^BY Bar Code Field Default
Sets module width, wide-to-narrow ratio and height for the barcodes that follow.
Barcodes · Updated 2026-10-20
Syntax
^BYw,r,h
Parameters
| Parameter | What it does | Values |
|---|---|---|
w | Module (narrow bar) width, in dots. | 1 to 10; default 2 |
r | Wide-to-narrow bar ratio. | 2.0 to 3.0; default 3.0 |
h | Bar height, in dots. | default 10 |
Common mistakes
- ^BY stays in effect for the rest of the label, including the height. A QR code (^BQ) after a tall ^BY is shifted down by that height, as on a real printer: reset with ^BY2,3,10 before it.
Example
Edit the code and the label redraws. This is the same engine as the API.
Questions
What does ^BY do in ZPL?
Sets module width, wide-to-narrow ratio and height for the barcodes that follow.
What is the syntax of ^BY?
^BYw,r,h
What should I watch out for with ^BY?
^BY stays in effect for the rest of the label, including the height. A QR code (^BQ) after a tall ^BY is shifted down by that height, as on a real printer: reset with ^BY2,3,10 before it.