Secure Font Module User s Guide Source Technologies, Inc. 628 Griffith Road Charlotte, NC 28217 www.sourcetech.com 800-922-8501
Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information contained in this manual is complete and accurate. Changes, typos, and technical inaccuracies will be corrected in subsequent publications. This publication is subject to change without notice. The information and descriptions contained in this manual cannot be copied, disseminated, or distributed without the express written consent of Source Technologies, Inc. No liability, expressed or implied, will be assumed by Source Technologies, Inc. or its dealers or affiliates for any damage resulting from use of this information. Additional copies of this publication can be received through the Marketing Department of Source Technologies. All other trade names or products used in this manual are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Source Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. Written and produced by Source Technologies, Inc. 1st Edition, May 1998
FCC Compliance Statement: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Source Technologies Incorporated can void the user s authority to operate the equipment. When special accessories such as shielded cables or cables with ferrites are included, or required in order to meet FCC emissions limits, these accessories must be used.
Table of Contents Introduction...1 Package of Materials...1 Installation...2 Figure 1: Back of Module...2 Operation...3 Figure 2: Front of Module...3 Using Resources With Your Application...4 Figure 3: Sample Font List...4 Technical Support...4 i
Introduction The Source Technologies Secure Font Module (SFM) is an external printer storage device used for storing resources such as fonts, signatures, electronic overlays, and logos. This unique device offers physical security that conventional FLASH cannot offer. The Secure Font Module uses a PCMCIA card to store resources. It can be removed from the module when not in use. The module is a small box that resides on the back or side of a printer by a velcro attachment. It is attached via parallel cable to the printer and can also be parallel attached to a PC, allowing data to pass through the module. Package of Materials The Secure Font Module package includes the following items: - Secure Font Module unit - Parallel cable with pin 18 active 1 - One (1) 9-15 VDC power supply - One (1) PCMCIA card The PCMCIA card is pre-programmed with Source Technologies Secure Numeric Font and the E13B MICR font for use in check printing applications. Additional resources such as form overlays and signatures can also be stored on the card. Contact your sales representative for more information. 1 The enclosed parallel cable has pin 18 active to enable the unit to draw power from the printer. Since this feature does not work with all laser printers a separate power supply is also included. 1
Installation The enclosed parallel cable enables the SFM to draw power from most printers. If your printer supports pin 18 at 300mA 5 V +/- 5%, you do not have to use the included 9-15 VDC power supply that comes with the font module. 1) Ensure you received all components listed in the package of materials. 2) Power-off your printer 1. 3) (optional) Connect the parallel cable from your PC to the back end of the Secure Font Module 2. (See diagram below). 4) Connect one end of the enclosed parallel cable to the back of your printer and the other end to the to printer port on the SFM (see diagram). 5) Power on the printer. Figure 3 on page 3 shows the location of the power indicator light. If this light goes on after you power on the printer, you do not need to connect the power supply. Your printer is providing power to the module. If the power light does not go on you must connect the power supply. Follow these instructions: 1) Power-off the printer 1. 2) Connect the power supply to the SFM and a standard outlet. The power indicator light will go on. 3) Power on the printer. It is not a requirement that printing be done via parallel port. Any resources downloaded from the PCMCIA card will appear as soft resources to any print stream from any interface (serial or network). 1 CAUTION: The printer must be powered-off prior to the installation of the Secure Font Module. Installing the font module with the printer powered-on may result in printer and/or font module damage. 2 This connection is only required if the printer was parallel connected to a PC. This connection allows data to pass through the SFM to the printer with no effect to the output. Figure 1: Back of Secure Font Module.. To Computer To Printer Cable to PC (optional) Power Supply connector Cable to printer 2
Operation Once the Secure Font Module is set up correctly and the printer is powered-on, you are then ready to use the system. The PCMCIA card from Source Technologies is programmed with the resources for your application. When the card is inserted, the resources on the card are automatically downloaded to your printers RAM, where they can then be used for your application. The active light (see diagram below) indicates resources are being downloaded to printer RAM. Once the card is removed, the resources in RAM are purged and are no longer available to the printer. The power indicator light remains lit as long as the system has power. The active light indicator stays lit only for a few seconds when the card is first inserted into the module, and intermittently flashes when no card is present. Once your print job is complete, remove the card. All your resources have been erased from RAM. To test that the resources are no longer available to your printer, print a PCL font list. Consult your printer documentation for specific instructions (the following instructions are for Lexmark Optra printers only). From the Optra printer operator panel: Toggle through the menus button Select test menu Toggle through the test menu Select print fonts Toggle through the fonts menu Select PCL Fonts A font list will indicate all fonts in your printer as well as resources on the PCMCIA card. To include resources on your PCMCIA card, insert the card into the module prior to printing the font list. Removing the card and again printing a font list will show the resources are no longer available. An example of a font resource printed on a font list is on page 4. Figure 2: Front of Secure Font Module PCMCIA card slot Power indicator (lights when system has power) Active light (lights when resources are being downloaded, intermittently flashes when no card is present) 3
Using Resources With Your Application Once the Secure Font Module is correctly installed, and a print PCL fonts test is successful, you can test SFM resources from the font listing within your host application. Below is a sample print of a signature resource. It shows the variables given in a font list. There is a call string, a font ID (700), and a sample of the printed resource. Figure 3: A Signature Font Resource The following is an example of how the signature call string is placed within your application. Example: esc>*p500x500y<esc>(700xa X - coordinate Y - coordinate Font ID A - calls the font to be printed This sample command sequence can be placed within your host datastream and will result in a signature printed in the x and y coordinates specified in the call string. In this example, the signature will only print if the PCMCIA card is installed. Try removing the card and sending the same datastream to the printer. Technical Support If you have questions or problems related to this product please contact Source Technologies Technical Support at 1.800.922.8501 (select option #1 for the Technical Support Department) or e-mail techsupport@sourcetech.com. 4