Via. S.

Pellico, 24 - 20021 Bollate (MILANO) – ITALY

Tel. +39 02 33261027 Fax +39 02 33261031
Web: www.maticasystem.it
E-mail: info@maticasystem.it

MATICARD
GRAPHIC

OPERATOR MANUAL
Version 1.1

MATICA System S.r.l.

Bollate - Milano – Italy
 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

INDEX

INSTALLATION NOTE......................................................................................................................................................................3
RUN THE PROGRAM .........................................................................................................................................................................3
OPTIONS.................................................................................................................................................................................................4
OPTIONS à PREFERENCES........................................................................................................................................................4
OPTIONS à CARD OPTIONS......................................................................................................................................................5
JOB CREATION ....................................................................................................................................................................................6
DATABASE Menu............................................................................................................................................................................6
Open Database...............................................................................................................................................................................6
Create Database.............................................................................................................................................................................6
Show DB Fields.............................................................................................................................................................................7
Manage Special Fields à Counters ...........................................................................................................................................8
Manage Special Fields à Specials ............................................................................................................................................9
LAYOUT definition ........................................................................................................................................................................10
MAGNETIC STRIPE encoding ...............................................................................................................................................14
MENU “FILE”......................................................................................................................................................................................15

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 2/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

INSTALLATION NOTE
Maticard Graphic, the new software designed to drive the Matica thermal printers, is very easy to
install. Run the “Setup Maticard Graphic.exe” file and follow the instructions.
It is possible to download the software also from our website at the following URL:
www.maticasystem.it/SupportP

RUN THE PROGRAM

Double click on “MatiCard Graphic.exe” and after few seconds the monitor will display:

The figure above shows the main program window where it is possible to define the job and the
card layout as well as all the program parameters.
Before we start using the software, enter the “Options” menu and set all the needed parameters.

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 3/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

OPTIONS
OPTIONS à PREFERENCES

- Language: choose the desired language (English/Italian)

- Parameters Units: define the desired unit of measure (millimeters/inches)
- Default paths:
- Job Path: choose the path where all the jobs will be stored
- Images Path: choose the path where all the images will be placed
- Printer Type: choose the type of printer you will use
- Grid: it is possible to set the grid width and the snap function. Note that if the grid is too
dense it won’t be shown. Appropriate values are from 20 on.

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 4/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

OPTIONS à CARD OPTIONS

- Physical: it is possible to display the chip and the magnetic stripe shapes (it is useful during
card layout definition)
- Print Front/Back side: put a flag in the box if you’ve to print a front/rear layout using a
printer with the flip over module.
- Background Image Front/Back: it is possible to insert a fixed background image on the card
layout
- Card Size: using the thermal printers the card size must be Y=86 – X=54 (ISO standard).
Other measures are for future applications
- Grid: it is possible to display the layout grid choosing the step (size) and the snap function
that allows to line up the objects with the grid

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 5/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

JOB CREATION
At startup MatiCard Graphic shows an empty layout: if the new job will have a fixed background
image please insert it in the card options window. If the job foresees the use of a database linked
with the layout, please enter the “Database” menu.

DATABASE Menu

Open Database

As showed in the above example, in this section it is possible to:

- Define the type of database to open (Access, Excell or ODBC)
- Choose the database
- Choose the table that has to be linked with the layout of the card.
- Choose (optionally) the field based on which the database will be ordered.

Create Database

It is possible to create a new dbase as showed in the following example:

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 6/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

- Choose the path where the new dbase will be stored

- Define the new dbase name
- Define the name of the table
- Define all the needed fields with name and width

To create it press on “Create”.

Show DB Fields

Choosing this item, the program will open another window that shows the fields of the opened
database. In this section it is possible to add or delete a record and to to search for a record.

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 7/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

Manage Special Fields à Counters

If the job requests the printing of a counter, press on “Counters”:

- Name: enter the counter desired name
- Type: Local is a counter specific for the job in use; Global is a counter available for all the
jobs
- Mod: putting the flag on Mod allows to modify the counter in production mode
- Start: set the counter start value
- Step: it’s the counter increasing value for each produced record
- Len: it’s the number of digits that compose the counter
- Filler: it’s the value of the digits that compose the counter
- Current : it’s the current value of the counter (it changes after a production)

See the following example:

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 8/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

Manage Special Fields à Specials

”Special Fields” are composite fields: these are useful when there’s the need to create a field
composed by other fields or part of them.
First of all, type the desired name for the special field (“Track1Composite” for example).
Then:
- Element : choose the fields that will compose the special field
- Position: if it’s 0, the whole field will be part of the special one; if you want to bring only a
part of it, set the starting point
- Text: it’s the fixed value that will be part of the special field
- PO: it’s the sequence with which keep the fields that will compose the special field

See the following example:

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 9/ 15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

LAYOUT definition

Once a database has been opened, the next step is to create the layout. MatiCard Graphic is
provided with the following tool bar:

To open a new job.

To save the current job.

To print the current job.

This button is used to create a text object on the layout; after the definition of the object area, the
following window will open:

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 10/15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

Here it is possible to define all the parameters of the text object. If the text object is defined as
“variable” it is possible to assign a field of the dbase to it.

This button is used to create an image object on the layout; after the definition of the object area, the
following window will open:

Here it is possible to define all the parameters of the image object; the image can be loaded or using
the “acquire from twain” it can be captured with a scanner. If the image object is defined as
“Variable” it is possible to assign a database field to it.
Note: the “Acquire from TWAIN” checkbox and the “TWAIN” button will be visibile only if on
the system there is at least one TWAIN driver installed.

This button is used to create a “rectangle\square” object on the layout; after the definition of the
object area, with the right button of mouse select “Proprieties” and the following window will open:

Here it is possible to define all the parameters of the object.

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 11/15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

This button is used to create a “oval\circle” object on the layout; after the definition of the object
area, with the right button of mouse select “Proprieties” and the following window will open:

Here it is possible to define all the parameters of the object.

This button is used to create a “line” object on the layout; after the definition of the object area, with
the right button of mouse select “Proprieties” and the following window will open:

Here it is possible to define all the parameters of the object.

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 12/15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

This button is used to create a barcode object on the layout; after the definition of the object area,
the following window will open:

Here it is possible to define all the parameters of the barcode object. If the object is defined as
“variable” it is possible to assign a field of the dbase to it.

NOTE: It is not possible to resize the barcode width on the graphic screen. To modify the width
you must change the Narrow Bar Width and/or the Ratio. Note that changing arbitratily the Ratio
could cause the barcode not to be read easily by all readers.

NOTE: once an object has been defined on the layout, it is possible to have access to the proprieties
by clicking with the right button of mouse on it and the following window will be displayed:

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 13/15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

So here we’re able to enter into the object proprieties box, to delete the object, to move the objects
to front/back, to copy\paste the object and to duplicate it.
To delete an object it is possible to use the key “Canc” or “Del” of the keyboard, giving
confirmation.

MAGNETIC STRIPE encoding

If the job requires the encode of the magnetic stripe, choose “Mag Stripe” from the Options menu:

Depending on what we’re going to encode, define the track as “Fixed” or “Variable”; enter the
fixed data or choose a field of the opened dbase.

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 14/15

 MATICA System S.r.l. - Bollate (MILAN) Italy – Tel +39 0233261027 Fax +39 0233261031 www.maticasystem.it

MENU “FILE”

In the menu “File” we can create, open and save a job. The item “Export Image” is used to export
the card layout as an image.
When a job is ready to be printed, press on Print and the following window will open:

Here we can choose the type of printer we’re going to use, enter into the printer proprieties, define
how many cards have to be printed and choose which records of the database we want to print.

MatiCard Graphic Operator Manual Version 1.1 Page 15/15