# NFC Network Client Update - Global Input Capture

## What's New in v1.1.0

**MAJOR IMPROVEMENT:** The NFC client now uses **global input capture** - it will capture NFC scans even when the window is NOT focused!

### The Problem (Fixed)
Previously, the client only captured keyboard input when its window had focus. If you clicked on another window or minimized it, NFC scans wouldn't be detected.

### The Solution
The new version uses the `pynput` library to capture keyboard input globally, regardless of which window has focus. This means:

✅ NFC scans work when the client is minimized
✅ NFC scans work when you're using other programs
✅ NFC scans work when you're browsing the web
✅ The client can run in the background without being annoying

## Installation

### For New Installations
1. Navigate to the `clients` directory
2. Install dependencies:
   ```
   pip install -r client_requirements.txt
   ```
3. Run the client:
   ```
   start_nfc_client.bat
   ```

### For Existing Installations
1. Pull the latest version from Gitea
2. Install the new dependency:
   ```
   pip install pynput
   ```
3. Run the updated client:
   ```
   start_nfc_client.bat
   ```

The launcher will automatically check for `pynput` and install it if missing.

## Technical Details

### How It Works
- Uses `pynput.keyboard.Listener` for system-wide keyboard capture
- Monitors all keyboard input regardless of focus
- Maintains the same scan detection logic (character accumulation + Enter key)
- Automatically starts the global listener on launch

### UI Indicators
The client window now shows:
- **"Global Input Capture"** status panel
- Green "Active - Capturing NFC scans globally" when running
- Clear indication that scans work without window focus

### Requirements
- **Python 3.7+**
- **pynput** (new requirement)
- **requests** (existing)
- **tkinter** (usually included with Python)

### Compatibility
- ✅ Windows 10/11
- ✅ Linux (requires X11 or accessibility permissions)
- ✅ macOS (may require accessibility permissions)

## Troubleshooting

### "Permission denied" errors on Linux/macOS
The system may require accessibility permissions for global input capture.

**Linux (X11):**
```bash
# Should work out of the box with X11
# Wayland may require additional setup
```

**macOS:**
1. Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy
2. Add Python/Terminal to "Accessibility" list
3. Restart the client

### "pynput not found" error
Run:
```
pip install pynput
```

Or use the requirements file:
```
pip install -r client_requirements.txt
```

## Version History

### v1.1.0 (Current)
- ✨ NEW: Global input capture - works without window focus
- ✨ NEW: Background operation capability
- ✨ NEW: Visual status indicators for capture state
- 🐛 FIX: No longer loses scans when window is unfocused
- 📦 NEW: Added `pynput` dependency

### v1.0.0
- Initial release with window-focus-dependent input capture

## Need Help?

If you have issues:
1. Check that `pynput` is installed: `pip show pynput`
2. Check the Activity Log in the client window
3. Test with a simple keyboard input when window is unfocused

Enjoy seamless NFC scanning! 🎬