QR Factory 3

To start, we're going to create a blank spreadsheet, so go ahead and open either Numbers or Excel.

For Excel: Use the File menu and choose "New".
For Numbers: Use the File menu and choose "New…", then "Blank".

It will look something like this (the screenshots are from Excel, but it will be similar for Numbers):

Now that the spreadsheet is created and ready to fill in, it's time to add some data. There are two ways to add the data that QR Factory understands.

The first is to use columns, which is the easiest as well.

The second way is to use key-value pairs where all the content for a QR code goes into a special column labelled Content.

Note: Regardless of which method is used, the final CSV file must contain the Type column so QR Factory can properly determine which type of QR code to create for each row.

Now that we have an empty spreadsheet, let's go ahead and add a few columns that tell QR Factory what type of QR codes to create, what will be in them and what to name the generated files.

In this example, we will be adding in the necessary columns to create SMS (test message, URL and Text QR codes.

Each column needs to have its name in the first row (so row #1) so when QR Factory reads the file, it knows what the data is for. For a full list of all the possible columns to use, click here.

Add the following columns (the capitalization doesn't matter):

Type (what type of code the row will be)
Content (for code types that only text)
Number (specific for SMS codes)
Message (specific for SMS codes)
Filename (the name of the file that will be created)
FileType (which format to use, ex: PNG)

It will look like this once those have been added:

Next, we'll add a few rows of data, with each row representing all the data for one QR code. For the URL and Text types, the data goes into the Content column since it doesn't have any other optional parameters. For the SMS type, the data goes into the Number and Message columns.

As an alternative way to add the data to the spreadsheet, instead of using a column for each parameter, it's possible to use key-value pairs, such as "subject=Please sign documents". All the pairs are combined and separated by a semicolon. Here's an example of how an Email code content column/row could look like:

email=support@tunabelly.com;subject=Hello;body=Type your email here;cc=example@example.org;bcc=hidden@example.org

Note: If this format is used, then a semicolon cannot be used in the actual data or the parsing will fail.

Here are a few tips to help make it easier to setup and fill in the appropriate data.

Use a comma: If a comma is needed in the data, for example, say a company name like Tunabelly Software, Inc. then Excel or Numbers should wrap that row/column cell in quotes when the spreadsheet is exported to a CSV file. However if it doesn't, just add a quote at the beginning of the text in the cell and one at the end. For example, it would change

Tunabelly Software Inc. —> "Tunabelly Software Inc."

Use a quote: If a quote is needed in the data, again Excel or Numbers should escape the quotes, which changes each quote that's needed into a double quote, and also wrap the cell in quotes. For example, it would change

This is the "text" for a QR code —> "This is the ""text"" for a QR code"

• QR codes can be saved in RGB, CMYK or Grayscale color spaces using the ColorSpace column. Please note the only format that supports all three color spaces is TIFF, which is only available on macOS.
• Color values can be specified in one of three ways:
• Hex (web): In the format #RRGGBB
• RGB: In the format "rgb(R,G,B)", with the quotes since there are commas between the values. The RGB values should be between 0-255.
• CMYK: In the format "cmyk(C,M,Y,K), and also with the quotes. The CMYK value should be between 0-100.

The last step in getting the data organized is to export the spreadsheet to a CSV file. This type of file is plain text with each column and row separated by a comma. Here's how, depending on which app is being used:

Numbers: From the File menu, choose "Export To", then "CSV…".
Excel: From the File menu, choose "Save As", then set the format to "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (.csv)".

The resulting file should have a ".csv" extension and look similar to the following. It can also be clicked to download the CSV file to try out if needed.

Now that the CSV file is finished, the fun part is to use it with QR Factory 3 to generate the QR codes in one batch. The steps are the same for both platforms, although we'll be using macOS for most of the screenshots.

The first thing is to switch over to the Multiple Codes section in the app. Here's how:

The next steps are to choose which CSV file will be used and where the generated QR codes will be stored.

1. Choose the CSV file to use. In this example, we'll use the one created in the previous section. Note that it will only allow selecting a file that has the ".csv" extension.
2. Choose where the QR codes will be saved. This can be any folder. For this example, we'll choose a folder on the Desktop.
3. If any of the QR codes will have a logo in the middle, choose the folder where the logo images are stored. In this example, we're not using this feature.

Click/tap the Start button and it will being generating the QR codes in one batch. Since this example only has three, it will be done almost as soon as it was started.

Once it's finished, check out the folder that was chosen in Step 2 and there will be three new files, just like this:

QR Factory 3 also offers the flexibility to print QR codes directly onto Avery or DYMO labels. To utilize this feature, activate the 'Combine codes into PDF file for printing labels' option. This can be done by toggling the corresponding checkbox or slider in the application. Once activated, additional settings become available for specifying the label model.

Select the appropriate label type from the newly displayed options, and then initiate the QR code generation with the 'Start' button. The codes will be arranged in a pattern that matches the selected label type, ensuring a seamless printing process.

Additionally, QR Factory 3 supports custom label dimensions. To create a new label size, simply click the plus icon, input the required dimensions, name the label, and save. This custom label will be stored for future use, adding another layer of customization to your QR code printing needs.

Once it's finished, instead of having a file for each QR code generated, there will be a PDF containing the codes, in the exact same layout that's needed for printing to the labels. Here's an example of how it would look like:

The following details every single column that can be used to modify the appearance of a QR code, how it's stored, what type it is and what's contained inside it.

All of the columns can be used as key-value pairs instead, with the exception of Type and Content - those must be actual columns.

For columns that contain a color, there are multiple formats that define which color to use:

• Web (also known as hex) written as #RRGGBB where RR, GG and BB are the hex values for each colour channel. Ex: #FF0000 is pure red.
• RGB, written as "rgb(R,G,B)", where R, G and B are between 0-255. There must be quotes around it since there are commas between the values. Example: rgb(0, 0, 255) is pure blue.
• CMYK, written as cmyk(C,Y,M,K) where C, Y, M and K are between 0-100. Just like with the RGB color, there must be quotes around it. Example: cmyk(91, 11, 75, 19) is a shade of green.

There is only one column that is required, and that's the Type, which must be present so QR Factory knows which type of QR code to create for each row.

These columns are common to all QR code types and are used for changing the appearance or how the file is stored. They are all optional, with default values being used if they aren't used.

The center icon enhances the QR code by allowing the incorporation of a distinct visual element. This can be a logo, any graphic file, or a selection from the SF Symbol library provided by the operating system. The parameters guide the customization of the icon's appearance, including size, placement, and the addition of an optional border to align with visual identity or branding requirements.

The center icon can be chosen from a local file or a URL for a hosted file. To do so, the IconFilePath column will be used to set the file path, ensuring the icon is displayed properly at the center of the QR code. This approach provides flexibility in sourcing the icon while maintaining its clarity and integration within the QR code's design.

Starting with QR Factory 3.4.0, it is now possible to choose a symbol from SF Symbols, a library of high-quality, vector-based icons provided by macOS and iPadOS, for the center icon. SF Symbols are designed to be highly scalable and customizable, allowing for adjustments in rendering, coloring, and sizing. Just like with custom file icons, all standard customization options such as positioning and optional border enhancements are available, ensuring that the symbols integrate seamlessly and maintain aesthetic consistency within the QR code.

There are many customization options available for the center icon within a QR code. Detailed guidelines are provided for adjusting the icon's size, positioning, and the inclusion of an optional border. These adjustments allow for enhanced visual impact and better alignment with branding or aesthetic preferences, ensuring the QR code remains both functional and visually appealing.

Parameters for how the text below the QR code should appear.

Parameters for how the optional safe zone around the QR code should appear.

The following sections describe the available columns for each QR code type. The type used is specified in the required column labeled Type.

QR Factory 3.3.8 now features phonetic spellings for select fields, improving clarity in languages such as Japanese. This enhancement is particularly useful for accurate pronunciation and comprehension, especially with the Katakana script, widely used in Japan for transcribing non-native words.

Social profiles are a bit different because QR Factory doesn't know which services will be used, so there aren't any hardcoded column names. To add a social profile, use a column that starts with "SocialProfile" then add the service name. For example, to add a Twitter profile, the column name would be "SocialProfileTwitter", or for YouTube, it would be "SocialProfileYouTube".

For the value, the format is the full URL to the social profile, a vertical bar ('|'), then the username.

For example, the Tunabelly Software Twitter username is tunabelly, and the full URL to the account is https://twitter.com/tunabelly, so the value would be https://twitter.com/tunabelly|tunabelly

For another example, the Tunabelly Software YouTube username is @tunabellysoftware5670 and the full URL to the account is https://www.youtube.com/@tunabellysoftware5670, so the value would be https://www.youtube.com/@tunabellysoftware5670|@tunabellysoftware5670

SERVICE_NAME = The service name to use. For example: Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
FULL_URL = The full URL to the social profile. For example: https://twitter.com/tunabelly
USERNAME = Just the username. For example: tunabelly