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Data Formatting Specifications Print E-mail

CPS Cards accepts the following media

  1. FTP Transmission
  2. VPN Tunnel
  3. CD-ROM
  4. DVD
  5. ZIP Disk
  6. Floppy Disk
  7. USB Media Device

NOTE:  All data files received must be accompanied by some form of legend/matrix explaining what files relate to what card types (if more than one) and/or what fields in the data are to be personalized on the card or card carrier.

FTP Transmission Instructions

  1. FTP to Allentown, PA:  Please contact your customer service rep at (610) 231-1860 for the following:
           a.   IP Address
           b.   User ID
           c.   Password
           d.   E-mail Address

Or:

  1. FTP to Addison, IL:  Please contact your customer service rep at (630) 543-2630 for the following:
           a.   IP Address
           b.   User ID
           c.   Password
           d.   E-mail Address

NOTE:  Please send to the site you are working with for production: Allentown, PA or Addison, IL

Standard Operating Procedures for FTP/SFTP

Here are a few things to consider when requesting information about using one of our FTP services to upload and download files:

1.   Would you need to upload the files via Standard FTP or Secure FTP?
a.   Standard FTP:
i.   Standard FTP is the most common way to transfer files.  This service is not encrypted at the connection but encrypted files can be sent via Standard FTP.
b.   Secure FTP:
i.   Secure FTP is another way to transfer files but on a secure level.  We use SSH (secure channel) here, so the connection (or data stream) is encrypted and the end user does not have to encrypt data because it is all done at the connection level.
2.   How are you connecting to our FTP/SFTP server?
a.   There are many ways to access our FTP/SFTP server, which are stated below and are the most common and free:
i.    FileZilla
ii.   WS_FTP
iii.  Internet (web based)
iv.  Command line
3.   File Size and Limitation
a.   There is no file size limitation for uploading files to our servers but the bigger the file the longer it will take to upload.  By compressing the files the byte size becomes much smaller and are easier to deal with when uploading to our FTP server.  We use a couple methods to compress files here, like the following:
i.    Winzip
ii.   PKZip
iii.  WinRAR
iv.  PGP Encrypted
v.   Windows built-in compressed (zipped) folders

Automation System

Overview:  We now offer an automation option for your application needs. A typical setup would consist of a secure folder being created on our FTP for you. Next, you would deposit your data files in that folder. Our automation system senses when you have placed new files and it begins to process them; within minutes your data is prepared and ready for the production floor phase. Our automation system also offers CASS for your mailing. PGP encryption is also available for extremely sensitive applications.

Requirements:  Your data should follow the layouts specified above for fixed width data. You may also compress (zip) your files into an archive if you wish; this will save transmission time. It’s good practice to give your files (inside the archive) a unique name each time you post data. A file such as “Platinum_Batch002_PO82475.txt” can indicate that this file is for your platinum members, it is the second batch run, and reflects your PO#82475. Any special record formatting/modifying that is needed can be incorporated, but this must be discussed ahead of time. Contact your CSR to have you own secure folder setup on our FTP.

NOTE:  Data in the form of Word or Excel documents should be avoided, as they require an additional conversion; plain text files are best.

Floppy Disc/CD ROM/USB/ZIP Disc Formatting Instructions

  1. IBM/ISO9660 ASCII only
  2. Fixed length fields/records
  3. Disc must contain all data to be personalized.  Note: there must be one record for each card to be produced.
  4. A record layout defining each field and its usage must be included.
  5. All discs must be externally labeled with filename, customer name, card number or name, and record count.  Tapes should be labeled with the owner’s name and address to facilitate their return after completion of the job.

Record Layout Specifications

A typical record contains 3 types of information:

1.   Record Index or Search Code
a.   This is a 6-digit number located at the beginning of every record, it is used to identify and locate each record.  The first 6 positions of Record #1 are 000001, record #2 is 000002 and the search number is incremented by one for each successive record until the end of the file.  There should not be any missing search numbers nor should the numbering sequence be restarted within the file.  Search numbers are not typically part of the personalized data.
2.   Data to be personalized
a.   This is defined as data that will be personalized onto the card or the fulfillment carrier.  This section of the record is comprised of one or more fields filled with data to be personalized onto the card and/or carrier.
b.   The length of a field is equal to the maximum amount of characters allowed on its associated line
i.   For Embossing
1.   OCR lines are 19 characters (these characters are larger and are used mainly for card numbers)
2.   Alphanumeric lines are 28 characters in length (these characters are smaller and are commonly used for names, addresses, etc.)
ii.  For Thermal and Inkjet Printing
1.   This depends on the font type and size and will be determined on an individual basis, based on job specifications
c.  Data must appear in the field as it will appear on the card or fulfillment carrier.  Spaces must be used for offsetting & centering data and for filling a field when necessary.
3.   Delimiter
a.   Each field is preceded/separated by a special character, e.g. the tilde “~” (HEX 7E)

Data Layout Examples

Sample Record Embossing/Thermal/ inkjet Printing:

Each record must be a fixed length and each field within that record must be a fixed length.

Embossing jobs can only accept the following characters:
(all other characters are considered illegal)

Numeric
Alpha (upper case only)
Special
 1234567890
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
/.,-&’

NOTE:  Embossing lines of OCR7B must be numeric.

Each record must end with a carriage return and line feed (HEX 0D and HEX 0A).

Here are three samples records as an example (fixed width style):

Field # 1 is a 6 digit record index/search code field. (begins: column 1, ends: column 6)
Field # 2 is a 28 digit name field. (begins: column 8, ends: column 35)
Field # 3 is an 8 digit account number field. (begins: column 37, ends: column 44)
Field # 4 is a 5 digit expiration date field. (begins: column 49, ends: column 53)


Magnetic Encoding

If the file requires THREE TRACKS OF ENCODING, the following layout would be used (example only). Positions 1-53 would remain as indicated above.

Position Field Length Description
54
55-130
131
132-168
169
170-273
 1
76 (MAX)
1
37 (MAX)
1
104 (MAX)		 field delimiter
data to be encoded on track1
field delimiter
data to be encoded on track 2
field delimiter
data to be encoded on track 3

NOTE:  Start/Header and End/Trailer sentinels are added automatically by the ISO certified encoders (this includes the ending checksum/LRC character).


Carrier Printing

If the record requires CARRIER PRINTING and/or CASS, the following layout would be used (example only). Positions 1-273 would remain as indicated above.

Position Field Length Description
274
275-294
295
296-325
326
327-366
367
368-397
398
399-428
429
430-449
450
451-462		 1
20 (MAX)
1
30 (MAX)
1
40 (MAX)
1
40 (MAX)
1
30 (MAX)
1
20 (MAX)
1
12 (MAX)		 field delimiter
data field for first name
field delimiter
data field for last name
field delimiter
data field for address 1
field delimiter
data field for address 2
field delimiter
data field for city
field delimiter
data field for state
field delimiter
data field zip


For jobs requiring more or less fields just omit or add delimiter characters and data as needed. Feel free to contact CPS for data samples if you are unsure.

ISO Magstripe Specifics

IATA (Track 1)

Field Name Description
Start sentinel
Format Code
Data
Field separator
Space
Name separator
End sentinal		 % (HEX 25)
A or B
Alpha/Numeric 1-76 Characters
^ (HEX 5E)
(HEX 20)
/ (HEX 2F)
? (HEX 3F)

CODE CHART – of allowable characters for track 1 encoding

Character/Symbol

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T		 U
V
W
X
Y
Z
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
Space
Name separator
Field separator

ABA (TRACK 2)

Field Name Description
Start Sentinel
Data
Field separator
End Sentinal		 ; (HEX 3B)
Numeric Only 1-37 Characters
= (HEX 3D)
? (HEX 3F)

CODE CHART – of allowable characters for track 2 encoding

Character/Symbol

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Field Separator


MINTS (TRACK 3)

Field Name Description
Start Sentinel
Data
Field separator
End Sentinal		 _; (HEX 5F and HEX 3B) 
Numeric Only 1-104 Characters
= (HEX 3D)
? (HEX 3F)

CODE CHART – of allowable characters for track 3 encoding

Character/Symbol

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Field Separator

 
 

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