Resolved Questions

pfm

Insert variable QR codes into Indesign

Tagged With:-

I am having difficulty inserting variable QR Codes into a job being printed on an HP Indigo digital press. We are using the Excel VBA tool on a Windows 7 machine and Excel 2007. The insertion is being done on a Mac in Indesign CS4 using the IDAutomationDMatrix font. The URLs for the QR codes were sent to us in a CSV file.
The conversion appears to work correctly, but when the font is applied to the codes, there are wide line breaks splitting the QR codes. As best I can tell, there are no line breaks in the file.

06-20-12 12.3 year(s) ago

Report Abuse


pfm	Best Answer Neither Indesign nor the choice of fonts was causing the problem. The data file was not correct. The macro converts the URLs to: =EncQR_click(http://whatever.com) In order to work properly, the fx field needs to contain: =SUBSTITUTE(EncQR_click(http://whatever.com),CHAR(13)," ") Posted 12.3 year(s) ago (0) (0) Report Abuse

Find Interesting

Email to Others

Bookmark

Subscribe to Answer Alert

Add Comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment.

Other Answers (6)

pfm

Indesign is not adding any additional lines.
What puzzles me is the fact that the previous data file does not cause this issue, but the new one does - in the exact same file.
If I manually change the line spacing, I can make the spaces go away, but this is a trial-and-error process and I have no way of knowing whether or not the codes will scan.
These codes are going on labels that will have variable data, individual QR codes, and RFID tags - all of which will be unique to each label.

Posted 12.3 year(s) ago

(0)

Report Abuse

Ben

You may want to take a look at: https://www.idautomation.com/fonts/datamatrix/faq.html#Line Spacing Issues

It mentions the Data Matrix symbology but QR Code also applies. Also if it is not this issue, then check your application's line spacing. It is most likely one of the two issues mentioned.

Posted 12.3 year(s) ago

(0)

Report Abuse

pfm	The top and bottom images use the previous data file; the middle two use the current file. No other changes were made to the Indesign file. Originally printed using the DMatrix or IDAutomation2D font. Posted 12.3 year(s) ago (0) (0) Report Abuse

Ben	Can you attach a screenshot of the issue? I just need to see a bit more detail before I can determine exactly how to resolve the issue. Posted 12.3 year(s) ago (0) (0) Report Abuse

pfm

We are making QR Codes. This job had been done in the past by someone else who worked here. The previous job was set up to use IDAutomationDMatrix as the font and was set to 7.3 pt size with 7.3 pt leading. When I change to the 2D barcode font (otf) in either the old job or the one I am working on, the appearance does not change - the old job looks correct in both fonts and the new job is incorrect in both fonts. When I use the old database in the new job, the codes appear to be correct and when I use the new database in the old job they are incorrect. This leads me to believe that the data file is not correct.

Here is what I did in Excel:
Duplicate the column with the URLs (I also tried this on the original column)
Select the new column and use the Symbology Addin to convert to the QR code
Save the file as comma delimited (I also tried every tab-delimited option)

The converted fields now read as follows in the formula bar:
=EncQR_click("http://...")
The fields themselves are a long string of capital letters with no spacing or other characters.
I did not apply any format to the fields nor did I resize the columns.

Posted 12.3 year(s) ago

(0)

Report Abuse

Ben

What barcode are you attempting to create Data Matrix or QR Code or both? If you are creating QR Code, then you will want to apply the IDAutomation 2D barcode font to the encoded data. If you are creating Data Matrix, then you will want to use the IDAutomationDMatrix or IDAutomation2D font.

If you are receiving spaces, then make sure there are no additional lines being placed within InDesign as this will create a barcode that has horizontal lines through it.

Posted 12.3 year(s) ago

(0)

Report Abuse

Categories

» Barcode Applications » Barcode Components ● Barcode FAQ » Barcode Fonts » Barcode Hardware ● Barcode Learning » Font Encoders ● General License Questions ● General Sales Questions » MICR & OCR Fonts » Other ● Product Updates » Saas Hosted Products

Email this question link to friends

Your comment on this question

Allows to add a link. Added links would only be converted to actual clickable link, when the domain of the link is white-listed by administrator.
Caption	:
Link URL	:	(Must starts with "http://")
Add \| Cancel

Allow to insert an image. Must be among the following file types - .jpg, .gif, .png & .bmp.
Image Url	:	Upload New (Image url must always starts with " http:// ")
Width	:	pixels (Must not be greater than 450px. Enter 0px for no resize)
Add \| Cancel

Allow to insert YouTube video. Insert the video embed code.
Embed Code	:
Add \| Cancel

Up to 5000 Characters are allowed. Current Count: 0

Your comment on this answer

Allow you to add a link. Added links would only be converted to actual clickable link, when the domain of the link is white-listed by administrator.
Caption	:
Link URL	:	(Must start with "http://" or "https://")
Add \| Cancel

Allow to insert an image. Must be among the following file types - .jpg, .gif, .png & .bmp.
Image Url	:	Upload New (Image url must always start with "http://" or "https://")
Width	:	pixels (Must not be greater than 450px. Enter 0px for no resize)
Add \| Cancel

Allow to insert YouTube video. Insert the video embed code.
Embed Code	:
Add \| Cancel

Up to 5000 characters are allowed. Current Count: 0

My Profile

You may answer and comment on any thread according to the Terms and Conditions.