Introduction; About This Document; About Sdks; About Terminology - Magtek iDynamo 5 Gen III Programmer's Manual

1 - Introduction

1 Introduction
1.1

About This Document

This document describes how to communicate with iDynamo 5 Gen III secure card reader (SCR) using
the MP application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
1.2

About SDKs

MagTek provides convenient SDKs and corresponding documentation for many programming languages
and operating systems. The API libraries included in the SDKs wrap the details of the connection in an
interface that conceptually parallels the device's internal operation, freeing software developers to focus
on the business logic, without having to deal with the complexities of platform APIs for connecting to the
various available connection types, communicating using the various available protocols, and parsing the
various available data formats. Information about using MagTek wrapper APIs is available in separate
documentation, including D99875535 Secure Card Reader Authenticator API PROGRAMMING
REFERENCE MANUAL.
The SDKs and corresponding documentation include:
•
Functions for sending the direct commands described in this manual
•
Wrappers for commonly used commands that further simplify development
•
Sample source code to demonstrate how to communicate with the device using the direct commands
described in this manual
To download the SDKs and documentation, search
documentation for the programming languages and platforms you need, or contact MagTek Support
Services for assistance.
Software developers also have the option to revert to direct communication with the device using libraries
available in the chosen development framework. For example, custom software written in Visual Basic
or visual C++ may make API calls to the standard Windows USB HID driver. This document provides
information and support for developing host software using that method.
MagTek has also developed software that demonstrates direct communication with the device, which
software developers can use to test the device and to which provides a starting point for developing other
software. For more information, see the MagTek web site, or contact your reseller or MagTek Support
Services.
1.3

About Terminology

The general terms "device" and "host" are used in different, often incompatible ways in a multitude of
specifications and contexts. For example, "host" may have different a meaning in the context of USB
communication than in the context of networked financial transaction processing. In this document,
"device" and "host" are used strictly as follows:
•
Device refers to the Secure Card Reader Authenticator (SCRA) that receives and responds to the
command set specified in this document; device refers to iDynamo 5 Gen III.
•
Host refers to the piece of general-purpose electronic equipment the device is connected or paired to,
which can send data to and receive data from the device. Host types include PC and Mac
computers/laptops, tablets, smartphones, teletype terminals, and even test harnesses. In many cases
iDynamo 5 Gen III| Secure Card Reader | Programmer's Manual (COMMANDS)
www.magtek.com
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for "SDK" and select the SDK and