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Inspiring
September 23, 2024
Answered

Best Practices for Storing and Reusing QR Codes in InDesign

  • September 23, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 819 views

Hi everyone,

I have a query regarding the storage of QR Codes generated in InDesign.

Is it possible to save the QR codes to a central place, such as in your CC Libraries, for ease of use across multiple documents (and to save the creation of new QR Codes each time for the same content- e.g. URLs); or should I set up another InDesign document that contains all my QR codes to copy and use across different publications?

 

Thanks.

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This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Georgia32657040fad1
quote

Thank you.
How would I place them in bulk with a script? I'm not too sure what that part means, thanks 


By @Georgia32657040fad1

 

It depends on how you prepare your document - if it's a simple catalogue - you could use DataMerge - then you could load them or generate on the fly. 

 

Or you could have FileName as text and script can find those FileNames and replace with links. 

 


Ok thanks 

2 replies

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
September 23, 2024

QR codes, once generated, are just graphics. You can manage them in any way you might, say, a library of catalog item photos.

 

Ideally, you'd probably want to use Data Merge to generate any large number of them (as for catalog items), and you'd want to use an optimized document to create and export PDF or PNG code images at a "finished," placeable size. (For example, a document with 4x4 inch pages and a text frame set up to create a full-page, centered code so the export is of manageable size, adequate resolution and is pre-cropped for placement.)

 

If you want to maintain them in editable format, they will have to stay in an InDesign document, as RT notes. There is no intermediate format or editable version that will let you update a generated code.

Inspiring
September 23, 2024

Ok thanks

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
September 23, 2024

You might find this useful, although it's a bit more about content than creation/management.

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 23, 2024

I would rather export QR codes after generating in InDesign - or generate online - as PDF files on your drive - and then link to them when needed. 

 

QR code stored on the INDD document is an embedded entity. 

 

And if you have them as files - you could place them in bulk with a script. 

 

Inspiring
September 23, 2024

Thank you.
How would I place them in bulk with a script? I'm not too sure what that part means, thanks 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 23, 2024
quote

Thank you.
How would I place them in bulk with a script? I'm not too sure what that part means, thanks 


By @Georgia32657040fad1

 

It depends on how you prepare your document - if it's a simple catalogue - you could use DataMerge - then you could load them or generate on the fly. 

 

Or you could have FileName as text and script can find those FileNames and replace with links.