Like predefined card formats, custom card formats provide information about the template used, the badge offset, and facility code. However, custom card formats also provide the total number of bits on the card, the starting bit and bit length of the facility code, card number, issue code, as well as the even and odd parity bit information.

During custom card configuration, error messages will be displayed when the information entered in one or more fields is out of bounds (the value exceeds the total number of bits on the card) or the bit length overlaps into the next field.

Changing a custom card format to a non-custom card format will clear the fields for the current configuration.

  1. From the sidebar, select Configuration, then Card Formats.
  2. Select Add button to add a new card format.
  3. Choose "Custom" as the Template.
  4. (Optional) For LNL- series access controllers only:

    1. Select toggle switch (off)to enable toggle switch (on)the Ignore Facility Code Check option. If reader mode is "Facility code only" access will be denied to badges with this card format. This is a high-risk option that creates a lower security environment where anyone with a badge can access the building even if the badge's facility code does not match.

      A card format with this option enabled should be first in the card formats list. See Card Formats > Change Priority to learn more.

    2. Select toggle switch (off)to enable toggle switch (on)the Combine Facility Code and Card Number option. If enabled, LNL-series controllers will authorize credentials based on the combined facility code and card number stored on the badge. 

      The system uses the following calculation to generate the badge ID: Facility Code x Badge Offset + Card Number.
      Example: Two badges with the same card number 45678 and a badge offset of 10000000:
      Card 1: Facility Code = 123; Badge ID result: 12300045678
      Card 2: Facility Code = 127; Badge ID result: 12700045678

  5. (Optional) Select toggle switch (off) to enable toggle switch (on) the Badge Offset option.
    1. If enabled, enter the Badge Offset Number. If this number is set to zero (0) then no offset is applied, and the actual badge number is reported.
  6. Enter the Facility Code if there is one.
  7. Under Bit Structure, configure the following:
    1. Total Number of Bits: The total number of bits encoded on the card with a maximum value of 256 bits. The number of bits in Facility Code, Issue Code, and Card Number combined must not exceed the total number of bits on the card. Except for the parity bits, the fields should not overlap, and the length of a field cannot extend beyond the length of the card.
    2. facility code bits icon Facility Code:
      1. Starting Bit: The bit number on which the facility code begins. Choose a starting value from 0 - 255.
      2. Bit Length: That portion of the total number of bits on the card that will be used for the facility code. Choose a value from 0 - 32 bits. If Bit Length is 0, indicates facility code is not used.
    3. card number bits icon Card Number:
      1. Starting Bit: The bit number on which the card number begins. Choose a starting value from 0 - 255.
      2. Bit Length: That portion of the total number of bits on the card that will be used for the card number. Choose a value up to 64 bits. Bit Length for card number cannot be 0. 
    4. issue code bits icon Issue Code:
      1. Starting Bit: The bit number on which the issue code begins. Choose a starting value from 0 - 255.
      2. Bit Length: That portion of the total number of bits on the card that will be used for the issue code. Choose a value from 0 - 32 bits. If Bit Length is 0, indicates issue code is not used.
  8. Under Bit Parity, configure the Even and Odd Parity:
    1. even parity bits icon Even Parity Bits:
      1. Starting Bit: The bit number on which the even parity calculation begins. Choose a starting value from 0 - 255.
      2. Bit Length: This field specifies the number of bits used in even and odd parity calculation, and includes the parity bit itself.
    2. odd parity bits icon Odd Parity Bits:
      1. Starting Bit: The bit number on which the odd parity calculation begins. Choose a starting value from 0 - 255.

      2. Bit Length: This field specifies the number of bits used in even and odd parity calculation, and includes the parity bit itself.

  9. Hover over the Bit Distribution tool to visualize the bit structure of the card format.
    bit distribution example
  10. Select SAVE to save the new custom card format. If you exit this screen after entering the information without saving it, you will be prompted to save or discard the card format.

Custom card format examples:

Standard 26-bit Wiegand (HID H10301):
Total Number of Bits: 26
Facility Code: Starting Bit 1, Bit Length 8 bits
Card Number: Starting Bit 9, Bit Length 16 bits

Issue Code: Not used (Starting Bit 0, Bit Length 0!)

Even Parity: Starting Bit: 0, Bit Length 13
Odd Parity Starting Bit 13, Bit Length 13

Common 37-bit format (HID 10304):
Total Number of Bits: 37
Facility Code: Starting Bit: 1, Bit Length: 16
Card Number: Starting Bit: 17, Bit Length: 19

Issue Code: Not used (Starting Bit: 0, Bit Length)

Even Parity: Starting Bit: 0, Bit Length 19
Odd Parity Starting Bit 18, Bit Length 19



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