User`s guide

Windows Driver Settings
When first installing the Windows driver, it is necessary to set the functions of the magnetic encoder.
The functions of the magnetic encoder are accessible from the "Tools" dialog box of the printing driver
by clicking “Encoding Definition”.
“Magnetic Encoder” dialog box
The “Magnetic Encoder” dialog box opens on selecting
the “Encoding Definition” button.
Track format allows the choice of the required ISO stan-
dard for each track. See table in point 4 of this annexe for
information concerning the ISO 7811 standards.
Coercivity sets the magnetic encoder in high (HICO) or
low (LOCO) coercivity. A magnetic track encoded in high
coercivity is better able to withstand external disturbances
than a magnetic track encoded in low coercivity.
Direct encoding enables the direct encoding of one or
several magnetic tracks from this
window by simply selecting them and entering the data to
be encoded. Click on the
“Encode” button to launch the encoding cycle.
Automatic extraction allows magnetic track cards to be encoded from applications under Windows (like Word, for instance).
A text field surrounded by the characters “|” and “|” (or other characters that might be defined by the user) will be interpreted
as an encoding command by the printing driver.
IMPORTANT !
Only use magnetic stripe cards conform to ISO 7810 and ISO 7811. To work correctly, the
magnetic stripe must be ground into the card. Never use a card with an affixed magnetic track.
Cleaning the magnetic encoder
The magnetic encoder head requires regular cleaning in order to assure the integrity of the data
encoded on the cards.
The magnetic encoder is cleaned when the printer is the object of a cleaning sequence with presaturated cards.
Repeated passing of the cleaning card inside the printer cleans the card transport rollers, the cleaning
rollers, the print head and the writing / reading head of the magnetic encoder.
If between two printer cleaning sessions (every 1000 inserted cards), the reading / writing process has failed with more than one
card, it is recommended to start a manual cleaning sequence for the printer (refer to chapter 3 “Cleaning” of this manual for the
procedure).
ISO 7811 standard encoding regulations
Track n
o
Field separator Track density Types of characters Number of characters
Track 1 ^ 210 bpi
1
Alphanumerical (ASCII 20- 95)
2
79
3
Track 2 = 75 bpi
1
Numerical (ASCII 48-62)
2
40
3
Track 3 = 210 bpi
1
Numerical (ASCII 78-62)
2
107
3
1
Bit/s per inch -
2
Except the character “?” -
3
Including the characters Start, Stop and LRC. These characters are generated auto-
matically by the magnetic encoder
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