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

^RS

Use this command to set up RFID parameters including tag type; programming position; and error handling, such as setting the number of labels that will be attempted if an error occurs.

Set Up RFID Parameters

For example, if an RFID label fails to program correctly or if the transponder cannot be detected, the printer ejects the label and prints
VOID
across it. The printer will try to print another label with the same data and format for the number of labels specified (parameter
n
). If the problem persists, the printer follows the error handling instructions specified by the error handling parameter (parameter
e
): the printer may remove the problematic format from the print queue and proceed with the next format (if one exists in the buffer), or it may place the printer in Pause or Error mode.
Use care when using this command in combination with
^RF
 for reading tag data. Use care when using this command in combination with
^RT
 or
^RF
 for reading tag data. Problems can occur if the data read from the tag is going to be printed on the label. Any data read from the tag must be positioned to be printed above the read/write position. Failure to do this will prevent read data from being printed on the label.
Format:
^RSt,p,v,n,e,a,c,s
Parameters
Details
t
 = tag type
Values:
8
 = EPC Class 1, Generation 2 (Gen 2)
Default:
8
—Gen 2 is the only tag type supported by current RFID printers. For tag types supported by older printers, refer to the original RFID Programming Guide.
p
 = read/write position of the tag (programming position)
This parameter sets the read/write position of the tag.
If a label format specifies a value for the programming position, this value will be used for the programming position for all labels until a new position is specified or until the tag calibration procedure is run.
For Link-OS printers:
Values:
F0
 to
Fxxx
(where
xxx
 is the label length in millimeters or
999
, whichever is less) The printer prints the first part of a label until it reaches the specified distance and then begins programming. After programming, the printer prints the remainder of the label.
B0
 to
B30
The printer backfeeds the label for the specified distance and then begins programming. To account for the backfeed, allow empty media liner to extend out of the front of the printer when using a backward programming position.
up
 = move to the next value
down
 = move to the previous value
Default:
F0
 (which moves the leading edge of the label to the print line)
For older RFID printers:
Values:
Absolute Mode
 (all firmware versions):
xxxx
 =
0
 to label length (in dot rows). Move the media to the specified position
xxxx
 on the label, measured in dot rows from the label top, before encoding. Set to
0
 (no movement) if the tag is already in the effective area without moving the media.
Relative Mode
 (firmware versions V53.17.6 and later):
F0
 to
Fxxx
(where
xxx
 is the label length in millimeters or
999
, whichever is less). The printer prints the first part of a label until it reaches the specified distance and then begins programming. After programming, the printer prints the remainder of the label.
B0
 to
B30
(Does not apply to the RP4T printer.)
The printer backfeeds the label for the specified distance and then begins programming. To account for the backfeed, allow empty media liner to extend out of the front of the printer when using a backward programming position.
Default:
For the R2844-Z and RPAX:
0
 (no movement)
For printers using V53.17.6, V74.19.6Z, and later:
F0
(which moves the leading edge of the label to the print line)
All others: label length minus 1 mm (1/16 in.)
v
 = length of void printout
Sets the length of the void printout in vertical (Y axis) dot rows.
Values:
0
 to label length
Default:
label length
n
 = number of labels to try encoding
The number of labels that will be attempted in case of read/encode failure.
Values:
1
 to
10
Default:
3
e
 = error handling
If an error persists after the specified number of labels are tried, perform this error handling action.
Values:
N =
No action (printer drops the label format causing the error and moves to the next queued label)
P =
Place printer in Pause mode (label format stays in the queue until the user cancels)
E =
Place printer in Error mode (label format stays in the queue until the user cancels)
Defaults:
N
You can set the printer to send an error message to the host for each failure. To enable or disable this unsolicited error message, refer to the
^SX
 and
^SQ
 ZPL commands. Use
V
 for the condition type for an RFID error.
a
 = signals on applicator
This parameter applies only to older RFID printers that have an applicator board. This parameter does not apply to the R2844-Z or to Link-OS printers. For the R4Mplus, this parameter applies only to printers with firmware version SP994X (R4Mplus European version).
Single Signal Mode
In this mode, one start print signal starts printing. Then, at the program position (parameter p), the printer automatically stops and encodes the tag. Printing continues, and a single end print signal signifies the completion of the label.
Double Signal Mode
With RFID, when there is a non-zero program position, the label is logically split into two parts. The first part is printed, the tag encodes, and then the second part prints. If this parameter is set to “D,” then the label is split into two and requires both portions of the label to be controlled by the applicator. This means that a start print signal triggers the first portion of the label, and then when the printer reaches the RFID program position (and the motor stops), an end print signal is provided. In this mode, a second start print signal is required to print the rest of the label. When the label is complete, a final end print signal is provided.
If parameter p is zero, then single signal mode is used (parameter ignored). If p is F0 (or B0) with backfeed-after, then single signal mode is used (parameter ignored).
Values:
S =
single signal
D =
double signal (For the R110PAX4, Double mode will work only if the read/write position is changed from the default of zero.)
Default:
S
c
 = reserved
Not applicable.
s
 = void print speed
This parameter is not supported on all printer models.
If a label is voided, the speed at which “VOID” will be printed across the label.
Values:
any valid print speed
Default:
the printer’s maximum print speed
Example:
The following are examples of Absolute Mode and Relative Mode for the tag position parameter (parameter
p
).
Absolute Mode
^RS,520
 sets the encode position at 520 dots from the top edge of the label.
^RS,0
 programs the tag without moving the media.
Relative Mode
^RS,F1
 sets the encode position 1 mm forward from the leading edge of the label.
^RS,B10
 sets the encode position 10 mm backwards from the leading edge of the label.
^RS,F0
 sets the encode position at the leading edge of the label.
^RS,B0
 sets the encode position at the leading edge of the label.
Example:
The following shows the difference between absolute and relative programming positions for the tag position parameter (parameter
p
) with a 6-inch (152-mm, 1216-dot) label length. The end results are that the tag is programmed with the label in the same position.
1
^RS,496
, Absolute Mode, 496 dots from the top of the label
2
^RS,F90
, Relative Mode, 90 mm from the leading edge of the label