CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javadesktop-applicationmagnetic-cards
Abbas Baydoun
Abbas Baydoun

Reputation: 11

How to get started reading data from magnetic card with a simple bi-direction swipe magnetic card reader?

Let's say I have a USB magnetic card reader

(http://image.ec21.com/image/szttce09/oimg_GC03950917_CA03950946/Triple_Track_USB_Magnetic_Credit_Card_Reader.jpg)

I am running windows 10 on my machine. All I want to do is read data from the magnetic card and use that data in a java Application. How can I do this ? I heard the java communications api is suitable for what I want. How exactly do I use this api or any other api to read data from the card reader and show that data in my java application. Assume I have eclipse opened. Now what? Do I import the communications api ? If yes , what do I do next ? If you can give a simple example of how to do this it would be greatly appreciated.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 2094

Answers (1)

Andrew Williamson
Andrew Williamson

Reputation: 8696

The first thing to do is search the internet for a Java library, which allows you to communicate with that device. Put in the model and serial number, and see what comes up. If nothing comes up, and that is quite likely to happen, you will need to find the native driver, and wrap it in Java.

This is not normally a straight forward or easy process. When dealing with third party hardware, most vendors don't supply a little Java library that you can use. If you can find the native drivers, you can wrap them from C to Java, but you might not even be able to find the drivers at all.

Start by going to the manufacturer's page, and looking around. If you find the driver, great. If you find documentation for the driver, even better. You will need to read the documentation, and understand how to use the driver from C code, which implicitly requires you to have a basic understanding of C.

Then you will need to link it in to Java, using the Java Native Interface.

In Summary: If it didn't say "For Java developers" in the description when you bought it, you're going to have to do a lot of work just to get it usable in Java.

Upvotes: 1

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