3.4.3 Sending track information
Magnetic track data is sent in the form of text strings from the application software to the printer driver.
The printer driver must be able to differentiate between magnetic track data and the rest of the printable objects, specific
characters must be added to encode the magnetic data. These characters specify the data that is to be encoded, the
tracks to encode, and marks the start and stop of the data string.
In some cases, these specific characters are automatically added to the string of track data by ID software applications.
In most cases the user must carefully add these characters to the string of data. If these characters are not added to the
track data, the text intended for the magnetic track appears as printed text on the card. To avoid this, track information
must be entered as described here.
When entering track data, the ~ (tilde) character is entered first, followed by the track number (1, 2 or 3) on which the
data should encode. This is followed by the data to be encoded.
The first character of this data string must be the track's specific Start Sentinel (SS) and the last character must be the
specific End Sentinel (ES).
The characters or data in between the SS and ES can include all of the valid characters specific to each track.
l
The number of these characters, however, is limited by each track's maximum character capacity.
l
When segmenting track data, the appropriate Field Separator (FS) must be used. The ASCII code and character table
shows the SS, ES, FS and the valid characters defined for each track.
Reviewing the sample string
Track 1: ~1%JULIEANDERSON^1234567890?
Track 2: ~2;1234567890987654321?
Track 3: ~3;1234567890987654321?
Track Start sentinel End sentinel Field separator Valid characters Maximum number of characters
Track 1 % ? ^ ASCII 32-95 (See the table) 78
Track 2 ; ? = ASCII 48-63 (See the table) 39
Track 3 ; ? = ASCII 48-63 (See the table) 106
ASCII code and character table
ASCII code Character ASCII code Character ASCII code Character
32 space 54 6 76 L
33 ! 55 7 77 M
34 56 8 78 N
35 # 57 9 79 O
36 $ 58 : 80 P
37 % 59 ; 81 Q
38 and 60 < 82 R
39 ' 61 = 83 S
40 ( 62 > 84 T
PLT-02931, A.4 57 November 2021
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FARGO® HDP®6600 High Definition Card Printer/Encoder
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