Editing QR Codes

You can edit an existing QR code in many ways, such as changing its content, look, and position.

This can be done through styles or by using local formatting. Using styles is usually recommended because the setting is automatically applied to any content using that style throughout the project, whereas local formatting affects only the particular content that you are working on.

How to Use a Style to Edit the Look of QR Codes

  1. From the Content Explorer, open the stylesheet that you want to modify.
  2. In the local toolbar, make sure the first button displays Advanced View button. If the button displays Simplified View button instead, then click it.
  3. In the upper-left corner of the editor, click in the drop-down field and select .
  4. Select the MadCap|qrCode style.

  5. Use the properties section on the right side of the editor to apply settings for the style.

  6. Click Save the active file. to save your work.

How to Use Local Formatting to Edit the Content and Look of a QR Code

  1. Open the content file.

  2. Right-click on the QR code and from the menu, select Edit QR Code. The Edit QR Code dialog opens.

  3. Select the General tab.

  4. From the Content type field, select one of the following options.

    Text

    Select this if you want a simple text message to display on the end user's screen. After selecting this option, complete the following.

    • Content Type the text message that you want users to see after they scan the QR code.

    URL

    Select this if you want a web page to open in the end user's browser. After selecting this option, complete the following.

    • Content Type the website path (e.g., http://mycompany.com).

    Email Address

    Select this if you want a particular email address to display on the end user's screen. The end user might then copy the address to the clipboard and paste it into an email. After selecting this option, complete the following.

    • Content Type the email address after the text "mailto:" (e.g., mailto:technicalsupport@mycompany.com).

    Contact Information

    Select this if you want contact information for an individual to display on the end user's screen. The end user might then create a new contact based on that information. After selecting this option, complete the following.

    • Name Type the full name of the individual.
    • Company Type the company name.
    • Phone number Type the phone number.
    • Email Type the email address for the individual.
    • Address Type the physical address.
    • Website Type the website (e.g., http://mycompany.com).
    • Memo Type any other relevant information.

    SMS

    Select this if you want to create an SMS (Short Message Service) message. After scanning the QR code, the end user will be able to quickly send a text message to the specified phone number. After selecting this option, complete the following.

    • Phone number Type the phone number where the text message is to be sent.
    • Message Type the text message.
  5. (Optional) Click in the Size field. Select one of the basic sizes for the QR code. If you select (default), the code will be the size specified in the MadCap|qrCode style in your stylesheet. If you want to use a different size, you can set the max-height or max-width value for the MadCap|qrCode style. See Resizing QR Codes.

  1. (Optional) If you want to apply a specific style class to the QR code, you can select it from the Style Class field. For more information see Styles and Stylesheets.

    Example You have created in your stylesheet a class of the MadCap|qrCode style called "RedBorder" (i.e., MadCap|qrCode.RedBorder) and you have set a red border on that style class. So if you want a QR code to have a red border, you can use that style class when inserting the QR code. If you do not want the QR code to have a red border, you can simply use the default parent MadCap|qrCode style instead.

  2. (Optional) In the Screen Tip field you can type a phrase that will appear when the end user hovers over the QR code.

  3. (Optional) In the Alternate Text field you can type alternate text to display when the QR code is not available, such as when a disabled individual is using a screen reader.

    For more information see Accessibility.

  4. Use the other tabs in the dialog to set any of the following.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Save the active file. to save your work.