ST9335 Secure MICR Printer User’s Guide Source Technologies 2910 Whitehall Park Drive Charlotte, NC 28273 www.sourcetech.com techsupport@sourcetech.
This manual serves as a reference for Source Technologies Secure MICR Printers. The user manual that ships with your printer contains details on printer setup and operations and should be read first. This manual should be used as a reference for learning more about MICR technology, and developing MICR printing applications. This guide was produced to assist IS Technicians and Engineers in the use Source Technologies’ programmed printers with their custom MICR applications.
Table of Contents 1 Printer Installation .......................................................... 1 2 MICR Overview ................................................................ 2 The Check Processing System .................................... 2 MICR Printing Today .................................................... 2 3 MICR Check Design ........................................................ 4 General Features of Check Design ............................... 4 Position and Dimension Gauge...........
8 Audit Trail Report ............................................................ 34 Report Details ............................................................... 34 Audit Trail Menu ............................................................ 34 Audit Trail Command Set .............................................. 36 Figure 8.1: Audit Trail Command Example .................... 40 Figure 8.2: Audit Trail Check Sample ............................ 41 Figure 8.3 Audit Trail Report ...........................
Section 1: Printer Installation 1 Printer Installation For complete information on how to unpack and setup your printer, see your printer’s user’s guide. Please read the following if you are going to install the printer driver shipped with your printer. 1. Locate the CD that was shipped with your printer.
Section 2: MICR Overview 2 MICR Overview MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. All MICR documents have a MICR line with numbers and symbols printed in a MICR font with magnetically chargeable toner. Each character of the MICR font has a unique waveform when sensed magnetically. Financial institutions and the Federal Reserve use the MICR line to identify and sort checks.
Section 2: MICR Overview The key standards that address check documents are as follows: ANSI X9.7 Specifications for Bank Check Background and Convenience Amount Field ANSI X9.13 Specifications for Placement and Location of MICR Printing ANSI X9.18 Paper Specifications for Checks ANSI X9.
Section 3: MICR Check Design 3 MICR Check Design General Features of Check Design To be a legal and negotiable document, the necessary elements required on a check are the date, amount, payee, drawee institution, and payer’s signature. Other elements included in a good check design are: the amount in words, account title, check serial number, fractional routing number and MICR line. A good check design contains security features and is formatted to be easily read by both machines and the human eye.
Section 3: MICR Check Design Duplexing We do not recommend printing on both sides of the paper (duplexing) when printing checks. MICR toner on the back of a check can cause read failures in the MICR Line. Order your check stock with any necessary information preprinted on the back. If duplex is necessary, we suggest a more aggressive test plan be developed to ensure print quality consistently conforms to the ANSI/ABA specifications.
Section 3: MICR Check Design image capture equipment and is also a fraud deterrent. A fixed pitch courier font, or if available OCR-B, are also acceptable fonts to print the convenience amount. Note: The Source Technologies’ Secure Numeric Font (see Appendix C) should not be used in the convenience amount since it is not a machine readable font. Amount In Words The amount in words (sometimes called the legal amount) is normally located either above or below and to the left of the convenience amount.
Section 3: MICR Check Design Account Title The account title is normally printed in the upper left corner of the check. It includes the name of the account holder and other information such as addresses, telephone numbers, and logos. The data in the title should be legible and sufficiently complete so that if the MICR data account number is destroyed, the drawee institution can refer to the account title in order to trace the account number.
Section 3: MICR Check Design Routing Field Positions 43 to 33 The routing field is bounded by Transit Symbols (:) in positions 43 and 33. It contains fixed format information about the drawee institution. Consult with your bank for the specific data field to be placed here for each of your accounts. On-Us Field Positions 32 to 14 The On-us field contains the makers’ account number. The structure and content of this field is left to the drawee bank.
Section 3: MICR Check Design Figure 3.1: Sample Check A. Serial Number: Must be in the upper right corner and match the serial number in the MICR line (see D for further explanation). B. Fractional Routing Transit Number: Should be in the upper right corner and must match the routing transit number in the MICR line with the exception of the state prefix number (ex. 66 = NC, 67 = SC, 64 = GA, etc.) and the preceding zeros. C. Bank Name, State, City: The bank logo is optional.
Section 4: Quality Issues 4 Quality Issues A high quality MICR document can be read by bank reader/sorter equipment many times with no readability issues and does not result in damage to bank equipment. This quality is the result of a well designed printer, an originally manufactured MICR toner cartridge and high quality check stock. Printer Features Your Secure MICR Printer is equipped with some features to ensure high quality MICR documents.
Section 4: Quality Issues MICR Check Stock Check stock has a large impact on the resulting quality and security of your MICR document. Here are a few features that should be considered when selecting a check stock. Please see Chapter 4 for more information on check stock security features. Quality Quality MICR check printing with your ST Secure MICR Printer requires check stock that matches the printer’s requirements. Source Technologies can supply paper specifically made for our printers.
Section 4: Quality Issues Moisture The paper moisture content should be between 4.7 and 5.5%. Storage conditions have much to do with the final moisture content of most papers. Store your check stock in a cool, dry, environmentally stable and secure area. Protective wrappings should be removed just prior to use.
Section 5: Security Issues 5 Security Issues Printing negotiable documents from blank paper on desktop MICR laser printers makes security a top priority for any company embarking on a desktop check printing project. Good security programs integrate hardware, software, your employees and your financial institution into a secure check production system. Recent changes relative to the responsibilities of banks and their customers have a bearing on the ultimate liability for fraudulent documents.
Section 5: Security Issues Security Note Check fraud in the United States is a continuing problem. We have attempted to identify security features that can be incorporated into the base check stock. However, these may not prove 100% fraud preventative. Over time, technology will continue to develop new and improved measures to address check fraud. The following internal and external security measures will help minimize your risk of check fraud. 1.
Section 5: Security Issues 8. Move methods of fraud detection to the item’s point of entry into the clearing system. For example, low cost readers can detect low magnetic strength in the MICR line which is a good indication of attempts to copy an original. 9. Always verify the home address and place of employment of new account applicants. Use public sources such as phone books to verify phone numbers. Ask new account applicants why they are opening an account with your institution.
Section 6: MICR Features 6 MICR Features Source Technologies’ Secure MICR Printers are designed to allow both general office document printing and secure MICR document printing. You may print a variety of conventional jobs with regular Lexmark toner using all of the printer features available such as MarkNet and MarkVision network attachment interfaces and network printer utilities. These printers come standard with HP PCL5, PCL6 and PostScript Level 2 emulations and others.
Section 6: MICR Features eye. This font provides protection against reproduction by most scanners and copiers because they cannot successfully print the tiny letters. Most check printers use this font in the signature area of their preprinted checks. We recommend using this font to help deter check fraud. The text in this font can either be fixed, such as the name of your organization, or it can be variable, such as the check amount and payee name.
Section 6: MICR Features Flash Memory is an optional feature. It is user managed and resources can be designated as “secure” or “unsecure.” Secure resources are loaded to flash with the STL command and have ID numbers greater than or equal to 10000. They can only be accessed by using the STP command when the printer is in MICR mode. Unsecure resources do not require a password and should be assigned an ID number less than 10000.
Section 6: MICR Features The Audit Menu deals with the optional Audit Trail Report settings. See chapter 7 for more information. Entering MICR Mode To print MICR documents, your Secure MICR Printer uses special alphanumeric text commands called MICR Mode commands. There are two different commands which activate MICR mode printing: &%STFPASSWORD$ and &%STHPASSWORD$. The &%STF is the default command and is recommended for most applications.
Section 6: MICR Features When entering MICR mode with the &%STH command, the printer will: • Check to see if the proper Front Panel Combination has been entered (when enabled). • Allow access to secure check printing resources such as MICR fonts and secure fonts which are stored in printer ROM. It also allows access to protected signatures, overlays, logos and other important resources stored in password protected nonvolatile flash memory. • Turn Hex Transfer ON.
Section 6: MICR Features In order to set a new password the current password must first be sent. Caution: Errors made in sending the new password command could lead to setting it to an unknown value. If the Password is unknown the printer must be returned to Source Technologies to be reset to PASSWORD.
Section 6: MICR Features Print Secure Numeric Font &%SMF ddd...ddd ~ &%SMFddd..ddd~ Lead in sequence Data to be printed in this font Command terminator The dollar sign ($) is not a command terminator for this command. For both security fonts the tilde ~ (hex 7E) is the command terminator since the dollar sign is a valid character.
Section 6: MICR Features Resource number 5001 is reserved for the Audit Trail overlay, see chapter 7. Format Flash Memory &%SFF &%SFF$ Lead in sequence $ Command terminator This command formats flash memory. A valid password command must precede this command. Caution: All flash contents will be lost. This includes all electronic forms, signatures, logos, etc.
Section 6: MICR Features DES and AES Decryption Data Encryption Standard (DES) and the recently approved Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) are both supported in the Source Technologies Secure MICR Printers. The minimum Code Level support for AES is 8.5j. Levels 8.5i. and lower only support DES. DES originated at IBM in 1977 and was adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense. The controlling standards for DES are ANSI X3.92 and X3.106 and in the Federal FIPS 46-3 standard.
Section 6: MICR Features Set AES Decryption Key Command &%STSETAESKEY<32 Hex Characters>$ The command also requires a MICR Password Command be sent prior to the Key Command. The key data is similar to DES, but is twice in length with 32 Hex character format representing the 16 byte or 128-bit key value.
Customer Character Conversation Command The Custom Character Conversion Command can be used to resolve some problems in printer data streams. An example might be to remove a special command character in an existing data stream that was used by your previous printer hardware. Without changing your data stream, these special characters can either be removed, converted to Nulls, or converted to other sets of data to accomplish what is required.
Special Alert and Custom Beep Command Using the Beep Command, the printer data stream can alert printer operators that important pages are currently being printed. The STBEEP1 command sounds its special beeps but does not stop the printer. STBEEP2 stops the printing process and waits for the operator to Press Go. The Custom BEEP can be used to create an alternative beep pattern to STBEEP1.
Section 7: IBM Host Programming Features and Examples 7 IBM Host Programming Features and Examples Hex Transfer The Hex Transfer feature allows the user to send PCL escape sequence printer commands to the printer with simple text strings. You may send any valid command or string of commands with no limit on the length or complexity. Form macros, signatures, or simple commands may be passed through any platform to the printer since they are simple text.
Hex Transfer Examples &&??&% This command enables Hex Transfer On &%1B 26 6C 34 48 $ or &% 1B $& l 4H Sends the PCL Esc sequence: &l4H which is a paper source command identifying what tray the paper will be pulled from. &% 1B 45$ or &% 1B $E This command is a printer reset PCL command which consist of the Esc character and printable E character and may be sent by simply putting the Esc character in Hex. Note - Hex Transfer can now be set ON or OFF via the MICR Menu.
Section 7: IBM Host Programming Features and Examples Figure 7.1 MICR Mode Command Example The following example shows the MICR Mode commands and Hex Transfer commands in use. This datastream would print the check on the following page (assuming the check macro and the signature are loaded as flash resources).
Section 7: IBM Host Programming Features and Examples Figure 7.2: Sample Check CHECK NO : DUPLICATE FILE COPY VENDOR NO: 200 REFERENCE NUMBER 99999 1234567 136784 555555 NAME: VENDOR SYSTEMS INVOICE DATE Oct Oct Oct Oct 1 2 3 3 GROSS AMOUNT 05 05 05 05 TOTALS October 5, CHECK DATE: DISCOUNT TAKEN 1000 2005 N E T AMOUNT PAID 1000.00 200.00 800.00 55.55 20.00 4.00 16.00 1.11 980.00 196.00 784.00 54.44 2055.55 41.11 2014.
Section 7: IBM Host Programming Features and Examples The commands in Figure 7.1 in order of appearance: &%STFPASSWORD$ Password Command. &%SMCP0001$ MICR Definition Command with the count set to one. &%STP10001$ Unlock Flash Resource number 10001. &%STP20000$ Unlock Flash Resource number 20000. &%1B26...3358$ PCL sequence in hex which sets the page format and enables macro number 10001. &%1B$(s1p16v0s3b4148T PCL sequence which changes the font to Univers 16 point.
Section 7: IBM Host Programming Features and Examples Escape Character Translation In many IBM host environments, the programmer cannot send an ESC character (ASCII hex 1B) to the printer from within the application. Your Secure MICR Printer allows you to define the ESC character as a printable character or a combination of two printable characters. You can select combinations of 1 or 2 characters which are translated to a Hex 1B when they are sent to the printer.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports 8 Audit Trail Reports The Audit Trail Report feature provides a report of the printer’s MICR printing activity. The printer must have flash memory to utilize this option. Details of each flagged check record sent to the printer are provided since the last audit report was purged from flash memory. Report Details A record (check) must be bounded by a start of record command and an end of record command.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports point, and no alpha characters. For example: Valid Formats “$1,234,567.89” “4321234.56” “5,321” “$.89” Invalid Formats “$1,23,” “432.123” “34 test” “12$123” If the value in field 4 is in an invalid format, that line will have a question mark to the right of the field and it will not be added to the total. Under these circumstances, the total will print with the notation “Fields flagged with ‘?’ not included in total.” If the total exceeds $4,294,957,295.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports Audit Trail Report Command Set &%SAR$ &%SAR $ Start Audit Record Lead in sequence Command terminator Marks the start of an audit record and begins a PJL job.. This command must be inserted in the datastream after MICR Mode is entered and before the first flagged field appears. It should be sent at the beginning of each check record.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports Audit Report Field Four &%SQ4 d..d ~ &%SQ4d..d~ Lead in sequence Data to be printed Command terminator This command identifies the data to be printed in the fourth column of the report. It is a maximum of 16 characters in length. Since a total of this field can be provided at the end of the Audit Trail Report it is typically used for the convenience amount field. NOTE: This is the only command where the $ is not a command terminator.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports Print and Purge Audit Report &%SPURGExx$ &%SPURGE Lead in string x option(s) $ Command terminator This command prints and purges the Audit Report. All recorded information is deleted.
Start Audit Feedback Command &%SAF$ The printer will report to the host that sent this command every time an audit job successfully prints. Each report will be a 151 byte string: byte 1 STX (0x02) bytes 2-15 field 1 of the audit record (from SQ1) 16-55 field 2 (from SMD) 56-95 field 3 (from SQ3) 96-111 SQ4 112-119 SQ5 120-138 SQ6 139-150 SQ7 151 ETX (0x03) The printer will continue to report until it is powered off and back on.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports Figure 8.1 Audit Trail Commands Example The following example shows the Audit Trail, MICR Mode and Hex Transfer commands in use. &&??&% &%STFPASSWORD$ &%SMCP0001$ &%SAR$ &%STP10001$ &%STP20000$ &%1B266C3178307331683261363466306F3165316C372E3330431B2661304C 1B28733130481B266B31302E3030481B26663130303031793358$ 1000 &%SQ1200$200 Vendor Systems Oct. 5, 2005 99999 1234567 36784 555555 Oct 1 05 Oct 2 05 Oct 3 05 Oct 3 05 1000.00 200.00 800.00 5 5.00 2055.55 20.00 4.00 16.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports Figure 8.2 Audit Trail Check Sample The datastream in Figure 7.1 will print the following check (assuming the check macro and signature are loaded as flash resources). CHECK NO : DUPLICATE FILE COPY VENDOR NO: 200 REFERENCE NUMBER 99999 1234567 136784 555555 NAME: VENDOR SYSTEMS INVOICE DATE Oct Oct Oct Oct 1 2 3 3 GROSS AMOUNT 05 05 05 05 TOTALS October 5, CHECK DATE: DISCOUNT TAKEN 1000 2005 N E T AMOUNT PAID 1000.00 200.00 800.00 55.55 20.00 4.00 16.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports The commands in Figure 8.1 in order of appearance. (Audit Report fields shown in bold) &&??&% Hex transfer enable. &%STFPASSWORD$ Password command. &%SMCP0001$ MICR definition command with the count set to one. &%SAR$ Activates Audit Report recording. &%STP10001$ Unlock flash resource number 10001. &%STP00200$ Unlock flash resource number 200. &%1B26...3358$ PCL sequence in hex which sets the page format and enables macro number 10001.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports &%1B(3@ PCL command to return to the default font. &%1B$&f0S PCL command to push (store) the current cursor position. &%1B$*p296x3184Y PCL command to move the cursor to 296X, 3184Y. At 300 dpi, this is .97 inches across and 10.61 inches down. We are precisely positioning the MICR line. &%SMD...$ Print E-13B MICR command. Prints the MICR line and stores the MICR line information in the second position in the Audit Report.
Section 8: Audit Trail Reports Figure 8.
Section 9: Error Messages 9 Error Messages Your Secure MICR Printer has a set of front panel error messages unique to MICR applications. These messages appear if there is a MICR related problem. The printer may also print an error message on the page near where the error occurred. In many cases you can receive more information about a displayed error by pressing Go to print the job which caused the error. Then inspect the printed page for a more detailed error message.
Error Message on Display Printed Message Can’t Purge Pswd not enabled Can’t Sort Insufficient Memory Description This error indicates that MICR mode has not been enabled. This error indicates the printer does not have sufficient memory to sort the Audit Report. Command Decode Error Decode error &%Sx (where x is the incorrect character) A syntax error was detected in a MICR command.
Appendix A: E13B MICR Font Mapping Command MICR Font Character &%SMDddd..
Appendix B: CMC7 MICR Font Mapping Command 1 &%SM7ddd..ddd$ Description Alpha/Numeric Characters Hex Values Zero 0 30 One 1 31 Two 2 32 Three 3 33 Four 4 34 Five 5 35 Six 6 36 Seven 7 37 Eight 8 38 Nine 9 39 Colon : 3A Semi-Colon ; 3B Less Than < 3C Equal = 3D Greater Than > 3E CMC7 Font Values1 The CMC7 Font in the example above is magnified for purposes of clarity.
Appendix C: Secure Numeric Font Mapping Command &%SMFddd...dd~ Description Alpha/Numeric Character Hex Value Dollar Sign $ 23 Left Bracket ( 28 Right Bracket ) 29 Asterisk * 2A Comma , 2C Dash - 2D Period .
Appendix C continued: Secure Numeric Font Mapping Description Alpha/Numeric Character Hex Value Three 3 33 Four 4 34 Five 5 35 Six 6 36 Seven 7 37 Eight 8 38 Nine 9 39 Arrow > 3E Example: &%SMF($>>>1,123.00)~ Secure Font Character will print...... NOTE: The secure fonts in the example are magnified for purposes of clarity.
Appendix D: ICR Secure Numeric Font Mapping Command Description &%SMIxxxxxx~ Alpha/Numeric Character Hex Value Zero 0 30 One 1 31 Two 2 32 Three 3 33 Four 4 34 Five 5 35 Six 6 36 Seven 7 37 Eight 8 38 Nine 9 39 Asterisk * 2A Comma , 2C Period . 2E Dollar Sign $ 23 Character NOTE: The secure fonts in the example are magnified for purposes of clarity.
Appendix E: MICR Mode Command Summary Description Command Structure Function Password &%STFPASSWORD$ &%STHPASSWORD$ Must be sent to enable MICR Mode MICR Definition &%SMCPxxxx$ MICR Line Count command Set New Password &%STExxxxxxxx$ Sets new password, must be preceeded by current password Activate/Set Front Panel Combination &%STSxxxxxxxxx$ Turns on and sets Front Panel Combination Lock, must be 8 integers Print MICR E13B Font &%SMDddd...
Appendix F: Audit Report Command Summary Description Start Audit Record Command &%SAR$ Structure Function Activates Audit Trail and begins PJL job Audit Report Field One &%SQ1.d$ Records first field on the Audit Report - does not print Print MICR E13B Font &%SMD..d$ Print and records MICR line Audit Report Field Three &%SQ3d..$ Records third field on the Audit Report Print the Check Amount &%SQ4d..
Appendix G: PJL Based MICR Commands In addition to supporting the Text Based MICR Command Set described in Sections 6 and 7, this Secure MICR printer also supports the PJL based MICR Commands used on our slower speed models. The MICR code functions emulate the presence of FLASH memory for the 5 secured font resources. The FLASH Memory option is not required for the five fonts.
PJL Re-Lock Sequence With A New Password Value %-12345X@PJL DEFAULT LRESOURCE:”flash:” LRWLOCK=”xxxxxxxx”(0D)(0A) %-12345X This command requires the resources to be previously unlocked. The new password is represented by the value xxxxxxxx. Th UEL is again optional but recommended. After consulting Lexmark Technical Reference materials you may wish to expand the PJL sequences to include more than the examples above.
MICR FONT NOTE – The E-13B and CMC7 Fonts are 8 characters per inch. To position correctly at an exact 8 characters per inch, the printer must be set to an internal Unit of Measure of 600 DPI or greater or must have a horizontal motion index command at 8 CPI be issued after the font call. This is true even if the base printer is at 600 DPI. The default character positioning is at 300 DPI and 8 into 300 is 37.5 pixels. The printer will either round down to 37 or up to 38 pixels causing characters to creep.
CARTRIDGE STATUS = UNKNOWN = OK = LOW = EMPTY CARTRIDGE SERIAL# = XXXXXXXX TONER LEVEL = 0-9 = UNKNOWN CARTRIDGE COUNT = XXXX LOW THRESHOLD = XXXX EMPTY THRESHOLD = XXXX • • • • • • • • • • Printer State “Ready” is the expected return Serial Number = Printer Serial Number Page Count = Printer Page Count Cartridge Type “MICR” is the expected return. “Normal” could mean the command was sent to a non-MICR printer Cartridge Status “OK, Low, and Empty” are the expected returns.
PJL MICR Command Example Figure 8.1, is an illustration of an Accounts Payable check and remittance information. The page used a PCL MACRO for the static data and background design. This manual does not address MACRO design and programming, but the variable text information including all the PJL and PCL commands used to print the example are on the page following the sample check. For illustrative purposes there are some extra spaces in the text preceding the printable data.
PCL Font Calls, Positioning Commands and Variable Print Data The next eleven lines of data in the example call printer resident fonts, position the cursor, and print the variable information. We are again using the minimal data required, particularly the font selection strings, (s4099t0b10H being a very short version to call Courier, Normal Weight, 10 Pitch. *p300x600Y is a PCL positioning command.
FIGURE 8.
PJL and PCL commands used to print the sample check: %-12345X@PJL LDECLARE LRESOURCE:"flash:" LRWLOCK="PASSWORD" @PJL ENTER LANGUAGE = PCL &l2a1h6d1e64F &u600D &f100y3X (s4099t0b10H *p300x600Y xxxxxxxxx xx/xx/xxxx $x,xxx.xx *p300x2775Y xxxxxxxxx xx/xx/xxxx $x,xxx.xx 3% 3% $x,xxx.xx $x,xxx.
