Add and read barcodes and QR codes

Monstera can draw a barcode or QR code onto a page, and read the barcodes on the page you are looking at.

Steps

To add a barcode:

1. In the rail, choose Edit, then Barcode in the Text group, beside Text box and Image. In a narrower window it is under the group's More.
2. Drag a box on the page where it should go.
3. Type the Text or link, pick a Barcode type (QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec, PDF417, Code 128 or EAN-13, for a number of up to 13 digits), and choose Add to the page.

To read barcodes:

1. Go to the page.
2. In the rail, choose Tools, then Read barcodes in the OCR group (under the group's More button in a narrower window).
3. The window lists each barcode's Type (like QR code or Code 128) and What it says, with what it is above it: a Web link, Phone number, Email address, Contact card or Text.
4. On a row, choose the show button to mark where that barcode is on the page, or Copy. Choose Copy all for every row.
5. On a contact card, choose the save button to keep it as a .vcf file your address book can open.
6. Choose Read barcodes on all pages to list the barcodes of every page, each with its page number.

Good to know

• If a barcode type cannot hold your text, the window stays open so you can change the text or type.
• EAN-13 takes up to 13 digits; a shorter number gets leading zeros.
• A link in a barcode that is read is shown, and opened only when you choose the link button on its row.
• A contact card is shown as name, title, company, phone, email and address lines.
• The mark on the page goes away when you close the list. A contact is saved exactly as the barcode says it, with every field it holds, even ones the list does not show. A short contact format that is not a full card is shown as text and is not saved as a contact.
• A placed barcode can be moved, resized or deleted like an image. Undo with Ctrl+Z.

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