Datacard® SD/CD Series Card Printers OpenCard Data Format Guide November 2012 Part No. 527262-001 Rev.
Notice Refer to the notices in the SD/CD Series Card Printers Installation and User Guide. Please do not attempt to operate or repair this equipment without adequate training. Any use, operation, or repair in contravention of this document is at your own risk. Datacard assumes no liability for incidental, special, or consequential damage of any kind. Proprietary Notice All drawings and information herein are the property of DataCard Corporation. All unauthorized use and reproduction is prohibited.
Revision Log SD and CD Series Printers OpenCard Data Formatting Guide Revision Date A June 2012 B November 2012 Description of Changes First release of this document.
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Table of Contents Chapter 1: About this Manual ______________________________________________ 1 Organization___________________________________________________________________ Intended Audience ____________________________________________________________ Conventions this Manual Uses___________________________________________________ Related Publications ___________________________________________________________ 2 3 4 4 Chapter 2: Getting Started _________________________________________________ 5 SD/CD S
Static Text Elements ____________________________________________________ 30 x Attribute _____________________________________________________________ 30 y Attribute _____________________________________________________________ 30 Font-Family Attribute ___________________________________________________ 30 Font-Size Attribute______________________________________________________ 30 Font-Weight Attribute __________________________________________________ 31 Fill Attribute ____________________________________
Appendix A: Sample Card Formats ______________________________________________ A-1 Sample 1—Multipanel Graphics.svg__________________________________________ A-1 Sample 2—RiverViewCasino.
Chapter 1: About this Manual The chapter covers how this guide is organized, who should read this guide, and the conventions this guide uses.
Organization Information in this manual is organized as follows: • Chapter 1, “About this Manual” on page 1—Contains information about this manual’s organization, its intended audience, and the conventions it uses. • Chapter 2, “Getting Started” on page 5—Contains an overview of using OpenCard Data Format with the SD/CD Series card printers and the Legacy Option for SP/CP Series printers. It includes requirements for using OpenCard and initial setup procedures.
Intended Audience This manual is intended primarily for personnel who create and manage files for card formats and data streams, referred to in this guide as card format designers. Card format designer’s prior knowledge: • Have a general idea of the appearance and content of the card formats they are defining. • Understand the type of data to be printed on the cards (text, bar codes, logos). • Be familiar with printer ribbons and ribbon panels (such as YMCKT ribbon panels).
Conventions this Manual Uses This manual uses the conventions described in this section. Convention Meaning SD/CD Series References Datacard SD360 and CD800 card printers. Legacy Option References Datacard SP/CP Series printers, including the SP55, SP60, CP60, and FP65 card printers. <1234567890> Text displayed in this manual using the style at left is data stream content. Braces display at the start (<) and end (>), and text (1234567890) indicates data stream text.
Chapter 2: Getting Started The chapter provides an overview of using the SD/CD Series printers with OpenCard Data Format, as well as an overview of the Legacy Option for converting existing card layouts from SP/CP Series printer card layouts. It also explains the requirements for using OpenCard and initial start up procedures. The SD/CD Series card printers with OpenCard Data Format provide you with the following options: • SD/CD Series Option — Provides enhanced text and graphics capabilities.
• Support for any operating system, including Windows, Linux, UNIX, etc. • Front and back monochrome or color printing, and front and back topcoat • ISO magnetic stripe tracks 1 – 3 • Support for manual card insertion at prompting • Support for TrueType fonts and bar code fonts stored on the printer Use text font typefaces that include but are not limited to typefaces within font families for Courier, Sans, and Serif, which come bundled with the printer.
Legacy Option for Card Layouts from SP/CP Series Printers If your organization currently sends data tagged with OpenCard commands to an SP/CP Series card printer or embosser, you can use the same data stream to produce cards using the Legacy Option features shown in this guide. With the Legacy Option, you export the legacy card layouts originally created for a SP/CP Series card printer, and then import those card layouts and their graphics and fonts to the SD/CD Series card printer.
Printer Manager Tools Printer Manager is a browser-based utility for configuring and managing print jobs at the printer.
Other Requirements • If your organization uses the Legacy Option, you need a Telnet interface that provides card layout menus for exporting existing SP/CP Series card layouts. • For additional information on system set up requirements, except as noted in this guide, refer to your printer’s Installation and Administrator’s Guide. Some printer, network, and system set up requirements for SD/CD Series card printers are overridden by the specifications in this guide.
D. Press ENTER key to enter the Configuration menu. 2. Enable or Disable Opencard. A. Press the down arrow key until OpenCard displays on line 2 of the LCD panel. B. Press ENTER key to enter the OpenCard menu. C. Press the down arrow key until Enable or Disable displays on line 2 of the LCD panel. D. Press the E NTER key. Apply/Restart displays on line 2 of the LCD panel. E. Press the E NTER key again to apply the setting change.
1. Before you start, make sure that your printer meets all requirements. 2. Make sure that the SD/CD Series card printer is connected to the computer with a TCP/IP interface. 3. Open Printer Manager. For instructions, refer to “Opening Printer Manager” on page 49. 4. Select Printer Setting > Behavior. 5. Change the setting for PlugIn to Enabled by clicking the corresponding arrow and selecting Enabled. 6. Click Set Current to save the setting. 7. Log out of Printer Manager. 8.
3. Select Printer Setting > Behavior. 4. Change the setting for PlugIn to Disabled by clicking the arrow and selecting Disabled. 5. Click Set Current to send the new setting to the Printer (note that the printer’s LCD reads Busy while the printer processes the setting. 6. Log out of Printer Manager. 7. Power cycle the printer for the new setting to take effect. The LCD panel shows no asterisk in the lower-right corner.
2. Click Add a local printer.. 3. Set up a new TCP/IP port. A. Select Create a new port. B. Select Standard TCP/IP Port from the drop down menu. C. Click Next. .
4. In the Hostname or IP address text box, enter the IP address, and then click Next. 5. Configure the generic driver. A. In the Manufacturer list, click Generic. B. In the Printers list, click Generic/Text Only . C. Click Next.
6. In the Printer Name field, enter Generic / Text Only, and then click Next. 7. Select Do not share this printer, and then click Next. . 8. Click Finish.
9. Verify Generic / Text Only Properties – Port Tab for correct IP address. Generic/Text Driver for USB 1. Install the XPS Printer Driver on the USB port. 2. Retrieve USB IP address from the printer. 3. Install Windows Generic Driver and mount IP address to the USB port. 4. Make sure that the Windows Generic Driver is set to use RAW mode.
Chapter 3: Creating Card Formats This chapter presents an OpenCard process overview, and describes how to create an OpenCard card format to use with the SD/CD Series card printers. About Card Formats for the SD/CD Series Printers The new card format capabilities of the SD/CD Series printers include the ability to define personalization operations on both the front and back side of a card. OpenCard supports monochrome and color graphics, topcoat and printing on both sides of the card, and magnetic stripe.
• OpenCard uses the instructions in the card format to merge the data stream text, images, and magnetic stripe data into a card to be printed, similar to a mail merge. As in the mail merge process, the card format contains text and image named variables that OpenCard uses to map to the corresponding items in the data stream. The Card Format as an SVG Document The basis of the SD/CD Series card format is an XML-based document format, Scalable Vector Graphics, or SVG.
XML Header — The first line of an OpenCard card format must be a standard XML declaration. The header must also include the SVG declaration shown, with the beginning at the end of the card format. An XML header also includes the card dimensions, which correspond to the number of pixels (px) when printing at 300 dpi (width = 3.375” x 300 = 1013 px; height = 2.125” x 300 = 638 px). This is the only resolution supported.
ID Naming Conventions Data ID Naming Conventions Dynamic Text Data To personalize a text line of data, the ID convention is LINEn, where n can be from 1 to 15. An ID of LINE1 then uses data supplied in the first personalization data line of an OpenCard data stream. Magnetic Stripe Data To place magnetic stripe data, the magnetic stripe data line must use an ID that conforms to the convention ISOn, where n can be 1, 2, or 3 – corresponding to ISO tracks 1, 2, and 3.
Adding Elements to the Card Format This section provides information about how to apply the elements available to create an OpenCard card format. Elements are listed here in the order they are applied in the SVG card format document. Card Side Layers Within the SVG document, a card format must define a front side layer and/or a back side layer. • Use an ID of “CARD_FRONT” or “CARD_BACK”. • Add personalization layers as children of each of the front and back side layers as needed.
datacard:translations Example The following is an example that will signal the printer software to translate: • Any uppercase “A” character to a lowercase “a” • Any lowercase “a” to an uppercase “A” • Any uppercase “B” character to a null (0x00) OpenCard data stream Card format <123AaB9876>
Personalization Operations Within each of the card side elements, the card format designer is able to create personalization operations, each as an SVG layer.
Defining Monochrome for Text and Graphics Use the GRAPHIC_MONOCHROME operation to define the text and image elements to print using a monochrome “K” ribbon panel at 300 dpi on either side of the card. All formatting details of text and image elements using monochrome are children of this layer, contained between and its corresponding .
Defining Color for Text and Graphics The GRAPHIC_COLOR operation defines all of the text and image elements to print using a threepanel combination of yellow, magenta, and cyan (YMC) at 300 dpi on either side of the card. The details of text and image elements are children of this layer, contained between and its corresponding .
Defining Topcoat Application The TOPCOAT operation defines the image element to use to apply a topcoat pattern using the T ribbon panel at 300 dpi on either side of the card. The formatting details of image elements are children of this layer, contained between and its corresponding . TOPCOAT Example Card format PAGE 34Defining Magnetic Stripe Tracks The MAGSTRIPE operation defines the magnetic stripe tracks to personalize on the front and / or the back side of the card.
The following example shows how text defined for magnetic stripe in the data stream merges with the card format using these mappings. This merged card format becomes the final instructions for sending the data to the correct track on the magnetic stripe.
Adding Text and Image Layers Within each personalization operation, you create text and image layers that describe all aspects of the actual text and image, as described in the following: • Defining Text ID Layers on page 29 • Using Bar Code-Specific Attributes on page 36 • Defining Image Element Layers on page 39 Defining Text ID Layers Attributes for height, width, font-families, transformations, and other location and appearance details of text data to be personalized to a card are set here.
Static Text Elements If a text element is static, non-changing personalization, define it using these rules: • Use any ID value other than the form “LINEn”. • Set the attribute datacard:staticElement to “true” to signal that this text item must not be dropped due to there being no ID match with any OpenCard data stream line data. • Add the static data content at the end of the element. • Include the end-of-text element () after the last static data character.
Font-Weight Attribute The font-weight attribute specifies the rendering weight of text characters as “normal” or “bold”. The default is “normal” if the attribute is not defined. Fill Attribute The fill attribute defines the text color. Find the list of color keyword names (for example, fill=”blue”) at: http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/types.
Valid values are “true” and “false”. The default is “false” if this attribute is not defined. datacard:appendData Example Expires datacard:format Attribute This attribute is used to • Perform a character-by-character type validation. • Insert data into the dynamic personalization data. • Use only the first “n” characters from the personalization data.
datacard:format Example #2 Use the datacard:format attribute to insert characters when • The data stream does not contain all of the data characters that must print on the card. • The characters missing from the data stream are placed in the same place in the final data. For example, use the datacard:format attribute if the data stream supplies an expiration date as “1016” but the printed card must use the date formatted as “10/16”.
OpenCard data stream
Data merged into card format John Doe
Using Bar Code-Specific Attributes Datacard software has built-in support for the following one-dimensional bar code symbologies: • CODE39 • UPCA • CODE128 • EAN8 • Interleaved 2 of 5 • EAN13 These may be called out in any GRAPHIC_MONOCHROME or GRAPHIC_COLOR personalization operation using a text layer. Because the bar code patterns for these built-in bar codes are not generated from a TrueType font, no TrueType font needs to be installed to the printer.
datacard:barRatio Attribute This attribute specifies the ratio of thickness between a narrow bar and a wide bar for a Code39 bar code. This attribute has no effect on any other built-in bar code. The values supported are: • datacard:barRatio=“2to1” (default if no attribute present) • datacard:barRatio=“3to1” The final narrow and wide bar thickness for Code39 is determined by a combination of the datacard:barRatio and datacard:barDensity values as the datacard:barDensity attribute sets the narrow bar width.
datacard:barHumanReadable Attribute Valid values are “true” and “false”. Default is “false” if the attribute is not defined. If “true”, the bar code is printed with human readable characters if the bar code symbology supports human readable characters. Interleaved 2 of 5 and Code128 do not support human readable characters. datacard:barChecksum Attribute Valid values are “true” and “false”. Default is “false” if the attribute is not defined.
Defining Image Element Layers Images are supported as static only. This means that data stream items may not be used in conjunction with images. Images are printed bottom-to-top in the order that they appear in the card format. For example, if the full card tree graphic is followed by the Datacard logo, the tree graphic prints on the bottom with the Datacard logo printed on top. There is no limit to the quantity of images that can be rendered to a personalization operation.
x Attribute The x attribute defines the distance from the left edge of a card to the left edge of the image. Default units are in pixels (px). y Attribute Refer to datacard:positionReference above. Default units are in pixels (px). Height Attribute The height attribute defines the height that the image is scaled to when printed on the card. Units default to pixels (“px”). If no height is defined, then the image is vertically rendered pixelfor-pixel at 300 dpi.
Defining the Image Name with xlink:href Use the xlink:href element to define the the case-sensitive name of an image. Load images referenced in a card format onto the printer using Printer Manager prior to printing a card with that card format. Image file path information is not required, and is disregarded at production time. Image Element Example The following example places the image “TreeDebit.
42 Creating Card Formats
Chapter 4: Exporting Legacy Card Layouts, Graphics, and Fonts This chapter provides information about using existing Legacy card layouts from SP/CP Series printers to print on SD/CD Series printers with OpenCard. This includes how to export Legacy card layouts, how to use Legacy graphics/logos, and how to use Legacy fonts. Exporting Card Layouts from Legacy Series Printers with Telnet A card layout refers to Legacy card layout files originally created for the SP/CP Series card printers.
The Card Layout Definition menu displays. 4. Make sure that the desired active card layout is displayed. Only the current active card layout and any currently defined character translations is exported. 5. From the Card Layout Definition menu, enter 8 to select Tools. The Tools menu displays. 6. From the Tools menu, enter 7 to select Export card layout.
The printer displays the card layout, followed by the Tools menu. The beginning and end of the card layout are marked with the words “begin” and “end.” The card layout is encoded. 7. Use the tools available in your Telnet interface to copy the exported card layouts, and then save the layouts in a text file. For example, if you are using Telnet with the Windows command prompt, do the following: A. Right-click on the title bar to display a pop up menu. Select Edit > Mark from the menu.
B. Highlight the layout. Start at “Begin 444 opencard.txt” and go to “end.” C. Right-click on the title bar and select Edit>Copy from the pop-up menu. D. Open Notepad or a similar text editing application. E. Paste the copied text in the text editing application. F.
• If you want this card layout to be the default SP/CP Series card format, then save to the file named Default. • The file name Default is case sensitive. Make sure to save the file as Default with no extension. • If you use the @G command to indicate the name of the card layout in the data stream, you must save the file using one of the following names: • 0 • 1 • 2 • 3 • Where 0, 1, 2, or 3 corresponds to the specified @G0, @G1, @G2 or @G3 name of the card layout in the data stream.
Using Legacy Fonts To print to the SD/CD Series printers, Legacy fonts are bundled with the printer. OpenCard maps Legacy SP/CP Series printer fonts to their TrueType equivalents resident on the SD/CD Series printers, as shown below. SP/CP Series Card Printers Equivalent SD/CD Series Printers with OpenCard Serif ufonts.com_charter-bt-roman.ttf Serif Bold ufonts.com_charter-bt-black.ttf Courier ufonts.com_courier-10-pitch-bt.ttf Courier Bold ufonts.com_courier-10-pitch-bold-bt.ttf Sans ufonts.
Chapter 5: Working with Printer Manager Printer Manager is a menu-based browser used for viewing and working with images, fonts, card stocks, and card formats. This chapter describes how to import card formats, images, and fonts, how to define card stocks, and how to view the Print Request Log and the OpenCard data stream. Opening Printer Manager 1. Use the printer’s LCD menu to get the printer IP address. Refer to the printer’s User’s Guide for information. 2. Open the Web browser on the PC. 3.
6. In the Please Log In: area, enter the Username and Password. • To gain access to OpenCard options, you must enter a user with WebAdmin. • Your printer may require a password. 7. Click Log In. The Welcome to Printer Manager page displays.
Importing a Card Format or Card Layout File Use this procedure to transfer card formats or card layouts to Printer Manager for printing on the SD/CD Series printers. 1. Make sure that the SD/CD Series printer is connected to the computer with a TCP/IP interface. 2. Open Printer Manager. 3. Select Personalization Tools > Managed Items. The Managed Items screen displays. 4. Select Card Format. 5. Click Browse to find the card layout file that was exported from the Legacy SP/CP Series printer. 6.
Exporting a Card Format or Card Layout File 1. Make sure that the SD/CD Series printer is connected to the computer with a TCP/IP interface. 2. Open Printer Manager. 3. Select the Personalization Tools > Managed Items. The Managed Items screen displays. 4. Select Card Format. 5. Click List Items to view card formats on the printer. A list of card formats on the printer displays. 6. Make sure that the card format file to export is highlighted, and then click Export Item. 7.
Importing a Graphic/Logo File For the Legacy Option only When importing legacy logos originally created for SP/CP Series printers card layouts, use the original monochrome logos in TIFF format and name them one of the following: • OpencardLogo1 • OpencardLogo2 • OpencardLogo3 • OpencardLogo4 1. Make sure that the printer is connected to the computer with a TCP/IP interface. 2. Open Printer Manager. 3. Select Personalization Tools>Manage Items. The Managed Items screen displays. 4. Select Images. 5.
Exporting a Graphic/Logo File 1. Make sure that the SD/CD Series printer is connected to the computer with a TCP/IP interface. 2. Open Printer Manager. Select the Personalization Tools > Managed Items. The Managed Items screen displays.s. 1. Select Images. 2. Click List Items to view images on the printer. A list of images on the printer displays. 3. Make sure that the image file to export is highlighted, and then click Export Item. 4. Choose the location to export the file to, and then click Save 5.
Importing Fonts Use Printer Manager to import the required font files as follows. 1. Make sure that the printer is connected to the computer with a TCP/IP interface. 2. Open Printer Manager. 3. Select Personalization Tools>Managed Items. The Managed Items screen displays. 4. Select Fonts. 5. Click Browse to find the desired fonts file. For the Legacy Option only When importing legacy fonts, use the following table : SP/CP Series Card Printers Equivalent SD/CD Series Printers with OpenCard Serif ufonts.
Exporting Fonts Use Printer Manager to export font files as follows. 1. Make sure that the printer is connected to the computer with a TCP/IP interface. 2. Open Printer Manager. 3. Select Personalization Tools>Managed Items. The Managed Items screen displays. 4. Select Fonts. 5. Click List Items to view fonts on the printer. A list of fonts on the printer displays. 6. Make sure that the font file to export is highlighted, and then click Export Item. 7.
Adding a Card Stock Definition Card stock definitions are named in the card format file and found on the printer at production time. In the card stock definition, you specify a card stock name and which images will print on the front and back of the card. A card stock definition is required when setting up the printer LCD panel to prompt the user to insert a card in the exception hopper. Use Printer Manager to add a card stock definition as follows. 1.
4. Determine the input type. • Select Input Hopper to designate which input hopper the printer will pick from when this card stock is defined in the card format. • Select Manual if this card stock is used with a manual card picking process. 5. In the Card Stock Name field, enter a name for this card stock. For the Legacy Option only Card stock must be named Default. 6. From the Front Image list, verify that the images this card stock uses are in the list. 7.
4. Do one of the following. • To display the most recent print requests: a. From the Number of Logs list select the number of requests to view. b. Click the corresponding Run button. Printer Manager displays the print requests. • To delete all log entries a. Locate the Reset Log label. b. Click the corresponding Run button. Resetting the Print Request Log cannot be undone.
Viewing the OpenCard Data Stream View the most recently run OpenCard data stream from the Printer Manager’s Print Request Log. 1. Make sure that the printer is connected to the computer using TCP/IP. 2. Open Printer Manager. 3. Select Troubleshooting > Print Request Log. The Print Request Log screen displays. 4. Click the corresponding Run button. The most-recently run data stream displays.
Chapter 6: Printing Cards This chapter includes information you need to print cards on SD/ CD Series printers using OpenCard. To print cards on SD/CD Series printers using OpenCard you must: • Create a card format. • Import card formats, images, and fonts to the printer, and define card stock using Printer Manager. • Have a working data stream. • Create a card stock. 1. Before you start printing, make sure that the printer is at the READY state. 2.
62 Printing Cards
Appendix A: Sample Card Formats This appendix provides sample card formats with comments. Use it as a reference for creating OpenCard card formats for the SD/CD Series printers. Sample 1—Multipanel Graphics.svg The card format shown below includes comments that describe how it creates the printed card shown. Note that since the CARD_BACK layer is defined, this card has elements on the back, including color graphics, topcoat, and a magnetic stripe.
