Scanning Devices Inc.
Sensors, Instruments and Controls 		111 Terrace Hall Avenue
Burlington, Massachusetts (USA) 01803
1-781-272-5135
FAX: 1-781-272-4856
Email us: mail@scanningdevices.com

Installing and Setting Up MagStripe Authorization

Table of Contents

Installation
Setup FAQ
1. Where is the authorization data in the spreadsheet?
2. How should the data be organized?
3. How does the data get to the Palm?
4. How do I setup my Palm?
5. What data is saved?
6. Where does the data end-up on PC?
Operating MagStripe Authorize
7. How do I read cards?
8. What are all these other things on the Palm screen?

Part I - Installation

Locate the file "AuthorizeInstall.exe" on the distribution media. Double click on it to start the installation process.

You will be asked to stop the Palm Hot-Synch Program (VERY IMPORTANT). If the Hot-Sycn icon is visible on your system tray, then the Hot-Sync program is active and installation cannot be completed. Make the icon disappear by clicking on it and selecting "Exit" from the pop-up menu. The icon should disappear and you can continue the installation.

The Authorize installer will ask you which Palm Handhelds you would like to include in the MagStripe Authorization program. Select as many of your Palms (at least one) that you would like to be registered by clicking on "Not Active" and turning it into "Active User". Click OK and the installer will do the rest automatically. It will set up directories and register the hot-sycn conduit for each Palm you select.

After the installer completes its work, start the Hot-Sync Program (click Start -> Programs -> Palm Desktop -> Hot Synch Manager). Click on the Hot-Sycn icon on the system tray and select "Custom" from the pop-up menu. Select your Palm in the upper dialog box and locate/highlight "Authorize" in the lower dialog box listing active conduit applications. Click "Change" to display a dialog box giving you Hot-Sycn action selections for your Authorize conduit. Each selection applies only to the Palm Handheld selected. You may have different action items for different Palms.

Back to the top.

Part II - Setup

This section covers setting up an Authorization List using Microsoft Excel, transfering it to Palm and retrieving Authorization Card Data from Palm to PC.

Frequenty Asked Questions (and Answers)

1. Where is the authorization data in the spreadsheet?

The authorization data field is in the first column of the spreadsheet (column A). Any data in columns to the right of column A will be treated as comments and will not be included in the database copied to Palm during a hot-synch. Comments may be useful in building the master authorization lists.

You will need to setup your Palm to locate the matching authorization key in the cards you are reading. Palm setup is described in section 4 How do I setup my Palm?.

Back to the top.

2. How should the data be organized?

When the Palm Authorization application is launched, the authorization database is sorted into ascending order by authorization key. If the database is already in ascending order, the application launch occurs quickly as no sort processing is required. But if extensive sorting is required, you may notice a delay.

To make the Palm Application run efficiently, sort the authorization key list using excel on PC before saving it. PC has much more compute and memory resources and can sort quickly compared to Palm. Select all your data, click and select Data - Sort - Column A - Sort by Ascending/No Header Row - Options: Sort-Top-to-Bottom. This action puts the master authorization database in a sequence that allows fast searching when a card is read.

Back to the top.

3. How does the data get to the Palm?

1. Save your spreadsheet as "Outbox.csv" in the MagStripeData Folder under the Palm you are going to use to authorize entry:

...\Palm\"Palm User Name"\MagStripe\Outbox.csv

2. Configure the MagStripeConduit Action to copy the Outbox to Palm.

System Tray click Hot-Sync icon - Click Custom - Highlight "Palm User Name" Highlight Authorize Conduit - Click Change. Select Copy under "Data found on PC".

3. When you next perform a hotsynch with "Palm User Name", the Authorize Conduit will copy whatever is in the Outbox to Palm as the Master Authorization Database.

This method allows you to maintain multiple authorization database with names which are meaningful for events. Create an authorization spreadsheet with a meaningful name: "BallGame.csv". Edit or update this spreadsheet until it is time to authorize admission to the "BallGame". Make a final review of the "BallGame.csv" authorization spreadsheet, then save it or move it to "Outbox.csv" for the specific Palm you are using. This makes a copy for hot-sync'ing to Palm. Hot-synch it to your Palm.

There is a sample "Outbox.csv" file on the install disk "Other Info" to illustrate the use of comments and identifiers.

Back to the top.

4. How do I setup my Palm?

There are three preference menus which allow you to specify how MagStripe Authorize reads and processes cards. Access the menus from the Main Authorize Screen using the Palm menu icon.

Screening Action lets you select what process is used for authorization:

  • No Authorization Required

    All cards are accepted - card data is saved with authorization code "P". The OK message is displayed for all cards.

  • Check Authorization List

    Authorize Cards listed in the PC prepared list - if the card's authorization code is found in the list, it will be authorized.

  • Authorize Once Only

    Examine both the prepared list and the already accepted list - if the card is on the prepared list and is NOT found in the already accepted list, it will be authorized.

Image of Authorization Menu

Key Selection lets you identify the authorization key location on the card. Select track and field-within-track from the checkboxes. First Character specifies the character location where the authorization key starts. It does not have to be the first character in a card field. Key Length is the number of characters in the authorization key. This must be the same as the length in characters of the authorization key you enter in the PC generated list.

To help verify your key selection, you can use the Show button on the Palm screen to read a card and display the card data. If you have selected one of authorization methods, the authorization key will be highlighted in the display. If you have setup to authorize all cards, the authorization key is not used.

Note: if you need an authorization key which cannot be specified with these choices, contact Scanning Devices for advice and customization.

Image of Key Selection Menu

Reader Setup defines the card encoding and reader information. Scanning Devices 2500 Series Readers are the current version. Card tracks can be either alpha=numeric (letters and numbers) or numeric (numbers only). You can experiment with this setup and display card data with the Show button.

Image of Reader Setup Menu

Back to the top.

5. What data is saved?

Every card that is read is saved in the Palm Database and may be hot-sycn'ed to PC. Data is organized by spreadsheet columns and rows, one row for each card. Columns are:

1. Date and Time of reading
2. Authorization result "Y" for authorized, "N" for not found on authorization list or found on the admitted list, "P" for authorization by-passed, not checked.
3. Data used for authorization
4. Data from track 1 on the card.
5. Data from track 2 on the card.
6. Data from track 3 on the card.

Back to the top.

6. Where does the data end-up on PC?

The Authorize Conduit delivers data to the same directory where the Outbox.csv file is located. Data is in the file:

...\Palm\"Palm User Name"\MagStripe\MagStripeDataN.csv

You can select where the data goes from the Conduit Action Selection System Tray click Hot-Sync icon - Click Custom - Highlight "Palm User Name" Highlight Authorize Conduit - Click Change. Make you selection in the lower portion of the dialog box.

It may be appended to end of a file, overwrite a file or make a new file with the next index number. If you select the index number option, it will appear as the "N" in the file name above.

Back to the top.

Part III - Operating MagStripe Authorize

7. How do I read cards?

Locate the Authorize icon on the Palm Application Launch screen. Tap it to start the program.

Clip the Palm into the magstripe reader. Hold the reader, not the Palm. This will allow you to swipe the card through the reader without interrupting the connection between the Palm the reader.

Tap the test button to check if the palm and reader are connected properly.

Tap the screen to read a card. Some like to use the corner of the card as a "stylus" to tap, others use a thumb or finger.

Swipe the card from right to left.

Authorize does its work and pops up a graphic depicting the result.

Tap on the graphic to acknowledge and you are ready to read the next card.

Back to the top.

8. What are all these other things on the Palm screen?

The application works from two screens and three menus.

The Main Screen has a four data fields:

1. Database content - The number of cards read and saved in the database.

2. Function - Prompts with what you should do next like "Tap Screen to Read"

3. Key - authorization key read from the card

4. Result - of the authorization process like "Not on file".

It has two graphics depicting "GO" (the card is authorized) or "STOP" (not authorized for the reason displayed in the result field)

The Main screen has three buttons:

Three Menus are used to setup the MagStripe Authorize program. Setup is described in section 4 How do I setup my Palm?.

Back to the top.
111 Terrace Hall Avenue
Burlington, Massachusetts (USA) 01803
1-781-272-5135
FAX: 1-781-272-4856
Email us: mail@scanningdevices.com

Scanning Devices Inc.

Home Page | Application Stories | Product Information | News | Trade Shows

 

CopyrightÓ 2002 Scanning Devices Inc