1. ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
  2. ZPL Commands
  3. ^MA
  • ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide
^MA

^MA

The
^MA
 command controls how the printer issues printed maintenance alerts. Maintenance alerts are labels that print with a warning that indicates the printhead needs to be cleaned or changed.

Set Maintenance Alerts

This command is available only for printers with firmware version V60.15.x, V50.15.x, or later.
  • Xi4, RXi4
  • ZM400/ZM600, RZ400/RZ600
  • S4M with v53.15.5Z or later
  • G-Series
^MA
 settings do not impact or affect the functionality of the Xi4 Supplies Warning system.
Format:
^MAtype,print,printlabel_threshold,frequency,units
Parameters
Details
type =
 type of alert
Values:
  • R =
     head replacement
  • C =
     head cleaning
Default:
 This parameter must be specified as R or C for
print
,
printlabel_threshold
, and
frequency
 to be saved. However,
units
 will always be set.
print =
 determines if the alert prints a label
Values:
  • Y =
     print a label
  • N =
     do not print a label
Default:
N
printlabel threshold=
 the distance where the first alert occurs
Values:
  • R =
     head replacement (unit of measurement for head is km with a range of 0 to 150 km)
  • C =
     clean head with a range of 100 to 2000 meters.
  • 0 =
     off (when set to 0, the selected alert is disabled; otherwise, it is enabled.
Default:
R =
 50 km (1,968,500 inches) and
C =
 0 (off).
frequency =
 distance before reissuing the alert
The unit of measurement is in meters. The range is 0 to 2000. The range for G-Series printers is 0 or 5 to 2000 meters. When set to
0
, the alert label is only printed on power-up or when the printer is reset.
Default:
0
 (print on power-up).
units =
 odometer and printhead maintenance commands
The units parameter reports units of the odometer and printhead maintenance commands, as follows:
~HQOD,~HQPH,~WQOD
,
~WQPH
.
Values:
  • C =
     centimeters (displays as:
    cm
    )
  • I =
     inches (displays as: 
    "
    )
  • M =
     meters (displays as:
    M
    )
Default:
I
Example:
 This example sets the printed head cleaning message to print after five meters and to repeat every one meter after that until a
~ROC
 command is issued.
The Early Warning Maintenance setting must be ON. To enable the maintenance alert system on the G-Series™ printer the
^JH
 command is used; on other Zebra printers, the front panel can also be used.
To set
^MA
 to print out a label flagging the need to clean the head, type:
^XA^MAC,Y,5,1^XZ
When the threshold is met, a label will print indicating that the head needs to be cleaned.
For this example, the message on the label looks like this:
For details on resetting the units of measure, see ~HQ examples.
Comments:
Any values outside the specified range are ignored.
The intent of this command is to cause a label to print when the defined threshold is reached.