QR-Code Generator Problems with Umlauts in vCards

[davidb_lucerne]

In german-language there are special Characters called "Umlaute" (ü, ö, ä) or the "sharp s" (ß). If these characters are used in an vCard generated within the buildin function from indesign, they are replaced with other symbols on the iPhone QR-Code-Camera Reader.

. 

Do you know a good solution?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

There is no "problem," exactly, except that all the form-driven code creation is a bit simplified, and Adobe is chosing to use v2.1 encoding as the default. Using the plain text method, with a fuller understanding of not just vCard structure but all the other alternatives, makes the ID encoder a valuable asset, since it is secure and standalone.

[defaultdkpixpbic7q5]

Den vCard Quelltext als "nur text" in Indesign einzufügen, kann nicht jedes Smartphone bzw. jede QR-Code App als "VCard-Inhalt" erkennen.
Da ich für meine Kunden eine allgemeingültige Lösung anstrebe, bleibt mir immer nichts anderes, als
die Umlaute zu umschreiben, oder einen Qr-Code über eine Webanbieter zu generieren, der vCard 3 oder 4 unterstützt.

Aber das ist natürlich umständlich und auch vom Datenschutz heikel.

[Laubender]

Hallo @defaultdkpixpbic7q5 ,

schau' mal in die Anleitung zum Erzeugen von QR Codes nach bei @James Gifford—NitroPress :

QR Codes in InDesign — a Primer

@James Gifford—NitroPress , Feb 19, 2023

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/qr-codes-primer-amp-advanced-indesign-techniques...

Du schreibst:
"Den vCard Quelltext als "nur text" in Indesign einzufügen, kann nicht jedes Smartphone bzw. jede QR-Code App als "VCard-Inhalt" erkennen."

Weshalb denn das?

Korrekt enkodiert sollte das keinerlei Unterschied machen.

Gruß,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[defaultdkpixpbic7q5]

Ich weiß nicht,

folgender Quellcode als "nur Text" QR-Code erzeugt, wird zwar von meinem Smartphone als Kontakt erkannt, ist dann aber Inhaltsleer:

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N;CHARSET=UTF-8:Mustermann;Max;;;
FN;CHARSET=UTF-8: Max Mustermann
EMAIL;type=HOME:max.mustermann@web.de
TEL;type=HOME;VOICE:+49123 456789
ADR;CHARSET=UTF-8;HOME;type=pref:;;Musterstraße 8;Musterstadt;;12345;Deutschland
LABEL;HOME;PREF;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE;CHARSET=UTF-8:Musterstraße 8=0D=0A=
12345 Musterstadt Deutschland
REV:2023-10-30T12:36:11+01:00
END:VCARD

Hier der erzeugte QR-Code:

 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I have no idea why or what's happening, but the QR code you provide does indeed come up null — no data at all. However, your data in a Plain Text export from InDesign generates a completely valid code, including the 'sharp S':

The only thing I can figure is that your text has a break in the address line (after 0A= in the LABEL line), and if I replicate that break in my entry, the code comes up similarly null.

All data lines in a QR code spec must be unbroken. Since it can be difficult to tell a line wrap from a line break, I suspect broken lines in cutting from Notepad and other sources will turn out to be the source of most of these problems.

[Maria Magdale35807208nj7l]

Hallo Martin, vielen Dank für diesen Tipp - habe es jetzt auch so gelöst und funktioniert wunderbar. Dankeschön!

[StHentschel]

Weiß jemand von euch, wie ich in einem QR Code als Text auch ein Feld für ein LinkedIn Profil und ein Feld für WeChat hinzufügen kann?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

QR code data is almost always plain text, with a "FIELDNAME:fielddata" format. In theory, you could add a (vCard or BizCard) field with any combination of content you like, for any social media or communication channel.

Whether it would work or not, though, depends (a little, if any) on the QR code reader and how it parses the content but mostly on the destination app — if your device's "Contact" app or equivalent doesn't know what to do with a WECHAT or DISCORD or SLACK data field, it will most likely just ignore/discard it, or assign it to a text field.

Making any such extension work would have to start with seeing if the Contact app has any protocol for accepting and filing that address information, then following it with the correct field name and any peculiarities of encoding the field value.

[F376799823sw1]

When I import QR Codes in V3.0 "BEGIN:VCARD\nVERSION:3.0\n . . ." this codes are working with special characters on iPhone and Android.

But do not edit them in Indesign - after this the codes are corrupted, they do not work anymore.

Anybode knows why?

Indesign V. 19.4.0.63, Mac

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

What or how are you importing the codes? Are you using some third-party app or generator? Or using InDesign's 'Plain Text' mode to generate them?

And when you say "edit them in ID" — do you mean editing in the same plain text mode, or opening the vCard form and editing values there?

If the latter — there's no differnence, I believe, between creating them using the limited (v2.1) vCard form, and editing them once created; I suspect if you examine the raw code in the result, it will be either reset to v2.1 or othewise corrupted.

[martinfriedlin]

A simple Workaround (on a Mac):

Generate your vCard in Adressbook,

drop it on your Desktop,

open the file in Textedit (or any other Texteditor of choice),

edit as you like,

copy/paste the Text in InDesign (Text only),

that's it!

Example code:

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N:Müller;Rita;;;
FN:Rita Müller
ORG:Müller Schuhe;
TEL;type=pref:+41 11 200 22 22
ADR;type=WORK;type=pref:;;Schuhgasse 12;1234 Müllhausen;Schweiz
EMAIL;type=INTERNET;type=pref:mueller@muellerschuhe.ch
URL;type=WORK;type=pref:https://muellerschuhe.ch
END:VCARD

[defaultdkpixpbic7q5]

I tried this.

My QR-Code App do not recognize this as a vcard.

[Daniel Steiger]

Hi there,
if this task is still current, I have an easy way to solve this. With a little javascript this should not be a problem.

See here: https://steigart.ch/qr-code-mit-umlauten-in-indesign/

Only in German at the moment, but the solution also works in English.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

There will always be a need for solutions until Adobe updates this feature/applet, either defaulting to v3.0 or allowing an evident selection of the vCard version. The problem, though, is that many designer/users simply don't know about QR code/vCard versions and this limitation of the v2.1 standard, so having their codes fail when upper ASCII characters are used is just a mysterious glitch.

You might edit your post to describe what your solution is, to better guide future visitors.

[Frederike28846047ltcs]

I followed this article and it solved it:

https://bettermarketing.pub/how-to-handle-adobes-buggy-qr-code-generation-in-indesign-the-right-way-...

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Yes —

• Don't use the fixed vCard form, which is locked at the obsolete version 2.1;
• Use Plain Text for, well, pretty much everything.

This advice is given throughout the recent answers to most QR code topics here. Including above, in this one. 🙂

[Daniel Steiger]

Of course, you can enter the whole thing more or less in plain text. But as soon as another phone number is added, or perhaps an additional home address? Then it gets more difficult.

For those who just need a QR code (or several) and don't want to worry about VCARD, you can use my script. It's free.

https://steigart.ch/qr-code-mit-umlaute-fehler-in-indesign/

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I suggest that once you've mastered the basics of entering a plain text format, it's trivial to add additional lines for each data type, and without any limitations of a form-based interface. Anyone who uses QR codes for more than occasional, trivial purposes would find the method well worth learning.

A script is a good half-step. Anything but any solution requring an outside, web-based app, for data safety/security reasons. But unless your script allows any number of phone, email, URL and other fields — it's still less flexible than writing a plain text string.

ETA: It would all be so much simpler if Adobe would just allot some small number of dev hours to, if nothing else, add a vCard version drop-down (that ideally defaults to v3.0).

[xe7en]

Falls jemand auf das gleiche Problem in 2025 stößt.

Füge "CHARSET:" vor dem Text und es sollte funktionieren.

Sollte so aussehen: 
ADR;CHARSET:;;Münwünster 99;Düsseldörf ;;40470 ;Deutschländ

[Daniel Steiger]

Ja, Adobe hat mit der neuen Version von Indesign die Umlautefehler behoben und die VCARD-Version auf 3.0 erhöht. Jedoch sind immer noch nicht mehr Eingabefelder hinzugekommen. Ich habe ein Skript geschrieben, welche die Anzahl der VCARD-Felder massiv erhöht, die Werte ganz einfach eingegeben, beziehungsweise geändert werden können inklusive die Farben. Siehe hier https://steigart.ch/qr-code-mit-umlaute-fehler-in-indesign/

Die Seite und das Skript sind zwar auf Deutsch, doch sollte das kein Problem sein. Falls doch kannst Du mir das sagen, dass schreibe ich das Skript um.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

Note: The current version of InDesign (CC2025 v20) has been upgraded to generate v3.0 vCard QR codes. This should solve the character issue going forward.

[vistic]

Unfortunately I still have the same issue 🤔 (InDesign version 20.0.1)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Unfortunately I still have the same issue 🤔 (InDesign version 20.0.1)

By @vistic

There is 20.3.1 update - but I've no idea if it fixes this problem. 

[vistic]

Oh that's interesting, Adobe Cloud tells me I have the lastest version 🥲

[Laubender]

@vistic said: "… Unfortunately I still have the same issue 🤔 (InDesign version 20.0.1)"

Hi @vistic ,

please post a sample document where you see the problem.

Hm.

Did you create the QR code with InDesign 2025 v20 or did you just open an earlier version document with InDesign 2025?

Speculation without testing anything:

could be that there is no automatic conversion when you just open an earlier version document.

So I would test with a new QR code in InDesign 2025…

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )