Create QR Code Barcodes in Crystal Reports Version 8.5 or Older

QR Code Barcodes in Crystal Reports 8.5 or Older

The following tutorial shows how to create QR Code barcodes in older versions of Crystal Reports.
Crystal Reports 8.5 and older do not support fields and formula outputs longer than 254 characters.
To encode a QR Code barcode, we must split the formula into multiple parts.

Step 1. Add a new formula

In Field Explorer click on the icon to create a new formula.
Hint: If you do not see Field Explorer, choose it from Standard Toolbar (see screenshot).

Name the formula. Add "...part0" suffix at the end of the formula name.

Step 2. Copy the formula text.

Copy the contents of this text into the Formula Editor:

 // Part number of the barcode. Always begins with 0.
local numberVar partNumber := 0;

  // barcodeInputArray is the text you wish to encode in the QR Code. It is an array of strings. 
  // By using an array instead of a single string, we are able to enter data that's longer than the limit of 254 characters.
  // 
  // You can use multiple strings (up to 254 characters each), which will be joined together:
  // local stringVar array barcodeInputArray:= ["Hello World", " and Other Planets"]; // encodes: Hello World and Other Planets
  //
  // If your data is under 254 characters then simply use a single-item array, like this:
  // local stringVar array barcodeInputArray:= ["Hello World"];
  // or 
  // local stringVar array barcodeInputArray:= [{my_data_table.item_name}];
  //
  // If your data is a number or date, it must be converted to string using the ToText() function. For example:
  // local stringVar array barcodeInputArray:= [ ToText({my_data_table.item_amount}, 0, "")];

local stringVar array barcodeInputArray := ["Hello World"];

 // Minimum size of QR Code symbol.
 // Valid sizes are 1-40, where size 1 equals 21x21 modules per side and size 40 equals 177x177.
 // Note: Size of symbol will automatically increase if too small for the data.
numberVar symbolSize := 1;            
	  
 // Error correction level allows a partially damaged barcode to be scanned successfully.
 // Valid values are 1-4, representing levels of L, M, Q, and H.
numberVar errorCorrectionLevel := 1;

 // Allows input of special characters in format ^000 where 000 is decimal ASCII code. 
 // For example, ABC^009123^013^010 encodes "ABC[TAB]123[CARRIAGE RETURN][LINE FEED]".
 // To encode the actual caret ^, enter it twice: ^^
 // To encode FNC1, enter: ^F1
booleanVar allowSpecialChars := true;

 // Determines what type of QR Code barcode to create.
 // Set fnc1Mode to 0 to create "regular" QR Code barcodes (default)
 // Set fnc1Mode to 1 to create GS1-QR barcodes.
 // GS1-QR barcodes require input to be in the format: "(NN)XXXXXX(NN)XXXXXXXXX",
 // where NN is a 2, 3, or 4-digit AI and XXXXXX is alphanumeric data to be encoded.
numberVar fnc1Mode := 0; 

 // Thickness of quiet zone (space around barcode), in number of modules.
 // Note: Minimum quiet zone in QR Code is 4 modules. If you add a border (borderWidth > 0), ensure quietZoneWidth is 4 or larger.
 // Default value is 0 (no quiet zone)
numberVar quietZoneWidth := 0; 

 // Thickness of border around barcode, in number of modules.
 // If using a border, ensure quietZoneWidth is 1 or larger.
numberVar borderWidth := 0; 

 // Character encoding of higher ASCII values (above 127). 
 // For example: UTF-8 | ISO-8859-1 | ISO-8859-3 | ISO-2022-JP-2 
stringVar characterInputEncoding := "ISO-8859-1";

 // Character encoding for data encoded in the Data Matrix symbol. 
 // The recommended setting is UTF-8, which is the default for the majority of barcode scanners.
 // If you change the setting, be sure the scanner understands it.
stringVar characterOutputEncoding := "UTF-8";

local stringVar hex := "";
local stringVar xvals := "0123456789ABCDEF";
local stringVar array hexStringsArray := [""];

local numberVar j;

for j := 1 to Count(barcodeInputArray) do
(
    local numberVar strLen := Length(barcodeInputArray[j]);

    local numberVar i;
    For i := 1 to strLen Do
    (
        local numberVar num := Asc(Mid(barcodeInputArray[j], i, 1));
        local numberVar first := Remainder( num,  256);
    
        hex := hex + Mid(xvals, Int(first/16) + 1, 1) + Mid(xvals, Remainder(first, 16) + 1, 1); 

        if Length(hex) >= 254 then
        ( 
            ReDim Preserve hexStringsArray[Count(hexStringsArray)+1];
            hexStringsArray[Count(hexStringsArray)] :=  hex;
            hex := "";
        );
    );
);

if Length(hex) > 0 then 
(
    ReDim Preserve hexStringsArray[Count(hexStringsArray)+1];
    hexStringsArray[Count(hexStringsArray)] := hex;
);

QrCodeEncodeFromHexArray(partNumber, hexStringsArray, symbolSize, errorCorrectionLevel, allowSpecialChars, 
                                            fnc1Mode, quietZoneWidth, borderWidth, characterInputEncoding, characterOutputEncoding);