AztecQRGenerator.Core

Name: AztecQRGenerator.Core
Author: Johan Henningsson

A powerful .NET Framework library for generating QR codes and Aztec codes from Base64-encoded data with support for multiple image formats.

Features

? QR Code Generation - Standards-compliant QR codes
? Aztec Code Generation - Compact 2D barcodes
? Multiple Formats - PNG, JPEG, and BMP output
? Flexible API - Return as Bitmap or save to file
? Customizable - Configurable size and error correction
? ISO-8859-1 Encoding - Latin-1 character support
? Production Ready - Comprehensive error handling and logging

Installation

Install via NuGet Package Manager:

Install-Package AztecQRGenerator.Core

Or via .NET CLI:

dotnet add package AztecQRGenerator.Core

Quick Start

Generate QR Code as Bitmap

using AztecQR;
using System.Drawing;

var generator = new QRGenerator();

// Generate QR code in memory
Bitmap qrCode = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(
    qrstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",  // Base64 encoded data
    lCorrection: 2,                 // Error correction level (0-10)
    lPixelDensity: 300              // Size in pixels
);

// Use the bitmap (e.g., display in UI)
pictureBox.Image = qrCode;

// Remember to dispose when done
qrCode.Dispose();

Save QR Code to File

using AztecQR;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;

var generator = new QRGenerator();

// Save as PNG (recommended)
bool success = generator.GenerateQRCodeToFile(
    qrstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",
    lCorrection: 2,
    lPixelDensity: 300,
    filePath: "qrcode.png",
    format: ImageFormat.Png
);

Generate Aztec Code

using AztecQR;
using System.Drawing;

var generator = new AztecGenerator();

// Generate Aztec code in memory
Bitmap aztecCode = generator.GenerateAztecCodeAsBitmap(
    aztecstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",
    lCorrection: 2,
    lPixelDensity: 300
);

// Or save directly to file
generator.GenerateAztecCodeToFile(
    aztecstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",
    lCorrection: 2,
    lPixelDensity: 300,
    filePath: "aztec.png",
    format: ImageFormat.Png
);

Supported Image Formats

Format	Extension	Quality	File Size	Recommended For
PNG	.png	Excellent (lossless)	Moderate	? QR/Aztec codes (default)
JPEG	.jpg, .jpeg	Fair (lossy)	Small	?? Not recommended for barcodes
BMP	.bmp	Excellent (lossless)	Very Large	?? Legacy systems only

Recommendation: Use PNG format for barcodes. JPEG compression can cause artifacts that reduce scanability.

API Reference

QRGenerator Class

Methods

GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(string qrstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity)

Returns: Bitmap - QR code as a bitmap object
Use for: In-memory generation, UI display

GenerateQRCodeToFile(string qrstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity, string filePath, ImageFormat format)

Returns: bool - True if successful
Use for: Saving directly to file with format selection

AztecGenerator Class

Methods

GenerateAztecCodeAsBitmap(string aztecstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity)

Returns: Bitmap - Aztec code as a bitmap object
Use for: In-memory generation, UI display

GenerateAztecCodeToFile(string aztecstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity, string filePath, ImageFormat format)

Returns: bool - True if successful
Use for: Saving directly to file with format selection

Parameters

qrstring / aztecstring: Base64 encoded string to encode in the barcode
lCorrection: Error correction level (0-10, default: 2) - Higher = more redundancy
lPixelDensity: Size in pixels (must be > 0, typical: 200-500)
filePath: Output file path (including extension)
format: ImageFormat.Png, ImageFormat.Jpeg, or ImageFormat.Bmp

Advanced Usage

Multiple Formats from One Generation

using (Bitmap qr = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap("SGVsbG8=", 2, 300))
{
    qr.Save("output.png", ImageFormat.Png);
    qr.Save("output.jpg", ImageFormat.Jpeg);
    qr.Save("output.bmp", ImageFormat.Bmp);
}

Error Handling

try
{
    var generator = new QRGenerator();
    bool success = generator.GenerateQRCodeToFile(
        "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh", 2, 300, "output.png", ImageFormat.Png
    );
    
    if (success)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("QR code generated successfully!");
    }
}
catch (ArgumentException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Invalid input: {ex.Message}");
}
catch (InvalidOperationException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Generation failed: {ex.Message}");
}
catch (IOException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"File error: {ex.Message}");
}

Logging

The library includes built-in logging to help with debugging:

// Set minimum log level (default: Info)
Logger.Instance.SetMinimumLogLevel(LogLevel.Debug);

// Logs are written to: {AppDirectory}/Logs/AztecQR_yyyyMMdd.log

Requirements

.NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher
System.Drawing (included)
ZXing.Net 0.16.9 (automatically installed)

Performance

Generation Speed: ~10-50ms per barcode (depends on size)
Memory Usage: ~1-5 MB per generation (proportional to pixel density)
Thread Safety: Logger is thread-safe, generators are not (create per thread)

Best Practices

? Use PNG format for all production barcodes
? Dispose bitmaps properly to prevent memory leaks
? Validate Base64 input before generation
? Test scanability with real barcode scanners
?? Avoid JPEG unless file size is absolutely critical
?? Use appropriate sizes (300-500px recommended for printing)

Examples

Windows Forms Application

private void GenerateQRCode()
{
    var generator = new QRGenerator();
    string base64Data = Convert.ToBase64String(
        Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(textBox.Text)
    );
    
    Bitmap qrCode = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(base64Data, 2, 300);
    pictureBox.Image = qrCode;
}

ASP.NET Web Application

public ActionResult GenerateQRCode(string data)
{
    var generator = new QRGenerator();
    using (Bitmap qrCode = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(data, 2, 300))
    {
        using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
        {
            qrCode.Save(ms, ImageFormat.Png);
            return File(ms.ToArray(), "image/png");
        }
    }
}

Batch Processing

var generator = new QRGenerator();
var dataList = new List<string> { "data1", "data2", "data3" };

foreach (var data in dataList)
{
    string fileName = $"qr_{DateTime.Now.Ticks}.png";
    generator.GenerateQRCodeToFile(data, 2, 300, fileName, ImageFormat.Png);
}

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Invalid Base64 String

Ensure your input is properly Base64-encoded
Use Convert.ToBase64String() to encode data

File Access Denied

Check write permissions in the output directory
Ensure the path is valid

Low Scan Success Rate

Use PNG format instead of JPEG
Increase pixel density (try 400-500)
Increase error correction level
Test with multiple scanner apps

License

MIT License - See LICENSE for details

Author

Johan Henningsson

Version 1.2.0 - Multiple format support, in-memory generation, comprehensive logging

AztecQRGenerator.Core

A powerful .NET Framework library for generating QR codes and Aztec codes from Base64-encoded data with support for multiple image formats.

Features

? QR Code Generation - Standards-compliant QR codes
? Aztec Code Generation - Compact 2D barcodes
? Multiple Formats - PNG, JPEG, and BMP output
? Flexible API - Return as Bitmap or save to file
? Customizable - Configurable size and error correction
? ISO-8859-1 Encoding - Latin-1 character support
? Production Ready - Comprehensive error handling and logging

Installation

Install via NuGet Package Manager:

Install-Package AztecQRGenerator.Core

Or via .NET CLI:

dotnet add package AztecQRGenerator.Core

Quick Start

Generate QR Code as Bitmap

using AztecQR;
using System.Drawing;

var generator = new QRGenerator();

// Generate QR code in memory
Bitmap qrCode = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(
    qrstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",  // Base64 encoded data
    lCorrection: 2,                 // Error correction level (0-10)
    lPixelDensity: 300              // Size in pixels
);

// Use the bitmap (e.g., display in UI)
pictureBox.Image = qrCode;

// Remember to dispose when done
qrCode.Dispose();

Save QR Code to File

using AztecQR;
using System.Drawing.Imaging;

var generator = new QRGenerator();

// Save as PNG (recommended)
bool success = generator.GenerateQRCodeToFile(
    qrstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",
    lCorrection: 2,
    lPixelDensity: 300,
    filePath: "qrcode.png",
    format: ImageFormat.Png
);

Generate Aztec Code

using AztecQR;
using System.Drawing;

var generator = new AztecGenerator();

// Generate Aztec code in memory
Bitmap aztecCode = generator.GenerateAztecCodeAsBitmap(
    aztecstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",
    lCorrection: 2,
    lPixelDensity: 300
);

// Or save directly to file
generator.GenerateAztecCodeToFile(
    aztecstring: "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh",
    lCorrection: 2,
    lPixelDensity: 300,
    filePath: "aztec.png",
    format: ImageFormat.Png
);

Supported Image Formats

Format	Extension	Quality	File Size	Recommended For
PNG	.png	Excellent (lossless)	Moderate	? QR/Aztec codes (default)
JPEG	.jpg, .jpeg	Fair (lossy)	Small	?? Not recommended for barcodes
BMP	.bmp	Excellent (lossless)	Very Large	?? Legacy systems only

Recommendation: Use PNG format for barcodes. JPEG compression can cause artifacts that reduce scanability.

API Reference

QRGenerator Class

Methods

GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(string qrstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity)

Returns: Bitmap - QR code as a bitmap object
Use for: In-memory generation, UI display

GenerateQRCodeToFile(string qrstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity, string filePath, ImageFormat format)

Returns: bool - True if successful
Use for: Saving directly to file with format selection

AztecGenerator Class

Methods

GenerateAztecCodeAsBitmap(string aztecstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity)

Returns: Bitmap - Aztec code as a bitmap object
Use for: In-memory generation, UI display

GenerateAztecCodeToFile(string aztecstring, int lCorrection, int lPixelDensity, string filePath, ImageFormat format)

Returns: bool - True if successful
Use for: Saving directly to file with format selection

Parameters

qrstring / aztecstring: Base64 encoded string to encode in the barcode
lCorrection: Error correction level (0-10, default: 2) - Higher = more redundancy
lPixelDensity: Size in pixels (must be > 0, typical: 200-500)
filePath: Output file path (including extension)
format: ImageFormat.Png, ImageFormat.Jpeg, or ImageFormat.Bmp

Advanced Usage

Multiple Formats from One Generation

using (Bitmap qr = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap("SGVsbG8=", 2, 300))
{
    qr.Save("output.png", ImageFormat.Png);
    qr.Save("output.jpg", ImageFormat.Jpeg);
    qr.Save("output.bmp", ImageFormat.Bmp);
}

Error Handling

try
{
    var generator = new QRGenerator();
    bool success = generator.GenerateQRCodeToFile(
        "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh", 2, 300, "output.png", ImageFormat.Png
    );
    
    if (success)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("QR code generated successfully!");
    }
}
catch (ArgumentException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Invalid input: {ex.Message}");
}
catch (InvalidOperationException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Generation failed: {ex.Message}");
}
catch (IOException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"File error: {ex.Message}");
}

Logging

The library includes built-in logging to help with debugging:

// Set minimum log level (default: Info)
Logger.Instance.SetMinimumLogLevel(LogLevel.Debug);

// Logs are written to: {AppDirectory}/Logs/AztecQR_yyyyMMdd.log

Requirements

.NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher
System.Drawing (included)
ZXing.Net 0.16.9 (automatically installed)

Performance

Generation Speed: ~10-50ms per barcode (depends on size)
Memory Usage: ~1-5 MB per generation (proportional to pixel density)
Thread Safety: Logger is thread-safe, generators are not (create per thread)

Best Practices

? Use PNG format for all production barcodes
? Dispose bitmaps properly to prevent memory leaks
? Validate Base64 input before generation
? Test scanability with real barcode scanners
?? Avoid JPEG unless file size is absolutely critical
?? Use appropriate sizes (300-500px recommended for printing)

Examples

Windows Forms Application

private void GenerateQRCode()
{
    var generator = new QRGenerator();
    string base64Data = Convert.ToBase64String(
        Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(textBox.Text)
    );
    
    Bitmap qrCode = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(base64Data, 2, 300);
    pictureBox.Image = qrCode;
}

ASP.NET Web Application

public ActionResult GenerateQRCode(string data)
{
    var generator = new QRGenerator();
    using (Bitmap qrCode = generator.GenerateQRCodeAsBitmap(data, 2, 300))
    {
        using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
        {
            qrCode.Save(ms, ImageFormat.Png);
            return File(ms.ToArray(), "image/png");
        }
    }
}

Batch Processing

var generator = new QRGenerator();
var dataList = new List<string> { "data1", "data2", "data3" };

foreach (var data in dataList)
{
    string fileName = $"qr_{DateTime.Now.Ticks}.png";
    generator.GenerateQRCodeToFile(data, 2, 300, fileName, ImageFormat.Png);
}

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Invalid Base64 String

Ensure your input is properly Base64-encoded
Use Convert.ToBase64String() to encode data

File Access Denied

Check write permissions in the output directory
Ensure the path is valid

Low Scan Success Rate

Use PNG format instead of JPEG
Increase pixel density (try 400-500)
Increase error correction level
Test with multiple scanner apps

License

MIT License - See LICENSE for details

Author

Johan Henningsson

Version 1.2.0 - Multiple format support, in-memory generation, comprehensive logging

JohanHenningsson/AztecQRGenerator.Corev1.3.0

Get Started

Readme

AztecQRGenerator.Core

Features

Installation

Quick Start

Generate QR Code as Bitmap

Save QR Code to File

Generate Aztec Code

Supported Image Formats

API Reference

QRGenerator Class

Methods

AztecGenerator Class

Methods

Parameters

Advanced Usage

Multiple Formats from One Generation

Error Handling

Logging

Requirements

Performance

Best Practices

Examples

Windows Forms Application

ASP.NET Web Application

Batch Processing

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

License

Links

Author

JohanHenningsson/AztecQRGenerator.Corev1.3.0

Get Started

Readme

AztecQRGenerator.Core

Features

Installation

Quick Start

Generate QR Code as Bitmap

Save QR Code to File

Generate Aztec Code

Supported Image Formats

API Reference

QRGenerator Class

Methods

AztecGenerator Class

Methods

Parameters

Advanced Usage

Multiple Formats from One Generation

Error Handling

Logging

Requirements

Performance

Best Practices

Examples

Windows Forms Application

ASP.NET Web Application

Batch Processing

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

License

Links

Author