qrlabelr is an R package that provides customizable functions and an intuitive ‘shiny’ app for generating print-ready machine and human-readable labels affixed with QR codes. The app is designed to be user-friendly, fast and efficient, allowing researchers to create accurate and highly informative plot labels without the need for licensed commercial software.
It generates field plot labels that are compatible with the widely used digital data collection mobile app, Field Book. Our software builds on the foundation of an existing open-source program to offer more flexibility in plot label creation steps; guarantees true string fidelity after QR encoding; and provides faster label generation to users.
This vignette will guide you through the process of installing the package, and how to use its customizable functions, and the ‘shiny’ app.
To install qrlabelr, you will first
need to have R and the ‘RStudio’ IDE installed on your computer. Once
you have these tools installed, you can open ‘RStudio’ and enter the
following command in the console to install the package from CRAN:
install.packages("qrlabelr")
The development version of qrlabelr can
be installed from GitHub as follows:
install.packages("devtools")
Now, install the qrlabelr package by running the following commands:
devtools::install_github("awkena/qrlabelr")
Alternatively, you can install the package together with its vignettes as follows:
devtools::install_github("awkena/qrlabelr", build_vignettes = TRUE)
One must have the knitr package installed before
vignettes can be built during package installation.
To view vignettes for the package in ‘RStudio’, run the following code in the R console:
utils::vignette("qrlabelr")
Similarly, the vignette can be viewed in your browser by running the following code in your R console:
utils::browseVignettes("qrlabelr")
The method described above will download and install the
qrlabelr package on your computer. Once the installation is
complete, you can load the package by entering the following command in
the console:
library(qrlabelr)
Users who have R and RStudio already installed must ensure they are up to date before installing qrlabelr. All installed packages must also be updated before installing qrlabelr from GitHub
To use qrlabelr, one must first generate a field book or data input that shows individual experimental plot or label attributes. A field or study book is required as an input data input in qrlabelr for plot labels. For seed packet labels, a data input containing the attributes of the seed samples must be provided.
Typically, layout information for field plots are obtained based on the experimental design and treatment randomization. For field plot labels, it is strongly recommended to have the grid coordinates of plots (row and column numbers of plots) included in the field book.
There are free open-source software such as FielDHub, which users can use to easily generate an input field book for plot label design in qrlabelr. Other user-preferred software such as ‘BMS’ or ‘breedbase’ can equally be used to generate an input field book if desired. The qrlabelr package is ‘BrAPI- compliant’.
In R, users can use available functions in the ‘QBMS’ package to query ‘BrAPI’-supported databases for input field books. A user-friendly UI component for accessing data from ‘BrAPI’-supported databases is available in the ‘shiny’ app.
For BrAPI compliance, users must install the ‘async’ package in addition to the ‘QBMS’ package as follows:
Input data must be imported as a data frame into qrlabelr for use. We recommend that users save input data as csv or as xls or xlsx files for easy import to qrlabelr.
The qrlabelr package offers two user-centered options for creating plot labels affixed with QR codes.
The first option involves the use of customizable functions to create rectangular field plot labels or any rectangular general-purpose labels embossed with QR codes. This option is for users who find working in R comfortable.
The package also provides a helper function to access a user-friendly ‘shiny’ app (‘EasyQrlabelr’) for non-R users who may find working in R not so comfortable. This option allows users to run the ‘shiny’ app using their computer as host without the need for internet.
Both the customizable functions and ‘shiny’ app were created to deliver the exact same features, so it all boils down to a user’s preference.
You can choose to create labels using the ‘shiny’ app, or with the use of customizable functions in R. It boils down to a user’s preference, as both the functions and ‘shiny’ app were created to deliver the exact same features. We were only motivated by the need to serve both groups – those comfortable with working with codes, and those who prefer to work with a GUI-based application.
The qrlabelr package designs machine and human-readable plot labels. The specific information that is displayed on labels depends on whether one is designing field plot labels for field experiments or any general purpose label. The general-purpose label option comes with two text orientation formats on the label: landscape (Figure 1) and portrait (Figure 2) formats.
Figure 1 and 2 show delineated text positions available to users that can be filled with human-readable text items and machine-readable QR code.
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| Fig. 1. Plot label design and content in qrlabelr for a landscape text orientation label format. A. There are nine (9) delineated text positions and 1 QR code position for any rectangular label (A). For a field plot label, the nine delineated text positions are mapped to specific human-readable texts by default as shown in B. |
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| Fig. 2. Plot label design and content in qrlabelr for a portrait text orientation label format. A. There are ten (10) delineated text positions and 1 QR code position for any rectangular label with portrait text orientation. B. An example of a general-purpose label with a portrait text orientation. |
For a field plot label option, a landscape text orientation is used. The text nine (9) text positions are mapped by default to the following human-readable text items as shown in Figure 1.
To change any of these default human-readable text items to
specific user-preferred texts, use the gp_label()
customizable function in R or the
General-purpose landscape text label method in the ‘shiny’
app..
Affixing QR codes on the plot labels makes them machine-readable for easy plot identification and tracking. The text for generating QR codes must be unique for each plot.
The qrlabelr package provides three methods for producing unique IDs
for each plot. These methods are reproducible unique IDs
(RUID), universal unique IDs
(UUID), and custom unique IDs
(custom). The RUID method is, however, only
available when the user chooses the field_label() function
in R or the Field plot label option in the ‘shiny’ app.
RUIDs are informative and reproducible, hence, can be regenerated
when provided with the same input field book. For field experiments or
trials, we strongly recommend the use of RUIDs. An RUID is generated by
concatenating LOCATION and year of experiment, trial name, PLOT, ROW and
COLUMN ids for each experimental plot Eg.
KUMASI2023_PYT_101_1_1.
The UUID method produces random time-based unique IDs that are not reproducible and informative, but are highly unique due to their pseudo-random nature.
if the input field book contains a column that represents unique IDs
suitable for QR code generation, the user can choose the
'custom' method.
Users can set the desired error correction level (ecl) for generating QR codes. The ecl indicates how much of the QR code is used up for error correction. There are four levels, with 0 (7%) being the lowest level and 3 (30%) being the highest value possible. For field experiments, we strongly recommend that the error correction level be set to 3, which is the default setting.
To create field plot labels in R, use the field_label()
function. This function creates rectangular field plot labels based on a
template, where the page setting and label dimension parameters can be
defined by the user using specific arguments.
For instance, to create field plot labels based on the Avery 94241
template, the field_label() function is used as shown
in the code snippet below:
library(qrlabelr)
field_label(dat = qrlabelr::square_lattice,
wdt = 5,
hgt = 2,
page_wdt = 8.5,
page_hgt = 11,
top_mar = 0.75,
bot_mar = 0.75,
left_mar = 1.75,
right_mar = 1.75,
numrow = 4L,
numcol = 1L,
rect = TRUE,
print_across = TRUE,
filename = paste0(tempfile()),
font_sz = 20,
Trial = 'PYT',
Year = 2023,
family = 'sans',
rounded = TRUE,
IBlock = TRUE,
get_unique_id = "ruid",
rname = "AW Kena",
seed_source = TRUE,
seed_source_id = "SEED_SOURCE"
)The above example creates field plot labels using a sample field book
named square_lattice generated with the FielDHub package.
The square_lattice sample field book is available in the
qrlabelr package, and it was generated based on a Square
Lattice Design layout at two locations.
It follows from the above example that to create any custom rectangular label based on a template, users must specify page setting and label dimension parameters using the following arguments:
It follows from the above examples that to create any custom rectangular label based on a template, users must specify page setting and label dimension parameters using the following arguments:
wdt: label width in inches hgt: label height in inches page_wdt: page width in inches page_hgt: page height in inches top_mar: top page margin in inches bot_mar: bottom page margin in inches left_mar: left page margin in inches right_mar: right page margin in inches numrow: number of label rows per page numcol: number of label columns per page The example above creates labels with QR codes generated using the
reproducible unique IDs method (get_unique_id = "ruid");
researcher’s name = "AW Kena"; intra-blocks
(IBlock = TRUE); and a font family of
family ='sans'.
The arguments Trial = 'PYT' and Year = 2023
are required if the method for generating unique IDs for QR codes is set
to get_unique_id = "ruid". Users can set the font size for
the label using the font_sz argument. Rectangular labels
with rounded corners are generated with the argument
rounded = TRUE, else set it to
rounded = FALSE.
Users have the option to draw rectangles around labels or make labels
without rectangular borders via the rect = TRUE argument.
Set this argument to TRUE for rectangles or
FALSE for no rectangles.
The print_across argument provides options for users to
fill pages with labels by row (left to right) or by column (top to
down). Set to TRUE to fill pages by row or
FALSE to fill pages by column.
The following arguments must also be specified if the input field book was not generated with the FielDHub package:
rep_id: column id in input field book for
REP; default is ‘REP’ plot_id: column id in input field book for
PLOT; default is ‘PLOT’ row_id: column id in input field book
ROW; default is ‘ROW’ col_id: column id in input field book for
COLUMN; default is ‘COLUMN’ loc_id: column id in input field book for
LOCATION; default is ‘LOCATION’ entry_id: column id in input field book for
TREATMENT or ENTRY; default is
‘TREATMENT’ IBlock_id: column id in input field book for
IBLOCK; default is ‘IBLOCK’ seed_source_id: column id in input field book for
SEED SOURCE; default is ‘SEED_SOURCE’ The arguments seed_source = TRUE and
seed_source_id = "SEED_SOURCE" are optional and should be
used only when the user intends to show seed source on the field
label.
The function creates a pdf file with a name prefix of
'PlotLabel' that is saved to the user’s working directory.
The function also saves an updated field book to the user’s working
directory which can be exported to the Field Book mobile app for digital
data collection.
The gp_label() and the
gp_label_portrait()functions allow for specific
user-defined or preferred human-readable text items to be displayed on a
label. These texts can be used to fill out the delineated text positions
on the label (Figure 1 and 2). These functions give a lot of control to
the user with respect to what human-readable text items, their position,
and orientation on the label.
To create any general-purpose label with a landscape text
orientation, invoke the gp_label() function as has been
done in the code snippet below:
gp_label(dat = qrlabelr::square_lattice,
get_unique_id = "uuid",
font_sz = 10,
family = "sans",
rect = TRUE,
print_across = FALSE,
filename = paste0(tempfile()),
top_left_txt1 = 'Plot:',
top_left_txt2 = 'Row:',
top_right_txt1 = 'Rep:',
top_right_txt2 = 'Col:',
center_right_txt1 = 'iBlock:',
center_right_txt2 = 'Seed:',
center_right_txt3 = 'Adepa',
bottom_left_txt1 = 'Loc:',
top_left_id1 = 'PLOT',
top_left_id2 = 'ROW',
top_right_id1 = 'REP',
top_right_id2 = 'COLUMN',
center_right_id1 = 'IBLOCK',
center_right_id2 = 'SEED_SOURCE',
bottom_left_id1 = 'LOCATION',
bottom_left_id2 = 'TREATMENT'
)The above arguments are passed to the create_label()
function to generate the desired labels based on the defined page
setting and label dimension parameters.
The gp_label_portrait() function is, however, a
standalone function that places human-readable text items on the label
in a portrait orientation as shown in Figure 2. The code snippet below
demonstrates how to use the gp_label_portrait() function in
R.
library(qrlabelr)
dat <- qrlabelr::square_lattice
dat$ids <- paste0(dat$LOCATION,'2023', '_PYT', '_', dat$PLOT, '_', dat$ROW, '_', dat$COLUMN)
gp_label_portrait(
dat,
wdt = 2,
hgt = 1,
page_wdt = 8.5,
page_hgt = 11,
top_mar = 0.625,
bot_mar = 0.625,
left_mar = 0.625,
right_mar = 0.625,
numrow = 8L,
numcol = 3L,
filename = paste0(tempfile()),,
font_sz = 10,
family = 'sans',
rounded = TRUE,
rect = TRUE,
print_across = FALSE,
bot_txt1 = 'Rubi',
cent_txt2 = 'Rep:',
cent_txt3 = 'R:',
cent_txt4 = 'r:',
top_txt1 = 'P:',
top_txt2 = 'B:',
bot_txt2_id = 'ids',
bot_txt3_id = 'LOCATION',
cent_txt1_id = 'TREATMENT',
cent_txt2_id = 'REP',
cent_txt3_id = 'COLUMN',
cent_txt4_id = 'ROW',
top_txt1_id = 'PLOT',
top_txt2_id = 'IBLOCK',
top_txt3_id = 'SEED_SOURCE',
unique_id = 'ids',
ec_level = 1
)To view details of the field_label(), the
gp_label(), and gp_label_portrait() functions
in ‘RStudio’, run the following codes in the R console:
Note that the default label template for the above functions is Avery 94220 template..
To create your first plot label using the ‘shiny’ app, you will need to open the ‘EasyQrlabelr’ ‘shiny’ app. You can do this by entering the following command in the console:
This will open a new window in your default web browser that displays the ‘EasyQrlabelr’ ‘shiny’ app. The user is then greeted with a Welcome page that provides an overview of the web app, some quick instructions to get started, sample labels, among others. In the header of the web app is a convenient Help button which can be accessed anytime for a quick overview of the purpose of each tab in generating a label.
Figure 3 shows the main pages or tabs available in the ‘shiny’ app and their corresponding features.
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| Fig. 3. Workflow of the ‘shiny’ app, ‘EasyQrlabelr’ |
To create plot labels, start by clicking on the “Import field book” sidebar menu.
Users can upload input field books from a local source on their computer or by querying BrAPI supported breeding databases. The current supported databases are ‘BMS’ and ‘breedbase’.
Clicking on this tab presents a page with a number of input widgets all geared towards the upload of a field book.
To upload data from a local source, turn on the switch for ‘From local source’ and then click the “Browse…” button and navigate to a desired field book in CSV, XLS, or XLSX format. If the field book was generated with FielDHub, turn on the “From FielDHub” switch. This switch allows users to automatically populate relevant input widgets fields that will be covered in subsequent sections. However, users should turn off this switch if the imported field book was generated using other programs.
To access data directly from ‘BrAPI’-supported breeding databases such as ‘BMS’ or ‘breedbase’, turn on the switch for ‘From BrAPI databases’ and proceed to fill out the log-in page for the database. After a successful sign-in, select crop to GET all programs under the crop. Select the specific program to GET all trials for the program. Select a specific trial to GET all studies. Select a specific study/environment to GET data or study book for import into the ‘shiny’ app.
To preview the uploaded field book right in the app, turn on the switch labeled “Preview Field book”. This displays the uploaded field book in a dedicated card from which the field book can be examined, but not modified. Click the “Submit Field book” button after all the necessary configurations have been made, and click the Next button to move to the next tab.
In case a field book is yet to be generated, a “Launch ‘FielDHub’” button has been provided for convenience. This opens the GitHub page of the author of ‘FielDHub’ in a new window, allowing for the fast and easy generation of a field book.
This page contains widgets for choosing the type of label to generate, as well as populating the individual labels with information.
The first widget on this tab allows for the selection of the type of label to create. Choose Field plot labels, the default option, to generate plot labels for field experiments. Otherwise, to create a general-purpose label, choose one of the General-purpose lab options, depending on whether you want a landscape or portrait text orientation.
Choosing the Field plot labels with QR codes option presents the user with three methods for setting unique IDs to be used to generate QR codes – Reproducible unique IDs (RUID), Universal unique IDs (UUID), and Custom unique IDs.
Using the RUID method to produce unique IDs for QR code generation requires the user to first fill out all designated input widgets for label information before clicking the “Generate QR codes” to generate the unique QR codes. The “Generate QR codes” button is inactivated until a field book is uploaded.
There is also an option to show the seed source on the label which can be activated by ticking the corresponding check box. To allow for even more informative plot labels, there are options to input both the name of the researcher and the trial name.
The widget labeled “Incomplete blocks”, as can be inferred from the name, should be ticked if the experimental design consists of incomplete blocks. If checked, the user will be required to provide the input ID of the incomplete blocks using its designated widget.
Lastly, there are drop-down input widgets for defining the various parameters of the imported field book if the type of label to generate is Field plot labels. The options provided in these widgets correspond to the various names in the uploaded field book. However, if general-purpose labels are to be generated, at each desired position, the prefix of the parameter to be displayed, and the ID of the parameter in the imported field book are both to be defined by the user. It should be noted that not all positions have to be filled – only those desired by the user.
Once the desired information has been defined for all the required fields as well as QR codes generated, click the Next button to continue to the next tab.
This tab allows the user to choose one of the preset rectangular label templates. Choosing one of the preset templates speeds things up significantly, and is definitely recommended! Choose from the number of options provided that suits your needs. The template selected by default is Avery 94200, but a user may well choose any of the provided templates or define his or her own values and parameters by choosing a ‘Custom’ template.
For more information on the provided templates, use the Common labels table as a guide. It features a number of parameters such as the label width and height, page height and width margins, the number of columns and rows, among others. For more information, click the Help! button located at the center of the header of the page.
Click the Next button once a desired template has been chosen.
This page allows for the customization of page-specific parameters. If the desired template is set to Custom, the widgets on this page will have to be defined manually. Care should be taken to set values that correspond to the desired outcome. If none of the templates provided is suitable for a particular task, it is advisable to first start with a template that is closest to producing the desired outcome and modifying the parameters as necessary.
All values entered in the fields, apart from the Number of rows and Number of columns, must be in inches. We recommend using the Common labels tab to have a fair idea of the range and combinations of values that can be safely entered to generate labels, especially if the labels will be printed on special papers from vendors such as Avery and Uline.
Once all values have been entered and verified, click the Next button to proceed to the next tab.
Similar to the Page setup page, this page allows for the customization of label-specific parameters. A list of font families is provided, one of which can be chosen. Options include a mono space font type (Courier), a Sans (Helvetica) type, and a Sans-serif type (Times). Users can also set the default font size as well, which is set to 8 by default.
In addition, it is possible to choose a label to preview by specifying the row number of the plot in the imported field book using the designated widget. This feature is based on the fact that each row in the imported field book corresponds to a single plot label. The preview is rendered in a dedicated card directly below the Next button.
If no template or Custom is chosen in the Template setup page, the label width and height will have to be defined as well. Lastly, there is an option to generate labels with rounded or sharp corners.
After setting the desired values and being satisfied with the preview, click the Next button to proceed to the next and final tab.
On this page are a number of input widgets related to the output – a PDF file containing the desired labels.
There is a text input box to enter a prefix of the file to be downloaded. One can also choose to print all labels or only a subset of labels by using the “Print by REP and LOCATION” switch. By default, the program allows users to generate labels by LOCATION subsets.
Once plot labels have been customized and created, it can be saved for printing and future use by clicking on the “Download labels” button in the app. This will save the generated labels as a PDF file. Note that this button will be enabled only after the successful generation of labels.
Users have the option to download an augmented field book which contains all the unique IDs that were used in generating the unique QR codes, if either the RUID or UUID method was chosen in the Label information tab.
The ‘shiny’ app offers a wide range of customization options for your plot labels. You can choose from a variety of different templates, label type, and font styles to create a label that is tailored to your specific needs and preferences. To access the customization options, configure the appearance of the labels using the options provided in the app.
This user-friendly R package allows researchers to easily generate machine and human-readable plot labels. With its easy-to-use web app and wide range of customization options, the incorporated ‘shiny’ app makes it simple to create accurate and informative plot labels without the need for licensed commercial software. Give qrlabelr a try and enjoy the convenience it brings to your work!