Create vCard Business Cards with QR-Codes

How to Create vCard Business Cards with Barcode Studio

Some users of Barcode Studio are unsure regarding the correct data format for creating barcodes for so-called 2D code business cards.
Such an "electronic” business card encodes the contact data in a QR-Code or a Data Matrix symbol. These codes can be scanned with your smartphone. The business card data is recognized automatically, you will never need to key in contact data manually! Most camera-equipped mobile phones are able to decode QR-Codes on such business cards (Data Matrix is not in common use until now).

The example outlined in this post contains vCard sample data (.xls and .csv files) and a setting file for Barcode Studio. This settings file (*.BCS) can be used immediately to create premium quality QR-Codes with Barcode Studio.

Creating a vCard Data Format

A vCard barcode must follow certain rules, the different elements of a business cards (e.g. the phone number) are tagged with prefixes. Some sample prefixes:

• Begin of vCard data: begin: vcard
• Name on card: n:
• Telephone number: Tel:
• Email address: Email:
• End of vCard data: end: vcard

Please ensure the accurate order of the single data elements! Refer to Wikipedia to get a list of available property prefixes and more information about the vCard format.

Step by Step: Create your own QR-Code Business Cards

Follow the steps to create your QR-Codes. Use the included sample files to see how the data is encoded:

1. Download and unzip the example specified below.
2. Use Microsoft Excel to enter your vCard data in the sample Excel file. Separate the data elements with a new-line. Enter a new-line by pressing "Alt" + "Enter" simultaneously in a cell.
3. Export your data as CSV file.
4. Start Barcode Studio and open the settings file (*.BCS).
5. Importing your CSV file: Choose the "Datalist" tab and click the "Import" button. Ensure the correct import settings as shown in the screenshot. In most cases you should use the Field Separator comma (,) and the Text Qualifier ("). If this doesn't work, please check the generated CSV file.
6. Now export your QR-Codes.



Import Settings

Free Sample File Download
In order to use the sample files make sure you are using the current version of Barcode Studio.

• Download Sample and Setting Files
• Download Barcode Studio
  

If you have any questions just contact TEC-IT via email or give us a call (++43 (0)7252 72720).

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New: QR-Code Business Card Creator - Video

Today, TEC-IT has launched a new video which explains how to create QR Code business cards - online and for free. In just five steps you get your personal business card.

It's Simple and Easy
Just select a pre-defined business card template, enter your contact data, generate a PDF, print it and scan the bar codes with your the barcode reader of your smartphone (Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile, ...). That's it!

You will never need enter contacts or URLs manually! Most camera-equipped mobile phones are able to decode the QR-Code (meCard, vCard, URL 2D barcodes) on these business cards. Common (and most likely free) bar code reader applications are i-nigma, beetagg, QuickMark, NeoReader, UpCode, Snappr, Camclic, 2d sense, codescan, zxing, optiscan, semacode etc.

Try it and visit TEC-ITs Free Business Card Generator Service!

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Create Business Cards Online for Free - with QR-Code and DataMatrix!

TEC-IT has launched a free online business card printing service on www.tec-it.com!

It's Free!

Using this free service the creation of business cards with QR-Code or DataMatrix 2D codes has never been easier!

It's Simple!

Launch the online business card creator from TEC-IT and choose one of the pre-defined business card templates. Now enter your data like name, email-address, phone number, etc. That's all you need - and you will receive a full-colored PDF file which can be printed immediately. QR-Codes - ready for mobile bar-code readers - are included automatically.

It can be Personalized!

If you wish to design your own layout, create it with the label and reporting software TFORMer Designer. Use the free demo version for this purpose (download it here: label design software). If you have finished your layout, send it via email to webmaster@tec-it.com. TEC-IT approves the layout and publishes it for future use.
One note: if you would like to embed your own logo in a business card: Upload your company logo to some picture hosting service (like Picasa) and specify the URL to the logo.

Merry Christmas!

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