zpl.tools
Label geometry

^ML - Maximum Label Length

Tells the printer how far to look for the next label gap.

^ML sets the distance a printer feeds in search of the next label gap before it decides that the media has run out. It is a calibration setting and not a layout one: it does not give the length of a label — ^LL does that — only the search distance. It does not change a rendered image, and the renderer ignores it, as Labelary does.

Syntax

^MLa

Support

Recognised, deliberately skippedparsed: none · state: none · rendered: none

Accepted and skipped, because it configures the printer rather than the label. It cannot change the rendered output, and Labelary skips it too.

A media-detection setting for the printer's gap sensor, which cannot change the image. Both engines ignore it. — not pinned by a test

Labelary renders this command.

Parameters

aMaximum label lengthoptional · dots

How far the printer advances to find a label gap before it reports a media error. The guide requires at least the actual label length for calibration.

Default
the printer's last saved value
Accepted range
0 to the printer's maximum label length dot rows
Invalid value
discarded, and the current value is kept
Test coverage
No test at the minimum, maximum or one step outside the range. The invalid-value rule is not pinned by a test.

Behavior

Too small a value fails calibration on stock that is longer than the printer expects, because the gap arrives after the printer stops the search. The guide requires a value at least the actual label length for any calibration at all. Too large a value costs only the media the printer feeds before it reports a genuine media error.

The printer holds the value as a setting rather than a property of the format, so it applies to every job until a change. A format needs no repeat of it on every label, and a repeat is a common source of a format that works on one printer only.

The renderer parses the command, ignores it, and reports an unsupported-command diagnostic to say so. Nothing in the returned image depends on it.

Example

^ML is device configuration and changes nothing about the image. This renders exactly as it would without the command:

^XA
^ML1600
^LL812
^FO50,50^A0N,40,40^FDGap search set to 1600 dots^FS
^XZ

Open in viewer

  • ^LL Label LengthSets the label length, for continuous media.
  • ^MN Media TrackingThis command tells the printer whether the stock is continuous, or has a gap, web or black mark between labels.
  • ~JL Set Label LengthThis command makes the printer feed media to measure the label length.