vcard QR code not working with some Android devices

[Jeffrey_Smith]

There are 2 ways to generate a vcard/QR code in Indesign,

1. Method 1 Type: Business Card

2. Method 2 Type: Plain Text with code:

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
FN:First Last
N:Last;First;
END:VCARD

Here's what I have observed:

• Androids can read Method 1 QR code without issue
• Most Androids cannot read Method 2 QR code
• If text code from Indesign's Method 2 is used in other QR code utility, then Androids can read QR code.

It seems as though something is happening in the QR code generation process. You can use Method 2 in a data merge workflow, and is the reason that I would like to continue using this method. I have tried various versions of Indesign. I have tried versions 2.1, 3.0, 4.0 of vcard.

Is there anything else to try in using Method 2 and have QR code read by Android?

[Eugene Tyson]

What version of Android? What handset? What make? 

Are they all the same barcode reading software on all Android devices?

I'd imagine it's more to do with the QR scanner than the QR code itself.

Have you tried any other QR scanner apps on Android?

[Jeffrey_Smith · Accepted solution]

Keep in mind, this issue is not with QR codes in general, but specifically with vcard code placed in the text type of ID to generate QR code.

I have tested with an Android 11 (using just camera) and can read all QR codes generated from ID, including plain text in text type, except I cannot read a QR code of vcard code in text type.

The customer has reported mixed results of Android users able or unable to read QR code, but not giving specific device info.

What I am hoping for is that there might be different syntax within the vcard code that someone has come across and can suggest.

[vink_nh]

I have the same issue—and blame it on me not to have the qr-code checked on an android device, but now I have to reprint a whole bunch of supposedly fine business cards. I certainly blame it on you, Adobe. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

How can you blame Adobe - if you have not checked if code is readable? 

If you print regular barcode - like EAN - not as per specification - distorted, blurry, patterned background, edge of the box, etc. - will it also be Adobe's fault?? 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

If you didn't thoroughly test the code in proportion to the cost/investment of the printing, it's not Adobe's fault any more than if you printed 100,000 posters with a typo. QR code generation is a fluid thing and any results need "proofreading" in the literal sense.

• https://nitrosyncretic.com/DPR/dpr_qrcodes.php

[Eugene Tyson]

I certainly blame it on you, Adobe. 

By vink_nh

You're responsible for ensuring the content you produce is correct.

Nobody else.

[vink_nh]

Haha chill, I know I should have checked it. Still, this is a pretty weird thing in a pro software. 

I already didn’t use the vcard feature of InDesign because it messes with Umlaute, which is also weird.

[vink_nh]

I forgot: The QR codes with VCARD-code in the text module work fine on iOS.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Not really. ID's code generator is stuck in v2.1, which as an old stardard does not recognize and properly encode extended ASCII etc. You have to specific v3.0, in the plain-text mode, for that to work.

Readers are also not identical. I'd suspect your reading issue comes down to which reader has better optical reading and error correction; it would seem that iOS can parse a slightly faulty code better than Android can. Try other readers on both platforms and you'll likely see further variation.

And, to come back around, testing a final, printed code with such an array of readers is less and less optional with the print run size, cost and importance. 🙂

[vink_nh]

I see. The code I used was specified as version 3.0. Android did recognize that it’s a vcard, but then every form field was empty (as opposed to iOS). Maybe it has to do with line-breaks? The same code works just fine with every other tool out there (generated QR codes being recognized properly by Android).

Anyway, we are back to generating QR-codes piece by piece. The platforms don’t come with values we need (prefix, suffix) or don’t allow more than 300 characters per text. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

The "platforms" are nothing more than input forms, which are easily bypassed if you need something more than a few completely vanilla URL or vCard codes. But yes, writing your own strings does mean you have to get the details right so that the strings are correctly parsed. And at the other end, keeping the codes low in granularity, appropriately large in reading size and reproduced without any blur or fuzziness is essential. All the boxes have to be checked to get a truly successful outcome,whether you use your own plain-string or an industrial-grade code generator.

[jp1991]

vCard 2.1 is problematic with iOS, special chars like the german ä,ö,ü,ß don't work here. Unfortunately the workaround with 3.0 code as plain text doesn't work on Android. ID generates a different qr-code with plain text, even if the input is the same as the output of the ID vcard function (also with 2.1 code). Adobe should make a better qr-code-generator...

My solution is the ID plugin QR Code Maker Pro (free). Here you can paste 3.0 code as plain text and it works on every device. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

3.0 works on nearly every current device regardless of what generates it. It's 2.1's lack of support for higher characters that causes the problems. 

And if you're going to use the plain text method - which is the pro approach - InDesign's built in generator is capable, free, and assuredly secure.

This primer has all you need to create any format QR code with ID: https://www.nitrosyncretic.com/DPR/dpr_qrcodes.php

[CarolAlmeida]

I agree, at the end, the responsible is the content creator. The thing is: with a plugin, (QRCode Maker Pro) I have no problem with android. So, it is Adobe's fault, the way I see it.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

If the difference is that the plugin makes a v3.0 vCard format, it changes little other than allowing code creation from form entry.

The only two "faults" in ID's feature are that it creates v2.1 vCard from the form (which is fine as long as you're not using accented characters), and has no options for level of error correction. Other than that, by using Plain Text entry, it's both as good as any code generator gets, it's "free" for InDesign users and it's wholly secure and data-safe.

[CarolAlmeida]

I consider a huge Adobe's fault when a third party plugin can read the beginin statement of version 3.0 in a plain text, but not the plain text QR generator of InDesing.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I can't make any sense out of your statement.

ID's QR creator is — other than a fixed EC level — as capable as any other code generator available. Like all generators, users have the choice of using form data entry, which is often limited (e.g. not offering all valid fields, not offering enough phone or email fields, etc.) or using the Plain Text method to bypass all limitations. For ID, for vCard, using the provided form, the result is just fine as long as you accept vCard 2.1 standards. If not... create v3, v4, whatever you like.... with as many fields as you need... using PT entry.

All at no added cost and without any data or security risk at all.

[Mary39]

J'ai exactement le même probleme.

methode 1 : fonctionne bien mais sur IPHONE des info ne remontent pas (génant pour les directeurs qui aiment avoir leur titre affiché)

methode 2 : fonctionne sur Iphone mais n'est plus lisible par l'android "test" que je possede, c'est à dire android 10 sur SamsungS9+

Merci de votre retour 🙂

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I'm sorry, but I cannot quite determine what you mean by 'method 1' and 'method 2' — this topic has too many levels.

Specifically what process is working and not working on each platform?

[CarolAlmeida]

Method 3 Type Plain Text using a third party plugin
Install QRCode Maker Pro and use plain text to generate the VCards in there. It takes ages to finish generating, you will not be able to just right-click to edit the QR code, but you will have no problems with Android and iPhones.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Nor will you have the slightest problem with any compatible reader using ID's generator by formatting your own data, which any pro should do for many reasons.

Anyone using a plugin should thoroughly verify that the data is not being sent outside the local system; perhaps the strongest reason to work around the ID feature's minor limitations is 100% data security, both from scraping and things like added redirection and tracking.

[CarolAlmeida]

Yes, I have problems using the ID's generator, as many commenting here. If you are the pro you appearently think everyone else here is not, please, post a plain text example of your input to make the ID's generator work on Android without plugins.

PS: I have no issues if data regarding publically available commercial contacts are being sent outside local system.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

First, I don't know what specific problem you're encountering on Android. The fault I am aware of is—

• primarily on iOS devices
• when accented characters are used
• in vCard data formats
• when vCard v2.1 is used
• as is the default with ID's form-based vCard creation.

If you use a plain text data format for the vCard construction and specify v3 or v4, the problem goes away. I know of absolutely no problems (inherent to the QR encoding, at least) with any correctly-formatted data string in Plain Text mode. All of the issues I am aware of come from limitations of the forms-driven creation.

What SPECIFIC problem are you encountering on Android, and with what data format, created using which process?

And if you're not concerned about sensitive data, such as all of the contact information for the senior employees of a company (as might be passed through a project to create business cards or the like) being passed to unknown third parties, given the massive amount of data scraping and malware-linking in the online/web/cloud QR generation industry, you're... not paying attention and no one I would trust with a project. Pro or not.

[CarolAlmeida]

The specific problem is: when an ID's QR generated from a plain text is read by an Android, the contact comes empty.

Appearently, you did not try to specify v3 or v4 yourself, or you would know that the problem persists.

Unless, of course, we use a third party plugin to insert the content. Then magically the plain text works on Android.