Card Software User Manual

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not
represent a commitment on the part of Número 5, Desenvolvimento de Software e
Telecomunicações LDA, hereafter called Number 5. The software described in this
document is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only
in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy
the software on any other medium except as specifically allowed in the license
agreement. The licensee may make one copy of the software for backup purpose.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any
purpose without the written permission of Number 5.

We want to have satisfied customers. If you have any questions or problems,

please call Technical Support, Monday through Friday at 00351-261-860 460 or
send us an e-mail to [email protected]. If we are unavailable at the time, we will
return your call or fax as soon as possible.

The Card Software described in this User Manual is a trademark of Number 5.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to their
entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Number 5 disclaim any
proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Rev 6, January 2000

Card Software User Manual 3

 Number 5, Software
Parque R. S. Sebastião 3 R\C Esq,
2655-270 Ericeira - Portugal
Phone: + 351-261 860 450
Fax: + 351-261 865 647
E-mail: [email protected]
Technical Support: [email protected]
Sales: [email protected]
Adm. Services: [email protected]
Internet: www.nfive.com

4 Card Software User Manual

Contents
1. Copyright & License Agreement ....................................... 15
Copyright Notice ............................................................................. 15
End-User License Agreement .......................................................... 15
2. Getting Started ................................................................... 18
System Requirements ............................................................................. 18
Installation .............................................................................................. 18
Running Setup on Windows 95 ....................................................... 18
Running Setup on Windows NT 4.0 ................................................. 19
Normal/Master Installation ..................................................................... 19
Setup Instructions ........................................................................... 19
Net License Installation .......................................................................... 21
Setup Instructions ........................................................................... 21
Setup Options ......................................................................................... 24
Starting/Quitting the Card Software ....................................................... 26
Starting ............................................................................................ 27
Quitting ........................................................................................... 27
3. Learning the Card Software .............................................. 28
Using the Card Software Manual ............................................................ 28
General Conventions ...................................................................... 28
Mouse Conventions ......................................................................... 29
Special Graphical Conventions ..................................................... 29
Using Online Help .................................................................................. 30
Getting Help .................................................................................... 30
Search Help Topic ........................................................................... 31
Online Help Information ................................................................. 31
Topical Help .................................................................................... 32
The Main Card Software Window .......................................................... 32
The Title Bar .................................................................................... 33
The Menu Bar .................................................................................. 33
Close Button .................................................................................... 33
Minimize, Maximize Button ............................................................. 33
Restore Button ................................................................................. 33
The Scroll Bars ................................................................................ 34
The Standard Status Bars ............................................................... 34
The Toolbars .................................................................................... 34
The Card Work Area ........................................................................ 34

Card Software User Manual 5

 The Rulers ........................................................................................ 35
The Grid ........................................................................................... 35
The Cross Hair ................................................................................ 35
The Split Window Bar ...................................................................... 35
The Database Window ..................................................................... 35
Field Name ...................................................................................... 35
Data Field ....................................................................................... 35
Screen Setup ........................................................................................... 36
Zooming the Card Image ................................................................. 37
User Metrics .................................................................................... 37
Working with the Card Software Commands .......................................... 38
Toolbar Commands ......................................................................... 38
Menu Commands ............................................................................. 38
Changing the Card/Workspace Color ............................................ 38
Mouse Shortcuts .............................................................................. 39
Shortcut Keys .................................................................................. 40
4. Creating Cards ................................................................... 41
Opening and Saving Card Files .............................................................. 41
Opening Card Files ......................................................................... 41
If you don’t see the Card you want .................................................. 41
Saving Card Files ........................................................................... 41
Naming a Document ........................................................................ 42
Displaying Card Information .......................................................... 42
Creating a Basic Card .............................................................................. 45
Adding a Line .................................................................................. 45
Card Setup ...................................................................................... 45
Adding a Rectangle ......................................................................... 46
Adding Text ...................................................................................... 46
Adding an Image ............................................................................. 47
Adding a Bar Code .......................................................................... 49
Adding a PDF Symbol ..................................................................... 50
5. Working with Objects ........................................................ 51
Card Software Objects ............................................................................ 51
Terms That Apply to Objects ............................................................ 51
Selecting and Deselecting Objects .................................................. 52
Resizing Objects ..................................................................................... 53
Resizing Text .................................................................................... 54
Resizing a Line ................................................................................ 55
Resizing a Bar Code ........................................................................ 55

6 Card Software User Manual

 Resizing a PDF Symbol ................................................................... 55
Moving and Aligning Objects ................................................................ 55
Moving Objects ................................................................................ 55
Aligning Objects .............................................................................. 56
Rotating Objects .............................................................................. 57
Stacking Objects ............................................................................. 58
Duplicating Objects ........................................................................ 59
Editing Object Properties ........................................................................ 59
Open the Object Properties Dialog Box ......................................... 59
Object Properties Dialog Box ......................................................... 61
Generic Object Properties ............................................................... 61
Line Properties ................................................................................ 63
Rectangle Properties ....................................................................... 64
Filled Rectangle Properties ............................................................ 64
Text Properties ................................................................................ 65
Selecting and Editing Text .............................................................. 67
Deleting Text ................................................................................... 68
Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text ................................................ 68
Image Properties ............................................................................. 68
Bar Code Properties ....................................................................... 70
PDF Symbol Properties ................................................................... 71
Overlay Properties .......................................................................... 72
6. Clipart Viewer .................................................................... 75
The Clipart Viewer Utility ........................................................................ 75
Starting Clipart Viewer ................................................................... 75
Clipart Viewer Toolbar ................................................................... 76
Export an Image .............................................................................. 77
7. Working with Variables ..................................................... 78
Variable Data ........................................................................................... 78
The Variable Sources ...................................................................... 78
Adding Variable Data .............................................................................. 81
Variable Image ................................................................................ 81
Variable Text ................................................................................... 83
Variable Bar Code .......................................................................... 85
Variable PDF ................................................................................... 87
8. Overlay ............................................................................... 90
Defining an Overlay ................................................................................ 90
Bitmap Based Overlay ..................................................................... 92

Card Software User Manual 7

 9. Chip Card ........................................................................... 94
About Chip Cards ................................................................................... 94
Chip Card Process .................................................................................. 94
Chip Card Properties ...................................................................... 95
Chip Card Encoding ....................................................................... 97
10. Card Software and Database ........................................... 98
Introduction to ODBC ............................................................................ 98
ODBC Basics ................................................................................... 98
File Formats .................................................................................... 98
Purpose of ODBC ............................................................................ 99
Desktop versus Server/Client .......................................................... 99
SQL .................................................................................................. 99
Card Software Sources .................................................................... 99
Card Software / driver architecture ....................................................... 100
Application/driver architecture for Win16/Win32s applications: 100
Application/driver architecture for Win32 applications: ............ 101
Database Structure ............................................................................... 101
Data Type ............................................................................................. 102
About Data Types .......................................................................... 102
Card Software Internal Database Data Types .............................. 102
Data Source .......................................................................................... 102
Introduction .................................................................................. 102
Card Software Internal Database .......................................................... 103
Create a New Internal Database .................................................. 103
Open an Internal Database ........................................................... 105
Disconnect from a Database ......................................................... 105
Working With Tables ............................................................................ 105
Create a new Table ........................................................................ 105
Edit an existing Table ............................................................................ 108
Remove a Table .............................................................................. 110
Connect to an External Database .......................................................... 110
ODBC Source Selection ................................................................ 110
Setup MS Access Data Source ....................................................... 111
Setup MS dBase Data Source ....................................................... 113
Setup MS Excel Data Source ........................................................ 115
Setup MS FoxPro Data Source ..................................................... 118
Setup MS Paradox Data Source ................................................... 120
Setup MS Text Data Source ........................................................... 123
Common Errors: ............................................................................ 126

8 Card Software User Manual

 Setup MS Visual FoxPro Data Source .......................................... 127
Working with N5 Database Interface .................................................... 129
The Card Software Database Functions ............................................... 136
Editing a Database ....................................................................... 136
Quick Editing ................................................................................ 136
Moving between Records .............................................................. 137
The Find Function ........................................................................ 138
The Query Function ...................................................................... 139
Database Interface Properties ...................................................... 140
Define View .................................................................................... 141
Hide/Unhide Fields ....................................................................... 141
Auto Counter ................................................................................. 142
Print Counter ................................................................................ 143
Browse View .................................................................................. 143
Datbase Image Properties ............................................................. 144
The Card Software Database Reports ................................................... 145
Create Database Report ............................................................... 145
Open a Database Report ............................................................... 146
The Auto Print Function ...................................................................... 146
Preparing the Card Software for Auto Print ................................ 146
11. Photo in PDF Symbol .................................................... 150
Photo Encoding .................................................................................... 150
Photo Reader ........................................................................................ 151
Setting up the Photo Reader ......................................................... 151
Reading a Photo ........................................................................... 152
Limitations: ................................................................................... 153
12. Image Acquisition .......................................................... 154
Image Sources ...................................................................................... 154
Image Transfer with Video for Windows (VfW) .................................... 154
Capturing Images .................................................................................. 155
Using the TWAIN interface ............................................................ 155
Using the Video for Windows (VfW) interface ............................... 156
Life Video Acquisition ................................................................... 157
(Advanced Feature) ...................................................................... 157
Using the serial port ..................................................................... 157
13. Logins and Passwords ................................................... 158
Administrator Login ...................................................................... 158
Create User Login ......................................................................... 159
Permissions .................................................................................... 160

Card Software User Manual 9

 14. Menu Commands .......................................................... 161
Main Window ....................................................................................... 161
The File Menu ............................................................................... 161
The Edit Menu ............................................................................... 162
The View Menu .............................................................................. 163
The Draw Menu ............................................................................. 164
The Options Menu ......................................................................... 165
The Database Menu ...................................................................... 166
The Window Menu ......................................................................... 167
The Log Menu ................................................................................ 168
The Help Menu .............................................................................. 168
Batch Print File Manager Window ........................................................ 168
The File Menu ............................................................................... 168
The View Menu .............................................................................. 168
15. Toolbars and Tools ......................................................... 169
The Card Software Tools ...................................................................... 169
The Standard Toolbar ................................................................... 169
The Drawing Toolbar .................................................................... 170
The Database Toolbar ................................................................... 171
The Batch Print Toolbar ............................................................... 172
16. Keyboard Shortcuts ........................................................ 174
Shortcut Keys ....................................................................................... 174
General .......................................................................................... 174
Card Work Area ............................................................................. 174
Database Window .......................................................................... 175
17. About Bar Codes ............................................................ 176
Bar Codes ............................................................................................. 176
Introduction .................................................................................. 176
Bar Code Standards ...................................................................... 177
Symbologies .................................................................................. 177
Card Software Symbologies .................................................................. 178
Summary of Supported Bar Codes ................................................ 179
Codabar ........................................................................................ 179
Code 128 ....................................................................................... 179
Code 39 ......................................................................................... 180
Code 93 ......................................................................................... 181
EAN//JAN-13 ................................................................................. 181
EAN//JAN-8 ................................................................................... 181

10 Card Software User Manual

 Extended Code 39 ......................................................................... 182
Extended Code 93 ......................................................................... 182
HIBC (3 of 9) ................................................................................. 182
Interleave 2 of 5 ............................................................................. 182
MSI Plessey .................................................................................... 183
UCC/EAN-128 ............................................................................... 183
UPC-A ............................................................................................ 183
UPC-E ............................................................................................ 184
Zip+4 POSTNET ........................................................................... 184
18. About PDF Symbols ...................................................... 185
About Two-dimensional Bar Codes ...................................................... 185
PDF417 ................................................................................................. 186
19. The Twain Interface ...................................................... 188
Overview of Twain ................................................................................ 188
Goals of Twain ............................................................................... 188
The Twain Process ............................................................................... 188
The Old Way ................................................................................... 188
The Twain Way ............................................................................... 189
History of the Twain Consortium .......................................................... 189
20. ODBC Advanced Notions ............................................. 191
ODBC Components .............................................................................. 191
Application .................................................................................... 191
Driver Manager ............................................................................. 192
Driver ............................................................................................. 192
Data Source ................................................................................... 193
21. Printing .......................................................................... 194
Printing Process .................................................................................... 194
Printer Setup ................................................................................. 194
Printing Cards .............................................................................. 194
Print Manager ....................................................................................... 196
Printing to a File ........................................................................... 196
The Batch Print File Manager ...................................................... 197
Batch Print Options ...................................................................... 198
Print with Windows Driver ................................................................... 199
Printer Types ................................................................................. 199
Card Setup .................................................................................... 200
Special Windows Driver printing Options .................................... 201
Print to a Specific Printer ...................................................................... 203

Card Software User Manual 11

 Specific Printers ............................................................................ 203
Appendix A - Image Tools ................................................... 204
Image Tools Menu Commands ............................................................. 204
Edit Menu ...................................................................................... 204
View Menu ..................................................................................... 204
Image Menu ................................................................................... 205
Save & Exit Menu ......................................................................... 206
Cancel Menu ................................................................................. 206
The Image Tools Toolbar ...................................................................... 206
Appendix B1 - Apprint series .............................................. 208
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 208
Encoding .............................................................................................. 209
Tools ..................................................................................................... 210
Head Settings ....................................................................................... 211
Printer ................................................................................................... 212
Specific Options ................................................................................... 213
Appendix B2 - CIM series .................................................... 214
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 214
Encoding .............................................................................................. 216
Advanced settings ......................................................................... 217
Tools ..................................................................................................... 219
Head Settings ....................................................................................... 220
Hologram .............................................................................................. 221
Printer ................................................................................................... 222
Appendix B3 - Digicard series ............................................ 224
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 224
Head Settings ....................................................................................... 225
Tools ..................................................................................................... 226
Printer ................................................................................................... 227
Appendix B4 - Eltron series ................................................ 228
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 228
Special P600 Properties ............................................................... 230
Disable Flip Over .......................................................................... 231
Encoding .............................................................................................. 231
Advanced settings ......................................................................... 233
Tools ..................................................................................................... 235
Head Settings ....................................................................................... 236
Hologram .............................................................................................. 237

12 Card Software User Manual

 Special P600 Properties ............................................................... 238
Printer ................................................................................................... 239
Laminator .............................................................................................. 240
Appendix B5 - Fargo series ................................................. 242
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 242
Encoding .............................................................................................. 243
Tools ..................................................................................................... 245
Head/Picture Settings ........................................................................... 246
Printer ................................................................................................... 247
Laminator .............................................................................................. 248
Appendix B6 - Magicard series ........................................... 250
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 250
Head Settings ....................................................................................... 251
Encoding .............................................................................................. 252
Tools ..................................................................................................... 253
Specific Options ................................................................................... 255
Printer ................................................................................................... 256
Appendix B7 - NBS series ................................................... 258
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 258
Encoding .............................................................................................. 259
Advanced settings ......................................................................... 260
Tools ..................................................................................................... 263
Head Settings ....................................................................................... 264
Hologram .............................................................................................. 265
Printer ................................................................................................... 266
Appendix B8 - Polaroid series ............................................. 268
Ribbon .................................................................................................. 268
Encoding .............................................................................................. 269
Advanced settings ............................................................................... 270
Tools ..................................................................................................... 272
Head Settings ....................................................................................... 273
Hologram .............................................................................................. 274
Printer ................................................................................................... 276
Appendix B9 - Ulrich Series ............................................... 277
Tools ..................................................................................................... 277
Printer ................................................................................................... 277
Appendix C - Magnetic Encoding ....................................... 279
About Magnetic Stripe ......................................................................... 279

Card Software User Manual 13

 Encoding a Magnetic Stripe ................................................................. 280
Encoding with Specific Printer Properties ................................... 281
Magnetic Encoder Tool ................................................................. 282
Encoding with a Windows Printer Driver ..................................... 284
Appendix D - Card Software Basic Features ..................... 286
Basic Features ...................................................................................... 286
Lite Plus ......................................................................................... 287
Premier .......................................................................................... 287
Professional ................................................................................... 287
Multi-Head .................................................................................... 287

14 Card Software User Manual

 1. Copyright & License Agreement
Copyright Notice
This document contains information proprietary to Número
Cinco Software, Ltd., hereafter designated as Number 5
Software. This document and the information contained within
is copyrighted to Number 5 Software and may not be
duplicated in full or part by any person without written
approval from Number 5 Software. While every effort has
been made to keep this information contained within current
and accurate as of the date of publication, no guarantee is
given or implied that the document is error-free or that it is
accurate with regard to any specification. Number 5 Software
reserves the right to make changes, for the purpose of product
improvement, at any time.

End-User License Agreement

IMPORTANT – READ CAREFULLY: This Number 5
Software End-User License Agreement (EULA) is a legal
agreement between you (either an individual or a single entity)
and Number 5 Software for the software product described in
this user manual, which includes computer software and
associated media, printed materials, “online” and electronic
documentation (“SOFTWARE PRODUCT” or
“SOFTWARE”). By installing, copying, or otherwise using
the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, you agree to be bound by the
terms of this EULA. If you do not agree to the terms of this
EULA, promptly return the unused SOFTWARE PRODUCT
to the place from which you obtained it for full refund.
SOFTWARE PRODUCT License:
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws,
international copyright treaties and the European Community Directive
91/250/EEC, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.

1. GRANT OF LICENSE. This EULA grants you the following rights:

Software: You may install and use one copy of the SOFTWARE
PRODUCT, or on its place, any prior version for the same operating
system, on a single computer.

Card Software User Manual 15

 Storage/Network Use: You may also store or install a copy of the
SOFTWARE PRODUCT on a storage device, such as a network server,
used only to install or run the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on your other
computers over an internal network; however, you must acquire and
dedicate a license for each separate computer on which the SOFTWARE
PRODUCT is installed or run from a storage device.

2. DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS.

Limitations on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation and Disassambly:
You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassamble the
SOFTWARE PRODUCT, except and only to the extent that such
activity is expressly permitted applicable law notwithstanding this
limitations.
Rental: You may not rent or lease the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
Software Transfer: You may permanently transfer all of your rights
under this EULA, provided you retain no copies, you transfer all of the
SOFTWARE PRODUCT (including all component parts, the media,
printed materials and any upgrades) and the recipient agrees to the
terms of this EULA. If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade, any
transfer must include all prior versions of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
Termination: Without prejudice to any other rights, Number 5 Software
may terminate this EULA if you fail to comply with the terms and
conditions of this EULA. In such event, you must destroy all copies of
the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and all of its component parts.

3. UPGRADES:
If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade from another product,
weather from Number 5 Software or another supplier, you may use or
transfer the SOFTWARE PRODUCT only in conjunction with that
upgraded product, unless you destroy the upgraded product. If the
SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade of a Number 5 Software product,
you now may use that upgraded product only in accordance with this
EULA. If the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is an upgrade of a component
of a package of software programs that you licensed as a single product,
the SOFTWARE PRODUCT may be used and transferred only as a part
of that single product package and may not be separated for use on
more than one computer.

4. COPYRIGHT:
All title and copyrights in and to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT (including
but not limited to any images, photographs, animation’s, video, audio,
music, text, and apples incorporated into the SOFTWARE PRODUCT),
the accompanying printed materials, and any copies of the SOFTWARE
PRODUCT, are owned by Number 5 Software or its suppliers. The

16 Card Software User Manual

 SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and
international treaty provisions. Therefore, you must treat the
SOFTWARE PRODUCT like any other copyrighted material except
that you may either (a) make one copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT
solely for backup or archival purposes, or (b) install the SOFTWARE
PRODUCT on a single computer provided you keep the original solely
for backup or archival purposes. You may not copy the printed materials
accompanying the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

Card Software User Manual 17

 2. Getting Started

The following instructions tell you about minimum system

requirements, how to install the Card Software running
Windows 95 or windows NT 4.0 and start the program for the
first time.

System Requirements
The recommended software and hardware configuration for
you computer system to run the Card Software is:
· An IBM compatible PC with a Pentium microprocessor.
· 32 MB RAM.
· Hard Disk with at least 50MB free disk space.
· One CD-ROM 8X speed drive.
· Network Novel Systems, Microsoft Network or similar
operating system, Windows 95/98, NT 4.0 (I386 Platform)
or Windows 2000.
· VGA or SVGA graphics adapter and monitor.
· Mouse or other Windows-compatible pointing device.
· Serial port.
· KeyFive and KeyFive License.

Installation
MicrosoftÔ Windows version 95 or later is required to install
and run the Card Software. You can run the Card Software on
any system that can run Windows 95, if the system has enough
RAM and hard disk space. If Windows 95 is not installed, run
the setup program for Windows before trying to install the
Card Software.

Running Setup on Windows 95

Insert the Card Software CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive.
The Card Software Setup Screen appears after a few moments.
If the Card Software Setup Screen does not show up
automatically choose “Run” from the Windows 95 Start Menu

18 Card Software User Manual

 and type D:\setup, where D is your CD-ROM drive letter.
Follow the Setup instructions.

Running Setup on Windows NT 4.0

Insert the Card Software CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive.
The Card Software Setup Screen appears after a few moments.
If the Card Software Setup Screen does not show up
automatically choose “Run” from the Windows 95 Start Menu
and type D:\setup, where D is your CD-ROM drive letter.
Follow the Setup instructions.

Normal/Master Installation
Setup Instructions
The Language screen appears. Choose the desired language.
Click Install Software.
The Welcome Dialog box appears. Click Next to continue the
installation.

The license Agreement screen appears, if you agree with the

license terms confirm with Yes.
Setup prompts you with the Setup Installation Type. Choose
Normal/Master Installation and click Next.

Card Software User Manual 19

 Setup prompts you with the default installation path. Confirm
or change the Card Software directory. Click Next.
Setup prompts you with the default group folder. Confirm or
change the Card Software Group folder. Click Next.
Setup will create a program group called Card Software and
program icons for the installed programs.

The installation is complete when the setup dialog box confirms

20 Card Software User Manual

 so. The Card Software setup will prompt you to reboot the
system, highly recommended.

Net License Installation

Setup Instructions
The Language screen appears. Choose the desired language.
Click Install Software.
The Welcome Dialog box appears. Click Next to continue the
installation.

Card Software User Manual 21

 The license Agreement screen appears, if you agree with the
license terms confirm with Yes.
Setup prompts you with the Setup Installation Type. Choose
Net License Installation and click Next.

Use the Browse button to specify the full path for the Master
Installation. Please remember this important notes:
· The drive mapping must be permanent (Reconnect at
Logon).
· You cannot change the drive letter.
· This Network License always needs to know the Path
to the Master Installation.
· You cannot execute this Network Version when the
Master Computer is turned off.
Click Next.

22 Card Software User Manual

 Setup prompts you with the default installation path. Confirm
or change the Card Software directory. Click Next.
Setup prompts you with the default group folder. Confirm or
change the Card Software Group folder. Click Next.
Setup will create a program group called Card Software and
program icons for the installed programs.

Card Software User Manual 23

 The installation is complete when the setup dialog box
confirms so. The Card Software setup will prompt you to
reboot the system, highly recommended.

Setup Options
Depending on your Card Software version and operating
system, Setup will prompt you to install the Data Access Pack
(Advanced Feature). Highly recommended unless you already
have Data Access Pack installed.
The Data Access Pack installation will start.

24 Card Software User Manual

 The Microsoft Data Access Pack Setup dialog box appears.
Setups prompts you with the default installation path. Confirm
or change the Data Access directory. Click Ok.

To start the installation click the large button.

The Microsoft Data Access Pack - Maintenance dialog box

appears. Click the Select All button, click Ok.

Card Software User Manual 25

 The Microsoft Data Access Pack installation is complete
when the setup dialog box confirms so.

Starting/Quitting the Card Software

After you have installed the Card Software, you can start the
application.
Connect the KeyFive to the serial port and enter the KeyFive
License delivered with the package which is the software key.

Note: The KeyFive is connected to the serial port in a pass

through manner, so you can connect it to the same serial port
as your mouse.

26 Card Software User Manual

 Starting
After you run Setup, you will see a program group in the
Windows Program Manager called “Card Software” or another
name you may have provided during installation.
The “Card Software” program group includes icons for all the
Card Software components you installed.
Double click the Card Software program icon.

Quitting
When you finish working with the program and are ready to
quit the Card Software, choose the Exit command from the
File menu (or press Alt+F4 on the keyboard). If you have
made any changes since the last time you saved your card
file, the Card Software prompts you to save the file before
exiting. Click Yes to save the changes.

Card Software User Manual 27

 3. Learning the Card Software

The Card Software user manual will guide you through this
powerful application, starting with creating a simple card
working with objects and using system variables to the
advanced features like Database, Image Acquisition Logins
and Passwords. All about Printing and Encoding you find in
Appendix A and B of this manual. Complementary the Card
Software Help function is a complete online tool, you can use
anytime you need information quickly or when your Card
Software User Manual is not available.

Note: Some features described in this manual are not available

in all Card Software editions.

Using the Card Software Manual

Before you start using the Card Software, it’s important to
understand the terms and typographical conventions we use
in the documentation.

General Conventions
We use the following kinds of formatting in the text to identify
special information:
· ¨ Diamond bullet: Step-by-step procedures. You can use
procedural information by using both the mouse and
keyboard. To choose a command from a menu, you can use
either the mouse or a keyboard shortcut.
· CAPITAL LETTERS: Keys on the keyboard appear in small
capital letters. For example, the Enter key appears as ENTER.
· When we ask you to press a combination of keys, you’ll see
them connected by a +. For example, CTRL+P means to
press the CTRL key and the P key at the same time.
· Capitalized Words: Commands you choose from the menus
or dialog boxes appear capitalized. For example, you choose
the Rectangle command from the Draw menu.

28 Card Software User Manual

 · Also, tool and button names are capitalized. For example,
you use the Text Tool to type text, and the Bar Code Tool to
define a bar code.
Mouse Conventions
The Card Software makes use of both mouse buttons. Unless
you’ve programmed it differently, the left mouse button is the
primary mouse button. Whenever a procedure tells you to
use the secondary mouse button, the documentation refers
to it as the right mouse button.
· “Point” means to position the mouse pointer so the tip of
the pointer rests on whatever you want to point to on the
screen.
· “Click” means to press and then immediately release the
left mouse button without moving the mouse.
· “Double-click” means to press and immediately release the
mouse button twice without moving the mouse.
· “Drag” means to point, and then hold down the mouse
button as you move the mouse. Releasing the mouse button
completes the action.
· “Right-click” means to press and then immediately release
the right mouse button with out moving the mouse.

Special Graphical Conventions

· Note - Indicates information that emphasizes or supplements
important points of the main text.
· Tip - A type of note that helps you apply the techniques and
procedures described in the text to your specific needs. A
tip suggests alternative methods that may not be obvious
and helps you understand the Card Software benefits and
capabilities.
· Important - Provides information essential to the completion
of a task. You can disregard information in a note and still
complete a task, but you should not disregard an important
note.
· Caution - A note that advises you that failure to take or
avoid a specified action could result in loss of data.
· Warning - A note that advises you that failure to take or
avoid a specific action could result in physical harm to you
or the hardware.

Card Software User Manual 29

 · Advanced Feature – Describes alternative methods using
advanced features of Card Software (not available in all
editions, see “Appendix D - Card Software Basic Features”
to know if your edition supports a specific feature).

Using Online Help

You can view the Card Software Online Help Contents window
by choosing Contents from the Help menu.

From this window, you can “jump” to more-specific

information.
Getting Help
You can get help in several ways. For example, you can use
the Help button on the Upper Toolbar to get context-sensitive
help about items on the screen and commands.
Context sensitive help is always available by pressing the F1
key from any screen.
In addition, many dialog boxes and message windows contain
a Help button. To use the comprehensive online index, open
the Card Software Help Contents window. To use other
features in Help, use the Help command. You can even get

30 Card Software User Manual

 help about how to use the Help system. Choose Using Help
from the Help menu.

Search Help Topic

The fastest way to get help on a topic is to use the search
feature. To open the Search dialog box, choose Contents from
the Help menu, then click Search.

Online Help Information

To see what’s in Help, choose Contents from the Help menu
in the Upper Toolbar. Then, click Using Card Software.

Card Software User Manual 31

 You can display step-by-step procedures while you’re working
on a card. To do this, choose Contents from the Help menu
and, from the Contents window, click How To.
Scroll the screen to see the content covered in each Help
entry, and click the entry you want. You can move or resize
the Help topic window if it covers your card.

Topical Help
To find out about an item on the screen, click the Help button
on the Upper Toolbar.
When the pointer changes to a question mark, choose the
command or click the window item on which you want help.
The Card Software displays the Help topic for the selected
command or window item in the Help window.

The Main Card Software Window

The main Card Software window, with its accompanying
toolbars and menus, closely resembles the windows you work
in for other Windows based programs. You will be working in
the main window (and its sub-windows) as you design and
print your cards.
The following illustration identifies and names each part of
the main Card Software window. The text explains how each
part functions.

32 Card Software User Manual

 The Title Bar
The title bar displays the name of the Card Software program
and the name of the active card file.

The Menu Bar

The Menu bar lists the available menus. A menu contains a
list of commands, or actions, you can carry out with the Card
Software.

Close Button
Using the mouse, you can click the Close button to end your
Card Software session.
Minimize, Maximize Button
Using the mouse, you can click the Maximize button to
enlarge the active program window so that it fills the entire
desktop, or you can click the Minimize button to reduce the
window to an icon.

Restore Button
Using the mouse, you can click the Restore button a window
to its previous size and location. The restore button is only
available when your window is maximized.

Card Software User Manual 33

 The Scroll Bars
When the Card Work Area is zoomed-in (enlarged), Scroll
Bars appear that you can use to view information that exists
beyond the borders of the window. When you can view all
the contents of the window without scrolling, the Scroll Bars
are absent. Drag a Scroll Box or click one of the Scroll Arrows
to scroll the window and move the desired part of the card
image into view.

The Standard Status Bars

Messages appear at the bottom of the window in areas called
status bars. These messages describe what you are seeing
and doing in the Card Software window as you work. The
Status Bar displays the x and y coordinates of the pointer, and
the type, location, and size of the currently selected card
object. Dsplays also the name of the tool when selecting the
tool’s button and when you choose a command provides a
short message telling you what that command will do.

The Toolbars
You can use toolbars for quick access to some of the most
commonly used commands and tools. The Standard Tool Bar
contains mostly common Windows commands, the Database
Tool Bar, the Alignment Tool Bar and the Drawing Tool Bar
contains only Card Software command buttons.
Tooltips explaining the functions of each button are displayed
if you hold the mouse pointer over the desired button.

Note: You must use a mouse to choose buttons on the toolbars.

You cannot use the keyboard.

The Card Work Area

All your work to layout a card is done in the Card Work Area.
This area displays a card outline depicting the physical limits
of the card. Any objects placed outside the card borders will
not be printed.

34 Card Software User Manual

 The Rulers
Card Software includes Rulers to help you align your artwork
and arrange image elements symmetrically. Rulers can be
configured to display inches or centimeters. Set your unit of
measure, from the Options menu Metrics. To display the rulers,
choose Rulers from the View menu. To hide the rulers, choose
Rulers from the View menu again.

The Grid
An invisible network of lines covering the card. As you draw
objects, they will co-interect with the grid, if Snap To Grid is
checked in the Grid Settings Dialog box (Options Menu). You
can turn it on and off using the Grid command from the View
menu.

The Cross Hair

The Cross Hair represent the cursor position within the card
document. You can turn it on and off using the Cross Hair
command from the View menu.
The Split Window Bar
Used to separate vertically the Card Work Area Window from
the Database Window. The split window can be sized with the
mouse.

The Database Window

Advanced Feature
Displays all data field names and provides a field to enter or
edit data, for the current database.

Field Name
Advanced Feature

Display the database field names.

Data Field
Advanced Feature

Used to enter and display database data.

Card Software User Manual 35

 Screen Setup
Using the command Toolbars on the View menu, you can
display or hide any of the individual Card Software Toolbars.

The command Cross Hair from the View menu toggles the
cross hair cursor.
Using the command Grid on the View menu you can, display
or hide the layout grid (CTRL+G). Use the Grid Settings
command from the Options menu to control the grid spacing
and color.

Using the command Guidelines on the View menu you can,

display or hide the card-edge guidelines (CTRL+L).
Using the command Rulers on the View menu you can, display
or hide the rulers layout. Use the Rulers Settings command
from the Options menu to control the rulers behaviour. Use
the Metrics command from the Options menu to change the
measurement unit.

36 Card Software User Manual

 Use the Object Tooltips from the View menu to displays a
brief description of the objects names and size. A ToolTip is
displayed when the mouse pointer rests over the object.

Zooming the Card Image

The size of the card image can be changed by using the Zoom
In (+) and Zoom Out (-) commands on the View menu. Exact
placement of objects on the card is sometimes easier if the
image is larger.
Using the command Fit Workspace on the View menu, you
can display the intire card page.

User Metrics
From the Options menu select the command Metrics. Choose
between millimetres or inch. All measurements are displayed
in the selected unit.

Card Software User Manual 37

 Changing the Card/Workspace Color
From the Options menu select the command Card Color.
Changing the card color doesn’t affect the print process. This
option only tries to get you closer of the WYSIWYG (What
You See Is What You Get) interface.
From the Options menu select the command Workspace Color.
Choose the desired color from the color pallet.

Working with the Card Software Commands

A command is an instruction that tells the Card Software to
perform an operation. The Card Software provides several
ways for you to choose commands. You can choose
commands from a menu or toolbar, or you can use shortcut
keys.
Toolbar Commands
The Card Software toolbars provide you with one-step access
to lots of tasks. You can draw a rectangle, place a photograph,
define a bar code, edit text and much more - all with just one
click of a mouse button on one of the Card Software tools.
For more information about each of the Card Software toolbars,
see Chapter 15 Toolbars and Tools.

Menu Commands
Commands are grouped in menus. Some commands carry out
an action immediately; others display a dialog box so that you
can select options. You’ll know that a command will display a
dialog box, if it is followed by three periods (...).

38 Card Software User Manual

 Mouse Shortcuts
You can use a mouse shortcut to give you quick access an
object’s property sheet, or to display a shortcut menu.

¨ To display an object’s property sheet.

1. Just double click the object.
or
1. Point to the object.
2. Click the right mouse button. The Shortcut menu appears.

3. Choose Properties.
4. When you have finished with the properties dialog box,
click OK or Cancel, or press ESC.

¨ To display the Shortcut menu.

1. Move the mouse pointer to a place not on an object.
2. Click the right mouse button. The Shortcut menu
appears.

3. Choose the action you want to perform.

Card Software User Manual 39

 ¨ To display the Shortcut menu when you have an object
selected.
1. Move the mouse pointer over the selected object.
2. Click the right mouse button. The Shortcut menu
appears.

3. Choose the action you want to perform.

Shortcut Keys
You can choose some commands by pressing the keyboard
shortcut keys listed on the menu to the right of the command.
The Card Software uses many of the shortcut keys found in
other Windows programs. You find a list of shortcut keys in
Chapter 16 - “Keyboard Shortcuts”.

40 Card Software User Manual

 4. Creating Cards

This section explains the procedures for opening existing card

files, saving your work and creating the layout of a new card.

Opening and Saving Card Files

You’ll find that opening and saving your card files are pretty
much the same as in other Windows programs.

Opening Card Files

To create a new card at any time, click the New button on
the Standard toolbar. To quickly open one of the last cards
you worked on, choose it from the list of recently used files at
the bottom of the File menu.

To open an existing card, click the Open button on the

upper toolbar. When the Open dialog box appears, select the
document in the File Name box, and then click OK.

If you don’t see the Card you want

The File Name box initially lists card files in the directory in
which you last saved or opened a card. If the card file you
want is not listed, click another drive and/or directory.
If you choose, you can open several card files during a Card
Software session. Use the methods listed above to select the
desired card files. If more than one window is open, the title
bar for the active window (the one in which you are working)
is a different color or intensity than other title bars.

Saving Card Files

Until you give a new card document a unique name, the Card
Software displays in the title bar a temporary name. The first
new document is CARD1, the second, CARD2 and so on.

Card Software User Manual 41

 To save a card on disk, click the Save button on the
Standard tool bar. When you save a card for the first time, the
Card Software displays the Save As dialog box so that you
can type a name for the card file.

Naming a Document
To make it easier to find your documents, you can use long,
descriptive filenames. The complete path to the file, including
drive letter, server name, folder path, and filename, can contain
up to 255 characters. Filenames cannot include any of the
following characters: forward slash (/), backslash (\), greater-
than sign (>), less-than sign (<), asterisk (*), question mark
(?), quotation mark (“), pipe symbol (|), colon (:), or semicolon
(;).

Displaying Card Information

You can display information about the current card. From the
View menu, choose Card Properties. The Card Properties
dialog box appears.

42 Card Software User Manual

 General Tab
Displays a brief card description, card dimensions and card
and workspace colors.

File Information
Display the card document full path, name of the person who
last saved and printed the card as well as the date.

Card Software User Manual 43

 Object List
You can change object properties directly from this dialog
box, useful if you want to change small or hidden items. You
also can export images from this dialog box.
Note: Lines and Rectangles will not show a preview.

· Select: Click this button to select on the card the selected

object on the card items list.
· Properties: Select any object and click this button. The
corresponding Object Properties dialog box opens. Perform
the changes you want and confirm with OK. Changes are
applied immediately at the card workspace.
· Export: Select an image and click this button to export it.
The Save As dialog box appears. Provide a filename for
your image and select the type you want to use to save
the image, you can choose between; Windows Bitmap
Format (*.bmp), Zsoft PCX Format (*.pcx), and Tagged
Information File (*.Tif).
· Delete: Click this button to delete permanently the selected
item. Confirm with OK.
· Close: Exit Edit Item List dialog box.

44 Card Software User Manual

 Creating a Basic Card
This section explains the processes involved in creating a
basic card using a few of the most common tools.

Card Setup
A card can be created in either portrait (print across the narrow
side of the card) or landscape (print across the wide side of
the card) orientation. The card defaults to landscape
orientation. To set the card orientation to portrait, on the File
menu choose Card Setup. In the Card Setup dialog box, click
Portrait. The card orientation can be changed at any time.

Note: For more information on card setup when working with

a windows printer driver see Chapter 21. Printing

Adding a Line
¨ To add a horizontal or vertical line
1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Line tool; the pointer
changes to a hand with the Line icon.
2. Move the pointer to the point on the card where you
want to place one end of the line.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in a
horizontal or vertical direction. As you drag, a line is

Card Software User Manual 45

 drawn, with one end fixed where you began to drag, and the
other end following the pointer. Continue dragging until
the line is the desired length.
4. Release the mouse button. The line appears on the card.

Adding a Rectangle
¨ To add a rectangle
1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Rectangle tool; the
pointer changes to a hand with the Rectangle icon.
2. Move the pointer to the point on the card where you
want to place the upper left corner of the rectangle.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms with one corner
fixed where you began to drag, and the other corner
following the pointer. Continue dragging until the
rectangle is the desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The rectangle appears on the
card.

Adding Text
¨ To add text

1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Text tool; the pointer

changes to a hand with the Text icon.
2. Move the pointer to the point on the card where you
want to place a corner.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms with one corner
fixed where you began to drag, and the other corner
following the pointer. Continue dragging until the
rectangle is the desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The Text Properties dialog
box appears.

46 Card Software User Manual

 5. Type some text into the box, for example: “Card Software”.
6. Click OK to complete the action.
Adding an Image
¨ To add an Image to the card

1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Image tool; the

pointer changes to a hand with the Image icon.
2. Move the pointer to the point on the card where you
want to place the upper left corner of the image.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms with one corner
fixed where you began to drag, and the other corner
following the pointer. Continue dragging until the
rectangle is the desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The Image Properties dialog
box appears.

Card Software User Manual 47

 5. Click Open from File. The Import Bitmap dialog box
appears.

6. Choose a file name that has one of the extensions listed

in the List Files of Type box, for example, tiger.bmp. Click
OK. The image will appear on the screen with its upper
left corner at the position you clicked in step 3.

Note: The previous steps showed you how to add a

photograph (or other artwork) to your card from a bitmap file.
You can also add an image that is not in a file by using the
Scan… button, or the VfW Image Source. See Chapter 12 -
“Image Acquisition”

48 Card Software User Manual

 Tip: Use the Card Software Clipart Viewer to choose and import
an image from your Card Software CD-ROM. See Chapter 6 -
“Clipart Viewer”.

Adding a Bar Code

¨ To add a bar code to the card

1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Bar Code tool; the

pointer changes to a hand with the Bar Code icon.
2. Move the pointer to a place on the card where you want
to place a corner of the bar code.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms, with one corner
fixed where you began to drag. The other corner follows
the pointer. Continue dragging until the rectangle is the
desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The Bar code Properties
dialog box appears.

5. Select a bar code Style from the list. Card Software defaults
to Code 39, but you can choose from among the 20 styles
listed.

Card Software User Manual 49

 6. Type the data you want to appear in the bar code.
7. Click OK. The bar code will appear on the card.

Note: While some bar codes will accept numbers, letters and
symbols, others will accept only numbers. See Chapter 17,
“About Bar Codes.”

Adding a PDF Symbol

¨ To add a PDF Symbol

1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the PDF Symbol tool;

the pointer changes to a hand with the PDF icon.
2. Move the pointer to a place on the card where you want
to place a corner of the PDF symbol.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms, with one corner
fixed where you began to drag; the other corner follows
the pointer. Continue dragging until the rectangle is the
desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The PDF Symbol Properties
dialog box appears.

5. Type the data you want to appear in the PDF symbol.

6. Click OK. The PDF symbol will appear on the card.

50 Card Software User Manual

 5. Working with Objects

This section provides information on objects, their properties,

and how to edit them.

Card Software Objects

With the exception of magnetic encoding information and Smart
Card data, all cards are made up of objects. Lines, text, images,
bar codes are objects. What you can do with an object
depends on whether you created it in the Card Software or
you inserted it from another application.
Once you know how to manipulate the different types of
objects, you’ve mastered a lot of what’s involved in creating
cards.
Terms That Apply to Objects
As you’ve already discovered, objects are the key building
blocks in the Card Software. Just about everything you work
on is an object. There are different types of objects, and the
behavior of an object depends on its type. The Card Software
objects are native to the Card Software; embedded objects
are objects you create in another application. Some of the
terms used to describe working with objects may be new to
you.

· Object: The text, lines, and bar codes that you create using
the Card Software tools and the pictures you import from
other applications.
· Property: Each aspect of an object that you can manipulate
using the Card Software tools and commands, including size,
color, line width, and content.
· Sizing handle: The square at each corner and along the sides
of a selected object. Dragging a sizing handle resizes the
object.
· Bounding Box: The box framed by the sizing handles when
an object is selected. When you click an object to select it,
the selection rectangle appears.

Card Software User Manual 51

 · Picture: An image from another application. It can have some,
but not all, of the attributes of an object created in the Card
Software. You can move and resize a picture and change its
rotation.
· Stacking: Placing objects on top of one another. Each object
is separate from any other object as well as from the card
background. Although the objects seem to be drawn on a
flat card, it’s helpful to think of objects as pieces of paper in
a stack. The object you draw first is on the bottom of the
stack; the most recently drawn object is added to the top of
the stack. The “stacking order” is important because the
object on the top of the stack can cover those underneath it.
You can see this effect when you stack one filled rectangle
on top of an-other.

Selecting and Deselecting Objects

You need to tell to the Card Software, which object you want
to work with. To do this, you must select it.
¨ To select one object
1. Touch a visible part of the object with the mouse pointer,
and then click. You select an object in a stack in the same
way.

52 Card Software User Manual

 2. Once it’s selected, you’re free to rotate it, change its size,
or color, or move it to another location.

¨ To select multiple objects

1. Hold down the SHIFT key and click each object you
want to select.
- or -
2. Move the pointer outside of the objects you want to
select.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms, with one corner
fixed where you began to drag, and the other corner
following the pointer. Continue dragging until the
rectangle encloses all the objects you want to select.
4. Release the browse button. The objects enclosed by the
rectangle are selected.

¨ To select all objects

1. From the Edit menu, choose All, or press CTRL+A.

¨ To deselect objects
1. Click anywhere outside the object(s).

Tip: An object will be selected automatically if you right-click

the object to edit its properties.

Resizing Objects
You can change the size of an object by dragging one of the
sizing handles that surround a selected object.

Tip: If you want to resize an object (except a PDF Symbol) by

an exact amount or to a specific size, use the object’s property
dialog box.

Card Software User Manual 53

 ¨ To resize an object
1. Select the object.
2. Move the mouse pointer over a sizing handle. The pointer
changes appearance to indicate the direction in which
you can resize the object.

3. Click and drag a sizing handle until the outline of the

object is the right shape and size.

Resizing Text
¨ To resize text
1. Select the text object.
2. Double-click the object. The Text Properties dialog box
appears.
3. On the Generic Tab type or select the desired size and
position.
4. Click OK. The text is changed to the new size.

Note: See “Editing Object Properties” for more detailed

information.

54 Card Software User Manual

 Resizing a Line
¨ To resize a line
1. Select the line. Sizing handles appear on each end of the
line.
2. Drag one of the sizing handles to make the line the length
you want.
Resizing a Bar Code
¨ To resize a bar code
1. Select the bar code object.
2. Double-click the object. The Bar Code Properties dialog
box appears.
3. On the Generic Tab type or select the desired size and
position.
4. Click OK. The bar code is changed to the new size.

Important: Resizing a bar code requires special consideration

to maintain the correct aspect ratio and data density for the
bar code type being printed. See Chapter 17, “About Bar
Codes.”

Resizing a PDF Symbol

You cannot resize a PDF Symbol. It’s appearance depends on
the amount of encoded Data and the output resolution
settings. See Chapter 18 - “About PDF Symbols”.

Moving and Aligning Objects

Naturally, you’ll want to move objects on your cards as you
create them. And sometimes you’ll need to line up objects in
a particular way - along the bottom of the card, perhaps, or
with each other.

Moving Objects
¨ To move an object
1. Select the object. When you move an object, a dotted
outline appears as you drag.
2. Drag the object to its new location.

Card Software User Manual 55

 Tip: You can place an object more precisely if it’s not trying to
snap to the grid. Disable the Snap to Grid checkbox in the
Grid Settings dialog box from the Options menu (CTRL+H).

Aligning Objects
Use the Alignment Toolbar to align multiple selections of
objects on the card. The selected objects will be align with the
dominant object. Dominant Object is the last to be selected.
The available alignments are:
Left Alignment - Aligns the selection to the left.
Center Horizontally Alignment - Centers the selection
horizontally.
Right Alignment - Aligns the selection to the right.
Top Alignment Button - Aligns the selection to the Top.
Center Vertically Alignment - Centers the selection vertically.
Bottom Alignment - Aligns the selection to the bottom.

56 Card Software User Manual

 Top Left Alignment - Aligns the selection to the top left.
Top Center Alignment - Aligns the selection to the top center.
Top Right Alignment - Aligns the selection to the top right.
Left Center Alignment - Aligns the selection to the left center.
Center Alignment - Centers the selection.
Right Center Alignment - Aligns the selection to the right
center.
Bottom Left Alignment - Aligns the selection to the bottom
left.
Bottom Center Alignment - Aligns the selection to the bottom
center.
Bottom Right Alignment - Aligns the selection to the bottom
right.

You can also use the Snap to Grid feature.

¨ To align objects using the Snap to Grid
1. From the View menu, select Grid (CTRL+G). The grid
will appear on the card.
2. From the Options menu, select Grid Settings. The Grid
Settings dialog box will appear.
3. Select the Snap to Grid checkbox. Type or select the
Spacing Width and Height to provide adequate grid
spacing.
4. Select and move the objects to be aligned. The upper left
corner of the object will snap to the grid, providing a
reference location for alignment.

Rotating Objects
You can rotate bar codes, PDF symbols, images, and single
lines of text in 90 degrees increments.
¨ To rotate an object
1. Select the object you want to rotate and bouble-click it
to display the object’s property sheet.
2. Click the Generic Tab and select the desired rotation
amount.

Card Software User Manual 57

 3. Click OK. The object will be rotated to the new position.

Tip: To rotate the entire card 180 degrees when the card is
printed, select Rotate 180 degrees in the Card Print dialog box.

Stacking Objects
When you’re working with objects, you’ll find that you
sometimes stack them to get the effect you want. When you
stack objects on top of each other, they overlap. Sometimes
you’ll want to change their order - put the top object on the
bottom, for example.
The Card Software has two commands you can use to move
objects up or down in a stack. Having these commands means
you don’t have to keep track of the order of the objects as
you draw them. That is, you don’t have to draw the bottom
object first, then the object that would be next on the stack,
and so on.
You can draw objects in any order and then move them up
and down the stack as needed.

¨ To stack an object
1. Select the object you want to move up or down in the
stack.
2. On the upper toolbar, click the Send to Front or the Send
to Back tool.
3. The selected object will be placed at the front or the back
of the stack.

Tip: If you are working with stack of three objects and want to
place the front object in the middle, select the middle object
and move it to the front.

58 Card Software User Manual

 Duplicating Objects
Duplicating an object creates a copy of the object that’s
slightly offset from the original.
The Duplicate command doesn’t place a copy of the object
on the Clipboard.

¨ To duplicate an object
1. Select the object.
2. From the Edit menu, choose Duplicate Item or press
CTRL+D.
3. The duplicated item appears on top of the object you
selected. Drag it to place it where you want it.

Tip: You can use the Duplicate command to make an array of

objects.

Editing Object Properties

Each object has certain properties associated with it. You can
change the properties of an object editing its Object Properties
dialog box.
Open the Object Properties Dialog Box
The card Software provides tree ways to display an object’s
property dialog box.
¨ Double-click an object
1. Double-click the object whose properties you want to
edit.
2. The Object Property dialog box appears.
3. Examine or change any properties.
4. Click ok to exit the Properties dialog box saving the
changes. Click Cancel or press ESC to leave without
applying any changes.
¨ Use the object mouse shortcut
1. In the Card Software work area, right-click the object
whose properties you want to edit.
2. From the shortcut menu select the Properties command.

Card Software User Manual 59

 3. Examine or change any properties.
4. Click ok to exit the Properties dialog box saving the
changes. Click Cancel or press ESC to leave without
applying any changes.
¨ Use the Object List tab
1. From the View menu select the Card Properties Command.
The card Properties dialog box appears. Click the Object
List Tab.

60 Card Software User Manual

 2. Select the object whose properties you want to edit and
click Properties.
3. Examine or change any properties.
4. Click ok to exit the Properties dialog box saving the
changes. Click Cancel or press ESC to leave without
applying any changes.
Object Properties Dialog Box
The properties dialog box of an object is divided in two tabs.
The two tabs are:
Generic Tab: X and Y position, rotation, options, color and
alignment settings.
Specific Tab: specific settings for each object, see further
down in this section.

Generic Object Properties

The Generic tab contain settings, common for all objects.

Card Software User Manual 61

 Bounding
Position - Defines the exact placement of the upper left
bounding border of an object, measured from the upper left
label corner.
Size - Defines the size of the bounding box.
Alignment - Allows to align vertically and horizontally the
object delimited by the Bounding box.

Rotation
Rotates an object clockwise in 90 degrees steps. Line, rectangle
and multiline text objects cannot be rotated.

Options
Do Not Print - if checked the object doesn’t print.
Protected - if checked, you can turn the object not selectable
enabling the Activate Protected Objects command from the
Options menu.
Print in Black Panel - if checked, the quality of the black will
be improved. The object will be printed on the black panel of
the ribbon.

Foreground Color
Sets the object foreground color. Type the RGB values or use
the Choose button to select the color.

Note: Not applicable for PDF Symbol and image objects.

62 Card Software User Manual

 Line Properties
Line properties are:
Line Width: Enter the desired line width.

Note: You can set a default line width. From the Options menu,
choose Default Line Width. Enter the desired default line
width. Click OK. All new line objects, including rectangles,
will be drawn with the new width.

Card Software User Manual 63

 Rectangle Properties
Rectangle properties are:
Line Width: Enter the desired line width.

Filled Rectangle Properties

For this type of object only the Generic Properties are applied.

64 Card Software User Manual

 Text Properties
Text properties affect the position of the text on the card, and
its appearance. How your text looks depends on the attributes
you assign to it. (Think of an attribute as a characteristic of
the text - its font, size, color, whether it is italic or boldface,
and so on.)

Style Examples of text attributes

Regular: Card Software works wonders.
Bold: Card Software works wonders.
Italic: Card Software works wonders.
Bold Italic: Card Software works wonders.

You use the Font and the Font Color dialog boxes to change
text attributes.

Card Software User Manual 65

 Note: The attributes you select apply to all the text comprising
the selected text object. You cannot, for example, make one
word bold and leave the rest of the text regular. If you want
text with different attributes, use the Text tool to create another
text object. Then, apply the desired attributes to the new text
object.

Text properties are:

Default Text: Type the text you want to appear on the card.
Font type and style: Click Choose. The Font dialog box
appears. Select the desired font and style.

Point Size: Enter the desired size. Point size can also be
changed from the Font dialog box.

66 Card Software User Manual

 Selecting and Editing Text
Important: You cannot edit text directly on the screen in the
Card Work Area. You edit text only by displaying it in the Text
Properties dialog box.

Note: In the following sections, when the manual refers to

editing text it means adding, replacing, deleting or otherwise
changing the text box content, not the text attributes.

¨ Edit text
1. Double-click the text object you wish to edit.
2. The Text Properties dialog box appears.
3. Using the techniques listed below, select the text you want
to edit.
4. Perform the desired alterations.
5. Click OK.

¨ Select text using the mouse

1. Point where you want the selection to begin, and then
drag over the text..
2. To select a single word, double-click the word.

¨ Select text using keyboard shortcuts

· For keyboard enthusiasts, selecting text using the
keyboard is often faster than using the mouse.

To select Press
One character right: SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
One character left: SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
To end of word: CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
To start of word: CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
One line up: SHIFT+UP ARROW
One line down: SHIFT+DOWN ARROW

Card Software User Manual 67

 Deleting Text
¨ Delete a character
1. Position the pointer after the character you want to delete,
click and then press BACKSPACE.

¨ To delete a block of text

1. Drag across the text to highlight it, and then press
BACKSPACE or DELETE.

Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text

¨ Cut or copy and paste a block of text
1. Drag the text to select it; then, press CTRL+X (cut) or
CTRL+C (copy).
2. Position the pointer where you want to paste the text and
click.
3. With text on the Windows clipboard (cut or copied), press
CTRL+V (paste).

Image Properties

68 Card Software User Manual

 Image properties are:
Keep Aspect Ratio: Select this check box to keep the same
horizontal to vertical aspect ratio when changing the image
size. This will prevent image distortion.
Image crop: Select this check box to simulate an image crop.
Only the selected area will be displayed. (Note: although the
unselected area isn’t displayed will no be deleted. For that
propose use the Crop Tool from the Image Tools).
Crop to Bounding Ratio: Select this check box to use the
image ratio on crop.
Costum Filter - Allows you to use a customized DLL to
enhance the image properties according to your needs. To
turn this option available you will need developer knowledge.
Security Filter - Opens the Security Image Brightness (dialog
box) which allows to increse/decrease the image brightness.

Tools - opens the image tools workspace, see further in this

manual Appendix A - Image Tools.
Open From File - displays the Open Image File dialog box to
browse to an image file and to open it.
Acquire - acquires an image, using the TWAIN interface. See
chapter 8 “Image Acquisition” for further information.

Card Software User Manual 69

 Bar Code Properties

Bar code properties are:

Value: Type the data you want to appear in the bar code.
Ensure the data is valid for the selected bar code style.
Style: Select the type of bar code you wish to print.
Bar codes Options
Human Readable - Select this check box if you want the data
to be printed in human readable form below the bar code
symbol.
Fit Bar Code to Bounding - If this option is checked, a bar
code can be resized with the mouse.
Multiplier - This function controls the bar code size. If the Fit
bar code to bounding option is checked, the multiplier value
is changed automatically, when resizing a bar code with the
mouse.
Ratio - Some bar code symbologies permit to change the ratio
between thin and thick bars.
Checksum - In order to increase the reading accuracy, some
bar code symbologies use checksums. The checksum
algorithm, which varies greatly between symbologies,

70 Card Software User Manual

 performs a series of mathematical operations on the characters
encoded in the bar code. This value is added to the text to be
encoded in the bar code. When a bar code reader scans the
bar code, it reverses the checksum mathematical formula and
compares the result with the checksum character in the bar
code. If they differ, it means that the data in the bar code was
read improperly.
Aditional Digits - Some Bar Codes allows you to provide two
or five characters of supplemental information.

Note: While some bar codes will accept numbers, letters and
symbols, others will accept only numbers. See Chapter 17,
“About Bar Codes.”

PDF Symbol Properties

PDF symbol properties are:

Data to Encode: Type the data you want to appear in the bar
code. Ensure the data is valid for the PDF bar code style.
Resolution: Select the desired vertical and horizontal
resolution. This specifies the symbol’s aspect ratio, used

Card Software User Manual 71

 during symbol encoding for row and column calculations.
PDF Parameters
Number of Rows: Select the desired number of rows.
Number of Cols: Select the desired number of columns.
Flip Option: Select the desired flip option: None, Left/Right,
Top/Bottom, or Flip Both.
ECC Level: Select the desired ECC level.
ECC Percent: Select the desired ECC percent, if ECC level is
set to Auto.
PDF Options
Reduce Bar Width: Select to reduce the bar width.
Reduce Bar Height: Select to reduce the bar height.
Truncated: Select to truncate.
Binary Encode: Select to encode the data in binary.

Note: For more information on the characteristics of PDF

symbols see Chapter 18, “About PDF symbols.”

Overlay Properties

72 Card Software User Manual

 Overlay properties are:
Overlay coverage: From the Choose Overlay box, select the
overlay coverage desired.
Predefined Overlays: If the selected overlay coverage was
“Predefined Selected Area Without Overlay,” select one of
the option buttons.

Tip: If you select one of the Predefined Overlays option

buttons, the overlay coverage box will automatically be set to
“Predefined Selected Area Without Overlay.”

Preview on Screen: Select this checkbox if you want to see

the overlay depicted on the screen. For the Bitmap Based
Overlay there is no preview on screen.
Position: Use these boxes if the selected overlay coverage
was “User Selected Area, With Overlay” or “User Selected
Area, Without Overlay.” They define the horizontal (X) and
vertical (Y) location of the upper-left corner of the overlay
area. The overlay in this area is printed or not printed
depending on which user selected area was chosen.
Size: These boxes define the size of the overlay area, it’s
origin (0,0) is defined by the position values.
File for Bitmap Based Overlay: If the selected overlay
coverage was “Bitmap Based Overlay,” type the path of the
*.bmp (bitmap) file you wish to use as overlay pattern. If you
don’t know the file name, click Browse to select the file. The
Bitmap Based Overlay concept was designed to provide the
possibility to create a hologram effect on the printed card. It is
based on a monochrome pattern, which tells the printer to
spare out all dark areas in the bitmap when printing the overlay,
which produces the “hologram” effect.

Tip: Use black & white images for bitmap overlay. Anyway,
you may use a colored bitmap. The Card Software will
automatically convert your bitmap to Black & White.

Card Software User Manual 73

 Tip: For more information on this subject, see Chapter 8
“Overlay”.

74 Card Software User Manual

 6. Clipart Viewer

The Clipart Viewer is a simple, but powerful tool to browse

through the clipart samples, which are provided with the Card
Software CD-ROM. You also can use it for any other clipart
library, assembled by bitmap (*.bmp) images.

The Clipart Viewer Utility

Starting Clipart Viewer
¨ Open the Clipart Viewer
1. Open the “Card Software” program group and double-
click the Clipart Viewer program icon.

2. The main Clipart Viewer window appears.

Card Software User Manual 75

 Note: The Clipart Viewer searches automatically for Clipart
Volume I or II at drive C, D, E and F. If Clipart Volume I or II are
not found, it opens with a blank screen.

Clipart Viewer Toolbar

Up and down button: Scrolls through images vertically.

Left and right button: Changes the number of image

columns by + or - 1.

Tip: You can set the number of columns directly to 2, 4, 8, 12

or 20. Right-click the left or right button and choose the
number of columns you want.

Open button: Opens the directory of a clipart library in

your computer system.
Quick Browse: Two drop down menus to quickly select the
image category you want. Choose between black & white
images and select one of the categories available in Clipart
Volume I or II.

Print button: Prints a page of all images in the current

directory.

Info button: Displays information on number 5 software.

Close button: Exits the Clipart Viewer

76 Card Software User Manual

 Export an Image
¨ Export an image to your card working area
1. Choose an Image and click on it. The Image Info window
appears. The image is displayed in its true size
(measurement in pixels) and automatically exported to
the Windows clipboard.

2. Activate the Card Software and select Use Windows

Clipboard from the Edit menu.

Tip: You can toggle between the Card Software and Clipart
Viewer pressing Alt + Tab.

3. Import the image from the Windows Clipboard. Select

Paste from the Edit menu.

Tip: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V to paste the image.

Card Software User Manual 77

 7. Working with Variables

This section explains how to use variable data with the Card
Software.

Variable Data
Contrary to fixed data, which is edited when the card is
designed, variable data changes. It is edited or becomes
available at the time the card is printed. When you design the
card, instead of typing the actual data, you create a placeholder
called a variable. At print time, the variable data replaces your
named variable at its location on the card.
Some of the sources for variable data are: the computer
keyboard, internal information that the computer system keeps
track of the date and time, ODBC sources and concatenation
of sources.
Before variable data can be used with the tools that support it
(text, bar code, PDF, image or magnetic encoding), you must
create and name a variable field for each piece of information
you wish to add to the card at print time. This named field
then becomes the “target” for the data when you print the
card.
This eliminates the need to manually edit the card to enter
each piece of data before printing. You can use the same card
format, knowing that your card design will remain constant,
with only the variable data changing from card to card.

The Variable Sources

Global Counter: An integer counter that starts at a number
that you choose, and, each time you print a card, is increased
by the value of a second number that you choose.

78 Card Software User Manual

 Printer Counter: An integer counter that starts at 1 and is
increased by 1 each time you print a card.

Keyboard Input: Data that you type from the computer system’s
keyboard.

Card Software User Manual 79

 Date/Time: The Date/Time kept by your computer system.

Concatenation: Data that result from the concatenation of

two or more sources. In the Prefix, Separator and Suffix boxes
you can edit constant data. To achieve multi-line
concatenation press Ctrl + Enter in the Separator box.

80 Card Software User Manual

 Image Sources:
File Choose Image: At print time, the Card Software will prompt
you to select the name of an image file.

Scan Image: An image acquired from any twain compliant

source at print time. See Chapter 12 - “Image acquisition”.
Video: An image acquired using the Video for windows (VFW)
interface (see chapter 8 -“Image Acquisition”).
ODBC Data from internal or external database that you can
access using ODBC (see Chapter 12 - “Image Acquisition”).

Adding Variable Data

Variable Image
¨ To add a variable image to a card

1. On the lower toolbar, click the Image tool; the pointer

changes to a hand with the Image icon.
2. Move the mouse pointer to the point on the card where
you want to place the upper left corner of the image.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms, with one corner
fixed where you began to drag, and the other corner
following the pointer. Continue dragging until the
rectangle is the desired size.

Tip: You can change one or both of the dimensions, but you
should ensure that Keep Aspect is checked. Doing so will
maintain accurate image proportions.

Card Software User Manual 81

 4. Release the mouse button. The Image Properties dialog
box appears.

5. Choose the Image Source you want and click OK. The
image box you created in step 3 will appear on the (on-
screen) card with two diagonal lines through it. This
indicates that the image will be provided at print time.

Tip: Select the Show Images Tools checkbox if you want to

modify the image at print time.

6. On the Standard toolbar, click the Printer Tool. The

Card Print Dialog box appears (See Chapter 21 - Printing).
7. Click OK, to complete the action.
8. Depending on the selection you made at step 5, you will
be prompted to choose an image file or to acquire the
image from your twain source.
9. Repeat step 6 to 8 as many times as needed to print any
number of cards, with a different image on each card.

Note: More information about how to use image sources you

find in Chapter 12 - “Image Acquisition”.

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 Variable Text
¨ To add variable text
The following steps assume you want to create a variable text
object “Employee Name” for the employee’s name. At print
time, you will type the employee’s name on the keyboard, so
you set the Variable Source field to Keyboard Input.
Advanced Feature: You could also create a database with all
the information about the employee names and set the variable
source field to ODBC Source. See Chapter 10, “Card Software
and Database”.

1. On the lower toolbar, click the Text tool; the pointer

changes to a hand with the Text icon.
2. Move the mouse pointer to the point on the card where
you want to place a corner.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms, with one corner
fixed where you began to drag, and the other corner
following the pointer. Continue dragging until the
rectangle is the desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The Text Properties dialog
box appears.

Card Software User Manual 83

 5. Set the Variable Source as Keyboard Input. The Source
Keyboard Input Properties Dialog Box appears.
6. Type “Employee Name” as default text on the Source
Keyboard Input Properties Dialog box

7. Click OK to confirm and close the Source Keyboard

Input Properties Dialog box.
8. Click OK to confirm and close the Text Properties Dialog
box.
9. The text box you created on step 3 will appear on the
(on-screen) card with the words “Employee Name”
inside. This indicates that the text (the employee’s name)
will be provided at print time.
10. On the Standard toolbar, click the Printer Tool.
The Card Print dialog box appears (See Chapter 21.
Printing).
11. Click OK. The Text Input Dialog box appears prompting
you to enter data for the employee’s name.

12. Enter the employee’s name and confirm with OK.

Note: Repeat step 10 to 12 as many times as needed to print

any number of cards, with a different name on each card.

84 Card Software User Manual

 Variable Bar Code
¨ To add a variable bar code
The following steps assume you want to create a variable bar
code for the Employee’s ID Number. At print time, you will
type the employee’s ID number on the keyboard, so you set
the Variable Source field to Keyboard Input.
Advanced Feature: You could also create a database with all
the information about the employee’s and set the variable
source field to ODBC Source. See Chapter 10, “Card Software
and Database”

1. On the lower toolbar, click the Bar code tool; the

pointer changes to a hand with the Bar code icon.
2. Move the mouse pointer to a place on the card where
you want to place a corner of the bar code.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms, with one corner
fixed where you began to drag; the other corner follows
the pointer. Continue dragging until the rectangle is the
desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The Bar code Properties
dialog box appears.

Card Software User Manual 85

 5. Select a bar code Style from the list. The Card Software
defaults to Code 39, but you can choose from among the
20 styles listed (See Chapter 17 - “About Bar Codes”).
6. Set the Variable Source as Keyboard Input. The Source
Keyboard Input Properties Dialog Box appears.
7. Type “Employee’s ID Number” as default text on the
Source Keyboard Input Properties Dialog box.

8. Click OK to confirm and close the Source Keyboard

Input Properties Dialog Box.
9. Click OK to close the Bar code Properties dialog box.
10. The bar code, which appears on the (on-screen) card,
contains the encrypted information “Employee’s ID
Number”. At print time you’ll provide the correct data.
11. On the Standard toolbar, click the Printer Tool. The
Card Print dialog box appears (See Chapter 21 -Printing).
12. Click OK . The Text Input Dialog box appears prompting
you to enter data to the employee’s ID number.

86 Card Software User Manual

 Note: repeat step 11 and 12 as many times as needed to print
any number of cards, with a different bar code on each card.

Important: While some bar codes will accept numbers, letters

and symbols, others will accept only numbers. See Chapter 17
- “About Bar Codes.”

Variable PDF
¨ To add a Variable PDF Symbol
The following steps assume you want to create a variable
PDF symbol for the Employee’s ID Number. At print time, you
will type the employee’s ID number on the keyboard, so you
set the Variable Source field to Keyboard Input.

Advanced Feature: You could also create a database with all

the information about the employee’s and set the Variable
source field to ODBC Source. See Chapter 10, “Card Software
and Database”

1. On the lower toolbar, click the PDF Symbol tool; the

pointer changes to a hand with the PDF Symbol icon.
2. Move the mouse pointer to a place on the card where
you want to place a corner of the PDF Symbol.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag in any
direction. As you drag, a rectangle forms, with one corner
fixed where you began to drag; the other corner follows
the pointer. Continue dragging until the rectangle is the
desired size.
4. Release the mouse button. The PDF Symbol Properties
dialog box appears.

Card Software User Manual 87

 5. Select the desired options for the PDF symbol (See
Chapter 18 - “About PDF Symbols”)
6. Set the Variable Source as Keyboard Input. The Source
Keyboard Input Properties Dialog Box appears.
7. Type “Employee’s ID Number” as default text on the
Source Keyboard Input Properties Dialog box.

8. Click OK to confirm and close the Source Keyboard

Input Properties Dialog Box.

88 Card Software User Manual

 9. Click OK to close the PDF Symbol Properties dialog
box.
10. The PDF Symbol, which appears on the (on-screen) card,
contains the encrypted information “Employee’s ID
Number”. At print time you’ll provide the correct data.
11. On the Standard toolbar, click the Printer Tool. The
Card Print dialog box appears (See Chapter 21 - Printing).
12. Click OK. The Text Input Dialog box appears prompting
you to enter data to the employee’s ID number.

Note: repeat step 11 and 12 as many times as needed to print

any number of cards, with a different PDF Symbol on each
card.

Card Software User Manual 89

 8. Overlay

An overlay (or varnish layer) is a thin transparent coating

applied to a card to protect the underlying printed information
from wear. You can include a bitmap pattern in the overlay as
a security measure, creating a hologram effect.

Defining an Overlay
¨ To define an overlay
1. From the Draw menu or Drawing Toolbar, choose Overlay
Varnish
2. The Overlay Properties dialog box appears.

As you define the overlay, the Overlay Preview section will

show the area of the card where the overlay will be applied.
3. In the Choose Overlay list box, select the desired overlay
type:

Full Overlay (the default): The overlay varnish is applied

over the entire surface of the card.
No Overlay: No overlay varnish is applied to the card.
User Selected Area, With Overlay: The overlay varnish is
applied only to the area you define.

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 User Selected Area, Without Overlay: The overlay varnish
is applied to the entire surface of the card except to the area
you define.
Bitmap Based Overlay: In the Choose bitmap for Overlay list
box you select or browse a bitmap file on disk to use as the
overlay.

Tip: the bitmap should be monochrome (e.g.: black & white,

where white defines areas with overlay varnish). The size of
the bitmap should be the same as the card size (85,34mm *
52,83mm), to achieve varnish coverage over the whole card.
Anyway the Card Software automatically transforms 2 colored
bitmap to black & white and adjust it to the right size. This
may cause some distortion.

Predefined Selected Area Without Overlay: This overlay

varnish is automatically selected if you choose one of the
following predefined area selections:
· Smart Card ISO
· Smart Card AFNOR
· Magnetic Stripe
AutoLocation Overlay: The overlay varnish is applied only
over the objects desing on the card.

5. Define the position and size of the overlay or the excluded

area. Type the x and y coordinate values in the X
Placement and Y Placement boxes. These numbers
indicate the coordinates of the upper left corner of the
overlay area. The origin (0, 0 point) is the upper left corner
of the card. The x and y coordinates are measured from
the origin. The Width and Height numbers indicate the
size of the overlay or the excluded area.
6. If you wish to see the overlay area depicted on the card,
select the Preview on Screen check box, bitmap based
overlay has no preview.
7. Click OK. You have defined the overlay.

Card Software User Manual 91

 Important: Because the overlay is used to protect the printed
information, overlay should not be applied to card areas
containing the magnetic stripe, smart chips, or barcodes. Parts
of Card Objects which reach into User Selected Area Without
Overlay or Predefined Selected Area Without Overlay are not
printed. Areas without overlay appear white.
Printing Overlay with Memory Extension: The printable area
without Memory Extension (ME) does not cover all the card
surface, only with ME the printable area is extended to the
edge of the card, and the whole card can be printed with
overlay.
Important: You may not delete the overlay. If you want to
print without overlay, choose the Overlay Clipping Option
from the Options Menu and enable the option No Overlay. It
is not allowed to send the object overlay to the other layer. To
print both sides of the card with overlay, you need to choose
the option Overlay Clipping from the Options Menu for both
sides. With the feature Front and Back the overlay can be
managed in both sides of the card independently.

Bitmap Based Overlay

¨ To prepare a bitmap and define overlay properties
1. Use a Windows™ application, like Paint to draw the
bitmap. Set width = 85.3mm and height = 52.8mm. Type
the number in the area where you want it later to appear
on your card. Use black letters. Save the image as bitmap
(phone.bmp)

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 2. From the Draw menu, choose Overlay Varnish. The
Overlay Properties dialog box appears. In the Overlay
Properties dialog box choose Bitmap Based Overlay.
Browse to the overlay bitmap, you have created before.
The overlay is printed in all white areas, sparing out the
black number. Holding the printed card against the light,
the number appears as a kind of hologram. Click Ok.
You have created and selected a bitmap file to be used as
overlay.

Note: you may only use one kind of overlay types for the
same card side.

Card Software User Manual 93

 9. Chip Card

If your printer is equipped with a chip card encoder, you can

encode data onto memory cards.

About Chip Cards

There are two basic types of chip cards: the memory card and
the intelligent card.
· Memory Card: Can store a certain amount of data, which
can be subsequently altered, but not adequately
secured.
· Intelligent Card: Better known as smart card, the
intelligent card has, like a PC, a memory, a central
processing unit and a communications unit. As the smart
card can carry out calculations it makes it easy to
implement effective security features.

The chip has three types of memory: ROM, EEPROM and

RAM
· ROM: contains fixed information, which remains at all
times and cannot be changed.
· EEPROM: can be changed and remains in the chip even
when no electrical power is flowing through the chip.
· RAM: temporary memory, which can be changed, but
disappears when no electrical power is flowing through
the card.

Chip Card Process

The Card Software allows to plug-in an executable file during
the printing process. The Card Software will call an external
chip card processing software.
To run this software you have to provide the necessary
parameters in the Chip Card Properties dialog box.
At print time the Card Software will position the card on the
chip interface of your Privilege printer and call the external
software.

94 Card Software User Manual

 The Card Software continues the print process either on user
command or after receiving a return file OK-message (see
“setting the chip card properties”).
Chip Card Properties
¨ Setting the chip card properties

1. At the Drawing Toolbar click the Chip Card button.

The Chip Card Properties dialog box appears.

2. Type the path of the executable file of your chip card

processing software in the Command Line box. You can
also click the Browse button next to the Command Line
box. The Choose Application dialog box appears. Select
the directory of your executable file and click OK.

3. Set (optional) the arguments supported by your chip

card processing software in the arguments box.

Card Software User Manual 95

 4. Check the option Don’t show error messages if you
want to skip the chip error process
5. From the Source drop-down box select the data source
(variables) you want to provide (See Chapter 8 “Working
with Variables”). The data source you defined will be
displayed in the Source Data box.
6. From the Continue Print Process section select how you
want the print process to continue.
· On User Choice you have to click the Continue button
in the Chip Card Process dialog box, after the chip card
encoding process terminated.

Note: If you click the Abort button the complete printing

process will be canceled.
· On Return File “OK” the Card Software continues the
printing process automatically, after receiving an OK-
message from a file created and returned by the chip
card processing software. Type the path of your return
file in the Return File box. You can also click the Browse
button next to the Return File box. The Choose Return
File dialog box appears. Select the directory of your return
file and click OK.

96 Card Software User Manual

 7. Check the Insert Quote Character option if you want to
use a delimiter to specify the data to be encoded.

Important: Aassuming that my encoding program is named

SMARTPRG.EXE and the data to encode that comes from a
Keyboard Input Source is Hello World, and the option Insert
Quote Character isn’t checked. The application will be called
like: SMARTPRG.EXE Hello World. The application will only
encode the word Hello, because for the application;
SMARTPRG.EXE - is the application name
Hello - is the first argument
World - is the second argument
But if yu define a quote character, for example “. The
application will be called like:
SMARTPRG.EXE “Hello World”
All data will be encoded, because for the application;
SMARTPRG.EXE - is the application name
Hello World - is the first argumentClick the OK button
to confirm all settings.

8. Click the OK button to confirm all settings.

Chip Card Encoding

¨ The chip card encoding process
1. From the File menu choose Card Print. The Card Print
Dialog Box appears (see Chapter 21. “Printing”). Select in
the operation section the Chip Card Processing check
box. Click OK to start the chip card encoding process.
Note: You can also select Print and Encode in the operation
section. The operation sequence is set as: first chip card
encoding, second magnetic encoding and third print.

2. Depending on your setting of the runtime options, either

the Chip Card Process dialog box appears or the Card
Software waits for a return file (see “setting the chip card
properties”).

Card Software User Manual 97

 10. Card Software and Database

This section explains how to work with the Card Software and
databases. Learn how to create your own database from within
the Card Software and how to connect to an external database
using ODBC drivers.

Introduction to ODBC
ODBC Basics
The Card Software accesses databases through ODBC drivers,
using SQL language.
The Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface allows
accessing data in Database Management Systems (DBMS)
using Structured Query Language (SQL) as a standard for
accessing data.
ODBC allows different database technologies to be used by
defining a standard interface.

File Formats
To access any database format from the Card Software you
will need the ODBC driver for that standard. The default
drivers, which come with the Card Software CD-ROM supply
the most common formats:
Microsoft Access Driver (*.MDB)
Microsoft dBase Driver (*.DBF)
Microsoft Excel Driver(*.XLS)
Microsoft FoxPro Driver(*.DBF)
Microsoft Paradox Driver(*.DB)
Microsoft Text Files Driver(*.TXT ; *.CSV)
Microsoft Visual FoxPro Driver
SQL Server

98 Card Software User Manual

 Note: You can add anytime your specific drivers to meet your
needs. Just as an example, you can add drivers to access
AS400 files directly from the Card Software.

Purpose of ODBC
ODBC was created as a way of setting a standard to access
data on files. Using concepts like layers and layer abstraction,
it allows the user to access data on his hard disk, in a local
network or even in a Wide Area Network, using desktop or
server/client specifications, in any database format that have
available ODBC driver.

Desktop versus Server/Client

Desktop file access means, that the file is accessed opening it
as a disk file, in the local hard disk or even in a local network.
Server/Client supposes that somewhere a DBMS server is
running. The local machine sends requests to the server
resulting in data available to the client.
The Card Software does the access to both types in an easy
and similar way. One difference will be that in a DBMS Server
the user will need to “login” the database.

Card Software Sources

Card Software classifies data in two classes:
Internal Data Sources, which it assures to exist and
automatically configures.
External Data Sources, which must be configured by the user
running the ODBC administrator to gain access to his files.
Basically both data types use the same methods. Internal Data
Sources make life easier for a user, who does not have a
database system already installed.

SQL
SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard that the
Card Software uses to “talk” to ODBC, issuing commands to
read and write data on the files.

Card Software User Manual 99

 Card Software / driver architecture
The ODBC Desktop Database Drivers allow you to open and
query a database through the Open Database Connectivity
(ODBC) interface.

Application/driver architecture for Win16/Win32s

applications:

Application (16-bit) Application (32-bit)

| |
32-Bit Thunking Driver Manager
(ODBC32.DLL)
| |
ODBC Universal Thunking DLL
(ODBC16UT.DLL)
| |
ODBC Driver Manager
(ODBC.DLL)
|
ODBC Desktop Database Driver
(ODBCJT16.DLL, MSAJT200.DLL, 16-bit Driver ISAM))
|
database

100 Card Software User Manual

 Application/driver architecture for Win32
applications:

Application (16-bit) Application (32-bit)

| |
ODBC Driver Manager
(ODBC.DLL)

| |
16-Bit ODBC Generic Thunking DLL
(ODBC16GT.DLL)
| |
32-Bit ODBC Generic Thunking DLL
(ODBC32GT.DLL)
| |
ODBC Driver Manager
(ODBC32.DLL)
| |
ODBC Desktop Database Driver
(ODBCJT32.DLL, MSJT2032.DLL, 32-bit Driver ISAM)
|
database

Database Structure
Database, Table, Record, Field, Data: Those five terms build
the structure of a database. It is easy to understand which
meaning each term has, if you imagine an office closet.
Database: the office closet itself
Table: a card-index box inside the closet
Record: a file-card inside the card-index box
Field (Column): a predefined part of the file-card, for example
name field or address field, etc.
Data: the particulars typed in the name field

Card Software User Manual 101

 Data Type
About Data Types
Database columns are defined to contain a certain type of
data, the most commonly used data type is maybe CHAR
(stands for character). You need to define different data types
for each column, if you want to store data like images directly
in a column.
Each database format supports different data types, which
are translated by the ODBC driver into a SQL data type. This
allows an application to interact with a database bi-
directionally. This interaction is not 100%, though, as each
different driver imposes certain limitations.

Card Software Internal Database Data Types

The Card Software supports five Data types: Text, Number,
Integer Number, Photo and Memo.
Text: The data type text builds a single lined field, which may
contain up to 254 characters.
Number: The data type number builds a single lined field,
which may contain any value between 1.7e-308 to 1.7e+308
Integer Number: The data type integer number builds a single
lined field, which may contain any value between -
2,147,483,648 and 2,147,483,647
Memo: The data type Memo builds a multi-line field for text
editing.
Photo: The data type Photo builds a field, which allows the
storage of an image.

Data Source
Introduction
Before you can access data with an ODBC driver, you must
add a data source for it. You can change or delete a data
source at any time. A data source contains the information
which ODBC driver is to be used, including driver specific
setup and the indication where to find the database itself.

102 Card Software User Manual

 See section External Database later in this chapter to learn,
how to work with data sources.

Card Software Internal Database

Create a New Internal Database
¨ Creating an internal Card Software Database (Advanced
Feature)
1. From the Database menu choose Connect. The ODBC
Source Selection dialog box appears. Select Create
Database.

2. The Create Database dialog box appears. Type the

database name, for example COMPANY and click Create.

3. Select the Database you just created and click Next. The
list of the available tables appears and prompts you to
select the table you want to work with. As there is no
table available yet, you have to create it, by clicking New
Table.

Card Software User Manual 103

 4. The Database Table Structure dialog box appears. Proceed
as explained later in this chapter “Create a New Table”.

¨ Creating a Card Software Database (Advanced Feature)

1. Some editions of the Card Software are specially designed
to access an external , already existing database (see
chapter “23. Appendix C - Card Software Basic Features”
to see if your edition supports this feature). If you need to
create a database from within the Card Software you must
use the MsAccess ODBC driver setup (see later in this
chapter at section “Setup MsAccess Data Source”).

104 Card Software User Manual

 Open an Internal Database
¨ Opening an Internal Card Software Database (Advanced
Feature)
1. From the Database menu choose Connect. The ODBC
Source Selection dialog box appears. Select the database
filename you want and click Next.

2. Select the operation you want to perform, and proceed as

explained later in the chapter section “Working with
Tables”.

Disconnect from a Database

¨ Disconnect from a Database
1. From the Database menu choose Disconnect.

Note: As soon as you link a database field to the card layout,

this option is disabled.

Working With Tables

Create a new Table

¨ Create a new table
1. After connecting successfully to an Internal Card Software
database the select table dialog box appears.

Card Software User Manual 105

 2. Click New. The Database Table Structure dialog box
appears.

3. Type the table name (e.g.: Clients_Hardware); You may

not use the space character do separate words, as it
provokes a syntax error in the create table statement..
4. Define the columns. For each column you want to create
provide column name (e.g.: Name, Idnumber and Photo)
or use the default name (Field1, Field2, Field3).
5. Select column data type (see section Card Software internal
database data type earlier in this chapter) and length (if
necessary).

106 Card Software User Manual

 6. Provide the type of Index you want to apply to the column.
An index is used to control data storage and queries in a
column. Choose between None (in this case, no indexing
occurs), Unique (indexed, each record must contain unique
data, used to set a primary key) or Duplicate (indexed, but
allows equal data, speeds up queries).

Note: The field RECORD_NR is automatically created and

indexed as unique to provide at least one column, where data
differs in all records (primary key). This is to avoid affection
on multiple records at delete or edit operations. You may delete
this column, but you should provide at least one column
indexed as unique.

7. Remove a column: choose this options if you want to

remove a column from your table.

8. Create your table by clicking Finish. The Select Table

dialog box appears. Your table named Clients is highlighted.
Choose it by clicking Finish.

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 9. The database view appears in a split-window next to the
card view. Use the database toolbar to navigate, add new,
modify or delete records (see as explained later in this
chapter section “The Card Software Database Functions”).

Edit an existing Table

¨ Edit a table
1. After connecting successfully to an internal Card Soft-
ware database the select table dialog box appears. Select
the table you want to change.

108 Card Software User Manual

 2. Click Modify. The Database Table Structure dialog box
appears.

3. Add and Remove Columns as explained in the section

Create a New Table earlier in this chapter.

Card Software User Manual 109

 Remove a Table
¨ Remove a table
1. After connecting successfully to an internal Card Soft-
ware database the select table dialog box appears. Select
the table you want to remove.

2. Select the table you want to remove and click Remove.

The Card Software prompts you with a warning message.
If you really want to remove permanently the table you
selected confirm by clicking Yes.

Connect to an External Database

ODBC Source Selection
Before you can connect to a database you must define a data
source first (as explained earlier in this chapter in section “Data
Source”). When you connect to a database for the first time,
you will find default data sources listed in the Data Source
Selection dialog box. These sources are set for each of the
installed drivers, defining the default driver settings and the
default database directory, which is c:\windows\system\. To
connect to your database you have to setup a new data source
for it first (or edit an existing source). The next sections
explains, driver specific, the ODBC data source setup.

110 Card Software User Manual

 Setup MS Access Data Source
¨ How to setup a MS Access data source:
1. From the database menu click Connect. The ODBC Source
Selection dialog box opens. Click the ODBC Manager
button. The Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator
dialog box opens.

2. Click the Add… button to setup a new data source. The

Create New Data Source dialog box appears. Select
Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) and click Finish.

3. The ODBC Microsoft Access 97 Setup dialog box appears.

Type the name that identifies the data source, such as
“Clients List”.

Card Software User Manual 111

 4. Description field: An optional description of the data in
the data source; for example, “Hire date, salary history,
and current review of all clients.”.
5. Disable the Use current Directory check box. Click the
Select… button and browse to the database you want to
connect.
6. If you need to create a new database, select the Create
button and provide a file name in the appearing new data-
base dialog box and confirm with Ok. This newly created
database doesn’t contain any tables, for information how
to create and edit new tables refer to section “Working
with Tables” earlier in this chapter.
7. For more information on Advanced and Options see
Microsoft documentation.

8. Click OK to confirm all settings and end your ODBC ses-

sion clicking the OK button in the ODBC Data Source
Administrator dialog box. You are back to the ODBC Source
Selection dialog box.

¨ How to Select the MS Access data source:

1. Click the refresh button in the ODBC Source Selection
dialog box. Browse through the available data source list-
ing until you find the name of the data source (for ex-
ample: “Clients List”) you just defined and click the Next
button.

112 Card Software User Manual

 2. The Select table dialog box appears. Select the table you
want to work with and click Finish. The database view
appears in a split-window next to the card view. Use the
database toolbar to navigate, add new, modify or delete
records (see section “The Card Software database Func-
tions” later in this chapter).

Setup MS dBase Data Source

¨ How to setup a MS dBase data source:
1. From the database menu click connect. The ODBC Source
Selection dialog box opens. Click the ODBC Manager
button. The Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator
dialog box opens.

Card Software User Manual 113

 2. Click the Add… button to setup a new data source. The
Create New Data Source dialog box appears. Select
Microsoft dBase Driver (*.dbf) and click Finish.

3. The ODBC Microsoft dBase Setup dialog box appears.

Type the name that identifies the data source, such as
“Suppliers List”.
4. Description field: An optional description of the data in
the data source; for example, “Hire date, salary history,
and current review of all suppliers.”.
5. Select the correct dBase version (dBase III, IV or 5.0).
6. Disable the use current directory check box and click the
Select Directory… button and browse to the database
you want to connect.
7. For more information on Select Indexes… and Options>>
see Microsoft documentation.

114 Card Software User Manual

 8. Click OK to confirm all settings and end your ODBC ses-
sion clicking the OK button in the ODBC Data Source
Administrator dialog box. You are back to the ODBC Source
Selection dialog box.

¨ How to Select the MS DBase data source:

1. Click the Refresh button in the ODBC Source Selection
dialog box. Browse through the available data source list-
ing until you find the name of the data source (for ex-
ample: “Suppliers List”) you just defined and click the
Next button.

2. The Select table dialog box appears. Select the table you
want to work with and click finish. The database view
appears in a split-window next to the card view. Use the
database toolbar to navigate, add new, modify or delete
records (see section “The Card Software Functions” later
in this chapter).

Setup MS Excel Data Source

¨ How to setup a MS Excel data source:
1. From the database menu click connect. The ODBC Source
Selection dialog box opens. Click the ODBC Manager
button. The Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator
dialog box opens.

Card Software User Manual 115

 2. Click the Add… button to setup a new data source. The
Create New Data Source dialog box appears. Select
Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls) and click Finish.

3. The ODBC Microsoft Excel Setup dialog box appears. Type

the name that identifies the data source, such as “Dis-
tributors List”.
4. Description field: An optional description of the data in
the data source; for example, “Hire date, salary history,
and current review of all distributors.”
5. Select the correct Excel version (Excel III, IV or 5.0).
6. Disable the use current directory check box and click the
Select Directory… button and browse to the database
you want to connect.

116 Card Software User Manual

 7. For more information on Options>> see Microsoft docu-
mentation.

8. Click OK to confirm all settings and end your ODBC ses-

sion clicking the OK button in the ODBC Data Source
Administrator dialog box. You are back to the ODBC Source
Selection dialog box.

¨ How to Select the MS Excel data source:

1. Click the refresh button in the ODBC Source Selection
dialog box. Browse through the available data source list-
ing until you find the name of the data source (for ex-
ample: “Distributors List”) you just defined and click the
Next button.

2. The Select table dialog box appears. Select the table you
want to work with and click Finish. The database view

Card Software User Manual 117

 appears in a split-window next to the card view. Use the data-
base toolbar to navigate, add new, modify or delete records
(see section “The Card Software Database Functions” later
in this chapter).
Setup MS FoxPro Data Source
¨ How to setup a MS FoxPro data source:
1. From the database menu click connect. The ODBC Source
Selection dialog box opens. Click the ODBC Manager
button. The Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator
dialog box opens.

2. Click the Add… button to setup a new data source. The

Create New Data Source dialog box appears. Select
Microsoft FoxPro Driver (*.dbf) and click Finish.

118 Card Software User Manual

 3. The ODBC Microsoft FoxPro Setup dialog box appears.
Type the name that identifies the data source, such as
“Employees List”.
4. Description field: An optional description of the data in
the data source; for example, “Hire date, salary history,
and current review of all employees.”
5. Choose the correct version of your FoxPro database
(FoxPro 2.0, 2.5 or 2.6).
6. Disable the Use current Directory check box. Click the
Select… button and browse to the database you want to
connect.
7. For more information on Select Indexes and Options>>
see Microsoft documentation.

8. Click OK to confirm all settings and end your ODBC ses-

sion clicking the OK button in the ODBC Data Source
Administrator dialog box. You are back to the ODBC Source
Selection dialog box.

¨ How to Select the MS FoxPro data source:

1. Click the Refresh button in the ODBC Source Selection
dialog box. Browse through the available data source list-
ing until you find the name of the data source (for ex-
ample: “Employees List”) you just defined and click the
Next button.

Card Software User Manual 119

 2. The Select table dialog box appears. Select the table you
want to work with and click finish. The database view
appears in a split-window next to the card view. Use the
database toolbar to navigate, add new, modify or delete
records (see section “The Card Software Database Func-
tions” later in this chapter).

Setup MS Paradox Data Source

¨ How to setup a MS Paradox data source:
1. From the database menu click Connect. The ODBC Source
Selection dialog box opens. Click the ODBC Manager
button. The Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator
dialog box opens.

120 Card Software User Manual

 2. Click the Add… button to setup a new data source. The
Create New Data Source dialog box appears. Select
Microsoft Paradox Driver (*.db) and click Finish.

3. The ODBC Microsoft Paradox Setup dialog box appears.

Type the name that identifies the data source, such as
“Members List”.
4. Description field: An optional description of the data in
the data source; for example, “Entry date, salary history,
and current review of all members.”
5. Choose the correct version of your Paradox database (Para-
dox 3.x, 4.x or 5.x).
6. Disable the Use current Directory check box. Click the
Select… button and browse to the database you want to
connect.
7. For more information on Options>> see Microsoft docu-
mentation.

Card Software User Manual 121

 8. Click OK to confirm all settings and end your ODBC ses-
sion clicking the OK button in the ODBC Data Source
Administrator dialog box. You are back to the ODBC Source
Selection dialog box.

¨ How to Select the MS Paradox data source:

1. Click the refresh button in the ODBC Source Selection
dialog box. Browse through the available data source list-
ing until you find the name of the data source (for ex-
ample: “Members List”) you just defined and click the
Next button.

2. The Select table dialog box appears. Select the table you
want to work with and click finish. The database view
appears in a split-window next to the card view. Use the
database toolbar to navigate, add new, modify or delete
records (see section “The Card Software Database Func-
tions” later in this chapter).

122 Card Software User Manual

 Setup MS Text Data Source
Text files (*.asc, *.csv, *.tab or *.txt) are ASCII text files with
data sets in individual lines and fields seperated by comma,
tab or custom delimiters. These files can be created by word
processor, database, text editor and other applications.

Before connecting the card layout with a text file you need to
establish a connection between the Card Software and the
text file. This connection is handled by the MS Text Driver (or
any other driver for *.csv and *txt files), which must be
configured in a way that it recognizes the file you want to call.

¨ How to setup a MS Text data source:

1. From the database menu click connect. The ODBC Source
Selection dialog box opens. Click the ODBC Manager
button. The Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator
dialog box opens.

2. Click the Add… button to setup a new data source. The

Create New Data Source dialog box appears. Select
Microsoft Text Driver (*.csv, *.txt) and click Finish.

Card Software User Manual 123

 3. The ODBC Microsoft Text Setup dialog box appears. Type
the name that identifies the data source, such as “Pupils
List”.
4. Description field: An optional description of the data in
the data source; for example, “Entry date, school history,
and current review of all pupils.”.
5. Disable the Use current Directory check box. Click the
Select… button and browse to the file you want to con-
nect.
6. Click the Options>> button to define the text file format.
It lists the filename extensions of the text files on the data
source. To see all files in the directory, select the Default
(*.*) check box. To find only files with certain extension,
clear the Default (*.*) check box and add each extension
you want to see. The extension must use the format *.xxx.
To remove an extension, highlight the extension in the
Extensions list and click the Remove button.

124 Card Software User Manual

 7. Click the Define Text Format... button, which enables
you to specify the schema for individual tables in the data
source directory. In the tables section select the table you
want to access, enable Column Name Header, if the first
line of your text file contains a header and define the cor-
responding delimiter. In the columns section you can edit
the format of each column of the selected table. Set the
character definition to ANSI (Windows) or OEM (DOS).
OEM specifies a non-ANSI character set. Press the Guess
button to verify the column names (F1, F2…etc if you
disable the column name header check box).

Card Software User Manual 125

 8. Click OK to confirm all settings and end your ODBC ses-
sion clicking the OK button in the ODBC Data Source
Administrator dialog box. You are back to the ODBC Source
Selection dialog box.

¨ How to Select the MS Text data source:

1. Click the Refresh button in the ODBC Source Selection
dialog box. Browse through the available data source list-
ing until you find the name of the data source (for ex-
ample: “Pupils List”) you just defined and click the Next
button.

2. The Select table dialog box appears. Select the table you
want to work with and click Finish. The database view
appears in a split-window next to the card view. Use the
database toolbar to navigate, add new, modify or delete
records (see section “The Card Software Database Func-
tions” later in this chapter).
Common Errors:
1. Decimal separator and text file delimiter are matching: The
automatic setting of the decimal separator during Windows
installation, defines a comma (,) as decimal separator for most
of the European countries. As the CSV file delimiter is a comma
(,) as well, the text driver gets confused. Open Regional
Settings from the Windows Control Panel and change the
decimal symbol (to be found in the number menu) to a dot (.).

126 Card Software User Manual

 2. Trying to edit a file from within the Card Software, while file
is open. Returns ‘Failed to make a SQL connection to file.

Setup MS Visual FoxPro Data Source

¨ How to setup a MS Visual FoxPro data source:
1. From the database menu click Connect. The ODBC Source
Selection dialog box opens. Click the ODBC Manager
button. The Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator
dialog box opens.

2. Click the Add… button to setup a new data source. The

Create New Data Source dialog box appears. Select
Microsoft Visual FoxPro Driver and click Finish.

Card Software User Manual 127

 3. The ODBC Microsoft Visual FoxPro Setup dialog box ap-
pears. Type the name that identifies the data source, such
as “Employees List”.
4. Description field: An optional description of the data in
the data source; for example, “Hire date, salary history,
and current review of all employees.”.
5. Choose between Visual FoxPro database (*.dbc) or Free
Table directory.
6. Click the Browse… button and choose the database you
want to connect.
7. For more information on Options>> see Microsoft docu-
mentation.

8. Click OK to confirm all settings and end your ODBC ses-

sion clicking the OK in the ODBC Data Source Adminis-
trator dialog box. You are back to the ODBC Source Selec-
tion dialog box.

¨ How to Select the MS Visual FoxPro data source:

1. Click the Refresh button in the ODBC Source Selection
dialog box. Browse through the available data source list-
ing until you find the name of the data source (for ex-
ample: “Employees List”) you just defined and click the
Next button.

128 Card Software User Manual

 2. The Select table dialog box appears. Select the table you
want to work with and click Finish. The database view
appears in a split-window next to the card view. Use the
database toolbar to navigate, add new, modify or delete
records (see section “The Card Software Database Func-
tions” later in this chapter).

Working with N5 Database Interface

After connecting successfully to a database, the selected table
is displayed in a split window next to the card design area. To
access the record information of a column you have to create
Card Software objects and connect them with the database
fields.

How to link database fields with the card layout:

¨ Linking a Text Object

Note: you can easily create a Text Object linked to the database
by drag and drop the field name from the database area into
the card work area.

1. Open a text object and select ODBC Source as Variable

Source.

Card Software User Manual 129

 2. The Source ODBC Source Selection dialog box appears.
Select the column which contains the records you want to
appear in your text object and click Finish.

3. Edit the font properties you want and confirm clicking

OK.
4. In the card work area resize, if necessary, the selection
rectangle of the text box in a way that makes the largest
record of your column fit inside.

130 Card Software User Manual

 5. Save your card layout. Your card and the database are
connected. Whenever you’ll open your card, the database
automatically will be found and opened as well.

¨ Linking an Image Object

There are two forms image information is stored in a database.

Either the image is part of the database itself, stored in an
image field (ODBC, point to image field), or the complete path
directory of an image field is stored in an text field, like
c:\images\001.bmp (ODBC, point to image file). The Card
Software supports multiple image field and/or image file linking.

Note: you can easily create a Text Object linked to the database
by drag and drop the field name from the database area into
the card work area.

1. Open an image object and choose either ODBC, point to

image field or ODBC, point to image file.

Card Software User Manual 131

 2. Select the column which contains the information of your
image and click Finish.

3. Confirm the Source Image Properties, clicking OK. In the

image Object dialog box, choose the options (rotation,
keep aspect, protected) you want to apply and click OK.
4. In the card work area resize, if necessary, you can resize
the image with the mouse.
5. Save your card layout. Your card and the database are
connected. Whenever you’ll open your card, the database
automatically will be found and opened as well.

¨ Linking a Bar Code Object

1. Open an bar code object and select ODBC Source as

Variable Source.

132 Card Software User Manual

 2. The Source ODBC Source Selection dialog box appears.
Select the column which contains the records you want to
appear in your bar code object and click Finish.

3. Set the Bar Code Object Properties you want to apply, and
confirm clicking OK.
4. In the card work area, if necessary, you can resize the bar
code with the mouse.

Card Software User Manual 133

 5. Save your card layout. Your card and the database are
connected. Whenever you’ll open your card, the database
automatically will be found and opened as well.

¨ Linking a PDF Symbol Object

1. Open a PDF symbol object and select ODBC Source as

Variable Source.

2. The Source ODBC Source Selection dialog box appears.

Select the column which contains the records you want to
appear in your PDF symbol object and click Finish.

134 Card Software User Manual

 3. Set the PDF symbol Object Properties you want to apply,
and confirm clicking OK.
4. Save your card layout. Your card and the database are
connected. Whenever you’ll open your card, the database
automatically will be found and opened as well.

¨ Linking a Magnetic Code Object

1. Open a Magnetic Code object and select for the track(s) (1

to 3) you want to encode ODBC Source as Variable Source.

2. The Source ODBC Source Selection dialog box appears.

Select the column which contains the records you want to
encode in each track and click Finish.

Card Software User Manual 135

 3. Save your card layout. Your card and the database are
connected. Whenever you’ll open your card, the database
automatically will be found and opened as well.

The Card Software Database Functions

Editing a Database
· To add a new record to your database select Add from
the database menu. You also can click the Add Record
button at your database toolbar.

· Edit the record and save it clicking the Save Record

button at your database toolbar.

· To delete a record select Delete from the database menu.

You also can click the Delete Record button at your
database toolbar.

Quick Editing
The End of Fields dialog box is a Card Software concept,
which offers the possibility to customize how to proceed with
an image field and which database functions you want to
perform. The End of Fields dialog box appears after you press
Enter in the last record field and allows you to configure and
decide what you want to do next.

136 Card Software User Manual

 ¨ How to proceed with the Image Field:
If your database has two or more image fields, select the field
you want to configure.

The command Open From File lets you select an image from
a local or network disk.
Choose Acquire From, and select the source you are going
to use.
Paste copies a bitmap from the Windows Clipboard.
Select Freeze if you are using the VFW interface to transform
the analog signal in digital data.
The Operations section allows you to choose the functions
you want to perform:
Save, saves the current record.
Print, prints the current record. Make sure the settings in the
print dialog box are correct.
New Record, display a new blank record with all fields.
Multiple combinations are allowed.

Moving between Records

· To move to the first record, select Move First from the

database menu. You also can click the Move First button
at your database toolbar.

Card Software User Manual 137

 · To move to the last record, select Move Last from the
database menu. You also can click the Move Last button
at your database toolbar.

· To move to the next record, select Move Next from the

database menu. You also can click the Move Next button
at your database toolbar.

· To move to the previous record, select Move Previous

from the database menu. You also can click the Move
Previous button at your database toolbar.

The Find Function

¨ Finding a record
1. From the Database Menu, select Find Record. You also
can click the Find button at your database toolbar. The
Find in Field dialog box appears.

2. Type the characters (normally names or numbers) you are

looking for in the Containing box, select the corresponding
field in the In Field box and click Find Next.

Note: Use the First Match, Previous and Next buttons to the
define the search direction.The First Match button searches
from the beginning of the table and finds the fist record that
match the condition.The Previous button searches from the
current table position to the beginning of the table.The Next
button searches from the current table position to the end of
the table.

138 Card Software User Manual

 Note: If you click the Match Case check box the Card Software
will find only the exact match(es) of what you typed in the
Find What box. The Find Function is case sensitive!

3. If no records match or the end of the database is reached

the Card Software displays the message: “Card Software
has finished searching the table. No more records found”.

The Query Function

¨ Working with Queries (Filters)
1. From the database Menu, select Query. You also can click
the Query button at your database toolbar. The Query
Database dialog box appears.

2. To find, for example, all clients, which start with letter P,

click the … button next to the field which contains your
clients names. Edit the query dialog box applying O in the
Greater than box and Q in the Less than box.

Tip: You can achieve the same result typing P in both, the
Greater Than and Less Than box and enabling the Exact Match
check box.

3. You may set further comparison condition for other fields.

Card Software User Manual 139

 4. If you are familiar with SQL commands you can edit directly
the command string for your query, clicking the SQL
button.
5. Click Submit to start the Query function.
6. If you need to know the number of records found, click
Properties from the database menu and enable the Record
Set Counter check box. The number of records is listed in
the box below.

Note: The Query function is not case sensitive!

7. To access all records again, click the Clear button in the

Query Database dialog box.

Note: if you save a card after applying the Query function, the
queries performed are saved as well.

Database Interface Properties

Connection Time Out: determines the period after which a
connection to a data source is interrupted (e.g.: if server is
down) and control returned to the Card Software.
Query Time Out: determines the period after which a query
to a data source is interrupted (e.g.: if server is down) and
control returned to the Card Software.
Prompt for Connection Information: Normally, communication
between the ODBC driver and a database is not visible for the
user. If the Prompt is enabled, it allows an ODBC driver to
interact with the user (e.g.. asking for login, password or
database directory)
Use ODBC Cursor Library: disable this check box only if
you are working with a powerful database engine like (SQL
Server, Informix, Oracle, etc.). It gives complete control to these
engines overriding ODBC drivers.
Allow data edition: check this box if you want to edit a database
from within the Card Software. Please note, that not all ODBC
drivers permit data edition.
Refresh Delay: determines the time that the Card Software

140 Card Software User Manual

 waits for to refresh the card view, after editing a field in your
database.
Trailing Decimals: allows you to specify the number of
decimal places for numeric floating print data.
Record Set Counter: if enabled the Card Software lists the
number of records of a database (or in a query) found.
Image Transfer Options: Controls image data transfer
between database and the Card Software bi-directionally.
Adapt the buffer size value to the average image size of your
database. To reduce database size you can enable the
Compress Images check box. Images are compressed if greater
than the value determined in the corresponding box. If you
enable the Use Maximum Compression check box, the best
compression to be achieved is applied, but the Card Software
may need more time for this performance. The Card Software
image compression algorithm is a variant of the LZW algorithm.

Define View
The Card Software allows you to change the column sequence
of the displayed database. From the database menu, select
Define View or press the Define View button from the database
toolbar. Click on the field name you want to move and drop it
at the place you want.

Hide/Unhide Fields
Besides moving you can also Hide/Unhide fields.
¨ How to Hide Fields

1. Click the Define View button from the database

toolbar.
2. Right-click on the field name you want to hide and choose
Hide.

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 ¨ How to Unhide Fields

1. Click the Define View button from the database

toolbar.
2. Right-click anywhere on the database area and choose
Unhide.

3. The Unhide dialog box appears, select the field you want
to unhide one by one or click Unhide All to show all the
database fields in the database area.

Auto Counter
This option allows you to define an automatic counter for
your numeric fields.
¨ How to Set an Auto Counter

1. Click the Define View button from the database

toolbar.
2. Right-click the numeric field you want to configure. The
shortcut menu appears. Choose Counter.

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 3. The Auto Counter dialog box appears, check Enable to
activate the counter, set the Next value and the increment
value as you wish.

Note: Auto counter can only be add to numeric fields. You

can define different counter for different fields.

Print Counter
This option allows you to set a specific field (Interger type
only) as a print counter. This means that from the moment you
configured a field as Print Counter it’s data will be replaced by
the number of times the record has been printed.
¨ How to Set a field as a Print Counter
1. Click the Define View button from the database toolbar.
2. Right-click the Integer field you want to configure. The
shortcut menu appears. Choose Print Counter.

Browse View
Click the Browse/Record button to change the database
display from Record View to Browse View. Use this function
to get a list of all available records. To browse quickly to a
certain record, just double click it (you must use the first
column). The record and its fields is displayed in Record View.

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 You can also select several records to send to the printer
when you are in the Browse View. For that do:

1. Click the Browse button and select the records you

want.
2. You can use the CTRL + Mouse Pointer to make a random
selection, or SHIFT + Mouse Pointer to make a sequential
selection. This selection can only be made over the Key
field.
3. Click the Print button and on the Database section check
the Print Selected option. Only the marked records will
be printed.

Datbase Image Properties

To open the database image properties dialog box right-click
the database image field. Image size, resolution and
compression ratio are displayed.

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 The Card Software Database Reports
The Card Software Database Report is an useful tool,
providing you to create, save and print a customizable listing
of your whole database or selections thereof.

Create Database Report

¨ Creating a new database report
1. From the Database menu, select Reports or click the
Report button in the Database Toolbar. The Database
Report dialog box appears. Type the listing title. Select a
field you want in your report from the Database Field box
and click the Move Right button. You also can double-
click the field to move it to the Fields to Print box. To
deselect a field from the Fields to Print box, select it and
click the Move Left button. You also can double-click
the field to move it back to the Database Field box.

Attention: Make sure that the sum of field characters to print

isn’t larger than the paper width, otherwise the print result
will be truncated. If you need you can reduce de display size
for a field, for that just enter a lower value in the Size of the
Database Report dialog box. You can also change the font
size.

Card Software User Manual 145

 2. Save your database report, clicking the Save button. The
Save As dialog box appears. Type a filename and click
OK.
3. Use eventually the Card Software Filter Functions to make
a selection of records.
4. To select the font style and size you want your report
printed with click the Font… button. The Font dialog
box appears. Make your choice and click OK.
5. Optionally you can change your Printer Setup. Click the
Print Setup… button and make your choices (page
layout, default printer, print to file, etc.) and click OK.
6. To print your report click the Print button in the Database
Report dialog box.

Attention: If you click the Close button without saving your

database report, the selection you made will be permanently
lost.

Open a Database Report

¨ Open a database report
1. From the Database menu, select Reports. The Database
Report dialog box appears. Click the Open button. The
Open dialog box appears
2. Make your selection and click OK. The Database Dialog
box appears, containing the data of your saved report.

The Auto Print Function

The Auto Print concept is a powerful additional database/
print function which permits database edition and automatic
print on one or in different workstations. Information about
which cards (records) were already printed is automatically
added to the database, the Card Software keeps track of the
printing process and only newly edited cards (records) will be
printed.

Preparing the Card Software for Auto Print

Prepare a Database for Auto Print
Plan the layout of the database to be used for auto print,

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 adding all fields you need to store the information you require.
Create one extra field (field type must be numeric or char),
which will store the information if cards (records) were printed
or not. This field may not be indexed ‘unique’. Make sure you
choose a database format which comes with an ODBC driver
permitting bi-directional editing (like dBase, Access, etc.). If
you need to use an already existing database, add one filed
which will contain the print information of the cards (records).
If you define an already existing field to contain these
information, all data in this field will be erased. The database
file must be shareable between different users (may not be
exclusive, read only, etc.).

Prepare Workstations
On the first workstation prepare all settings to edit the database
you have prepared in step 1. In the second workstation create
the card layout and link it to the database (as explained earlier
in this chapter). Make sure the Allow data edition check box
in the database interface properties dialog box is enabled.
Make sure the right printer/ribbon settings are defined (see
chapter 22, Appendix A “Printing and Ribbon”). Save the
card document.

Start Auto Print

1. From the database menu select Auto Print…. The Auto Print
Configuration dialog box appears

Card Software User Manual 147

 2. Define the Print Control Field. From the scroll down menu select
the control field you defined before in step 1. If the print control
field is text type, it’s data will be replaced by a “*” (or and if the
field is big enough the data will be replaced by the print date
and time) if the print process was performed correctly, otherwise
by “E”. If the print control field is numeric type, it’s data will be
replaced by “1” if the print process was performed correctly,
otherwise by “9”.
3. Define a Guide field. Choose a field which identifies best each
card (record), like a field which includes a name, id-number or
similar. Besides the print date and time its contents is displayed
in the Auto Print dialog box, helping you to control the print
process.
4. Set the Poll Delay. This value indicates the time (in seconds)
the Card Software will wait before refreshing the database table.
After refreshing the table all cards (records), which were not
printed yet are sent to the printer.
5. Create Icon on Desktop and Start when opened. Pressing the
Create Icon button will create an icon with a shortcut to the
Auto Print card document at your desktop. If the start when
opened check box is enabled, the Auto Print process starts
performing immediately.
6. If you want to apply a filter to the database click the Query
Filter button (see earlier in this chapter).
7. Mark all as printed/not printed: These buttons allow to change
the information of the complete record set to printed/not printed
status.
8. OK/Cancel. The OK button saves the Auto Print settings and
closes the Auto Print Configuration dialog box. Press Cancel
to leave the Auto Print dialog box without saving any changes/
settings.
9. Start Auto Print. The final step. Click this button to perform
Auto Print on workstation 2. The Auto Print dialog box appears

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 10. Stop/Close: Stops the Auto Print function and closes the Auto
Print dialog box
11. Save History. Click this button if you want to save the
information displayed in the Auto Print dialog box as *.txt file.

Card Software User Manual 149

 11. Photo in PDF Symbol

The Card Software provides the possibility to encode the

information of an image or photo in your database into a PDF
symbol. The maximum size of an image, which still can be
encoded, is 80 x 80 pixels. If the height or width of an image is
larger than 80 pixels, its size will be recalculated to this value,
maintaining the image’s proportions.

Photo Encoding
¨ To encode an image into a PDF symbol

1. Open or create the card and database with the image

you want to encode.
2. On the lower toolbar, click the PDF Symbol tool; the
pointer changes to a hand with the PDF icon.
3. Click on the card where you want to place a corner of the
PDF symbol. The PDF Symbol Properties dialog box
appears.

4. Select ODBC Source as Variable Source. The Source

ODBC Properties dialog box appears.

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 5. Select the column, which contains the image you want to
encode.
6. Click OK to close the Source ODBC Properties dialog
box. Edit the PDF Symbol Properties you want and Click
OK. The PDF symbol appears on the card.

Photo Reader
The Photo Reader is a security tool, which you can use in
combination with a PDF card reader to decode the image
information of a PDF symbol.

Setting up the Photo Reader

¨ To set up the Photo Reader
1. Open the Card Software Program Group. Click on the
Read pdf icon.

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 2. The PDF Photo Reader window appears.

3. Click Port Setup…. The Serial Port Settings dialog box

appears.

4. Select the port your PDF card reader uses (normally

COM2). Check the correct baud rate and data format of
your computer system. See your PDF Card Reader manual
for the correct settings. Click OK to confirm your
settings.

Reading a Photo
¨ Using the Photo Reader
1. Start the Photo Reader
2. Read the card with your PDF card reader. The encoded
image appears (black & white) in the PDF Photo Reader
window.

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 3. To proceed click Clear Image and repeat step 2. To end
the PDF Photo Reader session click Exit.

Tip: You can toggle between the Card Software and PDF Photo
Reader pressing Alt + Tab.

Limitations:
The PDF417 symbol used by the Card Software may contain
up to 64K of data. Anyhow, the photo encoding process is
limited to 1,5K of data, which composes a PDF symbol still
fitting onto the card. Therefore the Card Software uses 3
methods of data compression:

· Colored images are converted to grayscale.

· The maximum size of an image, which still can be encoded,
is 80 x 80 pixels. If the height or width of an image is larger
than 80 pixels, its size will be recalculated to this value,
maintaining the image’s proportions.
· The Card Software uses the JPEG logarithm, one of the
most powerful data compression formats, to reduce image
size to make it still encodable.
· Use uniforme, highly contrasted backgrounds when
acquiring an image. Try to reduce the image size to a still
acceptable minimum.

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 12. Image Acquisition

Besides opening images from a file, the Card Software allows

direct image acquisition in three ways: using the TWAIN
interface, the VfW (Video for Windows) interface or the serial
port, combined with a proper application.
The Card Software supports the use of any camcorder and
VCR, with video output as well as digital cameras to acquire
images.

Image Sources
Open from file: Allows to browse to an image file and open it
Open from File at Print Time: Allows to browse to an image file
and open it at print time
Scan: Scans a new image using a defined Twain driver
Scan at Print Time: Scans a new image using a defined Twain
driver at print time
Paste: Pastes an image from the Windows clipboard
Point to Image File: links to an image, which location (path) is
stored in a related database field
Point to Image Field: links to an image, which is stored in a
related database image field
Video for Windows: Acquires an image using the VfW
interface (see later in this chapter).

Image Transfer with Video for Windows (VfW)

(Advanced Feature only)
VfW is the latest standard for image acquisition, an evolution
of the older MCI-concept. Camcorders or VCRs produce an
analog image dataflux, which is transferred as analog signal
from the camera to the capture card and from here to the video
card using the PCI-bus. Your operating system must support
directX (image-information crosses directly to the capture card)
and direct Draw (image information is directly displayed on

154 Card Software User Manual

 screen). The image information is transformed into digital data
at freeze-time (when captured).

Digital cameras store images on a (floppy) disk as digital

information, which can be transferred to the PC using the
serial port and a proper application or the Twain interface.
Some digital cameras allow also the use of a video capture
board (e.g. Canon Ion or Canon Powershot) or the use of a
proper video capture board.

Capturing Images
Using the TWAIN interface
Twain is an industry-standard protocol for exchanging
information between application software (like this Card
Software) and image capture devices such as scanners or
camcorders.

After installing a TWAIN driver, you must define, which

TWAIN driver the Card Software shall use. Simply use the
command Video Sources from the Options menu. To select a
TWAIN driver as default TWAIN source click the
corresponding Setup button. In the Select Source dialog box
choose your Twain driver from the list.

Click the image button from the Drawing toolbar or use the
command Image Object from the Drawing Tools menu. Select
the area, which the image shall occupy later on the card. The
image object dialog box appears. Click the Acquire… button.
A driver specific preview dialog box opens, displaying the
captured area. Movements are displayed depending on the
transfer speed of the capture board. Make your settings and
capture (grab) the desired image. The image tools dialog box
appears. Make your changes as described in chapter 5, section
“Image Tools” .

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 Using the Video for Windows (VfW) interface

The 32 bit Card Software supports now Video for Windows.

VfW is the latest standard for image acquisition, an evolution
of the older MCI-concept. Cheap and powerful video capture
cards are available on the market, primarily designed for
Internet Video Conferences, but perfectly suitable for image
acquisition with the Card Software.
Most of these capture cards are using Brooktree Bt848 chipset,
which tackles the tough challenges of blending and displaying
the complex video, graphics and text data streams embedded
within Intercast video and broadcast transmissions. It
supports image resolutions up to 768 x 576 (full PAL
resolution).
Image transfer occurs as analog signal from the camera to the
capture card and from here to the video card using the PCI-
bus. Your operating system must support directX (image-
information crosses directly to the capture card) and direct
Draw (image information is directly displayed on screen).
Before you can use Video for Windows with the Card Software
you must set the video source. Use the Video Source
command from the Options menu. In the appearing dialog box
click the Setup button for the Video for Windows driver.
Choose your VfW driver. The Source button calls a driver
specific dialog box for the overlay control settings (saturation,
brightness, contrast, etc.). The Format button calls a driver
specific dialog box for the video format settings (image format,
dimensions, etc.).
Choose between Overlay or Preview video mode. Both modes
display in a reserved space the image information, coming
from the camera. Besides this transfer is digital using the PCI-
bus, images don’t occupy a processor power and space on
our hard disk until freeze-time (capturing and transforming
the image into digital). The Overlay video mode displays image
information in real time. The Preview mode is recommendable,
if your capture card or it’s driver causes conflicts in overlay
mode. In Preview mode the Card Software takes control over
image display, but it’s not in real-time.

156 Card Software User Manual

 The Test button calls a dialog box, which displays the captured
images, depending on the settings above. Click the OK button,
to confirm all settings.

Life Video Acquisition

(Advanced Feature)
¨ Life video acquisition on your card work area
1. Use the Image button from the drawing toolbar to open
the image object dialog box.
2. Choose Image Source as variable source and Video in
the source image properties dialog box. If you want to
call automatically the image tools workspace, enable the
corresponding check box.
3. After eventually performing changes with the image tools
click the OK button in the Image Object dialog box.
4. The image appears on your card workspace. Click on
the image to toggle between freeze and unfreeze.

¨ Life video acquisition on your database photo field

1. Click inside the database photo field. A shortcut menu
appears. Select Video. The analog image appears inside
the database photo field.
2. To freeze/unfreeze the image (stop the image movement
and transform it in bitmap) press F8.

Using the serial port

Some models of digital cameras come with a proper software,
which reads the images from the digital camera’s floppy disk
using the serial port. Save the image(s) in any of the file formats
used by the Card Software (*.bmp, *.tif, *.tga, *.pcx, *.jpg).
Use the image objects tool and choose open from file to acquire
the desired image.

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 13. Logins and Passwords

Advanced Feature

The Card Software provides customizable security and access

level. Whenever you start the Card Software the Login Dialog
box appears, if the Disable Logins check box is cleared.

The default login and password is admin. Login means an

access level, password the access authorization.

Administrator Login
¨ Edit Administrator Logins
1. From the File menu, select Logins. The Logins dialog box
appears.

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 2. Clear the Disable Logins check box to activate this
security feature.
3. Select Administrator and click the Edit button. The Edit
User Properties dialog box appears.

4. Type a login of your choice. Proceed equal with your

Card Software password and confirm it. The database
login and password give access authorization to an
external database of yours. Make sure all areas are
selected.

Create User Login

¨ Add User Login
1. From the File menu, select Logins. The Logins dialog box
appears. Click the New button. The New User dialog box
appears.

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 2. Edit user name, login and password, as well as Database
login and password, if necessary.
3. Depending on what kind of job you want your employee
may perform select one or multiple access areas.

Permissions
· No area selected: The following operations are available
for any access area:
- File Menu: open, close cards, exit program.
- View Menu: turn on/off database window, obtain printer
info, zoom in/out, view front/back side.
- Window Menu: cascade, tile, arrange icons.
- Help menu: contents, using help, about the Card
Software.
· Can administer Login Control: permits to edit logins
and passwords.
· Can do Card Design: permits all card editing functions,
including magnetic encoding and chip card setting.
· Can Print Cards: permits print cards.
· Can configure Card and Printer: permits to operate all
print functions.
· Can edit database data: permits to edit all databases
accessible.

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 14. Menu Commands

This section summarizes the commands available in the Card

Software menus. Depending on the Card Software version/
edition some menu items may be not available.

Main Window
The File Menu
New
Creates a new card file.
Open...
Opens an existing card file.
Close
Closes the active card file
Save
Saves the card to a disk file.
Save As...
Saves the card, with a name you specify, to a disk file.
Card Setup...
Selects portrait or landscape orientation.
Card Print...
Displays the Card Print dialog box to print and/or encode a
magnetic stripe/chip.
[Recently used File List]
Provides a means to quickly open a card you recently worked
with. The names of up to four recently used files will be
displayed. Click on the desired file name and the card will be
opened and displayed.
Logins (Advanced Feature)
Configuration of user login, password and area access.

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 Batch Print File Management (Advanced Feature)
Batch print file configuration, preview and printing.
Exit
Exits the Card Software program.

The Edit Menu

Undo
Reverses the last command or action up to 3 levels.
Redo
Reverses the action of the Undo command up to 3 levels.
Immediately after you undo an action the Redo command turns
available, allowing you to restore what you reversed.
Cut
Deletes the selected object and places it on the Clipboard so
you can paste it elsewhere.
Copy
Makes a copy of the selected object and places it on the
Clipboard.
Paste
Pastes the object from the Clipboard onto the card work area.
A copy of the pasted object remains on the Clipboard until it
is replaced by another Cut or Copy command.
Duplicate
Makes a copy of an object and places it slightly offset and
overlapping from the original. Unlike the Copy command,
Duplicate doesn’t place a copy of the object on the clipboard.
Select All
Selects all the objects on the card.
Adjust Bounding
Fits the bounding to the object if applicable.
Fit to Card
Fits the selected object to the card.

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 Send To Front
Moves the selected object to the front of a stack of other
objects.
Send To Back
Moves the selected object to the back of a stack of other
objects.
Align
Allows you to align multiple selections of objects.
Use Private Clipboard
Selects the Card Software private clipboard. The private
clipboard allows the transfer of all Card Software objects
maintaining their properties.
Use Windows Clipboard
Selects the standard Windows clipboard. The Windows
clipboard transfers Card Software objects as bitmaps.

The View Menu

Card Front
Displays the front side of the active card.
Card Back
Displays the back side of the active card.
Zoom In
Magnifies the size of the card depicted on the screen.
Zoom Out
Reduces the size of the card depicted on the screen.
Fit Workspace
Displays the entire card document page.
Preview Mode
Displays the card exactly as will be printed. The card appear
without grids or guidelines (in despite of menu settings) and
the Objects linked to Data Sources are drawn without the
bounding box that denotes that case.
Object ToolTips
Displays a brief description of the objects names and size.

Card Software User Manual 163

 Rulers
Let you show or hide the rulers.
Guidelines
Toggles the display of the guidelines that mark the edges of
the printable area of the card.
Grid
Toggles the display of the layout grid.
Cross Hair
Let you show or hide the cross hair.
Toolbars…
Let you show or hide any of the individual Card Software
Toolbars.
Card Properties...
Displays the card document information of the active card.

The Draw Menu

Selector
Activates the Selector tool, used to select objects.
Line Object
Activates the Line tool for drawing horizontal or vertical lines.
Rectangle Object
Activates the Rectangle tool for drawing rectangles of variable
size.
Filled Rectangle Object
Activates the Filled Rectangle tool for drawing filled rectangles
of variable size.
Text Object
Activates the Text tool for editing text.
Image Object
Activates the Image tool for editing images.

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 Bar Code Object
Activates the Bar Code tool for editing bar code symbols.
PDF Symbol Object
Activates the PDF Symbol tool for editing PDF symbols.
Magnetic Code Object
Activates the Magnetic Code tool for encoding magnetic
stripe cards.
Smart Card Options
Activates the Chip Card Options for setting the parameters of
a chip card processing application
Overlay Varnish...
Defines the size, shape and placement of the overlay coating.
Keep Placing Objects
Keeps the current drawing tool selected.

The Options Menu

Snap to Grid
Toggles the snap to grid option.
Activate Protected Objects
Toggles the read only property of an object.
Video Sources (Advanced Feature)
Selects the default Twain and Video for Windows source
Metrics
Configure the measurements unit. You can choose between
Inches and Millimetres.
Rulers Settings…
Configure the ruler settings.
Grid Settings...
Selects the horizontal and vertical spacing of the layout grid
and toggles the snap-to the grid option.
Front & Back
Configure the front and back layer switching options.

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 Card Color…
Allows you to change the color of the card.
Workspace Color…
Allows you to change the workspace color.
Default Line Width...
Changes the default line width for all drawn objects that contain
lines.
Default Text Font...
Changes the default font for all text objects.
Monochrome Conversion
Allows you to choose between four different algorithms to
make the Monochrome Conversion: Threshold, Ordered,
Floyd-Steinberg and Burkes. Each algorithm gives slightly
different results. You select an algorithm by clicking on it. If
you prefer you can Disable the Monochrome Conversion by
choosing the Disable option.

The Database Menu

(Advanced Feature)
Connect
Connects to a database.
Disconnect
Disconnects from the database.
Browse View
Toggles between the Browse/Record View.
First
Moves to the first record.
Previous
Moves to the previous record.
Next
Moves to the next record.

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 Last
Moves to the last record.
Find …
Finds data in the current table.
Query …
Sets a search criteria.
Add
Adds a new record.
Delete
Deletes the current record.
Save
Saves the current record.
Reports
Creates and prints database reports.
Properties
Allows to configure the database interface properties.
Define View
Allows to define the database view.
Auto Print …
Sets and activates the auto print function.

The Window Menu

Cascade
Arranges open card windows so that they overlap and the
title bar of each window is displayed.
Tile
Arranges open card windows horizontally with no over-
lapping.
Arrange Icons
Arranges icons.

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 [Card window list]
Provides a means to quickly display any open card and
database or batch print (Advanced Feature) window. The
names of all open windows will be displayed. Click on the
desired file name to activate the window.

The Help Menu

Contents
Displays the Card Software Help contents.
Using Help
Displays information about using the Card Software help
system.
About Card Software...
Displays the Card Software version serial number and
copyright information .

Batch Print File Manager Window

(Advanced Feature)
The File Menu
Close
Closes the Batch Print File Manager window.

The View Menu

Back
Switchs between front and back view.
The Log Menu
First
Goes to the first card document.
Previous
Goes to the previous card document.
Next
Goes to the next card document.
Last
Goes to the last card document.

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 15. Toolbars and Tools

This section provides a summary of the Card Software tools.

The Card Software Tools

“Tools” is the term used to describe commands that are
available with a single mouse click on a command button.
The command buttons for all the Card Software tools are
arranged in various “Toolbars”. Tooltips which explain the
function of each button are displayed if you move the mouse
pointer slowly over the buttons.

The Standard Toolbar

The Standard Toolbar contains command buttons for
accessing the commands in the File menu, the Edit menu and
Help menu.

The tools of the Standard Toolbar are:

New - Creates a new card file.

Open - Opens an existing card file.

Save - Saves the card to a disk file.

Print - Displays the Card Print dialog box to print and/or

encode the active card.

Cut -Deletes the selected object and places it on the

Clipboard so you can paste it elsewhere.

Paste - Pastes the object from the Clipboard onto the

card. A copy of the pasted object remains on the clipboard
until it is replaced by another cut or copy command.

Card Software User Manual 169

 Copy - Makes a copy of the selected object and places it
on the Clipboard.

Duplicate - Makes a copy of an object and places it

slightly overlapping the original. Unlike the Copy command,
Duplicate doesn’t place a copy of the object on the Clipboard.
Undo - Reverses the last action.

Redo - Redoes the last action that was undone.

Send to Front - Moves the selected object to the front of
a stack of objects.

Send to Back - Moves the selected object to the back of

a stack of objects.

Card Front Side - Sets the view to the front side of the
card.

Card Back Side - Sets the view to the back side of the
card.

About - Displays the Card Software version, serial number

and copyright information.

Topical Help - Displays help information about a

command or window object.

The Drawing Toolbar

The Drawing Toolbar contains command buttons for
accessing the commands in the Drawing Tools menu.

The tools on the Drawing Toolbar are:

Selector - Used to select an object.

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 Line - Draws horizontal or vertical lines.

Rectangle - Draws a rectangle of variable size.

Filled Rectangle - Draws a filled rectangle of variable

size.

Text - Defines a text field.

Image - Draws a frame to contain an image.

Bar code - Draws a bar code symbol.

Bar code PDF - Draws a bar code PDF symbol.

Magnetic Encoder - Encodes magnetic stripe cards with

fixed or variable data.

Chip Card Encoder - Sets parameters for an external chip

processing application.

Overlay Clipping - Defines the size, shape and placement

of the overlay coating.

The Database Toolbar

(Advanced Toolbar)
The Database Toolbar contains command buttons for
accessing the commands in the Database menu.

The tools on the Database Toolbar are:

Browse View - Toggles between Browse and Record

View.

Connect - Connects to a database.

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 Disconnect - Disconnects from the database.

First - Moves to the first record.

Previous - Moves to the previous record.

Next - Moves to the next record.

Last - Moves to the last record.

Find …- Finds data in the current table.

Query … - Sets a search criteria.

Add - Adds a new record.

Delete - Deletes the current record.

Save - Saves the current Record.

Reports - Creates and prints database reports.

Properties - Allows to configure the database interface

properties.

Define View - Allows to define the database view.

The Batch Print Toolbar

The Batch Print Toolbar contains command buttons for
accessing the commands in the View and Log menus.

The tools on the Batch Print Toolbar are:

To Print - Sets the Status To Print to a card document.

Error - Sets the Status Error to a card document
Printed - Sets the Status Printed to a card document

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 Held - Sets the Status Held to a card document
Front/Back View - Toggles between both sides of the
card.

Print - Prints cards according to the status checked on

the status to print dialog box.

First - Moves to the first card document.

Previous - Moves to the previous card document.
Next - Move to the next card document.
Last - Move to the last record.
Close - Closes the current Batch File

Card Software User Manual 173

 16. Keyboard Shortcuts

This section lists the keyboard shortcuts available for many

of the Card Software commands.

Shortcut Keys
Use the following key combinations to execute the command
listed next to it. When the keys are connected by a +, it means
to press both keys at the same time.

General
Ctrl+F4 - Close. Closes the active Card/Batch Print Window.
Ctrl+F6 - Next. Moves to the next Card/Batch Print Window.
Del - Delete. Deletes the selected object completely without
putting a copy on the Clipboard.

Card Work Area

Ctrl+N - New. Creates a New card file.
Ctrl+O - Open. Opens an existing card file.
Ctrl+S - Save. Saves the card to a disk file.
Ctrl+P - Print. Displays the card Print dialog box to print and/
or encode a magnetic strip/chip card.
Ctrl+Z - Undo. Reverses the last action.
Ctrl+Y - Redoes the last action that was undone.
Ctrl+X - Cut. Deletes the selected object and places it
on the Clipboard so you can paste it elsewhere.
Ctrl+C - Copy. Makes a copy to the selected object and places
it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+V - Paste. Pastes the object from the Clipboard onto the
card. A copy of the pasted object remains on the Clipboard
until it is replaced by another Cut or Copy command.
Ctrl+D - Duplicate. Makes a copy of a n object placing it
slightly overlapping the original. Unlike the Copy command,
Duplicate doesn’t place a copy of the object on the Clipboard.

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 Ctrl+A - Select All. Selects all the objects on the card.
Ctrl+Shift+F - Fit to card. Expands the selected image to fill
the full size of the card.
Ctrl+F - Send to Front. Moves the selected object to the front
of a stack of objects.
Ctrl+B - Send to Back. Moves the selected object to the back
of a stack of objects.
Ctrl+1 - Front side. Displays the front side of the active card.
Ctrl+2 - Back side. Displays the back side of the active card.
+ - Zoom in. Magnifies the size of the card depicted on the
screen.
– - Zoom out. Reduces the size of the card depicted on the
screen.
Ctrl+L - Guidelines. Toggles the display of the guidelines
that mark the edges of the printable area of the card.
Ctrl+G - Show grid. Toggles the display of the layout grid.
Ctrl+K - Keep Placing Objects. Keeps the current drawing
tool.
Ctrl+H - Snap to Grid. Toggles the Snap to Grid option.

Database Window
(Advanced Feature)
To enable these shortcuts you must focus to the database
view, simply clicking into one of the database fields.

F6 - Open from File. Opens an image file from disk

F5 - Paste. Pastes an image from the clipboard to the database
image field.
F8 - Freeze. Freezes an image

Card Software User Manual 175

 17. About Bar Codes

This section provides information on bar codes and their use

with the Card Software.

Bar Codes
Introduction
A bar code is a machine-readable symbol representing human-
readable information.
The information represented can be alpha or numeric only,
limited alphanumeric, or the full character set. The human-
readable alpha or numeric characters are represented in the
bar code symbol by a series of varying width vertical lines
(called bars) and spaces. Bars and spaces together are elements.
An element can be a wide black bar or white space, or a narrow
black bar or white space. Each element is assigned a binary
value of either “1” or “0”. To represent the necessary character
in the bar code, the elements must follow a precise sequential
order as part of a group.

Scanning is the process of acquiring or “reading” the

information encoded in a bar code symbol. To read the
information contained in a bar code symbol, a scanning device
such as a light pen is moved across the symbol from one side
to the other. As the scanning device is moved across the
symbol, the width pattern of the bars and spaces is translated
back into the original information. Bar code is an optical
technique because information is scanned using light that
reflects off dark or light regions of the symbol.

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 Bar Code Standards
The number of elements and their order is defined by the bar
code standard used.
There are many bar code standards to choose from and each
standard was developed for the specific data requirements of
various industries. Each standard dictates the maximum
number of characters a symbol can represent, as well as what
kind of data is represented.
Consequently, the number of characters in the information
field and the type of information represented will play a role in
which bar code standard can be used.
Other considerations include what standard(s) trading
partners use, the scanning environment (type of scanner,
printable area, symbol durability, etc.) and the symbol printing
requirements.

Symbologies
Symbology is the term used to describe the rules specifying
the way data is encoded into the elements (bar and space
widths) that comprise a bar code standard. Various
characteristics further describe the symbology. Some of these
characteristics are described below.
· The Character Set is the range of data characters that
can be encoded into a given symbology. Numeric
symbologies only encode numbers; others can encode
numbers and letters and are called alphanumeric.
· The Symbology Type can be either discrete or continuous.
In a discrete type, each character stands alone and can
be decoded separately from adjacent characters. A
continuous type has no inter-character gaps; the end of
one character is the start of the next. This results in a
higher density symbology than the discrete type, allowing
more information to be encoded in less space, resulting
in a smaller bar code symbol.

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 · The Number of Element Widths is either two (wide and
narrow) or multiple. Multiple element width symbology
is usually the higher density continuous type.
· The symbology Length can be fixed or variable.
· Density describes the amount of data that can be encoded
in a given unit of length.
· A symbology is said to be Self Checking if a single
printing defect will not cause a character to be transposed
into another character in the same symbology.
· A Start Code is a particular pattern of lines and spaces
indicating the beginning of the bar code symbol. A Stop
Code indicates the end of the symbol. The start and stop
codes are sometimes also used to indicate the scanning
direction. In the most common symbology, Code 39, the
start and stop codes are asterisks.
· The Check Character is used by the scanner to validate
that the correct data has been decoded. It is placed in a
predetermined position and its value is based on a
mathematical relationship of the other characters in the
symbol. A Check Digit is a check character that can
assume only numeric values.
· A Bi-directional symbology can be successfully scanned
in either direction. Almost all symbologies in use today
are bi-directional.

Card Software Symbologies

The symbologies listed below can be printed with the Card
Software.

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 Summary of Supported Bar Codes
Elements per Characters
Bar Code Type Input Length Encodes
Character per Inch

Codabar 2 to 50 D 11 9
Code 128 2 to 50 U-L-D-C 11 9
Code 128 A 2 to 50 U-D-C 11 9
Code 128 B 2 to 50 U-L-D 11 9
Code 128 C 2 to 50 D 5.5 18
Code 39 (3 of 9) 2 to 50 U-D 15 6.7
Code 93 2 to 50 U-D 9 11
EAN/JAN-13 12, 14 or 17 D 7 14
EAN/JAN-8 7, 9 or 12 D 7 14
Extended 39 2 to 50 U-L-D-C 30 3.3
Extended 93 2 to 50 U-L-D-C 18 5.6
HIBC (3 of 9) 2 to 50 U-D 15 6.7
Interleaved 2 of 5 2 to 50 D 9 11
MSI Plessey 2 to 50 D 12 8.3
UCC/EAN-128 19 D 5.5 18
UPC-A 11,13 or 16 D 7 14
UPC-E (11 digit) 11, 13 or 16 D 4 25
UPC-E0 (6 digit) 6, 8 or 11 D 4 25
UPC-E1 (6 digit) 6, 8 or 11 D 4 25
Zip+4 POSTNET 5, 9 or 11 D 5 4.2

U- Upper Case, L - Lower Case, D - Digits, C - Control Characters

Codabar
Codabar is a numeric, variable length, discrete, self-checking,
two-element width symbology used mostly by libraries,
package tracking systems, and blood banks. Developed in
1972, it was one of the original bar code symbologies. The
numbers 0 through 9 and the following six characters comprise
its character set: $ : / . + -
Code 128
Code 128 is a variable length, alphanumeric, continuous,
multiple-element width, high-density symbology used in the
shipping industry and on labels. The Code 128 character set

Card Software User Manual 179

 comprises 106 different printed characters, and will use the
least amount of space for data of six characters or more of any
one-dimensional symbology. Each printed character can have
one of three different meanings, depending on which of three
different character sets (A, B or C) is employed. Three different
start characters tell the scanner which of the character sets is
initially being used, and three shift codes permit changing
character sets inside a symbol. Every Code 128 symbol ends
with a check character.

Code Subset A: includes all of the standard uppercase

alphanumeric keyboard characters plus the control and special
characters.
Code Subset B: includes all of the standard uppercase
alphanumeric keyboard characters plus lowercase alphabetic
and the special characters.
Code Subset C: includes the set of 100 digits pairs from 00 to
99 inclusive, as well as special characters. This enables double-
density numeric digits (two digits per bar-coded character) to
be encoded.

Code 39
Code 39 (also called 3 of 9) is a variable length, discrete, self-
checking, two-element width symbology that was the first
alphanumeric symbology to be developed. Code 39 is currently
the most widely used bar code for industrial and commercial
(non-retail) purposes in the world. Every Code 39 character
has five bars and four spaces, making a total of nine elements.
Three of the elements are wide, hence the name 3 of 9. While
being very accurate, Code 39 is not a very dense bar code
symbology, taking many bars and spaces to represent a single
character. The Code 39 character set consists of the numbers
0 through 9, the upper-case alphabet, and the following
characters: - . $ / + % and Space. Asterisks are reserved as
the start and stop characters.

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 Code 93
Code 93 is a variable length, alphanumeric, continuous, four-
element width symbology specifically designed to
complement Code 39. The two symbologies can be freely mixed
in an environment with no software change required. Because
of its small size, it is used on electronic components, but it is
a not very popular bar code symbology.
Code 93 encodes 43 data characters consisting of: 0-9, A-Z, 6
symbols and space, four control characters and a unique start/
stop character. The entire ASCII character set can be encoded
using the expanded version similar to Code 39. Code 93 can
encode the same characters as Code 39, but has the advantage
of being smaller.
EAN//JAN-13
EAN-13 is one of two versions of the European Article
Numbering system (EAN) and is a superset of UPC. EAN-13
has the same number of bar as UPC version A, but encodes
13th digit. The 12th and 13th define the country code. The
codes 00-04 and 06-09 are assigned to the United States.
The EAN-13 code numbers are assigned by numerous
international agencies.
EAN-13 code support the numeric characters:
0123456789
EAN-13 bar code height, by specification, is six (6) individual
EAN-13 bar code characters high.
EAN//JAN-8
European Article Numbering, now also called IAN
(International Article Numbering), is the international standard
bar code for retail food packages corresponding to the
Universal Product Code (UPC) in the United States. The
symbology is used to encode a seven-digit EAN-8 number. A
eight digit is a check digit that is automatically generated by
the printer.
The EAN code number and check digit are assigned by
numerous international agencies.

Card Software User Manual 181

 EAN-8 code support the numeric characters:
0123456789
EAN-8 bar code height, by specification, is six (6) individual
EAN-8 bar code characters high.

Extended Code 39
The Extended Code 39 bar code supports every character in
the ASCII set, except for ASCII 0 and those above ASCII 127.
This enables full support of upper case and lower case letters,
as well as control codes.

Extended Code 93
The Extended Code 93 bar code uses Code 93 to encode the
entire 128 ASCII characters.

HIBC (3 of 9)
The Health Industry Bar Code (HIBC) is a modified Code 39
bar code. This bar code uses all of the characters of Code 39.
The application automatically inserts the required ‘+’ character
after the start character and before the stop character.

Interleave 2 of 5
The name Interleaved 2 of 5 is derived from the method used
to encode two characters. In the symbol, two characters are
paired, using bars to represent the first and the interleaved
spaces to represent the second character. Each character has
two sets, one bars and one spaces. Each consisting of two
wide elements and three narrow elements. Bars and spaces
are wide or narrow and the wide bars are set by the ratio.
Interleaved Two of Five code support the numeric characters:
0123456789
It will be automatically added a leading zero (0) to the odd
number of bar code data characters.
The supported ratio of narrow bar to wide bar widths are:
2:1, 2:5 (2.5:1), and 3:1.
The minimum recommended height of a Code 2/5 bar code is
0.25 inches (6.35 mm) or 75 dots.

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 MSI Plessey
MSI is a numeric, variable-length (up to 15 digits), continuous,
low-density, symbology developed in the early 1970s for
(mainly) retail shelf marking and inventory control.
Each four-bit character is 12 units wide, with each zero bit
being a one-unit bar followed by a two-unit space, and each
one bit being a two-unit bar followed by a one-unit space.
The complete symbol includes a start pattern, data characters,
one or two check digits, and a stop pattern. Though MSI is a
variable-length symbology, it is usually used in a fixed-length
format since it is not self-checking. The character set comprises
the ten digits plus six additional characters.

UCC/EAN-128
UCC-128 is the name given by the Uniform Code Council to a
specially defined subset of Code 128 used most often for
shipping containers.

UPC-A
UPC-A (Universal Product Code) is a numeric, fixed-length
(12 digits), continuous, four-element width symbology and
encoding system, used since 1973 almost exclusively by the
retail industry. This makes UPC the most widely used bar
code in North America.
It was designed to uniquely identify a product and its
manufacturer. In the U.S., manufacturers numbers are assigned
by the Uniform Code Council in Dayton, Ohio.
It is important to differentiate between the UPC coding scheme
and the UPC symbology. The actual UPC code is a 10-digit
code: the first five digits represent the manufacturer, and the
next five digits contain a unique product number. This 10-
digit code is preceded by a “number system” digit and
followed by a check digit, based on the preceding 11 digits
and used for error detection.

Card Software User Manual 183

 UPC-E
UPC-E is also a numeric, fixed-length symbology, but is limited
to six digits versus the 10 digits of UPC-A. It is used where
space is at a premium, such as a small product label.
The application supports three forms of UPC-E. You can select
UPC-E System 0 to enter six numbers an let the application
give you a bar code with those same digits for system number
0. Choosing UPC-E System 1 gives you the same six numbers
for system number 1. If you chose e UPC-E11, you are required
to perform a zero-suppression check.

Zip+4 POSTNET
The Zip+4 Postal Code (POSTNET Bar Code) is a bar code
that is placed on envelopes or postcards to be mailed. It is
used by the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The POSTNET bar code is made up of evenly-spaced tall and
short bars. There 5, 9 or 11 digits plus a correction digit encoded
into every POSTNET.

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 18. About PDF Symbols
About Two-dimensional Bar Codes
The typical bar codes we have been discussing in Chapter 17,
“About Bar codes” are one-dimensional. Since they have
height and width, you may wonder why they are called one-
dimensional. It’s because when they are read, it is only the
width of the bars and spaces that is taken into account. The
height of the bars is only to give the symbol some built-in
redundancy. Typical bar code symbols, therefore, are only
read in one dimension. Another important aspect of one-
dimensional bar code symbols is that they seldom represent
more than a dozen characters. Therefore, the bar code usually
does not contain any data, per se. Rather, the bar code most
often represents the key to a record in a database, where the
related information is stored.
Two-dimensional (2D) bar code symbols surpass these two
preclusions. Data is encoded in both the height and width of
the symbol, and the amount of data that can be contained in a
single symbol is significantly greater than that stored in a
one-dimensional symbol. In fact, over a thousand
alphanumeric characters can be placed in a single symbol the
size of a large postage stamp! Obviously, the main advantage
of using 2D bar codes is that potentially a large amount of
easily and accurately read data can accompany the item to
which it is attached. There are new applications being created
for 2D bar code technology every day.
The reading (scanning) of 2D codes is accomplished using
different scanners than those made to scan 1D symbols. Two
strategies are currently used. The first and most common,
uses a moving laser beam scanner that not only sweeps back
and forth across the symbol, but also up and down in what is
termed a “raster” pattern. Alternately, CCD (charge-coupled
device) scanners are used. CCD scanners use a two-
dimensional array of photo-sensors to scan the image in its
entirety.
One of the beneficial aspects of two-dimensional symbols is

Card Software User Manual 185

 their potential durability. To sabotage the readability of a 1D
symbol, one only has to add another bar to the beginning or
end of the symbol or draw a line through the symbol, parallel
to the stripes.
This throws off the checks and balances, built into the
decoding algorithms of a 1D decoder and makes the symbol
unreadable. By comparison, many degrees of redundancy can
be built into a 2D symbol. While it makes the symbol somewhat
larger, the remaining symbol is remarkably secure.
There are a number of two-dimensional symbologies in
growing use today. The 2D bar code supported by the Card
Software is PDF417.

PDF417
PDF417 is a multi-row, two-dimensional, high-capacity, high-
density bar code developed by Symbol Technologies, Inc.
and announced in 1990. It essentially consists of a stacked
set of smaller bar codes. The symbology is capable of
encoding the entire (255 character) ASCII set. PDF stands for
“Portable Data File” because it can encode as many as 2725
data characters in a single bar code comprising 17 modules,
each containing 4 bars and spaces (thus the number “417”).
Each symbol has a start and stop bar group that extends the
height of the symbol.

The complete specification for PDF417 provides many

encoding options including data compression options, error
detection and correction options, and variable size and aspect
ratio symbols. The low level structure of a PDF417 symbol
consists of an array of code words (small bar and space
patterns) that are grouped together and stacked on top of
each other to produce the complete printed symbol. An

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 individual code word consists of a bar and space pattern, 17
modules wide. The user may specify the module width, the
module height, and the overall aspect ratio (overall height to
width ratio) for the complete symbol. A complete PDF417
symbol consists of at least 3 rows of up to 30 code words and
may contain up to 90 code word rows per symbol with a
maximum of 928 code words per symbol.
The code words in a PDF417 symbol are generated using one
of three data compression modes currently defined in the
symbology specifications. This allows more than one character
to be encoded into a single data code word. Because different
data compression algorithms may be used, it is possible for
different printed symbols to be created from the same input
data.
The symbology also allows for varying degrees of data
security or error correction and detection. Nine different
security levels are available with each higher level adding
additional overhead to the printed symbol. Using a higher
level of security will give you a better chance to decode
information in a damaged bar code. The error-correction
capability uses built-in error detection code words, to
reconstruct partially destroyed bar codes. It works by checking
the value of columns and rows, and then calculating and
rebuilding the data missing from any damaged cells.

Card Software User Manual 187

 19. The Twain Interface

This section explains the Twain interface.

Overview of Twain
Twain is an industry-standard protocol for ex-changing
information between application software (like this Card
Software) and image capture devices such as scanners or
video cameras.
It was developed by a coalition of imaging hardware and
software manufacturers, and eliminates the need to close the
application software in order to scan an image.

Goals of Twain
The primary purpose of Twain is to solve the need for
consistent, easy integration of sophisticated input devices
and the information they generate for use in any Twain-
compliant software.

The Twain Process

The Old Way
In the past, the process for scanning images into an application
was to:
1. Create a document in an application.
2. Close the application.
3. Open the scanning software.
4. Scan the image.
5. Save the image to a file.
6. Close the scanning software.
7. Open the document application again.
8. Find the scanned image file.
9. Import the image file.
10. Place and size the image in the document.

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 The Twain Way
With Twain hardware and software the process is to:
1. Create a document in an application.
2. Select Acquire from the document application’s File menu.
3. Click final scan from the Twain source.
4. Place and size the image. Obviously, the process of
acquiring images has been greatly simplified.

History of the Twain Consortium

In early 1990, a substantial number of industry representatives
joined the Macintosh Scanner Roundtable, which was formed
by Dave Nelson of Nuvo Labs. This group broadened industry
awareness of the need for an open interface, and defined
technical issues for the integration of raster (bitmap) devices
and applications.
While participation was active, it was difficult to resolve issues
and progress was slow. At one of the Roundtable’s last
meetings in 1990, it was suggested that a small group of
industry leaders form a consortium and create a specification
for review, revision, and ultimate adoption by the imaging
industry.
The “Twain” consortium was formed soon after that from
representatives of Aldus, Caere, Eastman, Kodak, Hewlett-
Packard and Logitech. The goals of this smaller workgroup
were to resolve technical and marketing issues of the open
interface as quickly as possible, and then to circulate the
specification among the developer community for review and
feedback.
The group was designed to be as small as possible (so the
specification could be written quickly), while maintaining
representation from a wide spectrum of application developers
(desktop communications and OCR) and hardware vendors
(hand-held scanners, desktop scanners, and high-end color
scanners).
Working group members represented diversity in the industry,
and brought in-depth imaging experience to both the hardware
and software development and marketing fields.

Card Software User Manual 189

 A key requirement of participation was that companies in the
working group have been willing to represent an interest,
passing the elementary interest of each company. The primary
goal of this effort was to raise the awareness of a new end-
user base through an easy-to-use image acquisition
functionality integrated directly into the user’s application
and work flow.
The effort was successful and resulted in the Twain interface
specification.

190 Card Software User Manual

 20. ODBC Advanced Notions

This section explains the ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)

architecture.

ODBC Components
The ODBC architecture has four components:
Application: Performs processing and calls ODBC functions
to submit SQL (Simply Query Language) statements and
retrieve results.
Driver Manager: Loads drivers on behalf of an application.
Driver: Processes ODBC function calls, submits SQL requests
to a specific data source, and returns results to the application.
If necessary, the driver modifies an application’s request so
that the request conforms to syntax supported by the
associated DBMS (Database Management System).
Data Source: Is the data the user wants to access and its
associated operating system, DBMS and network platform (if
any) used to access the DBMS.

Application
An Application using ODBC performs the following tasks:
1. Requests a connection, or session, with a data source
2. Sends SQL requests to the data source
3. Defines storage areas and data formats for the results of
SQL requests
4. Requests results
5. Processes errors
6. Reports results back to a user, if necessary
7. Requests commit or rollback operations for transaction
control
8. Terminates the connection to the data source

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 Driver Manager
The Driver Manager, is a dynamically linked library (DLL)
with an import library. The primary purpose of the Driver
Manager is to load drivers. The Driver Manager also performs
the following:

1. Uses the ODBC.INI file to map a data source name to a

specific driver dynamically-linked (DLL)
2. Processes several ODBC initialization calls
3. Provides entry points to ODBC functions for each driver
4. Provides parameter validation and sequence validation
for ODBC calls

Driver
A driver is a DLL that implements ODBC function calls and
interacts with a data source (a data source includes the data a
user wants to access and the information needed to get to
that data).
The Driver Manager loads a driver when the application calls
it.
A driver performs the following tasks in response to ODBC
function calls from an application:

· Establishes a connection to a data source

· Submits requests to the data source
· Translates data to or from other formats, if requested by
the application
· Returns results to the application
· Formats errors into standard error codes and returns them
to the application
· Declares and manipulates cursors if necessary. (This
operation is invisible to the application unless there is a
request for access to a cursor name)
· Initiates transactions if the data source requires explicit
transaction initiation. (This operation is invisible to the
application)

192 Card Software User Manual

 Data Source
Database Management Systems (DBMS) refer to the general
features and functionality provided by an SQL database
management system.
A Data Source is a specific instance, a combination of a DBMS
product and any remote operating system and network
necessary to access it.

Card Software User Manual 193

 21. Printing

This section explains how to setup your printer, the setup for
ribbon and the procedure to print your cards. For specific
information about your printer, see the printer user manual.

Printing Process
Printer Setup
Before you use a specific printer for the first time you must tell
the program which printer port to use, the ribbon type and
other specific options. In most cases the default configuration
makes this step obsolete.
Printing Cards
Printing cards with the Card Software is easy. It’s the final
step after the card design process.

¨ To print cards
1. From the File menu, choose Card Print; the Card Print
dialog box appears.

194 Card Software User Manual

 2. Select the Destination corresponding to the installed card
printer. Use the properties button to change the selected
printer configuration. Destination may be a specific printers
(see further in this chapter section Specific Printers) or
any printer through Windows driver (see further in this
chapter section Print with Windows Driver).
3. In the Operation section, select the operation(s) to perform
when printing.
· Print will print a card containing all the objects
you placed on the card.
· Magnetic Encode will write data to the magnetic
stripe on the card (see Appendix C - “Magnetic
Encoding”).
· Smart Card will call an external chip card
processing application (see Chapter 9 - “Chip
Card”).
· Hologram will print a hologram on your cards.
Contact your ribbon supplier to inform you
about hologram ribbons.
4. If you are using a printer with a card-flip assembly check
both Print Front and Print Back to print both sides of the
card in one passage. Select Rotate 180 Degrees if you
want the card to be printed “upside down” , this options is
available for each card layer separately. This feature can
be used if, for example, you wish to punch a hole in the
card on the opposite side of the magnetic stripe, avoiding
that way to damage the stripe. Check the Flip on Long
Edge option to reverse the back side of the card, when
printing both sides of the card. Information about the
selected ribbon(s) will be displayed.
5. In the Print Range section select Single (1) or Multiple (2
or more) cards to print. If printing multiple, enter the number
of cards to be printed.
6. If you using a database (Advanced Feature only) select
the Print All box to print all records, or the type the
Number of Records to be printed. If you want to print the
previously selected range of records check the option Print
Seleced (see earlier Chapter 10 - “Card Software and
Database” section Browse View). If the Keep Database

Card Software User Manual 195

 Position is not checked, the record displayed after a database
print process is the record next to the last printed.
7. In the Copies section enter the number of copies of each
card to be printed.
8. Click OK. If you are printing variable data, you may be
prompted to enter data from the keyboard, select an image
file or acquire an image. Otherwise, your card will be
printed, while on-screen messages keep you informed of
the progress.

Print Manager
Advanced Feature
The Card Software allows you to create a batch file, which
contains data of one or more card documents instead of
printing the card documents right away.

Printing to a File
¨ To create a batch print file
1. From the File menu, choose Card Print. You can also
press the shortcut Ctrl+P. The Card Print dialog box
appears.

196 Card Software User Manual

 2. In the Destination section check the option Send to Batch
Print Manager. All other options work the same way as
printing a card document directly (see above “Printing
Cards”). If you want to print multiple cards and/or multiple
copies, perform magnetic encoding or chip card
processing you have to set these options before you
proceed with step 3.
3. Click OK. The Select Batch Print File dialog box appears.

4. Select the file you want to append, or create a new batch

print file giving a new name.
5. Click Open to complete the action. The Batch Print Job
List and Batch Print Preview windows open.

The Batch Print File Manager

¨ To print cards
1. From the File menu, choose Batch Print File
Management. The Select Batch Print File dialog box
appears. Select the name of the document you want to
open and click OK. The Batch Print Job List and Batch
Print Preview windows appear.

Note: The Batch Print Job List contains card documents (*.car)
itself and the (multiple) cards inside each card document.

Card Software User Manual 197

 2. Browse through the Batch Print Job list using the Move
buttons at your Batch Print Toolbar. You can also use the
up and down arrows of your keyboard.
3. You can control the card design and its variable fields (in
case your card document contains multiple cards) in the
Batch Print Preview window. To toggle between both sides
of the card click the Front/Back View button.
4. Select the card document you want to print. Click the
Print button at your Batch Print Toolbar.

Tip: If the selected card document contains multiple cards,

you can print one specific card by selecting it instead of the
card document itself.

Batch Print Options

¨ Print Status Symbols
To Print: Cards marked with this symbol are ready to print.
Error: If an error occurrs while printing, the card marked is
with this symbol.
Printed: Cards marked with this symbol were printed
properly.

198 Card Software User Manual

 Held: Cards marked with this symbol are excluded from
printing.
· Printing using Print Status: Over the card document
click the print button. The Status to Print dialog box
appears. Select the status you want. All cards marked
with the corresponding symbol will be printed. Click
Continue to proceed.

Tip: You can manually change the Print Status of each card.
Select the card you want to change. Click the status symbol
you want at the Batch Print Toolbar. If you want to change the
print status equally for all card included in the card document,
select the card document and click the status button you
want apply.

Print with Windows Driver

Printer Types
The Card Software allows you to print on any printer which is
provided with a proper Windows driver.
Card Printer
Using the proper Windows printer driver for your card printer
the Card Software allows you to use any card printer. For
special printer/ribbon settings see your card printer
documentation as well as related help files.
Besides that the Card Software allows you to use any card
printer it also permits to work on card layout, database edition,
etc. at print time simultaneously.

Card Software User Manual 199

 Label Printer
The Card Software allows you to print on any Label printer
which is provided with its proper Windows driver.
Note: the label size settings must have the same measurements
as the standard plastic card format (88.7 x 54.2 millimeters).

Paper Printers
The Card Software permits to print on paper with any Laser,
Ink Jet or Needle printer, which comes with a proper windows
driver. The Card Software’ s special column and row settings
permit to print front and back side of the card on the same
sheet as well as several cards on one sheet. This concept
permits to print card proofs on paper or creating low cost
cards using paper lamination.

Card Setup
¨ Setting up the card
1. To setup the card, using a Windows Printer Driver, from
the File menu choose Card Print. Choose the printer
name you want to work with. Click Close.

200 Card Software User Manual

 2. The properties button allows you to perform driver driver
specific settings (see your printer documentation) like
paper size, orientation, etc.
3. From the File menu choose the Card Setup. The selected
printer dialog box appears.

4. Set the card orientation to Portrait or Landscape and

select the correct card size. The paper section displays
the paper size you defined when setting your printer
properties (see above, steep 2). The Card Software allows
you to print both sides of the card on the same page
(when using paper), for that select 2 in the cols section.
The Card Software allows you to print several cards by
page (when using paper) for that select the number of
rows to print (max 5).

Special Windows Driver printing Options

· Print Front and Back
The Software allows you to print both sides of the card in the
same sheet of paper, where you will have the front side of the
card on a page and the back side on the other. To do that you
will have to print the front first, switch the paper, check the
option Back side Mirror and print the back side.

Card Software User Manual 201

 · Print Front and Back side by side
If you prefer you can print front and back side by side in the
same page. For that select 2 in the cols section (on the Card
Setup dialog box), and check both Print Front and Print Back
options on the Card Print Dialog Box

202 Card Software User Manual

 Print to a Specific Printer
Specific Printers
Specific printer is a printer to which the Card Software
communicates through DCL - Direct Language Command.
The available specific printers are:
Apprint series - see Appendix B1 for more information
CIM series - see Appendix B2 for more information
Digicard series - see Appendix B3 for more information
Eltron series - see Appendix B4 for more information
Fargo series - see Appendix B5 for more information
Magicard series - see Appendix B6 for more information
NBS series - see Appendix B7 for more information
Polaroid series - see Appendix B8 for more information
Ulrich Series - see Appendix B9 for more information

Card Software User Manual 203

 Appendix A - Image Tools

The Image Tools is a collection of tool buttons and menu

commands available to enhance the selected image.

Image Tools Menu Commands

Edit Menu
Undo: Reverses the last command performed and returns the
image to its previous state. Quickly perform this command
clicking the corresponding tool button.
Keep Ratio: The tracker rectangle maintains its previously
defined height and width relation.

View Menu
Toolbars: Shows or Hide the toolbar.
Zoom in: Zooms in the view.
Zoom out: Zooms out the view.

204 Card Software User Manual

 Image Menu
Adjust Colors: The command Contrast decreases or increases
an image contrast by moving the RGB (red , green, blue) tracker
bar. Unlock the control field Lock to change values for RGB
separately. Quickly perform this command clicking the
corresponding tool button. The command Brightness
decreases or increases image brightness by moving the RGB
tracker bar. Unlock the control field Lock to change values for
RGB separately. Quickly perform this command clicking the
corresponding tool button.
Effects: The command Blur decreases the contrast between
pixels, the image appears smoother. Sharpen increases the
contrast between pixels, the image appears more focused.
Sharpen More has the same effect, but with higher intensity.
High Contrast lets you set a threshold value to kodalith an
image

Grayscale: Converts the image from color to gray

Remove Noise: Removes graining by averaging areas of the
image.
Convert to Monochrome: Coverts the image to monochrome.
Convert to RGB: Converts the image to RGB
Crop: This command is only available, after selecting an image
area with the select button from the image tools toolbar. Define
the area you want to keep by dragging and resizing the

Card Software User Manual 205

 selection rectangle. Then use the command Crop from the
Image menu.

Save & Exit Menu

Closes the Image Tools dialog box, saving all settings made.

Cancel Menu
Closes the Image Tools dialog box, not saving any settings
made.

The Image Tools Toolbar

The Image Tools Toolbar contains a collection of command
buttons to enhance the selected image.

The tools on the Image Tools Toolbar are:

Undo - Reverses the last command performed and returns

the image to its previous state.

Brightness - Fast access to adjust image colors.

Contrast - Fast access to adjust image colors.

Grayscale - Converts the image from color to gray.

High Contrast - lets you set a threshold value to kodalith

an image.
Sharpen More - Applies the Sharpen More effect.

Sharpen - Applies the Sharpen effect.

Blur - Applies the blur effect.

Remove Noise - Removes graining by averaging areas of

the image.

206 Card Software User Manual

 Zoom - Zoom control.

Aspect Ratio - Turns on or off the Keep Ratio option.

Crop - Allows you to crop the image.
Convert to Monochrome - Applies a dithering conver-
sion to monochrome.
Convert to RGB - Converts a mono bitmap to color.

Card Software User Manual 207

 Appendix B1 - Apprint series

This section explains the specific properties of the Apprint

series printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use.

Ribbon Type
Select the type of ribbon you have installed on your printer.
YMC - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan)
YMCO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan) and an overlay
panel.
YMCKO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel
and an overlay panel.
YMCKOK - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,

208 Card Software User Manual

 an overlay panel and an additional black panel. This ribbon
selection is used in conjunction with the Front and Back
options.
K (Monochrome) - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
Scratch - This ribbon is a single panel ribbon, that print’s a
area that can be scratched.

If you are using a printer with the ability to print both sides of
the card, you can choose the colors to be used on each side.
The Background Color option allows you to configure the
RGB values for the background color.
The Ribbon Options allows you to set the panel length

Encoding
Special Apprint Iris FO property
Click the Encoding tab to change the encoding settings.

The Direct Encoding section allows you to read or encode

the data of the checked track(s). The following table lists the
number and type of characters alloed for each of tree tracks.

Card Software User Manual 209

 Track Character Limit Allowed Characters
1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Note: For more information see Appendix C - Magnetic

Encoding.

Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various

printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.
The Synchronize Ribbon button automatically synchronizes
the selected ribbon.
The Clean Card starts the cleaning printer process.

210 Card Software User Manual

 Head Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Color Contrast - Set the value of black to adjust the amount

of heat applied to transfer a maximum contrast.
Pint Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.
Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors

Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the

operation of the printer.

Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original

values.

Card Software User Manual 211

 Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,

usually LPT1.
Use the Handshake button to recognize the printer capabilities
directly (only available when Direct Print options is checked).
Or if you know the printer capabilities check them manually.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Smart Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.
Choose the type of magnetic encoder installed in your printer.
Select your printer language French or English.

212 Card Software User Manual

 Specific Options
Special Apprint Iris TD property
Click the Specific Options tab to configure the Erasing
Contrast, temperature settings, the erasing process, printers
Ohmic values and the print zone.

Erasing Contrast - Allows you to set a new value for the

contrast.
Temperature Settings - Allows you to set for the Level
Number and for the Compensation Type.
Erasing Process Setup - Allows you to set the values for the
PreHeating Passes for Erasing.
Printers Ohmic Value - Define the new value and click Set to
apply.
Printing Zone - Allows you to change the values for the
Printing Zone.
Click Defaults button to reset the settings to the factory
default values.

Card Software User Manual 213

 Appendix B2 - CIM series

This section explains the specific properties of the CIM series

printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use.

Ribbon Type
Select the type of ribbon you have installed on your printer.
YMC - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan)
YMCO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan) and an overlay
panel.
YMCKO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel
and an overlay panel.
YMCKOK - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,

214 Card Software User Manual

 an overlay panel and an additional black panel. This ribbon
selection is used in conjunction with the Front and Back
options.
K (Monochrome) - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
KdO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black dye-
sublimation panel plus one overlay panel.
KrO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black resin
panel plus one overlay panel.
O (Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single overlay panel
ribbon.
H (Hologram Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single
hologram panel ribbon.
Scratch - This ribbon is a single panel ribbon, that print’s a
area that can be scratched.

If you are using a printer with the ability to print both sides of
the card, you can choose the colors to be used on each side.
For the listed ribbons, the Card Software allows the following
Front/back combinations.
Ribbon Front Back
YMC Color Color
Color Color
YMCK Color Black
Black Color
Color Color
YMCKO Color Black
Black Color
Color Color
YMCKOK Color Black
Black Color
K (Monochrome) One color One color
KdO Gray Gray
KrO Black Black

Note: The 5 Panel Ribbon does not support the Print in black
panel function for the front/back combination Color-Black and
Black-Color. You have to use the 6 Panel ribbon instead.

Card Software User Manual 215

 Encoding
Click the Encoding tab to change the encoding settings.

The Direct Encoding section allows you to read or encode

the data of the checked track(s). The following table lists the
number and type of characters allowed for each of tree tracks.

Track Character Limit Allowed Characters

1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Note: For more information see Appendix C - Magnetic

Encoding.

The Advanced Settings buttons allows you to define custom

parameters for the Magnetic Encoder.

216 Card Software User Manual

 Advanced settings
Allows you to define custom parameters for the Magnetic
Encoder.

HiCo/LoCo
Select the type of coercivity of your cards.
Coercivity is a measurement of a magnetic material’s resistance
to being magnetized. Low coercivity material magnetizes easier
than high coercivity material. You must make sure that the
setting in the driver matches the card type you are using,
otherwise you will get a magnetic encoding error.
Encoder Position
Select the printer encoder position between Reversed and
Normal.
Encoder Type
Select the printer encoder type; ISO or JIS. Important: Please
ensure that you have the correct magnetic encoder fitted to
the printer.

Card Software User Manual 217

 Track
Choose the track you want to configure.

Note: For the JIS encoder type only the Track 1 is available.

Track Settings
Choose the mode and density for the tracks. Each track can
be configured individually.
Start/Stop Character
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter an ASCII value for the Start and Stop characters.
Encoding Start Position
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter the encoding start position in millimeters (mm).
Character Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the Character parity you want to work with, Even,
Odd or No parity.
LRC Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the LRC parity you want to work with, Even, Odd or
No parity.

Click the Restore Defaults button to reset the settings to the

factory default values.
The Read Printer Configuration defaults the printer
configuration.

218 Card Software User Manual

 Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various

printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.
The Synchronize Ribbon button automatically synchronizes
the selected ribbon.
The Clean Card starts the cleaning printer process.
Click Ribbon Motor Voltage to check the ribbon motor
voltage.
Click Ribbon Sensor Voltage to check the ribbon sensor
voltage.

Offsets
Allows you to change the X and Y values of the start print
offset point, in dots.
The EC specifies a point, beyond which, no card printing
occurs.

Card Software User Manual 219

 Head Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Color intensity - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color or monochrome dot.

Warning: High color intensity setting may cause ribbon

rupture.

Color Contrast - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color contrast.
Contrast - Sets the values of overlay, black and hologram to
adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer a maximum
contrast.

Warning: Do not change the default values without consulting

your card printer manual first.

220 Card Software User Manual

 Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original
values.
Pint Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.
Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors

Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the

operation of the printer.

Hologram
Click the Hologram tab to configure how the hologram will
be printed (this option is only available if you choose a
Hologram ribbon).

Printing Side
Allows you to choose the side of the card (front/back) that
you will set up.
Hologram Clipping
Allows you to select the type of overlay you want to use:

Card Software User Manual 221

 The available options are:
Full Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area with Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area without Hologram Overlay Varnish

If you choose the Hologram type as Selected area with or

without Hologram Overlay Varnish, you will need to enter the
co-ordinates for the Hologram area (Top, Bottom, Left, and
Right). The Hologram preview window illustrates the final
results

Front/Back Side Hologram Position

Allows you to define the co-ordinates for the Hologram.

Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,

usually LPT1.

222 Card Software User Manual

 Use the Handshake button to recognize the printer capabilities
directly (only available when Direct Print options is checked).
Or if you know the printer capabilities check them manually.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Memory Expansion - It’s an hardware option. There are two
main advantages with this option: speed on printing process
and ability to print cards edge to edge.
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Smart Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.
Laminate - Allows to laminate the card. This option is only
available if your printer is equipped with a lamination station.
Choose the type of magnetic encoder installed in your printer.

Card Software User Manual 223

 Appendix B3 - Digicard series

This section explains the specific properties of the Digicard

series printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use on
front and back.

The Front/Back Side Options are the following:

CMY - This option allows you to configure how the CMY will
be printed. This ribbon has sections comprising three dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan). Choose between
Do not Use, Half or Full.
KResin - This option allows you to configure how the KResin
will be printed.This ribbon has sections comprising one black
resin panel plus one overlay panel. Choose between Do not
Use, Half or Full.
KDye - This option allows you to configure how the KDyewill
be printed.This ribbon has sections comprising one black dye-
sublimation panel plus one overlay panel. Choose between
Do not Use, Half or Full.

224 Card Software User Manual

 Varnish - This option allows you to configure how the Varnish
will be printed.This ribbon is a single overlay panel ribbon.
Choose between Do not Use, Half or Full.

Print Quality - This option allows you to configure the print

quality, between Low, Adaptive and High.

Auto Intensity - This option allows you to configure the auto

intensity, between none, Limiter and Full.

Head Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Color intensity - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color or monochrome dot.
Warning: High color intensity setting may cause ribbon
rupture.

Color Contrast - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color contrast.

Card Software User Manual 225

 Contrast - Sets the values of overlay and black to adjust the
amount of heat applied, to transfer a maximum contrast.
Warning: Do not change the default values without consulting
your card printer manual first.

Select for which side of the card you are setting the new
values.
Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original
values.
Pint Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.
Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors
Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the
operation of the printer.

Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various

printing commands. See your printer manual.

226 Card Software User Manual

 Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,

usually LPT1.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Choose the type of magnetic encoder installed in your printer.

Card Software User Manual 227

 Appendix B4 - Eltron series

This section explains the specific properties of the Eltron series

printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use.

Ribbon Type
Select the type of ribbon you have installed on your printer.
YMC - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan)
YMCO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan) and an overlay
panel.
YMCKO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel
and an overlay panel.
YMCKOK - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,

228 Card Software User Manual

 an overlay panel and an additional black panel. This ribbon
selection is used in conjunction with the Front and Back
options.
YMCK_K - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,
and an additional black panel.
K (Monochrome) - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
KdO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black dye-
sublimation panel plus one overlay panel.
KrO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black resin
panel plus one overlay panel.
O (Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single overlay panel
ribbon.
H (Hologram Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single
hologram panel ribbon.
Scratch - This ribbon is a single panel ribbon, that print’s a
area that can be scratched.
If you are using a printer with the ability to print both sides of
the card, you can choose the colors to be used on each side.
For the listed ribbons, the Card Software allows the following
Front/back combinations.

Ribbon Front Back

YMC Color Color
Color Color
YMCK Color Black
Black Color
Color Color
YMCKO Color Black
Black Color
Color Color
YMCKOK Color Black
Black Color
K (Monochrome) One color One color
KdO Gray Gray
KrO Black Black

Card Software User Manual 229

 Note: The 5 Panel Ribbon does not support the Print in black
panel function for the front/back combination Color-Black and
Black-Color. You have to use the 6 Panel ribbon instead.

Special P600 Properties

A P600 includes two print stations, separated by a card-flip
assembly, this means that if you use an Eltron P600 the Card
Software allows you to increase the printing speed using two
print stations at the same time as well as permits to combine
different types of ribbon.

As the Eltron P600 consists of two print stations, both have

to be configured.
The type of ribbon available are equal for both stations (see
above in this Appendix “Ribbon”). Click the radio button for
the proper ribbon type installed in each printer station.
If you just want to use one of the print station check the
option Disable Station I/II.
The Card Software displays a Warning message, if you set a
ribbon combination not suitable for the Eltron P600.

230 Card Software User Manual

 Disable Flip Over
If you want to use on each stations a different monochrome
ribbon (for exempla Station I - Black, Station II - Red) but print
both color on the same side of the card check the option
Disable Flip Over.

Encoding
Click the Encoding tab to change the encoding settings.

Card Software User Manual 231

 The Direct Encoding section allows you to read or encode
the data of the checked track(s). The following table lists the
number and type of characters allowed for each of tree tracks.

Track Character Limit Allowed Characters

1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Note: For more information see Appendix C - Magnetic

Encoding.

The Advanced Settings buttons allows you to define custom

parameters for the Magnetic Encoder.

232 Card Software User Manual

 Advanced settings
Allows you to define custom parameters for the Magnetic
Encoder.

HiCo/LoCo
Select the type of coercivity of your cards.
Coercivity is a measurement of a magnetic material’s resistance
to being magnetized. Low coercivity material magnetizes easier
than high coercivity material. You must make sure that the
setting in the driver matches the card type you are using,
otherwise you will get a magnetic encoding error.
Encoder Position
Select the printer encoder position between Reversed and
Normal.
Encoder Type
Select the printer encoder type; ISO or JIS. Important: Please

Card Software User Manual 233

 ensure that you have the correct magnetic encoder fitted to
the printer.
Track
Choose the track you want to configure.
Note: For the JIS encoder type only the Track 1 is available.

Track Settings
Choose the mode and density for the tracks. Each track can
be configured individually.
Start/Stop Character
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter an ASCII value for the Start and Stop characters.
Encoding Start Position
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter the encoding start position in millimeters (mm).
Character Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the Character parity you want to work with, Even,
Odd or No parity.
LRC Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the LRC parity you want to work with, Even, Odd or
No parity.

Click the Restore Defaults button to reset the settings to the

factory default values.
The Read Printer Configuration defaults the printer
configuration.

234 Card Software User Manual

 Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various

printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.
The Synchronize Ribbon button automatically synchronizes
the selected ribbon.
The Clean Card starts the cleaning printer process.
Click Ribbon Motor Voltage to check the ribbon motor
voltage.
Click Ribbon Sensor Voltage to check the ribbon sensor
voltage.
Offsets
Allows you to change the X and Y values of the start print
offset point, in dots.
The EC specifies a point, beyond which, no card printing
occurs.

Card Software User Manual 235

 Head Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Color intensity - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color or monochrome dot.

Warning: High color intensity setting may cause ribbon

rupture.

Color Contrast - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color contrast.
Contrast - Sets the values of overlay, black and hologram to
adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer a maximum
contrast.
Warning: Do not change the default values without consulting
your card printer manual first.

236 Card Software User Manual

 Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original
values.
Pint Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.
Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors
Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the
operation of the printer.

Hologram
Click the Hologram tab to configure how the hologram will
be printed (this option is only available if you choose a
Hologram ribbon).

Printing Side
Allows you to choose the side of the card (front/back) that
you will set up.
Hologram Clipping
Allows you to select the type of overlay you want to use:

Card Software User Manual 237

 The available options are:
Full Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area with Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area without Hologram Overlay Varnish
If you choose the Hologram type as Selected area with or
without Hologram Overlay Varnish, you will need to enter the
co-ordinates for the Hologram area (Top, Left, Vertical and
Horizontal). The Hologram preview window illustrates the final
results
Front/Back Side Hologram Position
Allows you to define the co-ordinates for the Hologram

Special P600 Properties

Click the Hologram/Overlay/Scratch tab to configure how the
hologram/overlay/scratch will be printed (this option is only
available if you choose a Hologram, Overlay or a Scratch
ribbon).

Printing Side
Allows you to choose the side of the card (front/back) that
you will set up.

238 Card Software User Manual

 Hologram Clipping
Allows you to select the type of overlay you want to use:
The available options are:
Full Hologram/Overlay/Scratch
Selected area with Hologram/Overlay/Scratch
Selected area without Hologram/Overlay/Scratch
If you choose the Hologram type as Selected area with or
without Hologram/Overlay/Scratch. you will need to enter the
co-ordinates for the Hologram area (Top, Left, Vertical and
Horizontal). The Hologram preview window illustrates the final
results
Front/Back Side Hologram Position
Allows you to define the co-ordinates for the Hologram.

Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,

usually LPT1.
Use the Handshake button to recognize the printer capabilities

Card Software User Manual 239

 directly (only available when Direct Print options is checked).
Or if you know the printer capabilities check them manually.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Memory Expansion - It’s an hardware option. There are two
main advantages with this option: speed on printing process
and ability to print cards edge to edge.
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Smart Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.
Laminate - Allows to laminate the card. This option is only
available if your printer is equipped with a lamination station.
Choose the type of magnetic encoder installed in your printer.

Laminator
This options are only available if your printer includes a
lamination station.
Click the Laminator tab to configure the type of film,
temperature and speed for the lamination as well as the side of
the card to be laminated.

240 Card Software User Manual

 The available type of film to laminate cards are:
Clear Patch
Hologram Patch
Full Hologram Overlay
Full Overlay Varnish or
User defined
On the Front/Back section, check the operation you want on
each card layer.
Lamination Station Enable - Allows lamination on print station
II.
Overlay Varnish on Print Station Enable - Allows overlay
printing on print station I.
The Card Speed allows you to adjust the speed of the
lamination process.
The Temperature allows you to adjust the temperature for
the lamination.

Card Software User Manual 241

 Appendix B5 - Fargo series

This section explains the specific properties of the Fargo series

printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use.

Ribbon Type
Select the type of ribbon you have installed on your printer.
YMC - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan)
YMCK - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan) and a black resin
panel.
YMCKO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel
and an overlay panel.
YMCKOK - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-

242 Card Software User Manual

 sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,
an overlay panel and an additional black panel. This ribbon
selection is used in conjunction with the Front and Back
options.
K (Monochrome) - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
KdO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black dye-
sublimation panel plus one overlay panel.
KrO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black resin
panel plus one overlay panel.
O (Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single overlay panel
ribbon.
H (Hologram Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single
hologram panel ribbon.
Colored Resin - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
K - Premium Resin Black - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
Metalic Resin - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
YMCKK - Full Color/ 2 Resin Black ribbon with two resin
black panels and no clear overlay panel.

If you are using a printer with the ability to print both sides of
the card, you can choose the colors to be used on each side.

Encoding
Click the Encoding tab to change the encoding settings.

Card Software User Manual 243

 Options
Check High Coercivity if you are working with high coercivity
cards.
Check Don’t verify Errors if you want to skip the error
treatment process.
Check Encode before Print to encode the card before start the
printing process.
Magnetic Stripe Offsets
Allows you to set the value for the start sentinel position.
Encoding Mode
Select the printer encoder type; ISO or JIS.
Important: Please ensure that you have selected the correct
magnetic encoder of the printer.
Click Defaults button to reset the settings to the factory
default values.

244 Card Software User Manual

 Magnetic Track Options
Choose the track you want to configure and for each one
configure the Bit density, LRC Generation, Character Size and
Character Parity.

The Direct Encoding section allows you to read or encode

the data of the checked track(s). The following table lists the
number and type of characters allowed for each of tree tracks.

Track Character Limit Allowed Characters

1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Note: For more information see Appendix B - Magnetic

Encoding.

Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

Card Software User Manual 245

 The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various
printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.

Head/Picture Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Color Correction - Allows you to set values for the contrast

and Dithering.
Heat Control - Allows you to set the heat amount for the
Overlay, K-Resin and Hologram ribbon panels.
Warning: High color intensity setting may cause ribbon
rupture.

Balance - Allows you to set values for the yellow, Magenta,

Cyan and Dye-sub Black ribbon panels.

246 Card Software User Manual

 Printing Position - Allows you to change the print position
for each card side separately or for both equally.
Warning: Do not change the default values without
consulting your card printer manual first.
Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original
values.

Print Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.

Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors
Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the
operation of the printer.

Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Card Software User Manual 247

 Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,
usually LPT1.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Memory Expansion - It’s an hardware option. There are two
main advantages with this option: speed on printing process
and ability to print cards edge to edge.
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Chip Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.
Laminate - Allows to laminate the card. This option is only
available if your printer is equipped with a lamination station.
Choose the type of magnetic encoder installed in your printer.

Laminator
This Tab is only available if your printer includes a lamination
station.
Click the Laminator tab to configure the type of film,
temperature and speed for the lamination as well as the side of
the card to be laminated.

248 Card Software User Manual

 Lamination Type
Select one of the available options to determine which type of
lamination media is currently installed in the lamination station.
The available options are:
Film Lamination
Overlay then Film Lamination
.6 Polyguard(TM) Lamination
1.0 Polyguard(TM) Lamination

Lamination Side
Select one of the available options to determine which side(s)
of the printed card should have a lamination film applied.
The available options are:
No Lamination
Laminate Front Side
Laminate Back Side
Laminate Both Sides
Lamination Time
Sets the Lamination Time (in seconds per card inch) used by
the lamination station of the printer when applying the
lamination film to the printed card.
Lamination Temperature
Sets the Lamination Temperature (in degrees Centigrade) used
by the lamination station of the printer when applying the
lamination film to the printed card.

Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original

values.

Card Software User Manual 249

 Appendix B6 - Magicard series

This section explains the specific properties of the Magicard

series printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use.

Ribbon Type
Select the type of ribbon you have installed on your printer.
The available types are:
YMC -ICI
YMCKO Diffusion
YMCKO Resin
YMCKO Resin Short Panel
KO Resin
KO Diffusion
K Resin
K Diffusion
YMCKOK Resin

250 Card Software User Manual

 If you are using a printer with the ability to print both sides of
the card, you can choose the colors to be used on each side.

Head Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Intensity - Sets the values of yellow, magenta e cyan, black

and overlay to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer a
maximum intensity color or monochrome dot.
Image & PrintHead Adjustments - Sets the values to the
print head, image start and end position to adjust the image
and the print head.
Pint Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.
Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors

Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the

operation of the printer.

Card Software User Manual 251

 Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original
values.

Encoding
Click the Encoding tab to change the encoding settings.

Options
Check High Coercivity if you are working with high coercivity
cards.
Check Don’t verify Errors if you want to skip the error
treatment process.
Check Encode before Print to encode the card before start the
printing process.
Magnetic Stripe Offsets
Allows you to set the value for the start sentinel position.

Encoding Mode
Select the printer encoder type; ISO or JIS.

252 Card Software User Manual

 Important: Please ensure that you have selected the correct
magnetic encoder of the printer.

Click Defaults button to reset the settings to the factory

default values.

Magnetic Track Options

Choose the track you want to configure and for each one
configure the Bit density, LRC Generation, Character Size and
Character Parity.

The Direct Encoding section allows you to read or encode

the data of the checked track(s). The following table lists the
number and type of characters allowed for each of tree tracks.

Track Character Limit Allowed Characters

1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Note: For more information see Appendix B - Magnetic

Encoding.

Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

Card Software User Manual 253

 The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various
printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.
The Clean Card starts the cleaning printer process.
The Self Test Print will print a self test card.
The Self Test Magnetic Encode will perform an encode test
where the card will be encoded with the printer fixed test data
and verifying.
The Chip Up button will break the chip contacts to the card.
The Chip Down button will make the chip contacts to the
card.

254 Card Software User Manual

 Specific Options
Click the Specific Options tab to configure how the overlay
will be printed on each side of the card, the card operations
and the image options.

Overlay Options
For each side of the card select the type of Overlay you want
to use.
Card Operation
Hand Feed Mode - Check this option if you want to be the
operator to hand feed the cards.
Auto Card Feed - Check this option if you want the cards to
be provided automatically.
Manual Flip Mode - Check this option if you want to flip the
card manually.
Image Options

Card Software User Manual 255

 Select the Data Width you want to use; 4 Bits, 5 Bits, 6 Bits or
7 Bits.
Check the option RLE Compression if you want to use this
compression algorithm.

Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,

usually LPT1.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Memory Expansion - It’s an hardware option. There are two
main advantages with this option: speed on printing process
and ability to print cards edge to edge.
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Smart Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.

256 Card Software User Manual

 Laminate - Allows to laminate the card. This option is only
available if your printer is equipped with a lamination station.
Choose the type of magnetic encoder installed in your printer.

Card Software User Manual 257

 Appendix B7 - NBS series

This section explains the specific properties of the NBS series

printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use.

Ribbon Type
Select the type of ribbon you have installed on your printer.
YMC - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan)
YMCO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan) and an overlay
panel.
YMCKO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel
and an overlay panel.
YMCKOK - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-

258 Card Software User Manual

 sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,
an overlay panel and an additional black panel. This ribbon
selection is used in conjunction with the Front and Back
options.
K (Monochrome) - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
KdO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black dye-
sublimation panel plus one overlay panel.
KrO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black resin
panel plus one overlay panel.
O (Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single overlay panel
ribbon.
H (Hologram Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single
hologram panel ribbon.
Scratch - This ribbon is a single panel ribbon, that print’s a
area that can be scratched.
If you are using a printer with the ability to print both sides of
the card, you can choose the colors to be used on each side.
For the listed ribbons, the Card Software allows the following
Front/back combinations.

Note: The 5 Panel Ribbon does not support the Print in black
panel function for the front/back combination Color-Black and
Black-Color. You have to use the 6 Panel ribbon instead.

Encoding
Click the Encoding tab to change the encoding settings.

Card Software User Manual 259

 The Direct Encoding section allows you to read or encode
the data of the checked track(s). The following table lists the
number and type of characters allowed for each of tree tracks.

Track Character Limit Allowed Characters

1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Note: For more information see Appendix C Magnetic

Encoding.

The Advanced Settings buttons allows you to define custom

parameters for the Magnetic Encoder.

Advanced settings
Allows you to define custom parameters for the Magnetic
Encoder.

260 Card Software User Manual

 HiCo/LoCo
Select the type of coercivity of your cards.
Coercivity is a measurement of a magnetic material’s resistance
to being magnetized. Low coercivity material magnetizes easier
than high coercivity material. You must make sure that the
setting in the driver matches the card type you are using,
otherwise you will get a magnetic encoding error.
Encoder Position
Select the printer encoder position between Reversed and
Normal.
Encoder Type
Select the printer encoder type; ISO or JIS. Important: Please
ensure that you have the correct magnetic encoder fitted to
the printer.

Card Software User Manual 261

 Track
Choose the track you want to configure.

Note: For the JIS encoder type only the Track 1 is available.

Track Settings
Choose the mode and density for the tracks. Each track can
be configured individually.
Start/Stop Character
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter an ASCII value for the Start and Stop characters.
Encoding Start Position
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter the encoding start position in millimeters (mm).
Character Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the Character parity you want to work with, Even,
Odd or No parity.
LRC Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the LRC parity you want to work with, Even, Odd or
No parity.

Click the Restore Defaults button to reset the settings to the

factory default values.
The Read Printer Configuration defaults the printer
configuration.

262 Card Software User Manual

 Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various

printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.
The Synchronize Ribbon button automatically synchronizes
the selected ribbon.
The Clean Card starts the cleaning printer process.
Click Ribbon Motor Voltage to check the ribbon motor
voltage.
Click Ribbon Sensor Voltage to check the ribbon sensor
voltage.

Offsets
Allows you to change the X and Y values of the start print
offset point, in dots.
The EC specifies a point, beyond which, no card printing
occurs.

Card Software User Manual 263

 Head Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Color intensity - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color or monochrome dot.

Warning: High color intensity setting may cause ribbon

rupture.

Color Contrast - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color contrast.
Contrast - Sets the values of overlay, black and hologram to
adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer a maximum
contrast.

Warning: Do not change the default values without consulting

your card printer manual first.

264 Card Software User Manual

 Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original
values.

Pint Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.

Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors

Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the

operation of the printer.

Hologram
Click the Hologram tab to configure how the hologram will
be printed (this option is only available if you choose a
Hologram ribbon).

Printing Side
Allows you to choose the side of the card (front/back) that
you will set up.
Hologram Clipping

Card Software User Manual 265

 Allows you to select the type of overlay you want to use:
The available options are:
Full Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area with Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area without Hologram Overlay Varnish

If you choose the Hologram type as Selected area with or

without Hologram Overlay Varnish, you will need to enter the
co-ordinates for the Hologram area (Top, Bottom, Left, and
Right). The Hologram preview window illustrates the final
results
Front/Back Side Hologram Position
Allows you to define the co-ordinates for the Hologram.

Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,

usually LPT1.

266 Card Software User Manual

 Use the Handshake button to recognize the printer capabilities
directly (only available when Direct Print options is checked).
Or if you know the printer capabilities check them manually.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Memory Expansion - It’s an hardware option. There are two
main advantages with this option: speed on printing process
and ability to print cards edge to edge.
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Smart Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.
Laminate - Allows to laminate the card. This option is only
available if your printer is equipped with a lamination station.
Choose the type of magnetic encoder installed in your printer.

Card Software User Manual 267

 Appendix B8 - Polaroid series

This section explains the specific properties of the Polaroid

series printers.

Ribbon
Click the Ribbon tab to setup the ribbon you want to use.

Ribbon Type
Select the type of ribbon you have installed on your printer.
YMC - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan)
YMCO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan) and an overlay
panel.
YMCKO - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel
and an overlay panel.
YMCKOK - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,

268 Card Software User Manual

 an overlay panel and an additional black panel. This ribbon
selection is used in conjunction with the Front and Back
options.
YMCK_K - This ribbon has sections comprising tree dye-
sublimation panels (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black resin panel,
and an additional black panel.
K (Monochrome) - This is a single-color resin ribbon.
KdO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black dye-
sublimation panel plus one overlay panel.
KrO - This ribbon has sections comprising one black resin
panel plus one overlay panel.
O (Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single overlay panel
ribbon.
H (Hologram Overlay Varnish) - This ribbon is a single
hologram panel ribbon.
Scratch - This ribbon is a single panel ribbon, that print’s a
area that can be scratched.

Encoding
Click the Encoding tab to change the encoding settings.

Card Software User Manual 269

 The Direct Encoding section allows you to read or encode
the data of the checked track(s). The following table lists the
number and type of characters allowed for each of tree tracks.
Track Character Limit Allowed Characters
1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Note: For more information see Appendix C - Magnetic

Encoding.

The Advanced Settings buttons allows you to define custom

parameters for the Magnetic Encoder.

Advanced settings
Allows you to define custom parameters for the Magnetic
Encoder.

270 Card Software User Manual

 HiCo/LoCo
Select the type of coercivity of your cards.
Coercivity is a measurement of a magnetic material’s resistance
to being magnetized. Low coercivity material magnetizes easier
than high coercivity material. You must make sure that the
setting in the driver matches the card type you are using,
otherwise you will get a magnetic encoding error.
Encoder Position
Select the printer encoder position between Reversed and
Normal.
Encoder Type
Select the printer encoder type; ISO or JIS. Important: Please
ensure that you have the correct magnetic encoder fitted to
the printer.
Track
Choose the track you want to configure.

Note: For the JIS encoder type only the Track 1 is available.

Track Settings
Choose the mode and density for the tracks. Each track can
be configured individually.
Start/Stop Character
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter an ASCII value for the Start and Stop characters.
Encoding Start Position
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Enter the encoding start position in millimeters (mm).
Character Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the Character parity you want to work with, Even,

Card Software User Manual 271

 Odd or No parity.
LRC Parity
(Only available if your track mode is different from ISO)
Choose the LRC parity you want to work with, Even, Odd or
No parity.

Click the Restore Defaults button to reset the settings to the

factory default values.
The Read Printer Configuration defaults the printer
configuration.

Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various

printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.
The Synchronize Ribbon button automatically synchronizes
the selected ribbon.

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 The Clean Card starts the cleaning printer process.
Click Ribbon Motor Voltage to check the ribbon motor
voltage.
Click Ribbon Sensor Voltage to check the ribbon sensor
voltage.
Click Self Adjust to do a self adjust.

Offsets
Allows you to change the X and Y values of the start print
offset point, in dots.
The EC specifies a point, beyond which, no card printing
occurs.

Head Settings
Click the Head Settings tab to adjust the head settings
configurations for the current printer.

Color intensity - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color or monochrome dot.

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 Warning: High color intensity setting may cause ribbon
rupture.

Color Contrast - Sets the value of yellow, magenta, cyan and

dye diffusion to adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer
a maximum intensity color contrast.
Contrast - Sets the values of overlay, black and hologram to
adjust the amount of heat applied, to transfer a maximum
contrast.

Warning: Do not change the default values without consulting

your card printer manual first.

Click Defaults to reset the settings in this tab to the original

values.
Pint Smoothing - Allows to smooth the color banding effect.
Monitor Color Matching - Tries to match the monitor colors
with printed colors

Warning: Changing these values can adversely affect the

operation of the printer.

Hologram
Click the Hologram tab to configure how the hologram will
be printed (this option is only available if you choose a
Hologram ribbon).

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 Printing Side
Allows you to choose the side of the card (front/back) that
you will set up.
Hologram Clipping
Allows you to select the type of overlay you want to use:
The available options are:
Full Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area with Hologram Overlay Varnish
Selected area without Hologram Overlay Varnish
If you choose the Hologram type as Selected area with or
without Hologram Overlay Varnish, you will need to enter the
co-ordinates for the Hologram area (Top, Bottom, Left, and
Right). The Hologram preview window illustrates the final
results
Front/Back Side Hologram Position
Allows you to define the co-ordinates for the Hologram.

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 Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,

usually LPT1.
Use the Handshake button to recognize the printer capabilities
directly (only available when Direct Print options is checked).
Or if you know the printer capabilities check them manually.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Memory Expansion - It’s an hardware option. There are two
main advantages with this option: speed on printing process
and ability to print cards edge to edge.
Print Both Sides - ability to print both sides of the card. Only
available if your printer is equipped with a card flip assembly.
Smart Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.
Laminate - Allows to laminate the card. This option is only
available if your printer is equipped with a lamination station.

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 Appendix B9 - Ulrich Series

This section explains the specific properties of the Ulrich series

printers.

Tools
Click the Tools tab to communicate directly with the printer.

The Manual Commands field allows you to execute various

printing commands. See your printer manual.
The Eject Card button moves and exits a single card from any
position between the card feeder and the output tray and
automatically synchronizes the ribbon.

Printer
Click the Printer tab to configure the printer and the printer
capabilities.

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 Select the printer port to which you connected your printer,
usually LPT1.
The printer capabilities are listed below:
Smart Card Processing - allows to plug in an exe file (typically
a chip card processing software) during the print process.

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 Appendix C - Magnetic Encoding

If your printer is equipped with a magnetic stripe encoder,

you can encode data onto cards that have an embedded
magnetic stripe.

About Magnetic Stripe

There are two kinds of magnetic stripe cards: low coercivity
and high coercivity. (Coercivity is the measurement of a
magnetic material’s resistance to being magnetized. Low
coercivity material magnetizes easier than high coercivity
material.) A magnetic stripe encoder is designed to be used
with one type of cards only, either high or low coercivity.

Caution: High and low coercivity cards are not

interchangeable. Refer to the printer manual to ensure that
you have the correct type of card for your model printer.

There are three magnetic tracks on a magnetic stripe card. To

comply with international standards, each track is limited to a
certain number and type of character.
In addition to the user data, three format characters are added
automatically by the printer. The data on each track is preceded
by a Start Sentinel, then followed by a Stop Sentinel and
Longitudinal Redundancy Check (LRC) character.

Important: Although the printer automatically inserts these

three format characters at print time, you must include them in
your character count to stay within the allowable character
limit for each track.

The following table lists the number and type of characters

allowed on each of the three

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 Track Character Limit Allowed Characters
1 79 alphanumeric ASSCII codes 32-95 Field
Separator is ^
2 40 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is =
3 107 numeric ASCII ASSCII codes 48-63 Field
Separator is ^

Encoding a Magnetic Stripe

There are three ways to use the Card Software to encode a
magnetic stripe:
1. To encode a small number of cards, choose Card Print
from the File Menu, the Card Print dialog box appears.
Select the specific printer name for your printer and click
Properties. The selected printer properties dialog box
appears. Click the tab Encoding.
· For each card, you must manually type in the information
you want to be encoded on each track. It is not very
efficient, but is okay for a few cards.
· Also, you can use this method to erase the magnetic
information from a card or to re-encode a card with the
same or different data.
2. To encode more than a few cards, use the Magnetic
Encoder Tool on the lower tool-bar. This more efficient
method uses variable data fields in the same way you
used them to print variable bar codes, and is preferred
when printing imported data.
3. To encode using a Windows Printer Driver you will need
to configure the magnetic encoding.

Important: When using either encoding method, ensure that

the magnetic stripe cards are properly oriented in the card
feeder. Typically, the magnetic stripe is oriented on the bottom
of the card and toward the back of the printer. Refer to the
printer user manual for more information.

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 Encoding with Specific Printer Properties
¨ To use the Printer Properties method
1. From the File menu, choose Card Print. The Card Print
dialog box appears. Select the specific printer name for
your printer and click Properties. The selected printer
properties dialog box appears.
2. Click the Encoding tab. In the Direct Encoding section
select the check box for each track you want to encode.

Tip: To erase magnetic data from a card, select all three track
check boxes, but leave the data boxes blank.

3. In the box to the right of the track number, type the data
you wish to encode.

Important: You must keep the number of characters (Including

the three format characters) within the limits listed previously
for each track. The Card Software will not prevent you from
entering too many characters.

4. Click Encode. The printer will feed a card through the

encoding station in the printer and encode the data on
the card.

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 5. If you do not wish to print anything on the card, click
Eject Card and the card will pass through the printer to
the card out-put tray.
6. If you wish to print on the card, click Ok, then proceed
as you would for printing a non-magnetic card. Don’t
forget to enable Encode in the Card Print dialog box.

Magnetic Encoder Tool

¨ To use the Magnetic Encoder tool

1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Magnetic Encoder

tool. The Magnetic Code Object Properties dialog box
appears.

2. Select the Encode check box for each track (1, 2 or 3) you
wish to encode.
3. If the data for a track will not be changing from card to
card, type the data in the Default Code box for that track.
4. If the data for a track will be changing from card to card, in
the Variable Source box select the variable that is going to
provide the data for that track.

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 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each track you wish to encode.
6. Check the option ISO Encoding to use the ISO norm to
encode or check the Costumer encoding to use a different
norm.
7. When finished, click OK.
8. On the Standard toolbar, click the Printer tool. The
Card Print Dialog box appears.

9. Select the Encode check box to enable magnetic stripe

encoding.
10. If printing more than one card, click Multiple, and then
type or select the number of cards to print. Type or select
the number of Copies of each card to print.
11. Click OK, to print the card(s).
12. Every card will be magnetically encoded with the specified
data. If the Print check box from the Operations section is
enabled, printing starts after the encoding process.

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 Encoding with a Windows Printer Driver
¨ To use the Windows Printer Driver
1. With the current Windows printer driver selected, from
the File menu, choose Card Setup. The selected printer
dialog box appears. Click the Magnetic Encoding tab.

2. Check the Send Magnetic Encoder Data option and

configure the macro. Remember that the Start of Data
macro must be identical to the driver macro.

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 Important: The default Card Software macro is a Fargo
compatible. If you are using a Eltron Printer, for example, you
will have to delete the last character of the Start of Data and
keep the End of Data blank. For more information about other
printers macros please consult the printer manual and/or the
printers manufacture.

Note: If your printer track list is 0, 1, 2 please replace the X

(capital case) for a x (lower case) on the macro.

3. From the File menu, choose Card Print. The Card Print
dialog box appears. Check the Encode option, confirm all
the others print operations and click Ok.

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 Appendix D - Card Software Basic
Features

The Card Software is provided in 5 editions, LITE, LITE PLUS,

PREMIER, PROFESSIONAL and MULTI-HEAD. This section
gives an overview of the basic features. LITE contains all the
basic features, LITE PLUS contains all the LITE features,
PRIMIER contains all the LITE PLUS features,
PROESSIONAL contains all the PREMIER features, MULTI-
HEAD contains all PROFESSIONAL features.

Basic Features
· Setup program on CD
· Wysiwyg multi–document interface
· Rich set of design tools oriented to card design
· Full text treatment: multi-line, rotation, color, size,
alignment
· Bar code; 17 types available, resize, check digit and more
· PDF417, up to 64K in a bar code symbol
· Metrics and Inches units display
· Several levels of Undo/Redo
· Rulers, Cross-hair cursor and inter-object alignment
toolbar.
· 3 tracks magnetic encoding
· Plug-in for external chip card processing software
· Image import from file in several formats
· Image acquisition using Twain Interface
· Modify images with built-in Image Tools
· Printing Hologram Ribbon
· Overlay clipping and image import for security
· Independent overlay for Front & Back
· System Variables: counters, time, date, and keyboard input
· Supported printers: Apprint series, CIM series, Digicard
series, Eltron series, Fargo series, Magicard series, NBS
series, Polaroid series, Ulrich series.

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 · Ability to use any Windows printer driver.
· Fast printing speed - optimized for multiple cards
· Front & back printing
· On-line manuals & Acrobat Reader
· Clipart Volume
· Multi-lingual; English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
and Portuguese
· Ease of use - light software for heavy duty card design

Lite Plus
· Connection to text files.
· Drag and Drop from Database to the work area.

Premier
· Database variables
· Internal database
· Fast database editing with EOF-options
· Encoding photos in PDF symbol
· Printed manual
· Software Key
· Clipart Volume II
· Paint Shop Pro shareware
· Adobe Acrobat Reader

Professional
· Plug-in Sources
· Logins and password for maximum access security
· External database and ODBC 3.5 Administrator to access
all major database formats.
· Print Database reports on paper
· Database properities including image compression, define
view to hide and unhide fields, browse view for tabel
listing
· Batch Printing from file
· VfW video source supported

Multi-Head
· Supports multi-head printers .

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