Reading data from a Magnetic card

[TodBrew]

I am trying to read data from a Magnetic Card (eg ID number) in order to use that information to query a database SQL or Oracle to match records contained in the database. I just would like to know the classes and packages involved as well as an overall direction. Any help would be appreciated. I am an intermediate Java programmer, but cannot put the program together. I have been out of the circle for a while.


Thanks,

Todd

 

[Stevoie]

I have done a bit of work with a magnetic card reader, it's called a keyboard wedge and essentally you can treat it like a user entering a string of characters and hitting enter. you can parse what the reader entered to determine the id from it.
The readers usually return a couple of error values if something went wrong while the card was swiped.
To prove a point, open notepad and swipe a card, see what appears. StevoIE

 

[idarke]

Some card readers don't allow a keyboard wedge - the ones I've used in the past only had a serial connection. If this is the case, you'll have to use the java comm library:

http://java.sun.com/products/javacomm/

If you have a choice, though, go with the keyboard wedge.

 

[TodBrew]

Thanks for the input. It helps

Todd