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MCard API memory card interface

PC/SC has become the standard interface to smartcard readers and cards. Unfortunately, the current implementation on Microsoft Windows supports T=0 and T=1 processor cards only. Memory cards with their various protocols are not supported.

The MCard API has been introduced to provide a reader independent memory card interface which is still compatible with the existing PC/SC API. Thus existing applications require only little modification when they also want to support usage memory cards. Once they use the MCard API, they no longer need to care about any device specific interfaces.

Furthermore, with the MCard APIs abstract interface it is not necessary for application developers to fully care about memory card specific protocol details. This will be handled internally in the API. Of course, a generally understanding of the memory carrd that is used and its features is still required on the part of the application developer.

This interface requires the inclusion of the MCSCM.dll in either your application's folder in your pc's system32 folder.

MCTEST Tool

The MCTEST Diagnostic Tool provides a simple interface which allows easy verification of the MCard able readers currently in a given system:

Testing of typical functions used with memory cards
Verification of the necessary dll

Download the MCTEST Tool

MCard Application Development

For developers that desire to use SCM readers and memory cards in their applications, provided below are several resoucres that will aid in the use of the MCard API

Documentation: MCard API Specification 1.9
This document describes in detail the MCard API, an overview of how MCard works, and descriptions of the MCard API function calls.
Example Code: MCard Sample Code
This ZIP file contains sample working VB and C++ applications that uses several MCard API function calls. It provides developers with references to the use of correct function declaration and use.; MCard - SCard integration
For people with previous knowledge of the SCard interface, this document will assist in the integration of the MCard interface by comparing similar function calls in MCard and SCard. There are several examples in VB and C++ that show several frequently used memory card functions in the SCard and MCard.