Specifications

ZPL Commands

^B4

9/15/06 ZPL II Programming Guide 45541L-004 Rev. A

Code 49 Field Data Character Set

The ^FD data sent to the printer when using starting modes 0 to 5 is based on the

Code 49 Internal Character Set. This is shown in the first column of the Code 49 table on the

previous page. These characters are Code 49 control characters:

: ; < = > ?

Valid field data must be supplied when using modes 0 to 5. Shifted characters are sent as a

two-character sequence of a shift character followed by a character in the unshifted character

set.

If an invalid sequence is detected, the Code 49 formatter stops interpreting field data and prints

a symbol with the data up to the invalid sequence. These are examples of invalid sequences:

• Terminating numeric mode with any characters other than 0 to 9 or a Numeric Space.

• Starting in Mode 4 (Regular Alphanumeric Shift 1) and the first field data character is

not in the Shift 1 set.

• Starting in Mode 5 (Regular Alphanumeric Shift 2) and the first field data character is

not in the Shift 2 set.

• Sending Shift 1 followed by a character not in the Shift 1 set.

• Sending Shift 2 followed by a character not in the Shift 2 set.

• Sending two Shift 1 or Shift 2 control characters.

Advantages of Using the Code 49 Automatic Mode

Using the default (Automatic Mode) completely eliminates the need for selecting the starting

mode or manually performing character shifts. The Automatic Mode analyzes the incoming

ASCII string, determines the proper mode, performs all character shifts, and compacts the data

for maximum efficiency.

Numeric Mode is selected or shifted only when five or more continuous digits are found.

Numeric packaging provides no space advantage for numeric strings consisting of fewer than

eight characters.

Example • To encode a lowercase a, send a > (Shift 2) followed by an uppercase A. If

interpretation line printing is selected, a lowercase a prints in the interpretation line. This

reflects what the output from the scanner reads. Code 49 uses uppercase alphanumeric

characters only.