📖 Step-by-Step Tutorial

How to Use
BIM PAT Gen Tool

Complete guide for generating QR Codes, Barcodes, and Premium Asset Tags directly inside Excel.

🔲 QR Code ▌▌▌ Barcode 📐 QR Guide ❓ FAQ
▶ YouTube Tutorial
QR Code Size Profile System — Full Walkthrough
Learn how to use QR Code Profiles, Version, ECC and Capacity — ISO/IEC 18004 compliant
🔲
Section 01
QR Code Generator
1
Open your Excel asset file
Open any Excel spreadsheet containing your asset data. You need at least an Asset ID column with unique identifiers for each asset (max 16 alphanumeric chars recommended for compact QR codes).
2
Go to the BIM PAT Gen tab in the Excel ribbon
Click the BIM PAT Gen tab at the top of Excel. You'll see buttons for: QR Image, QR Link, Barcode, Export QR, and Premium Tag.
3
Click "QR Image" or "QR Link"
QR Image — embeds your Asset ID (or any text) directly into the QR code. Scan = see the ID.

QR Link — creates a QR code that opens a URL when scanned. Ideal for linking to BIM model pages, FM systems, or online asset records.
💡 Use QR Image for offline tagging (warehouses, site). Use QR Link when scanning should open a web page with full asset details.
4
Select your QR Code Size Profile
The QR Code Size Profile dialog opens. Here you configure or load a saved profile:

• QR Size (mm) — physical print size on the tag
• QR Version — V1 to V40 (controls module grid size)
• ECC Level — L / M / Q / H (error correction; Q recommended for asset tags)
• Environment — optional label (Indoor Office, Outdoor, etc.)

Save the profile with a name like SYNC-VDC-15mm-V2-Q for reuse across projects.
⚠ If your UID is longer than the profile capacity, a warning appears automatically. The profile preview turns RED if capacity is less than 16 chars.
5
Select the Asset ID column and Generate
After confirming your profile, select the column containing your Asset IDs and press Generate. QR codes are embedded directly into your Excel sheet — one per row, sized and ECC-compliant per your profile.
💡 The tool validates every UID against your profile capacity before generating. Rows that exceed capacity are flagged with a skip/stop option.
▌▌▌
Section 02
Barcode Generator
1
Open your Excel asset file
Same as QR — open any spreadsheet with asset data. Barcodes work best with Asset ID or serial number columns.
2
Click "Barcode" from the ribbon
Click the Barcode button in the BIM PAT Gen tab. The tool uses Code128 format — compatible with all handheld scanners used in warehouses and FM systems.
3
Select the Asset ID column
Choose the column containing your asset IDs or serial numbers. Keep values alphanumeric only for best scanner compatibility.
Good: HVAC-001 / P-2024-005
Avoid: Special chars like # @ &
4
Generate and print
Barcodes are generated directly in Excel. You can copy them to a label template or print from Excel directly. Works with CAFM and ERP systems that use barcode scanners.
💡 Use Barcode for physical asset tracking in warehouses, MEP rooms, and equipment stores.
📐
Section 03
QR Code Technical Guide
1
What are Versions and Modules?
Each QR Code has a Version (V1 to V40) that defines the grid size in Modules (dots).

Formula: Modules = (Version × 4) + 17

Complete Version Reference Table (ISO/IEC 18004:2024)
📎 ISO/IEC 18004:2024 — Official Standard
Version Modules ECC L ECC M ECC Q ECC H
V121×2125201610
V225×2547382920
V329×2977614735
V433×33114906750
V537×371541228764
V641×4119515410884
V745×4522417812593
V849×49279221157122
V953×53335262189143
V1057×57395311221174
V1161×61468366259200
V1265×65535419296227
V1369×69619483352259
V1473×73667528376283
V1577×77758600426321
V1681×81854656470365
V1785×85938734531408
V1889×891046816574452
V1993×931153909644493
V2097×971249970702557
V21101×10113521035742587
V22105×10514601134823640
V23109×10915881248890672
V24113×11317041326963744
V25117×117185314511041779
V26121×121199015421094864
V27125×125213216371172910
V28129×129222317321263958
V29133×1332369183913221016
V30137×1372520199414291080
V31141×1412677211314991150
V32145×1452840223816181226
V33149×1493009236917001307
V34153×1533183250617871394
V35157×1573351263218671431
V36161×1613537278019661530
V37165×1653729289420711591
V38169×1693927305421911658
V39173×1734087322023061774
V40177×1774296339124341852

* Alphanumeric capacity (A–Z, 0–9, space, $%*+-./: ). Source: ISO/IEC 18004:2024. ECC Q column highlighted — recommended for asset tags.

💡 The API auto-selects the smallest version that fits your data. The version in your Profile is for capacity validation only.
2
What is ECC — Error Correction Level?
ECC (Error Correction Code) controls how much of the QR code can be damaged or dirty and still be readable.

• L — 7% recovery    → Max capacity. Clean indoor environments.
• M — 15% recovery → High capacity. General indoor use.
• Q — 25% recovery → Medium capacity. Recommended for asset tags.
• H — 30% recovery → Minimum capacity. Outdoor / harsh environments.
💡 For physical asset tags (ISO/IEC 18004 compliant), use ECC Q for indoor and ECC H for outdoor/harsh environments.
3
Capacity — How many characters fit?
Higher ECC = more recovery, but fewer characters can be stored in the same version.

Version 2 / 25×25 Modules — Alphanumeric capacity:
• ECC L: max 47 chars
• ECC M: max 38 chars
• ECC Q: max 29 chars
• ECC H: max 20 chars

Minimum required for a 16-char UID: V2 with any ECC level.
4
How the API chooses the Version automatically
The QR API (api.qrserver.com) always selects the smallest version that fits your data — you cannot override this.

Example with ECC Q:
• 1–16 chars → API uses V1 (21×21)
• 17–29 chars → API uses V2 (25×25)
• 30–47 chars → API uses V3 (29×29)

The Version in your Profile is only for capacity validation — the tool warns you if your UID exceeds the profile capacity.
💡 To get a 25×25 (V2) QR with ECC Q, your UID must be 17 characters or more.
5
Profile System — Save and reuse your QR settings
The QR Code Size Profile lets you save named configurations combining:

• Profile Name — e.g. SYNC-VDC-15mm-V2-Q
• QR Size (mm) — physical print size
• QR Version — V1 to V40
• ECC Level — L / M / Q / H
• Environment — optional label (Indoor Office, Outdoor, etc.)

Profiles are saved in the Windows Registry and persist across sessions. Unlimited profiles supported.
⚠ If the Profile capacity is less than 16 chars, the preview turns RED and saving is blocked. If your UID exceeds the profile capacity, a warning appears before generating.
6
Export QR Codes as Files (SVG / PNG / JPG)
The Export QR button lets you export QR codes as standalone files to a folder — useful for printing on tags, uploading to CAFM systems, or batch processing.

Steps:
1. Click Export QR from the BIM PAT Gen ribbon
2. Select the DATA column (QR content)
3. Select the NAME column (file names)
4. Choose your QR Profile (Size + Version + ECC)
5. Choose output format: SVG / PNG / JPG / GIF
6. Select an output folder
7. Click Generate — all files are saved to your folder
💡 SVG is recommended for print quality. PNG is best for digital use. The tool supports 2000+ files with rate limiting and Stop/Pause controls.
❓
FAQ
Common Questions
What's the difference between Standard and Premium tags? ▾
Standard tags are plain QR codes or barcodes generated directly in Excel cells — fast and simple. Premium tags are professionally designed labels with your company logo, color-coded categories, asset data fields, and print-ready layout.
How many free tags do I get? ▾
Every account includes 2,000 free Standard tags (QR + Barcode) and 200 free Premium tags. When your balance runs out, you can request a top-up package from the tool directly.
Do QR codes work with any smartphone? ▾
Yes. Generated QR codes work with any smartphone camera (iOS and Android) without needing a dedicated app. Just point the camera at the code and tap the notification.
Can I use barcodes with CAFM or ERP systems? ▾
Yes. The tool generates Code128 barcodes which are industry-standard and compatible with all CAFM systems (Archibus, IBM Maximo, etc.) and ERP platforms (SAP, Oracle) that use barcode scanners.
My balance ran out — how do I get more tags? ▾
When your balance runs out, the tool will show a message and open the Top-Up page automatically. You can also visit syncvdc.com/bimpat/topup.html directly to choose a package and send a request.
The tool isn't showing in my Excel ribbon — what do I do? ▾
Make sure the installer ran completely and that Excel was closed during installation. Try: File → Options → Add-ins → Manage: Excel Add-ins → Browse and locate the .xlam file manually.

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