Evolis SDK

Magnetic encoding
Contents
General information about magnetic encoding with Evolis printers ............. 3
A. Following ISO 7811 magnetic encoding standards ............................................ 3
B. Using a magnetic encoding custom mode ............................................................ 3
Usecases samples : ......................................................................................................................... 3
Encode custom mode bit stream in 5 bits on track # 1 .................................... 4
Download sequence using Custom 2 mode.............................................................. 4

Possible combinations matrix: .......................................................................................... 5

Technical data limitation.................................................................................................................6
Printer's Commands references related to magnetic encoding .......................7
Set of commands related to magnetic encoding ....................................................7
Glossary ........................................................................................................................................................9
Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................. 11

2
General information about magnetic encoding with
Evolis printers
Could be performed High-co or Lo-co in two different modes. The written
data are automatically checked by the printer.

A. Following ISO 7811 magnetic encoding standards

See Glossary for further information.

B. Using a magnetic encoding custom mode

To fit all needs, each track could be set with custom setting: Density, start
position and special data format.

All data exchange between the application software and the Evolis Printer
to either write or read magnetic data are exchanged exclusively using ASCII
format. This allows to write (encode) or read any data from 0 to 255.

Usecases samples :

Encode custom mode bit stream in 8 bits on track # 1

The 8 bits custom values are 0x80, 0xC3, 0xD2, 0x45. So, we need to send the
following escape command (raw) :

Dm;1;80C3D245
The Evolis printer will receive the following data :

Escape
comman D m ; 1 ; 8 0 C 3 D 2 4 5
d

data
0x4 0x6 0x3 0x3 0x3 0x3 0x3 0x4 0x3 0x4 0x3 0x3 0x3
byte 4 D B 1 B 8 0 3 3 4 2 4 5
sent

Where data byte :

0x44 corresponds to the hexadecimal ASCII code of the D letter

0x6D corresponds to the hexadecimal ASCII code of the m letter
0x3B corresponds to the hexadecimal ASCII code of the semicolon ;
An so on...

3
Encode custom mode bit stream in 5 bits on track # 1

Using a 5 bits format, hexadecimal value of the bit stream are 0x10, 0x03,
0x01 , 0x1D, 0x04, 0x11, 0x08, broken down as follow :

Escape
D m ; 1 ; 1 0 0 3 0 1 1 D 0 4 1 1
command

data 0x44 0x6D 0x3B 0x31 0x3B 0x31 0x30 0x30 0x33 0x30 0x31 0x31 0x44 0x30 0x34 0x31 0x30
byte sent

Download sequence using Custom 2 mode

Thanks to standard download command “Dm;track;data” and specify format

“Pmt;1;c2;s;8” , to encode 0x80 0x1A 0xFF 0x00 0x2B 0x01.

Required command is the following Dm;1;801AFF002B01. Then Smw to

encode (write physically) the track

Data will be encoded as the following figure:

Now, if you send the command “Smr;1”, the printer will be decode the string
with the Rmt;1 format.

For 8 bits format, the printer starts to decode on the first 1 detected, so the
printer reads:

10000000(0x80)
00011010(0x1A)
11111111(0xFF)
00000000(0x00)
00101011(0x2B)
00000001(0x01)

4
So the answer for the command Smr;1 will be “801AFF2B01”
If the track format is “Pmt;1;c2;s;5”, the printer will read:

10000(0x10)
00000(0x00)
01101(0x0D)
01111(0x0F)
11110(0x1E)
00000(0x00)
00001(0x01)
01011(0x0B)
00000(0x00)
00100(0x04)

If the track format is “Pmt;1;c2;r;8”, the printer will read:

10000000 reverse
00000001(0x01)00011010
rev 01011000(0x58)11111111
rev 11111111(0xFF)00000000
rev 00000000(0x00) 00101011
rev 11010100 (0xD4)00000001
rev. 10000000 (0x80)

Possible combinations matrix:

4 bits standard mode Pmt;1;c2;s;4 Dm;1;0800010A0F0F0000020B0001

4 bits reverse mode Pmt;1;c2;r;4 Dm;1;010008050F0F0000040D0008

5 bits standard mode Pmt;1;c2;s;5 Dm;1;10000D0F1E00010B0004

5 bits reverse mode Pmt;1;c2;r;5 Dm;1;0100161E0F00101A0004

6 bits standard mode Pmt;1;c2;s;6 Dm;1;120012B3F00022C01

6 bits reverse mode Pmt;1;c2;r;6 Dm;1;0120353F00100D20

7 bits standard mode Pmt;1;c2;s;7 Dm;1;140065F70012C02

7 bits reverse mode Pmt;1;c2;r;7 Dm;1;01307D07401A20

5
 4 bits standard mode Pmt;1;c2;s;4 Dm;1;0800010A0F0F0000020B0001

8 bits standard mode Pmt;1;c2;s;8 Dm;1;801AFF002B01

8 bits reverse mode Pmt;1;c2;r;8 N/A

Technical data limitation

This part explains how you can know the number of words that you can
encode on the magnetic track.

Length magnetic track min: 85.6 mm (3.37 inch)

Leading zero min: 5 mm (default setting printer: 7.44mm conforming to

ISO standard)

Trailing zero min: 5 mm

Length data max: 85.6 – 7.44 – 5 = 73.16 mm (2.88 inch)

So, 2.88 inch in 210bits / inch, you can encode 604 bits. (2.88 inch / (1/210))
When using 8 bits format, it allows 75 words of 8 bits (604 bits / 8 bits) and
using 5 bits format, it allows 120 words of 5 bits.

So 2.88 inch in 75 bits / inch, you can encode 216 bits.

When using 8 bits format, it allows 27 words of 8 bits (604 bits / 8 bits) and
using 5 bits format, it allows 43 words of 5 bits.

Note: the data string must always begin by a “1” because the printer begins
to decode the data string at the first “1” encoded.

6
Printer's Commands references related to magnetic
encoding
Set of commands related to magnetic encoding

Parameter Human
Command Parameter 1 Options scope Description Sample
2 meaning

Download
ABCDE on
track 1
Dm;1;ABCD
1 Track1 data Download
Communi Download Magnetic E
Dm 2 Track2 data N/A 1234 on
cation data to printer Dm;2;1234
3 Track3 data track 2
Dm;3;3456
Download
3456 on
track 3

i
Initialize
(initialization
Motor Magnetic allows magnetic
) Mm;i
Hardware to test the motor that motor
Mm + (up N/A N/A Mm;+
command control the magnetic position up
position) Mm;-
head positioning Position
- (down
down
position)

Read data 3
Parameter Loop Magne times after
1 1 (Default)
tic Repetition, Set the a write
2 2 Configurat
Plmr N/A number of writing and Plmr;3;1 operation,
3 (default) 3 ion
read repetition in case of process this
... ...
error 1 time per
card

Get the
current
Read Loop Magnetic Re
Configurat number of
petition, Read the
ion loops set for
Rlmr N/A N/A N/A current value for the Rlmr
reading hardware
magnetic checkings
value error
(read and writes loops)
manageme
nt

Parameter Magnetic Ba Encoding

183 (a se Start, to define the starts at 183
Configurat
Pmbs distance in N/A N/A value of the encoding Pmbs;183 dots of the
ion
dots) start distance after card edge of the
edge detection card

Configurat
ion Read Magnetic Base St
Rmbs N/A N/A N/A Rmbs
reading art
value

h Configurat Parameter Magnetic Co Pmc;l Set

Pmc N/A N/A coercivity
l ion ercivity Pmc;h
to low-co
Set

7
 Parameter Human
Command Parameter 1 Options scope Description Sample
2 meaning

coercivity
to high-co

Get the
Configurat value of the
Read Magnetic Coercivi
ion current
Rmc N/A N/A N/A ty, read current Rmc
reading coercivity
coercivity
value (HICO or
LOCO)

Set track 1
to 75 BPI
density
Parameter Magnetic De
1 Pmd;1;75 Set track 2
75 (BPI) Configurat nsity, set the density of
Pmd 2 NA Pmd;2;210 to 210 BPI
210 (BPI) ion tracks 1,2 or 3 between
3 Pmd;3;75 density
75 and 210 BPI
Set track 3
to 75 BPi
density

Configurat
1 Rmd;1
ion Read Magnetic Density
Rmd 2 N/A N/A Rmd;2
reading of track 1,2 or 3
3 Rmd;3
value

Parameter Magnetic Fil

Configurat Pmf;ON;ON
Pmf ON or OFF ON or OFF N/A ter, enable or disable Pmf;OFF;OFF
ion
writing /reading filter

Read
Configurat current
Rmf N/A N/A N/A ion Read Magnetic Filter Rmf magnetic
reading feature
status

Configurat Parameter Magnetic Motor

Pmms 80 (value) 70 (value) N/A Speed
Pmms;80;70
ion

Configurat
Read Magnetic Motor S
Rmms N/A N/A N/A ion Rmms
peed
reading

Parameter Magnetic Track.

To set Magnetic track.
For each character, send 2
characters that represent
the hexa value. The printer
will use the number of bit
1 (ISO1) required. Default setting 8
2 (ISO2) bits.
Set track 1 to
3 (ISO3) When you read data from
1 Pmt;1;1 ISO
c1 (SIPASS) the printer using the
Set track 2 to
Pmt 2 c2 (CUSTOM2 Configuration command Pmt;2;2 ISO
3 free data, (ESC)Smr;track(CR), the Pmt;3;3 Set track 3 to
density 210) printer will return the data
ISO
c3 (CUSTOM3) in the same format.
c4 (CUSTOM4)

Note: custom2 mode in

function of the data you
would like to read, it's
possible you will have to
remove the reading filter
(See point 5 on command
Pmf for more details).

8
 Parameter Human
Command Parameter 1 Options scope Description Sample
2 meaning

The printer will keep this

information on the no
volatile area.

1 Reading Read Magnetic Track, read track 1

Rmt;1 configuration
Rmt 2 N/A N/A Configurat read the current track Read track 2
Rmt;2
3 ion mode (ISO,...) configuration

Parameter Magnetic Tr Default value

ack Start, set the start Set start track
1 Pmts;1;24
configurati distance value of the value to 48
Pmts 2 24 (default) NA Pmts;2;48 dots
on track coding (value in
3 pmts;3;36 set value to 36
dot, default value 24),
dots
possible range 0 to 1016.

Read current
1 Smr;1 track 1
Communi Sequence Magnetic Re Read current
Smr 2 NA NA Smr;2 track 2
cation ad
3 Smr;3 Read current
track 3

Communi Sequence Start, Initiate Start

Ss NA NA NA Ss
cation a Sequence command sequence

Glossary
ASCII TABLE:

Buffer: Is a region of a physical memory storage used to temporarily store

data while it is being moved from one place to another. Typically, the data is
stored in a buffer as it is retrieved from an input device (i.e magnetic track)
or just before it is sent to an output device (data to computer).
Coercivity:

There are 2 types of available magnetic stripes cards. High-coercivity (HiCo)

and Low-coercivity (LoCo). Lo-Co cards generally have a light brown mag
stripe, Hi-Co will have a black mag stripe (colors may differ depending on
the manufacturer). A correct magnetic encoding requires to set the
coercivity according to the card's specifications (mostly described on the
packaging).

9
 Generic Hico card Generic Loco card

Dot: Unit measure for Evolis printer. 1 mm = 11,8 dots.

ISO 7811 standard:

Track Field
Track density Authorized character set maximum number of characters
# separator

Alphanumerical :
A-Z (CAPITAL)
210 bpi (Bits per 79 (including Start, Stop and LRC
Track 1 ^ 0-9
inch) characters)
ASCII TABLE 20-95 except ?
character

Numerical 0-9 40 (including Start, Stop and LRC

Track 2 = 75 bpi
ASCII TABLE 48-62 characters)

Numerical 0-9 107 (including Start, Stop and LRC

Track 3 = 210 bpi
ASCII TABLE 48-62 characters)

Official documentation available at iso.org here (charged).

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Disclaimer
While Evolis makes every effort to deliver high quality products, we do not guarantee that our products
are free from defects. Our SDK, samples and demo software, any content or documentation delivered in
this package (Evolis SDK) is provided "as is". The use of it is at your own risk.

Evolis makes no warranties as to performance, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or any
other warranties whether expressed or implied.

No oral or written communication from or information provided by Evolis shall create a warranty.

Under no circumstances shall Evolis be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential
damages resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use this Software Development Kit (named Evolis
SDK), even if Evolis has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Evolis - 14 Avenue de la Fontaine - ZI Angers-Beaucouzé 49070 Beaucouzé - France

T +33 (0) 241 367 606 - F +33 (0) 241 367 612 - info@evolis.com
www.evolis.com