Specifications

106
2.11 MCR
This chapter describes the specifications of the MCR functions. The functions incorporated in the
terminal are as follows.
• Read/Analysis function
• Read completion notification/Error notification function
• Track specification function
• Automatic Power OFF function
• Raw data retrieve function
2.11.1 Read, Analysis Function
This function serves to pass through (run) magnetic card in the MCR unit and read data on the
magnetic card. Since the data read from the magnetic card contains preamble, STX, etc., in
addition to the data, the MCR driver will extract only the necessary data after removing other data.
With the MCR Library the user can make use of data retrieved from the magnetic card.
The function of the MCR Library relevant to the “Read, Analysis Function” is as follows.
MCRRead
: Retrieves data read by the magnetic card reader.
Data Analysis for Each Track
Magnetic card has an area called “Tracks” in which data is written. The magnetic card can have a
maximum of three tracks. MCR can read data on the following three tracks at a time. It also
removes the parity contents from the entire data to extract only effective data, and store it into the
buffer provided by application program. The following track data formats described in the table
below, ISO1, ISO2 and ISO3, can be read with the MCR.
Table 2.78 Applicable standards and specifications
Applicable standard ISO1 ISO2 ISO3
Recording capacity 7 bits x 79 characters 5 bits x 40 characters 5 bits x 107
characters
Effective data length 1 to76 characters 1 to 37 characters 1 to 104 characters
Data format 6 bits + 1 parity 4 bits + 1 parity 4 bits + 1 parity
Application program should secure a buffer and pass it to the argument of MCRRead function of
the MCR Library to retrieve data on each track as well as the read status. The data length can also
be retrieved. “0” is returned as the length if no data is written on the specified track or read is
performed on track not specified.