MAGTEK MAGNETIC CARD SCANNER

Hi.

A model number would be good to know, also a link to the makers site if you have that.

You say drivers load when you plug it in, what about any utility software to configure what happens when you swipe a card?

Also, if you look in Windows Control panel, system, hardware etc, can you see the drivers as being loaded and "happy" with no errors or issues (yellow triangle with a ! in the middle.)

There are many of these (and similar) things, that appear on the system as a COM port, so you need your app, to be able to connect to that, for it to work.    Notepad just wont do that, you need a termial emulator or similar tool to check that out.   Also, Windows has an anoying habbit of reassigning any such COM port number to a different value each time you connect it, though that can be fixed.

Are the drivers formaly certified as OK for Win7 (what version of 7 do you have, also 32 or 64 bit?)  There are some issues with earlier software and the way it installs on 7, plus what 7 allows to be done within a programs own filespace.

More info needed please.

Cheers

DaveB.

21040140

sorry windows 7 64 bit enterprise

Hi..

I'd want to check that there software and drivers are OK on Win7(64) before you back yourself into a corner.  There is a lot of stuff out there that doesnt play well with 64 bit windows.

Have you tried any of these?
http://www.magtek.com/support/software/demo_programs/

Also, looking in the tec ref doc.
http://www.magtek.com/docs/99875191.pdf

There is mention that though it is a HID (Human Interface Device) class device, it by default does not emulate a keyboard, but can be made to do so.

Have a good read and play with the demo programs, then let us know what if anything is bad.

Regards.

DaveB.

the demo program is working, so i have to configure the device to act like a keyboard ?

If you want it to send data into something like Notepad, or other app where the keyboard would be used, yes I guess so.   I'm just working through that document myself out of curiosity.

Or...   You (or someone you hire) will need to create a small software utility to get the data from the card reader, and put it somewhere your other app's can get at it.

DaveB.

there are two primary types of card swipers..

HID and keyboard emulation.  You have the HID version, which means that a custom program/script must be written to receive the data.  This type will NOT swipe data to a text file for import into a program.  Based on my experience with these, depending on what you are trying to do with them, you are probably going to have to either send it back for the keyboard emulation style model:   21040110

Hmmm...

Looking at...
http://www.magtek.com/products_V2/card_readers/SureSwipe/usb/standard_configurations.asp

There are two base configurations of these things.  You have the HID version, not the keyboard emulation version.

It'd be worth contacting Magtek to find out how to reconfigure it (I didn't see anything in that document) or exchange it for a Keyboard emulation version.

DaveB.

That'll be model 21040145 (black) or 21040147 (white) then.

DaveB.

Though page 2 (page 8/32 in the pdf)

http://www.magtek.com/docs/99875191.pdf

Does imply that they can be changed from one mode to the other, if it was made after June the 1st 2005.

Magtek should be able to tell you how, or provide a utility to do so perhaps.

DaveB.

@g8kbv:
We were both trying to get at the same thing, sorry for bumping in the middle of your post.

<<G>>

Hope you have things working as you need now.

Thanks for the points.

DaveB