May 2022: a documented rectangular format
In its announcement of 25 May 2022, DENSO WAVE presented rMQR, short for “rectangular Micro QR Code”. The manufacturer intended it particularly for positions where available height is limited.
The public ISO record places publication of ISO/IEC 23941:2022 in May 2022. Its abstract describes a specification covering format, encoding, dimensions and decoding. This is a defined format; its publication alone does not guarantee support in every reader.
Another format, not a squeezed square
rMQR arranges its patterns within a rectangle designed to be read that way. Reducing only the height of a square QR image changes its pattern; this edit converts neither its encoding nor its features to rMQR.
For a square QR code, preserve its proportions and clear margin. If the position offers too little room, examine the necessary content, code size and location before changing the layout. The guide to QR density helps explain why longer content may require more space.
A fictional workshop keeps the drawer reference readable
Imagine the fictional community workshop “Les Boîtes d’Essai”. A narrow strip on each drawer carries its reference and the name of the materials. The team wants to add a link to a public sheet, but the remaining space would require distorting the square QR code.
It keeps the strip for the name and prepares a card attached to the drawer:
- The reference “T12” appears on the drawer and as the page title.
- The square QR code keeps its proportions on the card, with a free margin.
- The caption says “Open sheet T12” and a readable address offers a second route.
The team then compares the file, drawer reference and opened page. The workshop and identifiers in this example are fictional. The guide to checking a series of QR codes explains this check.
Preparing the square QR code with Qurl
The Qurl generator can encode the address of the sheet already hosted. It produces a square QR code and does not generate rMQR. It also does not create the sheet or a drawer management system.
Choose the file for the support with the PNG, SVG and PDF guide and retain its proportions when placing it. The guide to printing QR codes helps check dimensions and the result on the actual support.
Checking the reading chain before choosing a format
For a project that actually uses rMQR, check that the selected generator and reader support the format. A standard describes a format; it does not automatically change existing software or equipment.
The drawer name and reference remain useful without scanning. The guide to accessible QR alternatives helps prepare that route. The retrospective on FrameQR in 2014 presents another format choice: reserving space for an image within the code.