QR Code information

[edepot]

One of the newest trend to pop up on the internet is QR Codes. They are squarish black and white patterns that are the two dimensional replacement for barcodes. QR Code is supposed to support a maximum of:

7089 characters: Numeric
4296 characters: Alphanumeric

Unfortunately, not all QR Code readers support that many characters (or digits).

The most popular iphone QR Code reader is QuickMark QR Code Reader (comes in lite version as well). Unfortunately, it only supports a maximum of 858 alphanumeric characters. At 859 alphanumeric characters, the square QR Code image increases to 101x101 image size (which for some reason it can't read). At each passing of a max threshold of characters, the QR Code size increases, and it happens that 858 characters is the limit for the previous square image size (97x97 pixels), which QuickMark QR Code Reader can read. For curiosity's sake, if it is pure numeric instead of alphanumeric, then the image size is 65x65 pixels for the 858 digits (and also for 859 digits because the threshold for digits is not reached). I don't think it is a problem with the maximum resolution of the camera on the iPhone 3GS because the image had enough clarity even on the small 480x320 LCD display (even then the camera buffer supports a larger image size of 3 MegaPixels: 2048x1536). Could it be that this was a software limitation to support previous 2 MegaPixel models of the iPhone "2G" or "3G"? I highly doubt it because the 1600x1200 resolution of the 2 MegaPixel camera seems enough (also way more than the 480x320 of the LCD).

I am hoping the software grabs the image for scanning from the camera buffer and not the LCD. If it was grabbing it from the LCD then:
320/101 = ~3 LCD pixels for defining each QR Code pixel for the horizontal image.

If it got it from the camera buffer (2048x1536 for iPhone 3GS and 1600x1200 for iPhone "2G" and "3G"):
1200/101 = ~11 Camera Buffer pixels for defining each QR Code pixel for the iPhone 3G horizontal image.
1536/101 = ~15 Camera buffer pixels for defining each QR Code pixel for the iPhone 3GS horizontal image.

I am hoping there is a QR Code reader for the iPhone 3GS that can support the max 4296 alphanumeric characters.

[edepot]

For online QR Code generators, here are some, but with limitations and bugs (they may be fixed in the future but as of this posting date they have problems):

Using the input (everything between the quotes repeated): "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890,.;-ABCDEFGHIJ"


http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/
Can generate QR Code images with a maximum of 1872 alphanumeric characters. For "Contents" field, use "text". For "Barcode size" field, use "M" or "L" ("S" doesn't seem to work when using large amount of characters).




http://zxing.org/w/decode.jspx
The above URL can be used to decode images created by QR Code generators. You can save the image on your desktop and then re-upload (recommended in case it is a address parser bug), or give it a URL. There seems to be a limitation on what it can scan. It can only parse QR code images containing 1732 alphanumeric characters maximum using the given input stated previously. Anything more, and it gives an error.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Warning, the limitations are bug related:

Apparently, the above two URL's may have bugs and it is related to the input string. If using a different input (everything between the quotes repeated. note the "x" at the end):
"123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789x"

Then there is a maximum of 2016 alphanumerical characters supported in the QR Code image generator, and the second URL can read it just fine (no limitation of 1732 with this different input string). For the generator, it seems having a COMMA "," or SEMICOLON ";" limits the maximum alphanumerical characters to be the lower limit.

[edepot]

Apparently, the comma and semicolon forces the data to be in binary format. (max 2953 binary characters if in this format for QR Codes). That is pretty sad actually, because the COMMA is a very common character in regular texts (like textbooks and newspapers). Short articles won't be able to be used unless the COMMA is substituted with something else.

Unfortunately, the above sites can't even reach this number of characters even if in a higher max characters format (like alphanumeric or just numeric).

Luckily, the QR Reader for iPhone by Tapmedia Ltd. IS able to read the max alphanumerical characters of 2016 from the buggy generator above. Whether it is able to read
the MAX 4296 alphanumeric character QR Codes is unknown because there doesn't seem to exist any images that DOES store that many characters. Perhaps one day when the buggy generator is fixed, we can know if this app can actually do it.

[artmaker]

Here is a freeware application (not a trial - really free) that is all-in-one for Windows (Read and Write QR Codes)
I am using it to write QR Codes on a Windows 7 64-bit Laptop.

http://www.touchupsoft.com/xrenqrcode/

Download here (scroll to bottom of page):

http://www.touchupsoft.com/download.html

At the top of the application, you will see "Operators" that is set to "None". This is for text entry and I have been able to write and read QR Codes up to 2232 bytes. It will not write QRs much larger than this; however, it does keep any formatting (Space Indents, Paragraphs, etc.). This still does not solve the problem of the smart-phone readers which may not be able to read this much data. i am experimenting with a friend who is using a Droid.

If you use the drop-box on "Operators" , you will then see various formats available (beside raw text) such as email, business card, etc.
This desktop application will correctly read these formats and place them in the corresponding screen automatically. I am presently experimenting with using Paintshop Pro to change the color from black to blue or red, etc.; and also adding various colored borders. Once the smart phones get their acts together this could be quite a useful/fun application.

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