Overview

A TID is a unique serial number on an RFID tag. This information can now be recorded in the log file as well as printed on the label itself by using a special Field Indicator which is replaced by the driver during print time.

Applicable to 

Drivers by Seagull version 2022.2 and later

Zebra printers using ZPL with RFID printing

Information

First, calibrate your printer with the media and RFID tags you plan to use. Each printer model may require a different method, so refer to your printer's manual on which step needs to be completed first. Without calibration, your tags will likely print VOID.

Exposing the TID for BarTender to use

First, configure RFID settings to expose the TID to BarTender to use. This involves configuring a printer command field inside the driver itself. You will need access to the driver to configure these settings. These configurations are printer- and driver-specific and will need to be added to each driver configuration where you want to expose the TID

1. Right-click on the driver and go to Printer Properties
2. Click the Tools tab
3. Click the Configure dropdown
4. Click Set Printer Command Field...

5. Click the Printer Command Field dropdown
6. Select New RFID Data Field

In the dialog, fill out the fields

• Field ID: this will be used to identify the printer field in BarTender
• Encoder Type: choose the type that matches your chip
• Location: only TID is supported at this time
• Data Format: both Hexadecimal and Text are supported

Once you have filled out all the data to your liking, click OK to close the dialog. Note that you will now have a field listed for RFID in your Printer Command Fields dialog.

Make a note of the Field Indicator on this dialog before closing this and the properties dialog.

In BarTender, use that Field Indicator to place the TID on the label. During print time, the driver will see this Field Indicator and replace it with the actual TID without the need for any interaction.

1. Open BarTender Designer and create a new label, using the printer you configured as the label's printer.
2. Add an object onto the label such as a text object.
3. Leave the data source type as Embedded Data
4. Enter the Field Indicator into the text field exactly as written in the Printer Command Fields dialog, minding spaces and upper/lower case.

Adding logging to record the TID

Logging will record the TID in a text document. You can use this to keep track of the TIDs used while printing using this printer and driver. These logs are printer- and driver-specific, so each printer will need this turned on.

1. Right-click on the driver and go to Printer Properties
2. Click the Tools tab
3. Click the Logging Options button to open the logging dialog
4. Click the Log dropdown then select New Log to open the wizard.
5. Click Next
6. Select how frequently you would like information to be logged and name the log.
7. Click Next
8. Select the format you would like the logs to be in. CSV is default.
9. Click Next
10. Specify the directory and how logs should be organized.
11. Click Finish to close the wizard and open the logging parameters dialog
12. Click on the Fields tab
13. Click Add Field

14. Locate the RFIDTIDData field and select it. Only certain printers will have the option.
15. Click OK. This adds the field into the logs.
16. Click OK to close all the dialogs.

When you print, the field will show up in the log files as RFIDTIDData.

Additional resources

In the dialogs mentioned above, if you find yourself stuck or need more information, simply click on the [Help] button in the bottom right of the dialog to bring up the matching help documentation.

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