Card Reader

These settings relate to the decoding of the card number read by the RFID reader, plus other options related to timeouts of the messages sent from the server to the device.

The card number conversion options cause Sentinel to convert the card number read by the RFID reader at the device from one representation to another, thereby ensuring that the card ID matches the number defined in the user settings.

These settings are particularly useful for large organizations that already use magnetic cards for employees (for door access, time card machines, etc.). Since many of these devices interpret card data differently (as hex, binary, etc.), and since you certainly don't want to have to manually add each user’s card ID to the Sentinel database, these settings allow you to interpret existing card data correctly.

To keep your changes, click Save.

 

Parameter

Explanation

Timeouts

The period (in seconds) that the device displays messages on the screen before it resets to the default “Enter Code or Place Card” message.

  • Information – Number of seconds to display information messages (such as “No jobs waiting for user”).

  • Error – Number of seconds to display error messages (such as “Unidentified card was used”).

  • Selection – Number of seconds to display the selection of print jobs released when the print option for the user is Select by keypad.

  • Copy – Number of seconds that the copier device remains open for the user to make copies. This timeout renews after each copy is made.

Read characters from card - Right

Takes only the X right-most characters of the card number. See example.

Read characters from card - Left

Takes only the X left-most characters of the card number. See example.

Ignore Card Leading Zero Count

Does not count leading zeros on the card number.

Increment constant number

Adds the increment figure to the card number.

Complete Card ID to [X] digits

Fills in leading zeros for the card number received by the server to the selected number of digits.

ax+b=y

Special customisation option. For use by Sentinel support.

Formula: C& X

 

Adds the value X to whatever information arrives from the card, regardless of the protocol used.

Use Wigand 32

 

Causes Sentinel to convert the information arriving from the card using the Wigand 32 protocol.

Use Wigand 64

 

Causes Sentinel to convert the information arriving from the card using the Wigand 64 protocol.

Use ISO 7Bit

Causes Sentinel to convert the information arriving from the card using the ISO 7Bit protocol. Usually used with magnetic Track 1 cards.

Magstrip Card

Select if you are using a customized magnetic card format.

Convert Decimal to Hex

Converts the card number from decimal to hexadecimal representation.

Convert Hex to Decimal.

Converts the card number from hexadecimal to decimal representation.

Ignore card leading zero

Ignores all leading zeros read by the card reader.

Run Script on card insert

Allows scripts written in the LUA scripting language to run each time the system identifies that a card is inserted.

 

Example of card number conversion: In this scenario, none of the card number conversion parameters are selected, and a user’s ID card has 15 digits. To match the card numbers with the existing numbers in the active directory, Sentinel needs only the middle nine digits. Set Read characters from card (Right) to 12 and Read characters from card (Left) to 9. This leaves only the middle nine characters of the card.

Here is the original card number:

123456789012345

Sentinel reads the first 12 characters starting at the right…

   456789012345

…and then reads the first 9 starting from the

   456789012