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microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.aspnet.mobile

Magnetic Strip Reader API for CF

RedEye

9/7/2005 6:03:00 AM

Hello,

I need to toss together a quick pocket pc app that uses a magnetic strip
reader as it's primary method of input. I was wonder if there are any open
source API's for this.

Thanks for any help!

Bryan


5 Answers

Ken Tucker [MVP]

9/7/2005 10:12:00 AM

0

Hi,

You would have to check with the manufacturer of the magnetic strip
reader for any api. Usually stuff like that is hardware dependant.

Ken
---------------------------------
"RedEye" <redeye_51@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:O7PnLH3sFHA.3264@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I need to toss together a quick pocket pc app that uses a magnetic strip
> reader as it's primary method of input. I was wonder if there are any open
> source API's for this.
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> Bryan
>


ShadowMan

9/7/2005 12:40:00 PM

0

Bryan,

There was an article in MAKE magazine vol. #1 about mag strip readers.
The article mentioned a GPL project called "stripesnoop". The home page is
at http://stripesnoop.source.... Hope that helps some.

Lynn


"RedEye" <redeye_51@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:O7PnLH3sFHA.3264@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I need to toss together a quick pocket pc app that uses a magnetic strip
> reader as it's primary method of input. I was wonder if there are any open
> source API's for this.
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> Bryan
>


ECathell

9/7/2005 12:46:00 PM

0

if its anything like scanning barcodes, you don't really need an api, you
just need to know the format the reader presents the data in. For instance,
when we scan a barcode it is passed to my program on the scanner as plain
text that I then programmatically decode into its inherent information. This
is both for Human Readable and Non-Human readable barcodes.

--
--Eric Cathell, MCSA
"RedEye" <redeye_51@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:O7PnLH3sFHA.3264@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I need to toss together a quick pocket pc app that uses a magnetic strip
> reader as it's primary method of input. I was wonder if there are any open
> source API's for this.
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> Bryan
>


Dick Grier

9/7/2005 2:25:00 PM

0

Hi,

All of the magstripe readers that I have used with Pocket PCs are serial
devices. For my own applications I use CFSerialIO, which is a free download
from my homepage.

Naturally, you need to know the data format that is used on the card
itself -- there are many possibilities, some standard and some "not." I
have descriptions of most of the "standard" ones in my book (see below).

Dick

--
Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 4th
Edition ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages) published July 2004. See
www.mabry.com/vbpgser4 to order.

Dick Grier

9/7/2005 2:31:00 PM

0

BTW, since you multiposted this, you may want to know about other devices
than Compact Framework.

IMO, useful magstripe readers output data using a serial connection, or are
a specialized USB HID device that DOES NOT emulate a keyboard wedge (Magtek
makes the only one that I know of that meets this requirement). Keyboard
wedge devices send data to the current text or edit window. Thus, you need
to add code in the (for example) keypress event for that window. Keeping
focus to that window can be a painful experience, so that is why I do not
use them.

Dick

--
Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 4th
Edition ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages) published July 2004. See
www.mabry.com/vbpgser4 to order.