QR codes let you connect the layout in the field directly to digital project information — shop drawings, detail sheets, safety documentation, prefab instructions, and more. Field teams scan the code printed on the slab and get instant access to the information they need.

There are two ways to add QR codes to a layout: place QR code text in your file using AutoCAD, or upload a CSV file of QR code data directly in Dusty Portal. This guide covers both.

What Is a QR Code?

A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional barcode that holds machine-readable information. Most smartphone cameras can scan one, and if the code contains a URL, the phone prompts the user to open the linked page.

Customers commonly link QR codes to:

• Shop drawings
• Detail drawings
• Punch lists
• Safety forms
• Prefabricated part numbers
• File storage locations

The FieldPrinter converts specific QR code data into a printed QR code at print time. How much a code can hold depends on its version (size) and error-correction settings. The default "Full" size Dusty provides stores over 600 characters, but keep the text short for easier scanning.

Prerequisites

• The Dusty AutoCAD Plugin installed, if you're placing QR codes in AutoCAD.
• A CSV file of QR code data, if you're uploading QR codes directly in Dusty Portal instead.
• The URL or text string you want to encode. Plain text works — it does not have to be a URL.

QR Code Sizing

QR codes scale automatically with the number of characters in their text string. Longer strings make larger, denser codes. This applies whether the code was placed in AutoCAD or uploaded as a CSV in Portal.

Longer strings produce codes that take up more space, may be harder to scan, take longer to print, and can run into walls, pipes, or other barriers.

Dusty Portal scales each QR code shape based on its character length, so the layout-canvas preview reflects how large the code will actually print. Use the preview to check that two codes won't overlap and that each has room to print before you send the file to the field.

Best practices:

• Use shortened URLs when possible.
• Avoid dynamic links that change after they're accessed.
• Keep the character count as low as practical.

Method 1: Add QR Codes in AutoCAD

1. Create the required layer

Place every QR code on a dedicated layer named exactly: DR-QRCode

Dusty recognizes this layer and converts the text on it into a QR code during printing. The name must match exactly — no extra capitalization and no spaces.

Warning: If the text is not on theDR-QRCode layer, it prints as regular text, not as a QR code.

2. Add the QR code content as text

1. Insert a Single Line Text or MText object.
2. Paste the full URL or text string you want encoded.
3. Place the text exactly where you want the QR code printed.
4. Confirm the text object is on the DR-QRCode layer.

The robot automatically generates the QR code from this text when printing.

3. Set text justification (anchor point)

The QR code uses the text object's anchor point (justify property) as its alignment reference. For predictable placement:

• Use consistent justification across all your QR codes.
• Top-left justification gives the most accurate match between the Portal preview and the final printed result.
• Confirm the insertion point matches the corner where you expect the QR code to print.
• Place QR codes away from walls, columns, and other obstacles so there is room to print and scan.

CSV-uploaded QR codes set their anchor point the same way, using the CSV's justification column (see Method 2 below). The one difference: CSV-uploaded codes don't have a per-code rotation angle. Rotation follows the layer's Point Angle setting instead.

4. Export using the Dusty plugin

Once the QR text is placed correctly:

1. Use the Dusty AutoCAD Plugin.
2. Export the file as you normally would.

No special export steps are required beyond correct layer setup.

5. Verify in the Dusty Portal

After uploading your file:

• The QR content first appears as text on the DR-QRCode layer.
• Once published, the Portal displays a QR code image (a barcode indicator) in the layout preview.

Seeing the code in the Portal preview confirms the file was prepared correctly. The Portal preview is designed to match what the FieldPrinter 2 prints — including the code's size, as described in QR Code Sizing above.

Method 2: Upload QR Codes from a CSV in Dusty Portal

You can upload QR codes onto a layout directly in Dusty Portal from a CSV file, without placing QR text in AutoCAD.

To use it:

1. Open a layout's Files panel and go to the QR Codes section.
2. Upload a CSV file containing your QR code data, formatted as described below.
3. The uploaded QR codes render on their own layer in the layout viewer and preview page, and are included when you export a production PDF.
4. Check the layout preview to confirm each code's size, position, and justification before publishing. See QR Code Sizing above.

CSV format: Your CSV needs a header row with these exact column names.

Justification:

Rotation: Each QR code's rotation follows its layer's Point Angle setting, rather than a separate per-code angle/yaw column in the CSV.

Field Printing Best Practices

Clean the surface and check alignment. QR codes rely on multiple print passes. Debris or an uneven surface can cause slight misalignment that hurts readability. Clean the surface before printing.

Make sure there's strong contrast. On dark concrete, QR codes can be hard to scan. Consider laying down a light base beneath the code, and always verify readability before you leave the area.

Add backup text (recommended). Many customers print a short label beneath the code — a detail number or sheet reference — as a fallback if scanning fails or the code wears over time.

Common Issues and How to Avoid Them

Quick Checklist Before Exporting

If placing QR codes in AutoCAD:

• Text is on the DR-QRCode layer
• Text justification is correct
• File exported using the Dusty Plugin

If uploading QR codes as a CSV in Portal:

• CSV is uploaded in the Files panel's QR Codes section
• The layer's Point Angle is set as intended

Either way:

• URL or text is finalized and reasonably short
• QR code verified in the Portal

Need Help?

For help with QR code preparation or printing:

• Contact your Customer Success or VDC Manager.
• Email vdcsupport@dustyrobotics.com or support@dustyrobotics.com.