1. bdr_msr_config.zip Driver
2. HELP TEXT.txt File Contents

HELP TEXT.txt Driver File Contents (bdr_msr_config.zip)

GUI HELP TEXT (SUGGESTED TOPICS IN BOLD)  

Terminal Type Selection 
Keyboard Wedge Version Only 

The reader is set at the factory to interface as a PC/AT Keyboard Wedge. It can work with or without an external keyboard by automatically detecting the external keyboard at power up. It is also possible to explicitly select operation with or without an external keyboard, if desired. 

The Terminal Type selections can be found by clicking CHANGE BASIC READER SETTINGS and then going to the GENERAL SETTINGS page.  


Intercharacter Delay
This is the time period the reader will wait before transmitting the next character. Some host systems need additional time between characters to process the keyboard information. 

The Intercharacter Delay selections can also be found on the GENERAL SETTINGS page.  















RS-232  Interface Parameters 
RS-232 Version Only

This group of settings specifies the parameters used for serial communications. The settings will be active for the host/terminal serial interface.

1. Click on CHANGE BASIC READER SETTINGS. 

2. Select the RS232 PARAMETERS page.  

3. Click the selection(s) you wish to make. 

4. Click SEND TO MSR to send the changes to the reader. The reader's response will be:

  One slow beep to indicate the host command has been accepted by the reader. 

  Two beeps to indicate the host command is invalid.

The following parameter selections are available:


Baud Rate (bps)
The baud rate is the speed at which data is transmitted and received. The default value is 9600 bps.
					

Data Bits
Set the number of data bits used to define a character. The default value is 8.


Stop Bit(s)
The stop bit function defines the number of bits used to end the data frame. Older equipment sometimes requires extra time after receiving a character in order to process it, and therefore requires two stop bits. The default value is 1. 


Parity
Serial communication can define a parity check bit to be added to each character. This check bit can be true for an odd number of "1" bits or an even number of "1" bits in the data character. The user may also choose to define the parity bit as a MARK (true) or a SPACE (false). Selecting NONE, which is the default value, results in no parity bit.

Note: The reader must use a total of 10 or 11 bits to define a character frame. If you select "7" data bits with the "None" parity option, the reader will format the character frame as 8 data bits and no parity. 


Handshaking
Some type of flow control or "handshaking" must be used between two devices to prevent data from being transmitted before the receiving device is ready to accept it. Handshake signals interrupt the flow of data until the receiving device is ready. The default is X-On/X-Off, with hexadecimal values of 11 and 13, respectively.














General Selections 

The basic operating parameters of the reader can be programmed with this group of selections. 

1. Click on CHANGE BASIC READER SETTINGS. 
2. Select the GENERAL SETTINGS page.  
3. Click the selection(s) you wish to make. 
4. Click SEND TO MSR to send the changes to the reader. The reader's response will be:

  One slow beep to indicate the host command has been accepted by the reader. 

  Two beeps to indicate the host command is invalid.

The following selections are available:


Beep Volume
The beep volume can be adjusted to two different levels, or turned off entirely. The default value is HIGH.


MSR Reading
The  reader's ability to read magnetic stripes can be turned  on or off. If the reading capability is disabled, no data will be sent  to the host. The default value is MSR READING ENABLED.


Decoding Method
The reader can support "swipe" reading in one or both directions. 

With decoding in both directions,  the user can swipe the card in either direction and still read the data encoded on the magnetic stripe. Otherwise, the card can only be swiped in one specified direction.  The reader can also be set to read raw data in both directions.  The default value is DECODING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.


Preamble and Postamble Selections 

Magnetic stripe output can be formatted with the addition of preambles, postambles, and terminator characters. The settings below will augment magnetic stripe data read by the reader. A fully-formatted message block reflects the following model: 

{Preamble}{T1 Data}{Track Separator}{T2 Data}{Track Separator}{T3 Data}{Terminator}{Postamble} 

1. Click on CHANGE BASIC READER SETTINGS. 

2. Select the PRE/POSTAMBLE page.  

3. Enter the changes you wish to make. 

4. Click SEND TO MSR to send the changes to the reader. The reader's response will be:

   One slow beep to indicate the host command has been accepted by the reader. 

   Two beeps to indicate the host command is invalid.

The following options are available:


Track Start/End Sentinel
The tracks of a magnetically-encoded card contain special Start/End Sentinel characters. You can choose the character used for each track's start sentinel and/or end sentinel.



Terminator Character
One character from the Full ASCII Table: For some applications, it may be convenient to end a string of magnetic stripe data with a terminator character. For example, with keyboard entry, it is common to have the operator signify the end of the data input with the "Enter" keystroke. The terminator character serves this function. 


Preamble
0 to 15 ASCII characters: The  preamble is a string of characters that can be added to the beginning of magnetic stripe data. These can be special characters for identifying a specific reading station, to format a message header expected by the receiving host, or a function key from the Function Code Tables. 


Postamble
0 to 15 ASCII characters: The  postamble serves the same purpose as the preamble, except it is added to the end of the read data after any terminator characters. 

















Magnetic Stripe Track Settings

The reader can accept and decode data read from a magnetic stripe. 

1. Click on CHANGE BASIC READER SETTINGS. 

2. Select the TRACK SETTINGS page.  

3. Click the selections you wish to make. 

4. Click SEND TO MSR to send the changes to the reader. The reader's response will be:

  One slow beep to indicate the host command has been accepted by the reader. 

  Two beeps to indicate the host command is invalid.

The following options are available:

Track Select
There are three tracks on a magnetic stripe card that can contain encoded data. This option selects the tracks that will be decoded. Note that the magnetic stripe reader must have heads aligned for reading the specified tracks. The default value is ANY TRACK.


Send Start/End Sentinel
If this option is enabled, the Start/End Sentinel characters will be transmitted as part of the data stream. If this option is not selected, the sentinel characters are suppressed before transmission.





Only Send Track Two Account Number 
Track Two of a magnetically encoded credit card includes the account number information as well as other information. If this option is selected, all other data contained on the track is suppressed before transmission. 


Track Separator
One character from the Full ASCII Table: This option allows the user to select the character used to separate data decoded from each track when using multiple track magnetic stripe readers. 



























Reviewing Configuration Settings
The reader's current settings can be reviewed by following these steps:

1. Open the Configuration Utility. 

2. Click CHECK CURRENT READER SETTINGS. The reader's settings will be displayed, along with the interface type and firmware version. 






























ADVANCED SETTINGS

Output Format

If the reader is replacing another manufacturer's reader in an existing application, the output format can be adjusted so that it matches the output data of the other manufacturer's reader. (The reader, for instance, outputs the industry standard HID data format, but can match another manufacturer's custom HID format.) The default value is ID TECH Format.   


Data Editing 

In addition to adding preambles, postambles, and terminator characters, the reader can also rearrange, drop, or add to the data it reads from a  magnetic stripe. This enables the data to be sent to the host in the exact format expected by the application software, thus eliminating the need for software modifications. 

Note: You must use either the Preamble/Postamble, Track Setting, and Output Format commands to modify data, or one or more Data Editing formulas. You cannot use both. 

To accomplish this, the decoded data is divided into smaller blocks of data known as "fields." in the manner desired, or in accordance with established standards such as ISO, AAMVA, and CDL. With these fields of data defined, the order in which they are sent to the host can be changed. They can also be added or eliminated as needed.  
 
Specifically, the following functions can be performed:

Rearrange the Data: The fields that make up one track of data can be transmitted to the host in any order desired, regardless of the order in which they occur on the magnetic stripe itself. 
Insert Character Strings into the Data: Additional fields of characters can be created and inserted into the data at any place on any track. 

Search for a Character String: Data can be searched for a specified string of characters. This string of characters can then be deleted, moved, or modified using other Data Editing commands. 

Duplicate Fields: Fields of data within a track can be duplicated and transmitted to the host as many times as desired-and in any order desired. 
 

Data Fields
By separating decoded data into blocks known as "fields," each block of data can be treated individually. Fields can also be added to the data, permitting user-required characters or function codes to be included. 

The fields are identified by a one-character ID starting with the character "A" (up to and including "Z") in the order they were created. These fields can then be sent to the host in the order you specified. 

For example, if the credit card data on Track 2 of the magnetic stripe is:

 	;1234567890123456=9912xxxxxxx? 

It is divided into seven fields (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) as shown below:

	;1234567890123456=9912xxxxxxx? 
    |A|       B      |C| D|  E   |F|

If your application software needs the data sent in the following format: 

9912<ENTER> 
1234567890123456<ENTER> 

You can create that format by selecting only the fields you need, reversing the order in which they are sent to the host, and then creating a new field <ENTER> to insert after each field. 

We do this by using the fields as defined above and adding a new field: 

Field B = 1234567890123456 
Field D = 9912 
Field G = <ENTER> 

and then sending {Field D}{Field G}{Field B}{Field G} to the host.


Data Editing Formulas

The set of instructions programmed into the reader to define data fields and than arrange them into a format is known as the data editing "formula." 

The reader supports four different  formats:  Credit Card, California Driver's License (CDL), AAMVA , and a custom  format. The user can define all four or just one at a time. However, the reader can keep only one credit card, one CDL, one AAMVA, and one custom format stored in menory at any one time.

Note: For non-printable ASCII code, use the corresponding key stroke.





Using the Data Editing Functions
The data editing function is often applied to driver's licenses, where the magnetic stripe contains three tracks of information about the license holder, and the host application may need only certain details (such as name, address, and birth date) rather than all the data the stripe holds. 

In the AAMVA format, for example, the unedited output for a driver's license might look like this:

TRACK 1: 	%CABREA^DOE$JANE$R$^310 S JEFFERSON ST^?
TRACK 2:	;636014028198457=051219639924?
TRACK 3:	%!!92870  C  F503121BLKBRN  D69119980116?

Track 1 contains the license holder's name and address. Track 2 includes the expiration date and the holder's birthdate. Track 3 includes such details as height, weight, sex, hair, and eye color. 

You can identify exactly what fields the various bits of data occupy by referring to the AAMVA format in Appendix D. Read the data from a sample license, print it out, and then mark the fields accordingly. Now decide what fields of data you need, and what fields of data you don't need. For instance, if you don't need eye and hair colors, you can discard this data once it is read and decoded. You don't need to send it to the host. 

Once you know what data you'll need for your host application, decide what order you'll need it in. Should the name come first? Should the city come last? Is there other data or formatting you need? If so, you will have to add fields that contain that data.    

Knowing what fields you need to add, drop, and re-arrange will enable you to make full use of the commands on the following pages.

Data Editing Commands

1. Click on CHANGE ADVANCED READER SETTINGS. 

2. Select the DATA EDITING page.  

3. In the DATA EDIT box, click ENABLE. 

4. In the DATA FORMAT box, click the desired data format.

5. In the TRACK SELECTION box, click the tracks to be output to the host appliction.  

6. Click ADD FORMULA to create a new formula. A new form will appear.

7. Click the selection(s) you wish to make in the order in which you want them to appear in the formula. They will appear in the SENT SEQUENCE window.

8. When the formula is finished, click OK. The completed formula will appear in the FORMULA window on the DATA EDITING page. 

9. Click SEND TO MSR to send the formula to the reader. The reader's response will be:

  One slow beep to indicate the formula has been accepted by the reader. 

  Two beeps to indicate the formula is invalid.








Data Edit Enable/Disable
Use this command to turn the Data Editing function on or off. The default value is DISABLE.


Output Method Matched/Unmatched 
This command enables or disables the transmission of data that does not meet the restrictions of the data editing formula(s). When UNMATCHED is selected, data that does not match any of the formulas will be transmitted anyway. When MATCHED  is selected, unmatched data will not be sent. 


New Field
An output field is created containing the character string. Up to eight fields can be defined. The maximum number of characters for each field is eight.


Custom Data Format 
In working with a custom user-defined format that is not a credit card, CDL, or AAMVA format, the MiniMag II will support any combination of the following five search methods:

  Length Match: For a particular track, indicate the minimum and maximum number of data characters acceptable to the  data editing formula .

  String Match: For a particular track, indicate a specific string of characters acceptable to the data editing formula, as well as the character position at which that string must begin.

  Search Before: For a particular track, the reader  will create a data field which contains all characters that come before the specified occurrence of a given character sequence.

  Search Between: For a particular track, the reader  will create a data field which contains all characters that come between the specified occurrence of one sequence of character and another.

  Search After: For a particular track, the reader  will create a data field that contains a  specified number of characters that come after the specified occurrence of a given character sequence. An offset is used to indicate that the data field starts a certain number of characters after the search string.


Send Command
Sends out the fields (standard or user-defined) according to the user-defined order. The reader supports up to 4 formulas.






















Quick Clone
The settings from one reader can be cloned into another reader using this feature. Both readers must be connected to the host computer. (They do not have to be the same interface; the settings in a keyboard wedge reader can be cloned to an RS-232 reader.)  

1. Click on CHANGE ADVANCED READER SETTINGS. 

2. Select the QUICK CLONE page.  

3. In the SOURCE box, select the appropriate interface. 

4. In the TARGET box, select the appropriate interface.

5. Click CLONE TO MSR. The reader's response will be:

  One slow beep to indicate the formula has been accepted by the reader. 

  Two beeps to indicate the formula is invalid.


















Set Boot Loader Mode

The reader's firmware is contained in "flash" memory, which makes it possible to upgrade the reader's firmware without replacing the chip. Typically, the reader is in APPLICATION Mode when in use. To upgrade the firmware, it must first be placed in BOOT LOADER mode. 

Important! Do not use this feature without specific instructions from the manufacturer, as firmware download instructions and firmware code are required to set the reader back to APPLICATION Mode. 

1. Click SET BOOT LOADER MODE. The reader's LED will glow amber.   

2. Use the FLIP utility to load the new firmware into flash memory.