QR codes have quietly become the standard bridge between the physical and digital worlds. Users are accustomed to scanning them to instantly access information, from restaurant menus to payment systems. Integrating this functionality into generated documents, especially PDFs, opens up powerful new possibilities for modern applications.

In document workflows, QR codes are more than just a convenience feature. They can transform static documents into interactive entry points by linking invoices to online payment portals, connecting contracts to verification endpoints, and enabling instant access to supplementary resources without cluttering the document itself. In industries such as logistics, healthcare, and finance, QR codes are used to encode identifiers, track assets, and provide secure access to backend systems.

From a technical perspective, integrating QR codes directly into document generation pipelines ensures consistency, automation, and reliability. Rather than manually adding links or relying on external systems, developers can embed dynamic, data-driven QR codes when a document is created, ensuring that every generated PDF contains the necessary information.

As document processes evolve toward automation and digital-first workflows, QR codes are becoming a simple yet highly effective tool for connecting documents to systems, users, and real-time data.

With TX Text Control, developers can seamlessly integrate high-quality, dynamic QR codes and other machine-readable codes into PDFs as part of automated, professional document generation workflows.

Generating QR Codes

TX Text Control provides built-in support for generating QR codes, allowing developers to create and customize them directly within their document generation processes. To generate a QR code, you can use the TXBarcodeCore class, which supports various barcode types, including QR codes, Data Matrix, and more. You can specify which content to encode, customize the size and length of the text, and apply styling to match your document's design.

Simply add the NuGet package TXTextControl.TextControl.Core.SDK to your .NET project:

Install-Package TXTextControl.TextControl.Core.SDK

Then, generate a QR code using the following code snippet:

using var tx = new TXTextControl.ServerTextControl();

tx.Create();

string qrcodeText = "https://www.textcontrol.com";

var qrCode = new TXTextControl.Barcode.TXBarcodeCore();
qrCode.BarcodeType = TXTextControl.Barcode.BarcodeType.QRCode;
qrCode.UpperTextLength = qrcodeText.Length;
qrCode.Text = qrcodeText;

var barcodeFrame = new TXTextControl.DataVisualization.BarcodeFrame(qrCode);

tx.Barcodes.Add(barcodeFrame, - 1);

tx.Save("QRCode.pdf", TXTextControl.StreamType.AdobePDF);

First, it initializes a document processing instance using ServerTextControl, which acts as the engine for creating and manipulating the document. Then, a QR code is defined by creating a TXBarcodeCore object, setting its type to QR code, and assigning content, which, in this case, is a URL. The barcode is then wrapped in a visual container so that it can be placed inside the document and added to it. Finally, the document is saved as a PDF file, resulting in a finished document that includes the embedded QR code.

Styling the QR Code

With TX Text Control, you can customize the appearance of QR codes to match your document's design. You can adjust their size, colors, and other visual properties. This level of customization ensures that the QR code serves its functional purpose and integrates seamlessly with your document's overall aesthetic.

The following code snippet demonstrates how to customize the appearance of a QR code:

qrCode.ForeColor = Color.DarkBlue;
qrCode.BackColor = Color.LightYellow;
qrCode.Angle = 90;

In this example, the foreground color of the QR code is set to dark blue and the background color is set to light yellow. Customizing these properties allows you to create QR codes that function effectively and enhance the visual appeal of your documents.

Adding QR Codes to Headers and Footers

With TX Text Control, you can add QR codes to headers and footers, ensuring they are visible on every page of the document. This feature is particularly useful for documents like invoices, as it provides users with a consistent way to access online payment portals or additional information.

You can use the following code snippet to add a QR code to a header::

using var tx = new TXTextControl.ServerTextControl();

tx.Create();

const string qrcodeText = "https://www.textcontrol.com";

var qrCode = new TXTextControl.Barcode.TXBarcodeCore
{
    BarcodeType = TXTextControl.Barcode.BarcodeType.QRCode,
    UpperTextLength = qrcodeText.Length,
    Text = qrcodeText
};

tx.Sections[1].HeadersAndFooters.Add(TXTextControl.HeaderFooterType.Header);
tx.Sections[1]
  .HeadersAndFooters
  .GetItem(TXTextControl.HeaderFooterType.Header)
  .Barcodes
  .Add(
      new TXTextControl.DataVisualization.BarcodeFrame(qrCode),
      TXTextControl.HorizontalAlignment.Right,
      -1,
      TXTextControl.FrameInsertionMode.AboveTheText);

tx.Save("QRCode.pdf", TXTextControl.StreamType.AdobePDF);

Dynamic QR Codes in Automated Workflows

In automated document generation workflows, you can create dynamic QR codes that contain information specific to each document. For instance, you can generate a unique QR code for each invoice that links to the corresponding payment page or customer portal. This ensures that each document is personalized and functional without manual intervention.

With TX Text Control's MailMerge functionality, you can easily generate dynamic QR codes for each record in your data source. Take a look at this sample invoice template that includes a QR code. The data for the QR code is pulled from the data source, ensuring that each generated invoice has a unique QR code linking to the appropriate payment page.

The following JSON data source contains information about the invoice, including the QR code content.

[
  {
    "PaymentLink": "https://portal.myinvoice.com/12345",
    "Customer_Customer": {
      "Name": "Sample Company Ltd."
    }
  },
  {
    "PaymentLink": "https://portal.myinvoice.com/67890",
    "Customer_Customer": {
      "Name": "Another Company Inc."
    }
  },
  {
    "PaymentLink": "https://portal.myinvoice.com/54321",
    "Customer_Customer": {
      "Name": "Third Company LLC"
    }
  }
]

The following code snippet demonstrates how to use this data source to generate a PDF invoice with a QR code using the MailMerge class:

using var tx = new TXTextControl.ServerTextControl();

tx.Create();
tx.Load("invoice_qrcode.tx", TXTextControl.StreamType.InternalUnicodeFormat);

var mailMerge = new TXTextControl.DocumentServer.MailMerge { TextComponent = tx };
mailMerge.MergeJsonData(System.IO.File.ReadAllText("data.json"));

tx.Save("QRCode.pdf", TXTextControl.StreamType.AdobePDF);

The screenshot below shows a generated PDF invoice with an embedded QR code. Each invoice has a unique QR code that links to its corresponding payment page. This demonstrates how dynamic QR codes can improve the functionality of generated documents in automated workflows.

Exporting QR Codes as Images (SVG)

In addition to embedding QR codes directly into PDFs, TX Text Control allows you to export them as standalone images in formats such as SVG. This is useful if you want to use the QR code in other contexts or if you need a high-quality image for printing or web use.

To export a QR code as an SVG image, you can use the following code snippet:

using System.Drawing;

string qrcodeText = "https://www.textcontrol.com";

var qrCode = new TXTextControl.Barcode.TXBarcodeCore();
qrCode.BarcodeType = TXTextControl.Barcode.BarcodeType.QRCode;
qrCode.UpperTextLength = qrcodeText.Length;
qrCode.Text = qrcodeText;

var svgQrCode = qrCode.GetSVG(new Size(5000, 5000));

// save the svg to a file
string filePath = "qrcode.svg";
System.IO.File.WriteAllText(filePath, svgQrCode);

Typical Use Cases for QR Codes in PDFs

QR codes in PDFs are commonly used in various industries and scenarios, including:

• Invoices and Billing: Embedding QR codes that link to online payment portals for easy and secure transactions.
• Event Tickets: Generating QR codes that serve as digital tickets, allowing for quick scanning at entry points.
• Product Packaging: Including QR codes in product manuals or packaging that link to instructional videos or support resources.
• Marketing Materials: Adding QR codes to brochures or flyers that direct users to promotional websites or social media pages.
• Healthcare Documents: Using QR codes in medical reports or prescriptions to provide access to patient portals or additional information.

In conclusion, QR codes are a powerful tool for enhancing PDF document functionality. With TX Text Control, developers can generate and customize QR codes with ease. They can integrate these codes into headers and footers, create dynamic codes in automated workflows, and export them as standalone images. These capabilities open up a wide range of possibilities for creating interactive, user-friendly documents that seamlessly connect users to digital resources.

Frequently Asked Questions