QR Code Generation through PDFs

Clappia enables the generation of QR codes dynamically in PDFs created through the Print Settings feature. QR codes are auto-generated using the values from specific fields configured in the app.

If you would like to know how to set up PDFs, check out this help guide: Dynamic Printing
For instructions on inserting images into your PDFs from submissions dynamically, click here: Dynamic Printing of Images.

Use Cases for QR Code Generation in PDFs

1. Asset Management – Generate QR codes with Asset ID for tracking equipment details.
2. Inventory Management – Use Product ID or SKU for quick inventory lookup.
3. Order Tracking – Embed Order ID for delivery agents to scan and retrieve order details.
4. Attendance Systems – Generate QR codes with Employee IDs for attendance verification.
5. Site Inspection – Use Unique Report ID for accessing site-specific reports.
6. Event Management – Add QR codes with Ticket IDs for event check-ins.
7. Invoices – Embed Invoice Numbers for quick retrieval of billing details.
8. Customer Surveys – Generate QR codes linked to Customer IDs for feedback forms.
9. Logistics Reports – Add Tracking Numbers for package status checks.

Compliance Documents – Embed Document IDs for regulatory audits.

How to Generate QR Codes in PDFs

We will take an example of a Site Inspection app that uses a "Unique Numbering" block to generate unique values.

1. Add Fields to Create an App

In Design App, add fields necessary to create your app. In this example we have added the "Unique Numbering" block that ensures a unique ID is generated for every submission.

2. Go to Print Settings

• Under Design App, go to the Configuration tab, click on Print Settings to create or edit a PDF template.
• A right panel will appear, click on ‘Add print template’.
• Click on the pencil icon next to the desired print template.
• A pop up window will appear where you can design the template. Use variables to pull values from the app dynamically wherever necessary (by typing @ followed by field name).

3. Insert a QR Code

• While editing the PDF template, when QR codes need to be inserted, click on the Insert QR Code from Submissions icon in the toolbar.
• A popup window will appear.

• In the popup window, click on the ‘Select Field Name to Insert’ dropdown.
• Choose the field (in this example, Unique Numbering Block) that you want to use to generate the QR code and click on Save.

• The variable for the selected field will appear in the template.

• Click on Save.

Note: A QR code can only be generated from a single field at a time. It cannot embed multiple field values directly. However, you can work around this by using a ‘Calculations & logic’ block to combine field values together and embed that field into the QR code.

Multiple QR codes can be embedded in a single print template.

4. Adjust the QR Code Size and Placementsome text
   • In the popup window, you can modify:some text
     • Padding: Adjust spacing around the QR code.
     • Width: Set the size of the QR code.
5. QR Code for Copyable Sectionssome text
   • If you are using a copyable section in your app (e.g., multiple site entries), you can generate a QR code from a field in a particular copied section:some text
     • In the popup window, select the field in ‘Select Field Name to Insert’ dropdown.
     • Enter the section index under ‘Insert section index’ (e.g. 1 for a field in section 1, 2 for a field in section 2, etc).
     • This will dynamically pull values for that specific field in the specified copied section.

Viewing and Scanning the QR Code in Submissions

1. Once configured, the QR code will automatically appear in the PDF template.
2. Open the Submissions tab in the app. Click on a submission and a right panel will appear. Click on the PDF icon at the top.
3. A print preview will appear. View or download the PDF for a submission to get the generated QR code.

4. Scan the QR Code: Scanning the code will display the value of the selected field (e.g., the unique number or other chosen data).

Example Use Case

In the Site Inspection app:

• The Unique Numbering block generates a unique Report ID for each submission.
• The generated QR code can be scanned to retrieve this Report ID quickly, making it ideal for reports, verification processes, or tracking purposes.

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The configured QR code will be visible in the PDF along with other submission details, such as images, signatures, and text fields.