How to use QR-codes in FastReport .NET

Nowadays “QR-codes” are gaining their popularity. Unlike conventional barcodes, “QR-codes” allow you to encode more information in different formats. They are widely spread in trade, logistics and production. To recognize such codes one does not need a special laser reader. A smartphone camera will be enough. Easy recognition is the secret of popularity of “QR-codes”.

As a modern reporting tool, FastReport.Net provides an opportunity to use “QR-codes”.

 Let us view the possibility in detail.

Run the report designer. You will find a QR-code component in a pop-up menu of the control Barcode .

Select the item “QR Code” from the list and add the control to the page:

Open the barcode editor by double-clicking on the component. This can also be done from the context menu. Select "Edit":

Now, let us view the Barcode editor:

It is very similar to the expression editor. There will be a “data tree” on the right. You can "drag and drop" elements from it into a text editor. After there will a drop-down list appear above. You can choose the type of content QR code there:

Let us consider more types with examples of codes and data:

-      “Text” is the text in alphabetical and numerical representation. We use the text "12345678":

12345678

-      “vCard” ( also known as Versitcard) is a format for electronic business cards. In this format you can send information about a person:

• Full  name;
• Name of the organization;
• The logo of the organization;
• Address;
• Phone numbers;
• URL;
• Video and audio fragments and etc.

BEGIN:VCARD

VERSION:2.1

FN:AnneDodsworth

N:Dodsworth;Anne

TITLE:Manager

TEL;WORK;VOICE:(71) 555-4444

ADR:;;7Houndstooth Rd.;;;;

END:VCARD

-        “URI” is Uniform Resource Identifier is a line identification of files, documents, images,

 e-mails, web service, etc .:

 https://www.fast-report.com/products/fast-report-net

 -        “EmailAddress”:

support@fast-report.com

 -        “EmailMessage” is an e-mail text:

MATMSG:TO:support@fast-report.com;SUB:FastReport.Net question;BODY:Hello,

I have a question about FastReport.Net.;;

-        “Geolocation” is  coordinates to determine the actual geographic location:

geo:-50.737563,-79.490016,120

-        “SMS” is a short Message:

SMSTO:(71) 555-4444:Hello, Dolly! I'm fine!

-        “Call” is a phone number:

tel:(71) 555-4444

-        “Event” is an event marked in the calendar. It contains date / time and a text message:

BEGIN:VEVENT

SUMMARY:Back to the Future Day!

DTSTART:20151021T121141Z

DTEND:20151021T121141Z

END:VEVENT

-        “Wi-fi” is  information to connect to the wi-fi network:

WIFI:T:WPA;S:Honeypot;P:youarewelcome;H:true;

Click the button "Save" to accept the changes.

Now, let us review some properties of Barcode object:

Notice the Encoding property. Here you can select the text encoding, for example: UTF8, Windows_1251, CP_866 and others.

To provide redundancy use Error Correction. It can be: L (low), M (medium), Q, H (high). These levels provide a variety code redundancy. Redundancy is necessary for correct reading of data when the image of the code is partly damaged.

Here is the percentage equivalent of error correction levels:

-        L – 7%;

-        M – 15%;

-        Q – 25%;

-        H –30%.

QuietZone property determines by the availability of a white QR-code frame.

To hide the text under the code, change the value of the ShowText = false.

AutoSize property is responsible for automatic adjustment of the size of the code, depending on the size of the object.

Summing up, we have reviewed the use of “QR-codes” in FastReport.Net. This feature expands the use of the reporting tool in modern workflows.