Instructions
Android instructions
1. Download the NFC Tools app
Download the free NFC Tools app to delete, read, and write your NFC Tag and install it on your mobile phone.
Download Android NFC Tools app here.
2. Scan the NFC Tag
By default, scanning your NFC tag redirected you to this instructions page. There was a record stored on the tag that contained a URL that your device could read and performed an ‘open URL’ action. You can read and write records using the NFC Tools application.
3. Erase the current record
Tap your NFC Tag on the NFC reader on your phone. The location of the NFC reader will differ (iPhones have it near the phone’s camera, and Androids usually have it located underneath their camera). It might take some attempts to find the correct location of your phone’s NFC reader, so please be patient!
If all is well, the Read tab will show you details about the NFC Tag (type NTAG 215 from NXP), information about its memory, et cetera. Let’s first erase the current record that came with the NFC tag, the ‘open URL’ record that redirected you to this page. If we skip this step, the ‘open URL’ record and action will override anything else we write to this tag.
Navigate to the Other tab. Press the ‘Erase tag’ button and the application will prompt you to tap your NFC tag on the NFC reader in your phone, so it can erase the open URL record from the tag. If all goes well, it will show you a popup with ‘Write complete’.
Below, you can find the steps in this section, as shown in the pictures.
4. Write a new record
Now navigate to the Write tab. This shows an empty page in which you can set up one or multiple records that will be written to the NFC Tag. Each record contains data that your phone can execute, like opening a URL, connecting to Wi-Fi, showing a contact card, et cetera.
Press the ‘Add a record’ button to show a list of records that can be written to the NFC Tag. In this example, let’s select URL/URI to write instructions to the NFC tag to open a website.
When prompted, enter the URL that you want to open. In our example, we will open the website of The Orange Force, www.theorangeforce.com.
Enter this data and press the ‘OK’ button at the bottom of the screen.
In the Write tab, a new record will appear named URL: 23 Bytes, with the address www.theorangeforce.com.
A new button will appear as well, named ‘Write / 23 Bytes’.
Press the ‘Write’ button and the application will prompt you to tap your NFC tag on the NFC reader in your phone, so it can write the URL record to the tag. If all goes well, it will show you a popup with ‘Write complete’.
Below, you can find the steps in this section, as shown in the pictures.
5. Time to test your NFC Tag
Now let’s test it! Exit the NFC Tools app and go to your phone’s homepage. Then tap the NFC tag against the NFC reader on your phone.
If you are successful, your phone will immediately open the URL! In case you have multiple web browsers, your phone might prompt you to select one to open the page with.
Extra: Multiple records & ordering
You can write multiple records to the NFC tag using the Write tab. Be aware that the order matters in case you have multiple actions. Usually, only the first record will be read and its action performed by your phone. You can reorder records using the up and down icons on the Write tab, then write it back to the NFC tag.
Extra: Additional new record options
There are many records and as many actions that you can program and write to the NFC tag.
- Open a LinkedIn profile as a virtual business card.
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network
Record type: Wi-Fi network
A neat party trick for guests, let them tap the NFC Tag against their phones and connect to a preselected Wi-Fi network immediately. - Navigate to an address with Google Maps
Record type: Destination address
Enter an address and by scanning the NFC tag with a phone, it will automatically start the Google Maps application (if installed) and start navigating to the predefined address. - Track and trace, identify assets
Record type: Data
A very interesting application of NFC technology is identifying, tracking, and tracing assets, like products, machinery, equipment, vehicles et cetera. It starts with uniquely identifying assets, which you can do by writing an identifier as data to an NFC tag and storing the NFC tag with the asset. The identifier can be a fictitious number, but also a UUID, SAP identifier, Siemens PLM identifier, or Bill of Materials (BOM) number.
The NFC tag that we provided you with is a basic model without encryption and limited data storage. More advanced models have better, enterprise specifications and can be read from a distance, even through walls, glass, and without a line of sight. If set up with an RFID antenna and with the correct types of NFC/RFID tags, you can track and trace all your assets throughout your production process, logistics processes and its entire lifecycle from production to usage to maintenance.
Trigger actions, kick off workflows based on an ID, or the ID in combination with location, temperature, humidity, vibrations, angle, condition and many other parameters! The Orange Force specializes in creating smart industrial solutions with Mendix, AI, IoT, and NFC/RFID, so if you have any questions or want to know what else is possible to help create your Factory of the Future, let us know!
iOS instructions
1. Download the NFC Tools app
Download the free NFC Tools app to delete, read, and write your NFC Tag and install it on your mobile phone.
Download iOS NFC Tools app here.
2. Scan the NFC Tag
By default, scanning your NFC tag redirected you to this instructions page. There was a record stored on the tag that contained a URL that your device could read and performed an ‘open URL’ action. You can read and write records using the NFC Tools application.
3. Erase the current record
Tap your NFC Tag on the NFC reader on your phone. The location of the NFC reader will differ (iPhones have it near the phone’s camera, and Androids usually have it located underneath their camera). It might take some attempts to find the correct location of your phone’s NFC reader, so please be patient!
If all is well, the Read tab will show you details about the NFC Tag (type NTAG 215 from NXP), information about its memory, et cetera. Let’s first erase the current record that came with the NFC tag, the ‘open URL’ record that redirected you to this page. If we skip this step, the ‘open URL’ record and action will override anything else we write to this tag.
Navigate to the Other tab. Press the ‘Erase tag’ button and the application will prompt you to tap your NFC tag on the NFC reader in your phone, so it can erase the open URL record from the tag. If all goes well, it will show you a popup with ‘Write complete’.
Below, you can find the steps in this section, as shown in the pictures.
4. Write a new record
Now navigate to the Write tab. This shows an empty page in which you can set up one or multiple records that will be written to the NFC Tag. Each record contains data that your phone can execute, like opening a URL, connecting to Wi-Fi, showing a contact card, et cetera.
Press the ‘Add a record’ button to show a list of records that can be written to the NFC Tag. In this example, let’s select URL/URI to write instructions to the NFC tag to open a website.
When prompted, enter the URL that you want to open. In our example, we will open the website of The Orange Force, www.theorangeforce.com. Enter this data and press the ‘OK’ button at the bottom of the screen.
In the Write tab, a new record will appear named URL: 23 Bytes, with the address www.theorangeforce.com. A new button will appear as well, named ‘Write / 23 Bytes’.
Press the ‘Write’ button and the application will prompt you to tap your NFC tag on the NFC reader in your phone, so it can write the URL record to the tag. If all goes well, it will show you a popup with ‘Write complete’.
Below, you can find the steps in this section, as shown in the pictures.
5. Time to test your NFC Tag
Now let’s test it! Exit the NFC Tools app and go to your phone’s homepage. Then tap the NFC tag against the NFC reader on your phone. If you are successful, your phone will immediately open the URL! In case you have multiple web browsers, your phone might prompt you to select one to open the page with.
Extra: Multiple records & ordering
You can write multiple records to the NFC tag using the Write tab. Be aware that the order matters in case you have multiple actions. Usually, only the first record will be read and its action performed by your phone. You can reorder records using the up and down icons on the Write tab, then write it back to the NFC tag.
Extra: Additional new record options
There are many records and as many actions that you can program and write to the NFC tag.
- Open a LinkedIn profile as a virtual business card.
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network
Record type: Wi-Fi network
A neat party trick for guests, let them tap the NFC Tag against their phones and connect to a preselected Wi-Fi network immediately. - Navigate to an address with Google Maps
Record type: Destination address
Enter an address and by scanning the NFC tag with a phone, it will automatically start the Google Maps application (if installed) and start navigating to the predefined address. - Track and trace, identify assets
Record type: Data
A very interesting application of NFC technology is identifying, tracking, and tracing assets, like products, machinery, equipment, vehicles et cetera. It starts with uniquely identifying assets, which you can do by writing an identifier as data to an NFC tag and storing the NFC tag with the asset. The identifier can be a fictitious number, but also a UUID, a SAP identifier, Siemens PLM identifier, or Bill of Materials (BOM) number.
The NFC tag that we provided you with is a basic model without encryption and limited data storage. More advanced models have better, enterprise specifications and can be read from a distance, even through walls, glass, and without a line of sight. If set up with an RFID antenna and with the correct types of NFC/RFID tags, you can track and trace all your assets throughout your production process, logistics processes and its entire lifecycle from production to usage to maintenance.
Trigger actions, kick off workflows based on an ID, or the ID in combination with location, temperature, humidity, vibrations, angle, condition and many other parameters! The Orange Force specializes in creating smart industrial solutions with Mendix, AI, IoT, and NFC/RFID, so if you have any questions or want to know what else is possible to help create your Factory of the Future, let us know!
