User Manual

RFID Guidelines
ZPL II Commands for RFID
R110/R170XiIIIPlus User Guide 81
ZPL II Commands for RFID
Printing and encoding (writing) of “smart” labels is handled through the use of Zebra
Programming Language (ZPL). Each transponder has memory that can be read from through
ZPL commands, and most transponders have memory that can be written to. The printer
divides the ZPL commands that it receives into two categories: RFID and non-RFID (such as
the printing commands for bar codes or human-readable text). RFID commands are executed
first.
ZPL commands also provide for exception handling, such as setting the number of read/write
retries before declaring a transponder defective. For example, if an RFID transponder fails to
program correctly or cannot be detected, the printer ejects it and prints the word “void” across
the label. This process continues for the number of RFID tags specified by the
^RS command
using the same data and format. If the problems persist, after the specified number of tags are
ejected, the printer removes the customer format from the print queue and proceeds with the
next format (if one exists in the buffer).
The following pages provide the ZPL II commands that can be used for RFID applications.
Important • If a parameter is designated as not applicable, any value entered for the
parameter will be ignored, but the place holder for the field is required.