Documentation

User Manual

Every QArchiv feature at a glance – from installation to the SHA-256 evidence chain.

Version 1.703 · Developed in Hameln, Germany

01What is QArchiv?

QArchiv is a privacy-friendly Android app for court-admissible photo documentation. It automatically records:

  • Exact system time (tamper-proof)
  • GPS location (if permitted)
  • Optional: your code, a voice note, or a QR/barcode
  • Full interface in German or English (switchable in the camera settings menu)

Everything is stored in the photo's original EXIF metadata block – 100% offline, no cloud, no internet required, no subscription.

Supported barcode formats

Thanks to Google ML Kit (100% offline), QArchiv supports all common 1D and 2D barcodes:

QR CodeData MatrixAztec Code 128 / 39 / 93EAN-13 / EAN-8 UPC-A / UPC-EITFCodabar

Just tap „🔍 Scan" – QArchiv detects the format automatically.

02Installation

Via the Google Play Store (recommended)

  1. Open the Google Play Store
  2. Search for "QArchiv" or go directly to play.google.com/…/com.inge.qarchiv
  3. Tap "Install"
  4. Open QArchiv like any other app

Benefits: automatic updates, maximum security, no "unknown sources" setting required.

Alternative: APK installation For special cases, QArchiv can be installed directly as an APK – but you won't receive automatic updates and must allow "install from unknown sources". Not recommended for everyday use.

03First Steps – taking a court-admissible photo

  1. Open QArchiv
  2. Optional: enter a code manually (keyboard or microphone) or scan a QR/barcode – the code is stored in the EXIF field UserComment (prefix configurable, default: GCM_TAG)
  3. Tap "📷 Photo" – the button is always visible, even without a code
  4. Optional: tap "🎤 Note" for a voice description (license required), stored in Image_Description
  • No code? No artificial placeholder (NO_CODE) in the EXIF data
  • Multiple photos per code possible – sorted by timestamp
  • Camera preview matches exactly what gets saved

04TrueQ Cloud Integration

Optionally upload photos directly to TrueQ – with automatic customer assignment.

  1. Open FTP settings ⚙ → FTP/FTPS Upload
  2. Under "Upload target", select "TrueQ"
  3. Enter your 12-digit TrueQ connection code (format: xxxx-xxxx-xxxx)
  4. Tap "Test connection" – the code is validated against the TrueQ API
  5. On success, your name is displayed and the code is stored locally

With an active TrueQ connection, the code is automatically prepended to every filename, e.g. a3k9-7m2p-4t8w_A1234_2026-05-08_1430.jpg. Upload is encrypted (FTPS) to trueq.de; TrueQ forwards the file automatically to the correct customer's Google Drive, AWS S3, or email.

Offline-first is preservedCode validation happens only once during setup. After that, QArchiv works offline again; you can switch back to "Standard FTP" at any time.

06PDF Reports

Two options: create all PDFs, or only selected ones.

  1. Cloud icon → "📄 Create PDF" → "Next"
  2. Select "Create selected PDFs only"
  3. Check the codes you want → "Create"

Each PDF includes: one photo per page, date, GPS, voice note (if present), the full SHA-256 hash, image scaled to 75% of A4 height.

Company logo on the PDF cover page (with license)

Enable "Add logo to cover page" → choose a logo from the gallery (max. 300×150 px) → it's centered at the bottom of the cover page, with the timestamp footer retained below.

Storage location

LocationPurpose
Documents/QArchivPublic, directly shareable
/Android/media/com.inge.qarchiv/reports/Internal, only visible via PC (for FTP)

An optional ZIP attachment with original photos + hashes.txt can be enabled via checkbox. Switching languages and re-generating a PDF keeps both language versions (e.g. …_A1_de.pdf + …_A1_en.pdf).

07Upload to Your Server or TrueQ

Supported: standard FTP, FTPS (encrypted), FTPES, and TrueQ Cloud. FTP upload works without a license; PDF creation is unlimited even without one.

Auto-upload folder control New in 1.703

In the FTP settings, the checkbox "Upload images only (without folders)" determines how images are organized:

ModeResult
With folders (default)Sorted into code-named subfolders, e.g. /A12345/photo1.jpg
Without foldersAll images flat in the main directory, e.g. /A12345_photo1.jpg

The setting is stored in SharedPreferences and persists across app restarts – as do all server credentials.

Auto-upload on new code

Setup: ⚙ → FTP/FTPS Upload → enable "Automatic upload on new code" (available for standard FTP only, not TrueQ).

Upload is triggered when pressing "🆕 New" or clearing the current entry via "X". All existing images are then uploaded and deleted locally – freeing space for the next shots while you're already scanning the next code.

  • Retry mechanism: up to 3 attempts on connection loss
  • Automatic reconnection with re-login and return to the target directory
  • Isolated processing: one failed image doesn't abort the whole upload

Manual upload options

  • Upload files only
  • Upload into folders (/no_code/ for photos without a code)
  • Upload PDFs + delete (deletes only the internal copy)
  • Delete PDFs (public copy remains)

08Camera Features

FeatureDetails
Macro modePremium. Hardware detection: ultra-wide (0.5×) on devices like the S25 Ultra, tele-macro (3×/5×) on S20/S21. State is preserved across rotation and backgrounding.
ZoomStarts at 0.5× ultra-wide, double-tap toggles 1×/3×, pinch-to-zoom from 0.5× to 10×.
Remote shutterVolume buttons (↑/↓) trigger a photo when a code is active – compatible with Bluetooth remotes.
Dynamic photo buttonBottom in portrait, top in landscape – switches automatically on rotation.
Visual feedbackWhite screen flash (50 ms) on every capture, always active, cannot be disabled.
Voice notePremium. Stored in the EXIF field Image_Description.
Left-handed modeMoves controls to the left side.
FlashOn/off/auto – persists across restarts.
ResolutionSelectable from 2.8 MP to 20 MP.

09Evidence Security & SHA-256

Every photo receives a digital fingerprint (SHA-256 hash) upon saving, written to the EXIF field Software: QArchiv 1.703 • SHA256: a1b2c3d4…

The hash covers the raw photo, the code (User_Comment), and the GPS location (if enabled) – it does not cover the software tag itself or the voice note.

  • Reproducible and independently verifiable
  • Any later edit visibly changes the hash
  • PDF reports include the full hash

10Frequently Asked Questions

Are photos visible in the regular gallery?
Yes – including a map view when GPS data is present.
Can I take photos without a code?
Yes – without any artificial EXIF placeholder.
Where are PDFs stored on the device?
Public copy in Documents/QArchiv, internal copy in the reports folder.
Is QArchiv GDPR-compliant?
Yes – your data leaves your device only if you actively set that up (e.g. FTP upload).
Does QArchiv support English?
Yes – fully bilingual since V1.31.
Does the remote shutter work with Bluetooth remotes?
Yes – most remotes emulate volume buttons and are detected automatically.
Can I disable the visual flash feedback?
No – it's designed to be minimally invasive (50 ms, 50% opacity) and does not interrupt your workflow.

11Support

Personal, fast, and discreet help directly from the developer.

📧 support@qarchiv.de

🌐 qarchiv.de