanner control if requested → 4. Detect Dataverse columns → 5. Write upload helper only for custom capture flows → 6. Type-check → 7. Summary

Step 1 — Verify project

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test -f app.config.js && test -f power.config.json && test -f package.json

If any file is missing, report and STOP — this skill requires an initialized Power Apps mobile app.

Step 2 — Verify modules are template-shipped

Both expo-camera and expo-image-picker must already be in package.json. Do not install them — if they're missing, the upstream template hasn't shipped them yet, and this skill STOPs.

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node -e "const p = require('./package.json'); const need = ['expo-camera','expo-image-picker']; const missing = need.filter(m => !p.dependencies?.[m]); if (missing.length) { console.error('MISSING from package.json: ' + missing.join(', ') + '. The upstream template must ship these for /add-native camera to run. Do NOT install them yourself — file an issue at the template repo (plugins/mobile-apps/template) instead.'); process.exit(1); } console.log('OK: both modules present');"

If the check fails, STOP. Print the error verbatim. Do not run npx expo install. Do not edit app.config.js. Tell the user the template version they scaffolded from doesn't include the camera modules — they need to wait for a newer template release or open a request upstream.

Also check if the wrapper already exists:

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test -f src/native/camera.ts && echo "exists" || echo "missing"

If the wrapper exists, skip Step 3 — do NOT overwrite. Continue to Step 3b / Step 4 as needed.

Detect whether barcode/QR scanning is requested by checking $ARGUMENTS and native-app-plan.md for barcode, bar code, QR, scanner, scan gate, SKU scan, or inventory scan. If present, set SCANNER_NEEDED=yes; otherwise skip Step 3b unless the user explicitly asks for scanner support.

Step 3 — Write camera wrapper

Print before starting:

"→ Writing src/native/camera.ts wrapper (takePhoto + pickImage with discriminated-union results)…"

Create src/native/camera.ts. If the file already exists, do NOT overwrite — append a comment noting "regenerated by /add-native camera" and STOP this step.

typescriptCopy code
// src/native/camera.ts
// Camera capture and image picker wrapper for Power Apps mobile apps.
// Uses expo-image-picker for both camera capture and gallery selection.
// All functions return discriminated-union results — never throw.

import * as ImagePicker from 'expo-image-picker';

// --- Result types ---

export type PhotoResult =
  | { ok: true; uri: string; width: number; height: number; mimeType?: string; fileSize?: number }
  | { ok: false; reason: 'permission-denied' | 'cancelled' | 'unsupported' | 'error'; message?: string };

// --- Permission ---

export async function requestCameraPermission(): Promise<boolean> {
  const { status } = await ImagePicker.requestCameraPermissionsAsync();
  return status === 'granted';
}

export async function requestMediaLibraryPermission(): Promise<boolean> {
  const { status } = await ImagePicker.requestMediaLibraryPermissionsAsync();
  return status === 'granted';
}

// --- Capture ---

/**
 * Launch the device camera and capture a photo.
 * Returns `{ ok: false, reason: 'unsupported' }` when native camera capture is unavailable.
 */
export async function takePhoto(options?: {
  quality?: number;
  allowsEditing?: boolean;
}): Promise<PhotoResult> {
  const granted = await requestCameraPermission();
  if (!granted) return { ok: false, reason: 'permission-denied' };

  try {
    const result = await ImagePicker.launchCameraAsync({
      mediaTypes: ['images'],
      quality: options?.quality ?? 0.8,
      allowsEditing: options?.allowsEditing ?? false,
      exif: false,
    });

    if (result.canceled) return { ok: false, reason: 'cancelled' };

    const asset = result.assets[0];
    return {
      ok: true,
      uri: asset.uri,
      width: asset.width ?? 0,
      height: asset.height ?? 0,
      mimeType: asset.mimeType ?? undefined,
      fileSize: asset.fileSize ?? undefined,
    };
  } catch (e: any) {
    return { ok: false, reason: 'error', message: e?.message };
  }
}

/**
 * Open the device photo gallery and pick an image.
 * Works on all platforms including web (uses native file picker).
 */
export async function pickImage(options?: {
  quality?: number;
  allowsEditing?: boolean;
  allowsMultipleSelection?: boolean;
}): Promise<PhotoResult> {
  const granted = await requestMediaLibraryPermission();
  if (!granted) return { ok: false, reason: 'permission-denied' };

  try {
    const result = await ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync({
      mediaTypes: ['images'],
      quality: options?.quality ?? 0.8,
      allowsEditing: options?.allowsEditing ?? false,
      allowsMultipleSelection: options?.allowsMultipleSelection ?? false,
      exif: false,
    });

    if (result.canceled) return { ok: false, reason: 'cancelled' };

    const asset = result.assets[0];
    return {
      ok: true,
      uri: asset.uri,
      width: asset.width ?? 0,
      height: asset.height ?? 0,
      mimeType: asset.mimeType ?? undefined,
      fileSize: asset.fileSize ?? undefined,
    };
  } catch (e: any) {
    return { ok: false, reason: 'error', message: e?.message };
  }
}

Step 3b — Write barcode/QR scanner control when requested

Skip this step unless SCANNER_NEEDED=yes. Photo-only and gallery-only flows do not need a live CameraView.

Print before starting:

"→ Writing src/native/barcodeScanner.tsx (CameraView barcode/QR scanner control)…"

Create src/native/barcodeScanner.tsx. If it already exists, do not overwrite.

tsxCopy code
// src/native/barcodeScanner.tsx
// Barcode / QR scanner control for Power Apps mobile apps.
// Uses expo-camera CameraView. Never throws; permission state is rendered inline.

import React from 'react';
import { StyleProp, StyleSheet, Text, View, ViewStyle } from 'react-native';
import { CameraView, useCameraPermissions } from 'expo-camera';
import type { BarcodeScanningResult, BarcodeType } from 'expo-camera';

export type ScannerResult = {
  ok: true;
  data: string;
  type: string;
  raw: BarcodeScanningResult;
};

export type BarcodeScannerViewProps = {
  onScanned: (result: ScannerResult) => void;
  paused?: boolean;
  resetKey?: unknown;
  barcodeTypes?: BarcodeType[];
  style?: StyleProp<ViewStyle>;
  overlay?: React.ReactNode;
  children?: React.ReactNode;
};

const DEFAULT_BARCODE_TYPES = [
  'aztec',
  'qr',
  'ean13',
  'ean8',
  'upc_a',
  'upc_e',
  'datamatrix',
  'code39',
  'code93',
  'code128',
  'pdf417',
  'itf14',
  'codabar',
] as BarcodeType[];

export function BarcodeScannerView({
  onScanned,
  paused = false,
  resetKey,
  barcodeTypes = DEFAULT_BARCODE_TYPES,
  style,
  overlay,
  children,
}: BarcodeScannerViewProps) {
  const [permission, requestPermission] = useCameraPermissions();
  const scanLockedRef = React.useRef(false);

  React.useEffect(() => {
    if (permission && !permission.granted && permission.canAskAgain) {
      requestPermission();
    }
  }, [permission, requestPermission]);

  React.useEffect(() => {
    if (!paused) {
      scanLockedRef.current = false;
    }
  }, [paused, resetKey]);

  const handleBarcodeScanned = React.useCallback((event: BarcodeScanningResult) => {
    if (paused || scanLockedRef.current) return;
    scanLockedRef.current = true;
    onScanned({ ok: true, data: event.data, type: event.type, raw: event });
  }, [onScanned, paused]);

  if (!permission) {
    return <View style={[styles.fallback, style]}><Text>Checking camera permission...</Text></View>;
  }

  if (!permission.granted) {
    return <View style={[styles.fallback, style]}><Text>Camera permission is required to scan codes.</Text></View>;
  }

  return (
    <View style={[styles.container, style]}>
      <CameraView
        style={StyleSheet.absoluteFill}
        facing="back"
        active={!paused}
        barcodeScannerSettings={{ barcodeTypes }}
        onBarcodeScanned={paused ? undefined : handleBarcodeScanned}
      />
      {overlay || children ? <View pointerEvents="box-none" style={styles.overlay}>{overlay ?? children}</View> : null}
    </View>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: { flex: 1, overflow: 'hidden', position: 'relative' },
  overlay: { ...StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject },
  fallback: { flex: 1, alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center', padding: 16 },
});

Scanner rendering rule: do not put overlay UI as CameraView children. Expo Camera can render incorrectly when React children are nested inside the native camera preview. The generated control renders the camera as one layer and renders overlay / children as a sibling absolute layer above it.

Scan mutation rule: the generated control has an internal one-shot scan lock so rapid onBarcodeScanned callbacks cannot double-submit. Screens should still set paused=true before navigating or mutating data, then reset paused=false and change resetKey when the screen regains focus. This makes returning to the scanner reliable after a successful scan.

Scan-gate business rule: for QR lookup flows, resolve the scanned code against the target entity first (for example, Test Item). If the lookup misses, show a clear inline Item does not exist message and keep scanner flow in-place. Do not auto-create Unknown scan rows unless the approved plan explicitly requires that fallback behavior.

Scanner loading UI rule: when scan processing takes time (lookup/create mutation), render a spinner-only overlay inside the scanner preview via the overlay prop. Do not render a separate loading card/panel above the camera preview.

Step 4 — Detect Dataverse image/file columns

Check if the project has generated services with file or image upload support:

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Grep pattern="ImageColumnName|FileColumnName|UploadColumnName" path="src/generated/"

If matches found: note the table names and column types. Continue to Step 5 only when the plan explicitly requires a custom camera/gallery capture flow outside the host ImagePicker / FilePicker controls.

File/Image host-control safety: this skill does not replace normal Dataverse form controls. Keep host ImagePicker / FilePicker for standard Dataverse form-bound Image/File fields.

If no matches (or src/generated/ doesn't exist): skip Step 5. The camera wrapper (Step 3) and scanner control (Step 3b, when requested) are still useful standalone — screens can display photos or scan codes without uploading to Dataverse. Mention in the summary that Dataverse file/image form fields should use host controls after running /add-dataverse with image/file columns.

Step 5 — Write image upload helper

Print before starting:

"→ Writing src/native/cameraUpload.ts (Dataverse image column base64 patch helper)…"

Create src/native/cameraUpload.ts. If the file already exists, do NOT overwrite.

Do not generate this helper for normal Dataverse File/Image form fields. Those use host FilePicker / ImagePicker controls. Generate it only when the approved screen plan needs a custom camera/gallery capture flow.

This helper does not change host ImagePicker / FilePicker behavior. It only covers custom photo-capture flows where the app receives a camera URI and then updates a Dataverse Image column explicitly.

This helper is for Dataverse Image columns in native apps. It reads the local photo URI using Expo file APIs, converts it to base64, then calls the generated service update() with { [imageColumnName]: base64 }.

Do not convert camera URIs into browser-style File / Blob objects for this path. That pattern is fragile in RN/Expo runtimes and causes upload failures like arrayBuffer is not a function.

typescriptCopy code
// src/native/cameraUpload.ts
// Bridges camera/gallery photo output to Dataverse Image column updates.
// Reads local image URI as base64 and PATCHes the image column via service.update().

import * as FileSystem from 'expo-file-system';

export type UploadResult =
  | { ok: true }
  | { ok: false; reason: 'read-failed' | 'update-failed' | 'error'; message?: string };

export type ImageUpdateService = {
  update: (id: string, body: any) => Promise<{ success: boolean; error?: { message?: string } }>;
};

/**
 * Upload a photo from takePhoto() / pickImage() to a Dataverse Image column.
 *
 * @param uri             - Photo URI from the camera wrapper result
 * @param service         - Generated Dataverse service with update()
 * @param recordId        - The Dataverse record GUID to patch
 * @param imageColumnName - Dataverse Image column logical name
 */
export async function uploadPhotoToImageColumn(
  uri: string,
  service: ImageUpdateService,
  recordId: string,
  imageColumnName: string,
): Promise<UploadResult> {
  try {
    const base64 = await readUriAsBase64(uri);
    if (!base64) {
      return { ok: false, reason: 'read-failed', message: 'Could not read the image URI as base64.' };
    }

    // Dataverse Image columns expect base64 payload value (without data URI prefix).
    const result = await service.update(recordId, { [imageColumnName]: base64 });

    if (!result.success || result.error) {
      return { ok: false, reason: 'update-failed', message: result.error?.message ?? 'Dataverse image update failed.' };
    }

    return { ok: true };
  } catch (error) {
    return { ok: false, reason: 'error', message: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unable to upload image.' };
  }
}

/**
 * Read a local photo URI to a base64 string using Expo file APIs.
 */
async function readUriAsBase64(uri: string): Promise<string | null> {
  try {
    const fsAny = FileSystem as any;
    if (typeof fsAny.readAsStringAsync !== 'function') {
      return null;
    }

    const normalizedUri = uri.startsWith('file://') ? uri : `file://${uri}`;
    const base64 = await fsAny.readAsStringAsync(normalizedUri, {
      encoding: fsAny.EncodingType?.Base64 ?? 'base64',
    });
    if (typeof base64 !== 'string' || base64.length === 0) {
      return null;
    }

    return base64;
  } catch {
    return null;
  }
}

Important: The service parameter is typed loosely (ImageUpdateService) so it works with any generated service that has update(). The caller passes the concrete service — this avoids importing a specific generated service in the helper.

Write contract: the helper must treat any non-truthy result.success as failure even when result.error is missing. Generated services return IOperationResult, and native app screens must not show success or navigate after any Dataverse write unless success is truthy.

Template/API note: if readAsStringAsync is not available from expo-file-system in your template version, import from expo-file-system/legacy and keep the same base64 behavior.

Step 6 — Type-check

Print before starting:

"→ Running tsc to verify camera + upload helper compile (~10–20 seconds)."

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npx tsc --noEmit

Fix any errors. Common issues:

• readAsStringAsync not found on expo-file-system — switch import to expo-file-system/legacy for this helper.
• Import path mismatches — verify src/native/ is reachable from screen components.

Step 7 — Summary

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Camera + image picker wrappers generated
---
Modules (template-shipped) : expo-camera, expo-image-picker
package.json               : unchanged ✓
app.config.js              : unchanged ✓
Camera wrapper             : src/native/camera.ts
Scanner control            : src/native/barcodeScanner.tsx (or "skipped — no barcode/QR workflow requested")
Upload helper              : src/native/cameraUpload.ts  (or "skipped — no Dataverse image columns found")

Type-check: PASS

Sample usage (capture + upload to Dataverse):

  import { takePhoto } from '../native/camera';
  import { uploadPhotoToImageColumn } from '../native/cameraUpload';
  import { Cr123_inspectionService } from '../generated/services/Cr123_inspectionService';

  const result = await takePhoto();
  if (result.ok) {
    const upload = await uploadPhotoToImageColumn(
      result.uri,
      Cr123_inspectionService,
      recordId,
      'cr123_sitephoto'  // Dataverse Image column logical name
    );
    if (upload.ok) {
      showToast('Photo attached to record');
    }
  }

Sample usage (gallery pick, no Dataverse):

  import { pickImage } from '../native/camera';

  const result = await pickImage();
  if (result.ok) {
    setPreviewUri(result.uri);
  }

Sample usage (QR/barcode scan gate):

  import { BarcodeScannerView } from '../native/barcodeScanner';
  import { useFocusEffect } from 'expo-router';

  const [paused, setPaused] = useState(false);
  const [scanResetKey, setScanResetKey] = useState(0);

  useFocusEffect(
    React.useCallback(() => {
      setPaused(false);
      setScanResetKey((value) => value + 1);
      return () => setPaused(true);
    }, [])
  );

  <BarcodeScannerView
    paused={paused}
    resetKey={scanResetKey}
    barcodeTypes={['qr', 'ean13', 'code128']}
    overlay={
      <>
        <ScannerFrame />
        {isScanning ? <ScannerOverlaySpinner /> : null}
      </>
    }
    onScanned={({ data, type }) => {
      setPaused(true);
      handleCode(data, type);
    }}
  />

Note: Camera changes need a native rebuild to take effect:
  run the platform-specific native command for your target device/simulator
  Metro hot-reload alone is not enough for permission changes.
---

Notes

• This skill never modifies src/playerConfig.ts, src/generated/, or any screen file.
• takePhoto() returns { ok: false, reason: 'unsupported' } when native camera capture is unavailable.
• Barcode/QR scanning is handled here via src/native/barcodeScanner.tsx when requested. Use it for scan gates and lookup flows; do not use it as a replacement for Dataverse File/Image host controls.
• cameraUpload.ts in this skill targets custom Dataverse Image-column capture flows only. It does not replace host ImagePicker / FilePicker controls for standard Dataverse forms.
• If Dataverse tables are added later (via /add-dataverse), re-run /add-native camera — it will skip module install and wrapper creation, and only write cameraUpload.ts when image columns are detected for custom capture flows.