QR Code Not Working Properly

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

Hello, 

I am working on a project where multiple files have individual QR codes. The layout of each file stems from a template I made. For some odd reason, a majority of these files' QR codes do NOT work properly. When clicked on through Adobe Acrobt, they all seem to go to a certain link. However, when scanned via your phone, it goes to the proper link. Within InDesign, the links appear correct. Can someone tell me why it keeps taking us to the improper link on Adobe Acrobat? This is how the majority of our viewers will interact with the QR Code, so we desperately need it to work properly. 

Is this an InDesign issue or Adobe issue? Any info is welcome. Thanks! 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

QR code and click-on links are two different things, managed separately. In print (or on a screen) a QR code is just an image file that can be read by an optical reader. When clicked in an interactive document, they are just an image with an assigned link.

If they're not working when clicked on, the problem is entirely in the URL assigned as a hyperlink to the "Image." The QR code is irrelevant.

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

Yes, I am aware the two things are separate. The "Web Hyperlink" associated with the QR code within InDesign is correct, yet when click on through Adobe Acrobat, it is brining up an entirely different link that does NOT exist anywhere on the document. 

Can you explain that? Thank you

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Okay. But your post, from the title down, links it all to being a QR code — which is irrelevant in this case.

There have been a a couple of topics lately about hyperlinks not translating correctly into PDF. You might search for them and see if one contains a relevant point.

Some examples of the hyperlink/URLs you're using, and what they result in in the export, would be useful . Are these entirely links within the document (e.g. cross-references) or links to outside URLs? A first thought and a common problem is characters that don't translate properly into the links.

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

I don't think the QR portion is irrelevant because all my other hyperlinks within the file work just fine. All are links to websites (outside URLs). 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

It's possible there's some parallel problem between the URLs/links used for these elements. But unless you're doing something very odd in the workflow, the QR code is just an image that only has relevance to an optical reader, and any attached URL/link is only relevant to being clicked in a PDF reader or browser. A close comparison of the URL as assigned in the ID doc and what's read back from a click (or hover) in the PDF document would probably show why. (Wild guess: a space or other 'null' character in the string isn't being translated/assigned correctly.)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Madeleine22193658m6ip

Can you share your INDD file? 

Please click my nickname if you prefer to send it privately. 

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

I tried sharing the file directly with you but was unable. It said the file type was not supported. I tried the PDF too and it also gave me the same notification.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I tried sharing the file directly with you but was unable. It said the file type was not supported. I tried the PDF too and it also gave me the same notification.

By @Madeleine22193658m6ip

If you're talking about privately - you would've to upload it somewhere and send me a link. 

On the thread - INDD files are perfectly acceptable. 

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

Here is the file. The problem QR code is on the first page, top right. If you select it and go to Object > Edit QR Code you will see the proper link. 

Once exported to a PDF, the link goes to a totally different link. If you scan with your camera though, it takes you to the proper website.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

This is not completing upload, at least for me. It must be a really big file.

A hassle, but try again with the file stripped just to that first page? It should be enough for diagnostic purposes.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I also only see "Virus scan in progress".

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Still frozen hours later. Need a new, preferably "trimmed" upload to help.

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

Reduced to just the first page. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Okay, got that one.

And you're mostly correct, from what I see. The URL assigned to the QR code is valid. The QR code responds to reading correctly.

But unless something got broken in the reduction to a single page, there's no URL assigned to the QR code image for click-through in a PDF reader. I had no problem assigning a simple URL to it and getting a successful click-through, but there isn't one assigned in the file provided. (I did have to switch to Print PDF and enable hyperlink export, but I think that's just an artifact of the document history.)

I wonder — again — if you're confusing the URL assigned through the QR code with one assigned for a clickable link. When I hover over the QR code, I do see the popup with the code contents (just the URL). But that has nothing to do with being a clickable object. Once again, these are two completely separate processes:

• A URL assigned to/used to create the QR code for optical scanning.
• A URL assigned to the graphic image/frame of the QR code, for screen clicking.
  • That the graphic image is a QR code is irrelevant here — it could be a logo or a kitty-cat or a photo of Adrien Brody. It's the link assigned to it to make it a click-object that matters.

You have to set up both. One does not affect the other in any way.

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

Thank you for looking into it.

I already tried doing both and still experienced the same issue for this file and others. I also tried making an entirely new re-design with fresh links and a QR code image/link and still ran into the issue. 

It's like the template's QR Code link has somehow embedded itself.   

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

What are you selecting to assign the link to, in the layout? The graphic or its frame? Try the latter.

[Madeleine22193658m6ip]

I'm assigning to the frame. 

And not to keep brutally beating up a dead horse but --- I KNOW JAMES. Thank you. 
We are trying different approaches on our end. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Okay — sorry about the horse thing. It's just that there's widespread misunderstanding about QR codes out there and that misinformation often makes it difficult to get to any related issue or solution, so I tend to, er, flog it a bit. (You also keep mentioning it in context of the problem.) But okay, we're on the same page of Horse Monthly there.

That this should be a very simple process puzzles me. That there are very few reasons a link would go sideways as you describe it is even more puzzling — the three options are usually Works, Doesn't Work, or Works Badly (usually because of a badly translated character in the string, or something). Going to some random third site is... not normally seen.

That the sample file had no URL link assigned to any part of that upper corner structure is another puzzle. Not sure if it got deleted in creating a shorter file, or if there's something simple being overlooked here. I'd take apart that sorta-complicated graphics structure, leave it all ungrouped, make sure the QR code frame is on top, and make sure the URL shows as being validly assigned to the graphics frame. Or, even, delete the darned QR code just to make sure there's no phantom linkage involved. Put in a picture of your cat or dog or iguana instead and attach the link to that.

Can't think of any other approaches to try. 😛

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

It's like the template's QR Code link has somehow embedded itself.

Not to keep pounding on a dead equine, but — there is no connection between the QR code at any level (ID profile as used by the editor, generated graphic code, contaniner, anything) and any clickable link you might assign to it in the layout. None. For export to PDF, it's just a a graphic image. And the only unusual thing inside the layout is that ID retains the data separately for editing and update — but does so in such a convoluted way it's brought strong Experts here to tears. 🙂

The problem with the click link is entirely a fault of how and where it's assigned in the overall document structure — mostly, to what element, and things like content/frame, and grouping, and the like can all play a part. But not that the object is a QR code graphic.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Madeleine22193658m6ip 

As @James Gifford—NitroPress already confirmed, here is a more "visual" version:

(above is available in the free version) 

Those marked in Green - are TextFrames, marked as sources, but they do not point "anywhere" - probably because you've removed the rest of your file.

[Mike Witherell]

Share the PDF file?