Printek Emulation
Example: This escape sequence requests the printer’s model and revision level.
Escape Sequence: ESC P )
Hexadecimal: 1B 50 29
A sample string returned in response to this command is shown below and indicates that the printer is a model
is an MtP400 SL with a Magnetic Card Reader, and is at hardware revision level “A”.
Printer/Version: ESC ) 4 0 3 A CR LF
Hexadecimal: 1B 29 34 30 33 41 0D 0A
Read Magnetic Card Data ESC M n1 n2 t CR
If the optional Magnetic Card Reader (MCR) is installed in the printer, this command instructs the printer to
read data from a card such as a credit card or driver’s license. The MCR is a three track reader designed to read
magnetically encoded data conforming to ANSI/ISO 7810, 7811 standards. The card specifications are listed
below.
Track 1
ISO1 (IATA)
Track 2
ISO2 (ABA)
Track 3
ISO3 (MINTS)
Recording Density 210 bpi 75 bpi 210 bpi
Data Bits 7 5 7
Characters Per Track 79 40 107
Card Thickness 0.030” ±0.003” (0.76mm ±0.08mm)
The Read Magnetic Card Data command to allows an application to request that the MCR reads one, two, or
three tracks simultaneously within a specified number of seconds, where n1 n2 are ASCII digits that specify the
number of seconds to wait for the user to successfully swipe a card before a “timeout” error occurs, and t is an
ASCII digit specifying the tracks to be read.
Specifying a timeout value of “00” disables the timeout timer and allows the user to swipe a card until a
successful read is accomplished or until a cancel command (ESC C) is sent by the host.
t Tracks To Be Read
1 Track 1
2 Track 2
3 Track 3
4 Tracks 1 & 2
5 Tracks 2 & 3
6 Tracks 1, 2 & 3
After the printer receives the command, the MCR indicator will begin to flash indicating to the user that (s)he
may now pass the card to be read through the MCR slot near the front of the printer. The card may be swiped
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