QR Code Generator Introduction
A QR code always contains text. What a smartphone does with it — opens a page, saves a contact, connects to a network — depends on the format of that text. QR Code Generator hides the formats behind nine tabs: you fill in ordinary fields, and the web part writes the data in the form that phones understand. This article describes the fields of every tab, the fields that are required and the result of scanning.
General rules
- The code is built from the tab that is currently selected. The data entered on the other tabs is kept, but it is not part of the code.
- Required fields are marked with an asterisk. Until they are filled in, the preview shows the message One or more required fields is empty. Check that all required fields are filled in and try again, and the Update, Copy and Download buttons are disabled.
- The more text is encoded, the denser the code and the harder it is to scan from a distance. Fill in only the fields that are really needed.
- The action after scanning is chosen by the smartphone. Different camera apps may word the prompt differently or support fewer types.
URL
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| URL | Yes | The address of the page. When the web part is added to a page, the field contains the address of the current site. |
The address is written into the code as is. Enter it in full, with https://, otherwise the phone treats the content as plain text.
Text
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Yes | Any text; line breaks are allowed. |
After scanning the phone shows the text and usually offers to copy it or to search for it on the web.
vCard
The tab creates an electronic business card. After scanning the phone offers to add a new contact with all the fields filled in.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Yes | First name of the person |
| Last Name | No | Last name |
| Mobile | No | Mobile phone number |
| Phone | No | Work phone number |
| No | Work email address | |
| Company | No | Name of the organization |
| Department | No | Department within the organization |
| Job Title | No | Position |
| Web Site Address | No | Website of the person or the company |
| Street, City, Zip code, State, Country | No | Work postal address. The address is added to the card when at least one of these fields is filled in. |
Each field accepts up to 200 characters.
💡 Tip
A business card with all fields filled in produces a dense code. For a code printed on a badge or a small card, leave out the postal address or lower the density as described in KB10265. Customizing the QR Code Design: Shape, Colors, Gradient and Corners.
Wi-Fi
After scanning the phone offers to join the network without typing the password.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Network | Yes | The name of the network (SSID), exactly as it is broadcast, including the letter case |
| Hidden | No | Select the check box if the network does not broadcast its name |
| Password | Yes, unless Encryption is None | The password of the network |
| Encryption | Yes | WPA (the default; also use it for WPA2 and WPA3 networks), WEP or None for an open network. With None the Password field is disabled. |
Special characters in the network name and the password are escaped automatically, so they do not break the code.
❗ Important
The password is shown in the field as plain text and, when the page is saved, is stored with the page. Anyone who can open the page can read it. Use this tab for guest networks and do not publish the password of the corporate network.
After scanning the phone opens the mail app with a new message.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | The address of the recipient | |
| Subject | No | The subject of the message, up to 500 characters |
| Message | No | The text of the message |
The sender can change the subject and the text before sending.
SMS
After scanning the phone opens the messaging app with the number and the text filled in.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | Yes | The number of the recipient |
| Message | No | The text of the message |
Phone
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | Yes | The number to call |
After scanning the phone offers to call the number.
💡 Tip
On the SMS, Phone and vCard tabs enter phone numbers in the international format, with the plus sign and the country code, for example +37167000000. Such a number works wherever the code is scanned.
Location
After scanning the phone opens the point in the maps app.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latitude | Yes | Latitude in decimal degrees, for example 51.178889. Negative values mean the southern hemisphere. |
| Longitude | Yes | Longitude in decimal degrees, for example -1.826111. Negative values mean the western hemisphere. |
❗ Important
Use a period as the decimal separator. A value with a comma, such as 51,178889, produces a code that maps apps cannot read. Coordinates in degrees, minutes and seconds are not supported; convert them to decimal degrees first.
Event
After scanning the phone offers to add the event to the calendar.
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Yes | The name of the event, up to 200 characters |
| Location | No | The place of the event, up to 200 characters |
| Start | Yes | Date and time when the event begins |
| End | No | Date and time when the event ends |
📝 Note
The date and time are written into the code without a time zone. The calendar of the person who scans the code treats them as local time: an event entered as 10:00 is added as 10:00 in whatever time zone the phone is in. For participants in other time zones, state the time zone in the Title or Location field.
Summary
Each tab of QR Code Generator corresponds to one kind of action on the smartphone. Choose the tab by what should happen after scanning, fill in the required fields and check the result with a phone before the code is printed or published.
💡 Tip
To keep a prepared code on a page so that every visitor sees it, see KB10268. Publishing a Preconfigured QR Code on a SharePoint Page.