^CT replaces the tilde character (~) with a different character for use in ZPL special sequences. The tilde is used for out-of-format commands like ~DY (download image), ~TA (tear-off adjust), and ~PH (set head cold). If your label data contains literal tilde characters, you need to either escape them or replace the delimiter entirely.
The replacement character must be a printable ASCII character that does not appear in your label data. Common alternatives are the backtick (`) or the pipe (|) character.
^CT applies only to the current format. After ^XZ, the delimiter resets to the default (~) unless you use ^CC (Change Caret) or ^CT in a persistent context. In most label generator applications, you won't need ^CT — it's primarily useful when your label data is user-supplied and may contain the tilde character.
The companion command ^CC performs the same function for the caret (^) character used in ZPL command prefixes.
Syntax
^CTa
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | character | ~ | The new tilde character to use for ZPL special sequences. Must be printable ASCII. |
Examples
Change tilde to backtick to allow ~ in label data
Try in Viewer^XA ^CT~ ^FO50,50^A0N,36,36^FDPrice: ~9.99^FS ^XZ
Reset tilde to default
Try in Viewer^XA ^CT~ ^FO50,50^A0N,36,36^FDDefault tilde delimiter restored^FS ^XZ
Common Mistakes
- !Choosing a replacement character that appears in your label data — this causes ZPL parser confusion.
- !Forgetting that the tilde change is format-scoped — it does not persist to the next ^XA...^XZ block.
- !Confusing ^CT (tilde) with ^CC (caret) — both delimiters can be changed independently.