QR Code Punch
This page covers the settings for punching by scanning a QR code posted at each spot. For the participant side, see the Punch Method Guide.
Participants punch a spot by scanning a QR code posted there. This is useful where GPS accuracy is poor, or when you want a reliable record of arrival at a spot. Available on standard events (Score / Score (Free Start and Finish) / Fixed Order).
The "QR code punching" setting appears only on standard events (Score / Score (Free Start and Finish) / Fixed Order). On permanent (no time limit) events and Safety Tracking events, the setting does not appear and QR punch cannot be used (it is always treated as "Don't use QR").
Event QR mode
In the event settings, QR code punching sets the default mode for the whole event.
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Don't use QR | QR is not used (as before). No scan button or QR code generation appears |
| QR only | Controls and finishes are not auto-punched by GPS; they are punched only by scanning the QR code |
| GPS or QR | Can be punched either by GPS proximity (automatic) or by scanning the QR code |
| GPS + QR (both required) | GPS proximity alone does not auto-punch. When a participant gets close, the scan button becomes active and scanning confirms the punch |
A start is always begun with GPS. Only controls and finishes are subject to QR punching.
Per-spot override
You can override the QR mode for each spot. The default is Follow event default, and you can set an individual spot to "Don't use QR / QR only / GPS or QR / GPS + QR (both required)". This lets you require QR on a particular spot, or remove it from one.
The setting ("QR punch (this control)") appears only when the event's QR mode is something other than "Don't use QR". On both iOS and Android, you configure it on the edit screen opened from All Spots on the event management screen (dashboard); it is not shown on the spot edit screen inside a course.
How QR mode and punch method relate
The QR mode decides how a punch is triggered (the way the punch fires), while the punch method in category settings decides what happens after the punch (taking a photo, a quiz). The two combine independently.
- Example: GPS + QR (both required) × Camera Punch — get close, the scan button activates, scan the QR, and the camera opens for a photo
- Example: QR only × Auto Punch — GPS does not record; scanning the QR confirms the punch (no photo)
- Example: QR only × quiz spot — after scanning the QR, the quiz screen appears
Showing and printing QR codes
On a QR-enabled event, you can show and print each spot's QR code.
- Show one — from the menu that appears when you select a spot, Show QR code displays that spot's QR code on screen
- Print all — from the Spot Punch QR item (on Android, Spot Punch QR list) in the "Prepare" section of the event dashboard, you can export a PDF that lays out the QR codes for the controls and finishes of each course, one spot per cell (starts are excluded because they are not subject to QR punching). Print it and post each one at its spot
A QR code is unique to its spot and stops working if you recreate the spot. If you delete and recreate a spot, regenerate and repost its QR code.
When "QR Code Punch" in the event settings is set to "Don't use QR", the "Spot Punch QR" card on the dashboard is greyed out, and tapping it shows "This event is set not to use QR punching, so this is not available."