• fully vector 1D and 2D barcodes
• QR code design editor and ready-made styles
• loading data from a barcode for editing
• VCard, meCard, WiFi and other QR code types for smartphones

The plugin is designed to create various types of barcodes in CorelDraw. Unlike standard tools, all codes are formed in a vector form, preserving data encoded in them, thus providing the possibility of editing in the future .

After installing the plugin, a new Barcodes item appears in the Windows > Dockers > ReproScripts menu allowing you to open the docker.

Barcode type selection and configuration

At the top of the panel there is a drop-down list of supported barcode types. Depending on what kind of code you want to generate, you can set the appropriate value and additional parameters.

Barcode setup

Data and barcode rendering parameters are managed in three tabs, which are switched using buttons with icons.

Barcode value tab

When this tab is active, you can set the value that needs to be encoded in the barcode. In most cases, this is one text field, above which there is brief information about which characters and their number can be encoded in this type of barcode. The plugin performs basic data validation and blocks the start of code generation for obviously incorrect values. Additional data entry options are available for the QR code, which are described below.

Barcodes design tab

The design tab is available for all barcode types and, at a minimum, allows you to control the color of the lines and background of the generated code, as well as its orientation. For a QR code, you can control its design, which is described below.

Barcodes parameters tab

Most barcodes have additional parameters that affect the code generation process. They can be managed in the last tab.

Many 1D barcodes also allow a text representation of the data to be placed below the code. If available, you can adjust the text size, font, and alignment in the params tab.

Setting up a QR code

The QR code parameters are significantly different from other types and contain more options.

QR code value

In the value panel for a QR code, you can select the type of data that will be encoded in it. In addition to just text, you can encode other types of data. The plugin collects and performs basic data validation for each value type and encodes it into a QR code.

QR Value type	Description
Text	Any text value that can contain up to 4296 alphanumeric characters, 7089 numeric characters.
Web address	The address of a website or other Internet resource. The plugin checks the basic structure of the address and does not accept obviously incorrect values.
vCard	This is a file format standard for electronic business cards. In this format, you can encode both business and personal data, which can then be read on a smartphone and entered into the address book.
meCard	Another format for exchanging contact information for smartphones. Contains only the minimum required fields, allowing you to create more compact and better readable codes.
WiFi	The QR code will contain the data necessary to connect to the WiFi network without the need to enter data manually. Supported by all modern smartphones.
Location	Encoded geolocation, suitable for reading and further building a route in navigation applications.
Calendar event	Data for generating an event suitable for use with various calendar applications. A universal code is generated that is recognized by Google, Apple and other calendars.
Email	Generates code to quickly prepare a message for sending by email.
SMS	Generates a code for quickly preparing a message as an SMS.
Crypto Transfer	A QR code indicating the crypto wallet details for receiving transfers. May or may not contain the amount being transferred.

QR code design

WATCH VIDEO: Designer QR codes in CorelDraw

Design styles

In the barcode design panel, you can specify the QR code style. It includes various parameters that allow you to radically change the appearance of the finished code. The panel contains a preview window in which you can immediately see how the code will look when designed in one style or another.

The plugin comes with several standard styles that you can use right away. Based on these styles, you can create your own. To do this, in the side menu of the style list, you can duplicate it or open it for editing. 1 In the editor that opens, you can select and configure various parameters 2 that affect the appearance of the QR code — the method of grouping points, their shape and variations, the shape and design of peaks, corner and register elements. This opens up rich possibilities for managing the design of the QR code and compiling your own library of QR code styles. Both standard and custom styles can also be used when generating variable data in the Reproscripts VDP plugin. You can save the finished style by giving it a suitable name or immediately generate the code from the style editor. 3

Placeholder for a logo

The plugin also allows you to calculate and create a place in the center that can be used to place a logo. By activating this option, you can set the shape and aspect ratio that is required for your logo. The plugin will set the maximum level of error correction for the QR code and calculate the area that can be safely allocated for the logo without affecting the readability of the QR code. You can place your logo or other suitable image in the space allocated by the plugin.

How to create a barcode

WATCH VIDEO: Vector editable barcodes in CorelDraw

After setting the desired values, the Create barcode button is activated, clicking on which you can form a barcode. The plugin will create a new document if there is no active one at the moment. The new barcode is by default placed into the center of the page. But if there is a CorelDraw shape selected, the plugin will take its size, position and rotation angle and apply these values to the newly created code. This allows to easily manage the size and position of codes in the design.

Editing barcodes

Each barcode, prepared by the plugin can be edited later. If it is selected in the document, additional buttons Pick up and Update appear in the docker.

The Pick up button allows to read and load from the barcode in the docker. After making changes, you can click the Update button and a new the barcode will be replaced with new one. This way you can easily edit barcodes without having to re-enter the data encoded in them every time.

List of barcodes supported by the plugin

Barcode	Description	Symbols
	Codabar designed to be accurately read even when printed on dot-matrix printers for multi-part forms	digits 0..9, symbols -, $, :, /, ., + and four letters (A, B, C, D)
	Code 11 used primarily in telecommunications	can encode any length string consisting of the digits 0–9 and the dash character (-)
	Code 128 effective format to store small amounts of alphanumeric and ASCII control characters	128 characters of ASCII
	Code 39 used by some postal services and can be decoded with virtually any barcode reader	uppercase letters (A through Z), numeric digits (0 through 9) and a number of special characters (-, ., $, /, +, %, and space)
	Code 93 used primarily by Canada Post to encode supplementary delivery information	26 upper case letters, 10 digits and 7 special characters
	EAN-13 13-digit barcode used to identify manufacturer and product	13 digits
	EAN-8 used on small packages where an EAN-13 barcode would be too large	8 digits
	Intelligent Mail height-modulated barcode that encodes up to 31-digits of mailpiece data	up to 31 digits
	Interleaved 2 of 5 used commercially on 135 film, for ITF-14 barcodes, and on cartons of some products	digits
	ITF-14 generally used on packaging levels of a product, such as a case box of 24 cans of soup	14 digits
	GS1-128 is a subset of Code 128 and is used extensively worldwide in shipping and packaging industries	128 characters of ASCII
	Australian Post 4-State Code a mail delivery barcode based on the UK's Royal Mail 4-State Customer Barcod	digits
	UPC-A widely used in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, in Europe and other countries for tracking trade items in stores	12 digits
	UPC-E a variation of UPC-A which allows for a more compact barcode by eliminating "extra" zeros	8 digits
	AZTEC 2D code has the potential to use less space than other matrix barcodes because it does not require a surrounding blank "quiet zone"	upper and lower case letter, digits, other symbols
	Data matrix the most popular application for Data Matrix is marking small items, due to the code's ability to encode fifty characters in a symbol that is readable at 2 or 3 mm2 and the fact that the code can be read with only a 20% contrast ratio	up to 1556 bytes
	Data matrix GS1 a variant of the Data Matrix symbology that conforms to GS1 specifications. It is a two-dimensional barcode that is suitable for marking products with limited space because it can be very small.	up to 1556 bytes
	PDF417 used in many applications by both commercial and government organizations PDF417 symbol takes about four times the area of a DataMatrix or QR Code	upper and lower case letter, digits, other symbols
	QR code applications include product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document management, and general marketing	upper and lower case letter, digits, other symbols
	Micro QR code a compact and simplified version of the traditional QR code specifically developed for situations where space is limited.	up to 35 characters (128bit)