User manual

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ID TECH EzWriter

User - The User format allows data to be written in a non-standard format. The data

density and bits per character are defined in the Setup Window. The bits per

character include a parity bit. See Setup section for additional information. The SS

& ES characters, density, parity, and BPC are selectable in the Setup Window for

the User Card type. Information written in this format may not be readable by ISO

standard reading devices (MagStripe readers), as the User format chosen may not

meet the ISO standards requirements.

RAW – This is not a true “Card Type”. This is a data decoding & display format for

the three tracks. The text boxes display data in “raw binary” using the hexadecimal

number format. Data read from a card is decoded into binary starting with the first

“binary one” bit (usually the first bit of a start sentinel). All the bits (in Hex) are

displayed and including approximately fifteen trailing zero bits at the end of the track

data. Writing to a card in this mode is not recommended except for special

purposes. When writing in this mode the data density and the number of leading

zeros is controlled by the selections in the Setup Window. Information written in this

mode may not be readable by ISO standard reading devices (MagStripe readers), as

the RAW format chosen may not meet the ISO standards requirements.

PASS BOOK – In this format, users can write to any selected tracks, not restricted

to IBM or ISO passbook spec. All tracks will be written in 210 BPI, the data can be

written with or without redundant copy. Sync Zero Bits can be selected from 0, 26, or

60, where 0 is to write data without redundant copy. Write command might need one

or two swipes. If first time write/verify was failed, the workshop will ask for a second

swipe to verify the data.

Setup

Setup is used to specify the track formatting used when reading or writing. Two fixed track

parameters are the track locations and the data encoding method. Track locations are

track 1 at the top side near the card edge, then track 2 and track 3 toward the middle. The

data encoding method is F/2F. These cannot be changed. The track longitudinal

redundancy check (LRC) character is automatically calculated by WorkShop and added to

the end of track data. Listed below are format parameters that can be changed:

EzWriter format selections include:

o The Data density can be selected as either 75 or 210 bits per inch.

o The Start Sentinel (SS) location from the card edge is selected.

o The limited selection of SS characters for each track.

o The limited selection of End Sentinels (ES) characters for each track.

o The number of bits per character can be selected from 4 BPC to 7 BPC

o The character parity bit logic selection

In addition to the formatting selections, selection of writing Lo-Co or Hi-Co type cards is

provided. Click the Setup button for the Setup window. Two folder tabs are available.