Is there a way to modify QRCodes in XMPie?

[kwright]

I have been researching sources on the internet for some insight on
how to modify XMPie generated QRCodes in indesign. I would like for
the code to scan into a mobile phone to where the reader can simply
touch (or click) the specific piece of information and the phone will
send them there.

For example, the reader can touch or click 'Home Phone' and be able to
make the call, or select the web address and the reader will be
immediately directed to the website that is embedded into the QRCode.

When I generate a QRCode on my iphone, it creates a contact code that
can be saved straight into my contacts. When I generate one in
indesign, the code is not this interactive. Does anyone know if there
is a solution to this? Also, can the colors of the codes be changed?

[Murray Miskelly]

I am not sure if you are asking about accessing a specific part of a
single QR Code, but if so I doubt that you can.

A QR Code can contain up to nearly 4,300 characters of data, and you
have full control of that content by editing the rule that controls
the Content Object (or ADOR).
Bear in mind that the ability to read a high density QR code depends
on the quality of the scanning lens, and the application being used,
so in practice I do not use anywhere near the limits.

If you want a specific action to occur you need to encode the desired
item in the QR Code as fixed text, with variable content pulled from
the database.

On a separate thread to this I see Ed and Wimpanzee have given you
some direction.

I suggest looking at the following link, generate some sample codes,
and look at the encoding of them when read in a SmartPhone app:
http://www.qrstuff.com/ (personally I use QuickMark on iPhone as it
allows you to view the raw text of a code to check integrity before I
release campaigns._

From there the next stage is just to copy that encoding, past it into
the QLingo for your QR code ADORZ, and replace the variable content
with |->[Field_name].

MJM

[Eyal Arie]

I would like to try and sum up what was said here, and in the other threads:

• QR-Code standard only defines how to take a text message and encode it into pixels.
  
  
• The "interactive" flavor is achieved by using "URI like" formatting on the text, such as "SMSTO:7777777:This is a text message" to send a text message, and others.
  
  
• There is no real standard for these formatting options, but there are "De facto standards" that many, probably most, barcode reader apps on mobile devices support.
  
  
• Since there is no real standard about it there is no single reference document, but the link that Murray supplied (http://www.qrstuff.com/) is a good exsample of an encoder that supports all of these formatting options.
  Another good link, that explains the actual formatting can be found at: http://code.google.com/p/zxing/wiki/BarcodeContents
  
  
• Indeed, currently XMPie does not offer "Out of the box" QRCode formatting but since the encodings are very simple text based, it is extremely easy to code them in QLingo.
  
  
• Currently there is no option to color the barcodes, you can use InDesign tricks for coloring the content of the box in which you placed the barcode, but test the results that you get, it might increase output size and production time as well as make the code less readable by lower quality readers (black and white contrast is easily detected by scanners...)

One last point to consider - since there is no real standard, it is not guaranteed that all devices will be able to understand the encoding and understand what to do with the various parts of the "message". As always when there is no standard (as with smart phones and with Web Browsers) there is no alternative to doing some in house testing of the target devices to make sure it works as expected.

Regards,

Eyal

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[Timothy Perrett]

Great summary Eyal!

Cheers, Tim

[David Baldaro]

What the original poster seemed to be asking for is beyond what a standard QRCode is actually for. 

The QRCode will take you somewhere ( via URL) or contain some information (iCAL, vCard, SMS etc) - it's up to the device that is scanning the barcode to act upon the information encode within the barcode. 

So, if you scan a QRCode which contains a vCARD encoded string then a good device will recognize this ask you if you want to save that information into your phone. 

What seems to be asked for here, is a more interactive approach - which could be implemented with some careful thought. 

Essentially you encode the QRCode with a RURL and take the customer to a personalised site, which then in turn allows them to interact with the information. I.E Do you want to visit the link, download the vCard, 'Like us' on Faceboook etc. 

This is essentially what some service on the Internet are now providing - and something that could be easily implemented in XMPie Cross Media.