Card manufacturing specifications

The following is the file specification for the card manufacturing files generated by Paymentology systems. These are standard specifications.

🗒️
Important
Card manufacturers may have differing file requirements. It is important for clients to confirm these with their card manufacturer.
For example a manufacturer may have a max value length of 50 for address related fields <CH_ADD1/>, <CH_ADD2/>.

File naming convention

Use the below sample file name to help understand the card manufacturing file naming convention:

Sample file name:

1_CLIENT_NAME_FC_2220_437_30012023_0717.xml

Formula:

1 = the card manufacturer ID assigned by Paymentology.
CLIENT_NAME = name of client.
FC = a constant value.
2220 = a unique number assigned to a file based on date.
437 = a unique value for the file based on minute and hour.
30012023 = this is the date the file was produced. DDMMYYYY.
0717 = this is the time the file was produced. HHMM.

Schema description

🗒️
In the XML file specification below:
<tag> represents an opening tag
<tag/> represents <tag> value </tag>
<tag\> represents a closing tag

XMLTAG	Type	Length	Description	Presence	Nulls allowed
<CARDGEN>			Header tag	M	No
<CARDSUM>			Summary detail opening tag	M	No

<DATA_FORMAT_VERSION/>	Decimal		Identifies file version – simply a way to allow the use of various different structures with the same manufacturer	M	No
<FILEDATE/>	DateTime		File creation date	M	No
<NO_OF_CARRIERS/>	Numeric		No. of carriers – means a number of shipping destinations.	M	No
<NO_OF_CARDS/>	Numeric		No. of cards in the file	M	No
<NO_OF_PRODUCTS/>	Numeric		No. of card designs present in the file	M	No
<TXREF/>	Alphanumeric	20	Transmission_Reference – this is an incrementing unique reference number; it may not be consecutive. It allows the manufacturer and processor to identify the file uniquely.	M	No
</CARDSUM>				M	No
<BULK_DEL>				M	No
<RECORD>				M	No
<BULK_DEL_ADD_CODE/>	Numeric		Allows processor and manufacturer to agree on a pre-defined shipping destination	C	No
<BUL_DEL_METHOD/>	Numeric		The delivery method for the card: 0 – Standard mail 1 – Registered mail 2 – Direct delivery (courier)RFU	M	No
<DEL_TITLE/>	Alphanumeric	10	Delivery address recipient title (Mr., Mrs., etc.)	O	Yes
<DEL_FNAME/>	Alphanumeric	30	Delivery first name	C	No
<DEL_SNAME/>	Alphanumeric	30	Delivery family name	C	No
<DEL_ADD1/>	Alphanumeric	100	Delivery address 1	C	No
<DEL_ADD2/>	Alphanumeric	100	Delivery address 2	O	Yes
<DEL_PCODE/>	Alphanumeric	15	Delivery Postcode	C	No
<DEL_CITY/>	Alphanumeric	50	Delivery city	C	No
<DEL_COUNTRY/>	Alphanumeric	50	Delivery country	C	No
<DEL_EMAIL/>	Alphanumeric	100	Delivery email	O	Yes
<DEL_MOBILE/>	Alphanumeric	15	Delivery recipient's mobile number	O	Yes
<DEL_LANG/>	Alphanumeric	3	Delivery address label language	C	No
</RECORD>					No
</BULK_DEL>					No
<PRODUCT>					No
<PRODUCT_REF/>	Numeric		Identifies product. N.B. This is the physical card design reference used by the card printer.	M	No
<RECORD>				M	No
<UID/>	Numeric	20	Unique ID to identify the record – use this ID in error-tracking correspondence.	M	No
<CLIENT_CARD_REF/>	Alphanumeric	20	Client identification of the card order	O	No
<CARRIERS>					No
<CAR_DEL_METHOD/>	Numeric		The delivery method for the card: 0 – Standard mail 1 – Registered mail 2 – Direct delivery (courier) RFU	M	No
<DEL_CODE/>	Numeric		The delivery code for the card: If specified, all cards with the same delivery code are to be sent together to the specified delivery address. All the carriers with the same DEL_CODE will be grouped under the same BULK_DEL_ADD_CODE Mandatory for Bulk Records and must have the same value as <BULK_DEL_ADD_CODE>	C	No
<CH_TITLE/>	Alphanumeric	10	Cardholder title (Mr., Mrs., etc.)	O	Yes
<CH_FNAME/>	Alphanumeric	50	Cardholder first name	C	No
<CH_SNAME/>	Alphanumeric	50	Cardholder family name	C	No
<CH_ADD1/>	Alphanumeric	100	Cardholder address line 1	C	No
<CH_ADD2/>	Alphanumeric	100	Cardholder address line 2	O	No
<CH_CITY/>	Alphanumeric	50	Cardholder city	C	No
<CH_PCODE/>	Alphanumeric	15	Cardholder postcode (NOTE: used in authorisation process)	C
<CH_COUNTRY/>	Alphanumeric	50	Cardholder country	C	No
<CH_EMAIL/>	Alphanumeric	100	Cardholder email address	O	Yes
<CH_MOBILE/>	Alphanumeric	15	Cardholder mobile number	O	Yes
<CARRIER_TYPE/>	Numeric		Defines carrier product. N.B. This is the carrier product design reference as used by the card printer	O	Yes
<ENVELOPE_REF/>	Alphanumeric	5	The ID of the envelope to insert the card in	C	No
<CARRIER_LANG/>	Alphanumeric	3	Language of the insert	C	No
<CARRIER_INSERT_1/>	Numeric		Document/letter insert reference for card manufacturer	C	No
<CARRIER_INSERT_2/>	Numeric		Document/letter insert reference for card manufacturer	C	No
<FULFIL1/>	Alphanumeric	50	RFU	O	Yes
<FULFIL2/>	Alphanumeric	50	RFU	O	Yes
</CARRIERS>				M	No
<CARD>				M	No
<CRD_ACTION/>	Numeric		Card action – allows the client to define an action that should take place when the card is created. This is future-proofing and allows for bespoke actions to be put in place.	O	Yes
<CRD_INST/>	Alphanumeric	50	Card instruction – allows for specific instruction to support the card action. E.g. card action might be: “run a process”, and CRD_INST might contain parameters to be passed to that process.	O	Yes
<TRACK1/>	Alphanumeric	Max	Mag stripe track 1	M	No
<TRACK2/>	Alphanumeric	Max	Mag stripe track 2	M	No
<TRACK3/>	Numeric	50	Mag stripe track 3. Note: if passed "1" in create card request Paymentology will put the card token in this field. Any other data will be passed as it is in the card file.	M	No
<EMBOSS_PAN/>	Alphanumeric	16-19	Embossed PAN to go on the card	M	No
<EMBOSS_NAME/>	Alphanumeric	50	The actual maximum length will depend on the card design	M	No
<EMBOSS_START/>	Date(MM/YY)	5	Card start date (Eg. maestro) MM/YY	O	Yes
<EMBOSS_EXPIRY/>	Date(MM/YY)	5	Card expiry date MM/YY	M	No
<EMBOSS_CVC2/>	Numeric	3	Card verification value to go on the rear of card – CVC2	M	No
<EMBOSS_LINE4/>	Alphanumeric	35	On the front of the card, there is room for a fourth emboss line – this could contain a card public token, for example – actual maximum length will depend on card design. Note: if passed "TOK" in create card request, Paymentology will put the card token in this field.	O	Yes
<EXT_LINE1 />	Alphanumeric	20	Allows for an additional line of text on the card. Note: if passed "1" in create card request, Paymentology will put the card token in this field. Any other data will be passed as it is in the card file.	O	Yes
<EXT_LINE2 />	Alphanumeric	20	Future proof – allows for an additional line of text on the card	O	Yes
<LOGO_FRONT_ID />	Numeric	Integer allowed	Identifies the image file that will be printed on the front of the card, if supported. Pre-agreed ID with the manufacturer.	O	Yes
<LOGO_BACK_ID />	Numeric		Identifies the image file that will be printed on the back of the card, if supported. Pre-agreed ID with the card manufacturer.	O	Yes
<CUSTOM_1/>	Alphanumeric	255	Custom data from the client for the card vendor. e.g. QR Code, any custom text, etc	O	Yes
<CHIP>			Defines chip details. This element may not be present, depending on the card type.	M	No
<TYPE/>	Alphanumeric	20	Mastercard, etc.	M	No
<PAN/>	Numeric	16-19	Card number (PAN)	M	No
<PAN_SEQ/>	Alphanumeric	2	Card sequence number	O	Yes
<NAME/>	Alphanumeric	50	Cardholder name. It must match the name embedded in Track 1.	C	No
<START_DATE/>	Date(MM/YY)	5	Start date defined in the chip	O	Yes
<EXPIRY_DATE/>	Date(MM/YY)	5	Expiration date defined in the chip	C	No
<SERVICE_CODE/>	Alphanumeric	3	Defines the service code for the card. Mag stripe service codes are as per ISO 8583 standard (typically 122 for mag, 221 for chip, etc.)	M	No
<CHIP_TRACK_2/>	Alphanumeric	Max	Track 2, including ICVV	C	No
<PINBLOCK/>	Alphanumeric	16	Encrypted Pin Block in Hexadecimal format	C	No
</CHIP>				M	No
</CARD>				M	No
</RECORD>				M	No
</PRODUCT>
</CARDGEN>

Presence field letter meaning:

M: Mandatory
C: Conditional
O: Optional

Sample card manufacturing specification file

<CARDGEN>
  <CARDSUM>
    <DATA_FORMAT_VERSION>1.0</DATA_FORMAT_VERSION>
    <FILEDATE>2023-06-06T12:53:12.294396</FILEDATE>
    <NO_OF_CARRIERS>4</NO_OF_CARRIERS>
    <NO_OF_CARDS>4</NO_OF_CARDS>
    <NO_OF_PRODUCTS>1</NO_OF_PRODUCTS>
    <TXREF>PAYMENTOLOGY_MASTER_ACCOUNT_FC_1234_1233</TXREF>
  </CARDSUM>
  <BULK_DEL>
    <RECORD>
      <BULK_DEL_ADD_CODE/>
      <BULK_DEL_METHOD/>
      <DEL_TITLE/>
      <DEL_FNAME/>
      <DEL_SNAME/>
      <DEL_ADD1/>
      <DEL_ADD2/>
      <DEL_PCODE/>
      <DEL_CITY/>
      <DEL_COUNTRY/>
      <DEL_EMAIL/>
      <DEL_MOBILE/>
      <DEL_LANG/>
    </RECORD>
  </BULK_DEL>
  <PRODUCT>
    <PRODUCT_REF>0</PRODUCT_REF>
    <RECORD>
      <UID>12345</UID>
      <CLIENT_CARD_REF>client choice</CLIENT_CARD_REF>
      <CARRIERS>
        <CAR_DEL_METHOD>1</CAR_DEL_METHOD>
        <DEL_CODE/>
        <CH_TITLE>Mr</CH_TITLE>
        <CH_FNAME>Firstname</CH_FNAME>
        <CH_SNAME>Surname</CH_SNAME>
        <CH_ADD1>London</CH_ADD1>
        <CH_ADD2>London</CH_ADD2>
        <CH_CITY>London</CH_CITY>
        <CH_PCODE>00977</CH_PCODE>
        <CH_COUNTRY>London</CH_COUNTRY>
        <CH_EMAIL>[email protected]</CH_EMAIL>
        <CH_MOBILE>+1234565655522</CH_MOBILE>
        <CARRIER_TYPE>1</CARRIER_TYPE>
        <ENVELOPE_REF>1</ENVELOPE_REF>
        <CARRIER_LANG>ENG</CARRIER_LANG>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_1>1</CARRIER_INSERT_1>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_2>1</CARRIER_INSERT_2>
        <FULFIL1/>
        <FULFIL2/>
      </CARRIERS>
      <CARD>
        <CRD_ACTION>0</CRD_ACTION>
        <CRD_INST/>
        <TRACK1>B5454543334080149^Firstname/Surname^2705221695000000000000</TRACK1>
        <TRACK2>5454543334080149=27052210115497322695</TRACK2>
        <TRACK3/>
        <EMBOSS_PAN>5454543334080149</EMBOSS_PAN>
        <EMBOSS_NAME>Firstname Surname</EMBOSS_NAME>
        <EMBOSS_START>05/23</EMBOSS_START>
        <EMBOSS_EXPIRY>05/27</EMBOSS_EXPIRY>
        <EMBOSS_CVC2>980</EMBOSS_CVC2>
        <EMBOSS_LINE4/>
        <EXT_LINE1/>
        <EXT_LINE2/>
        <LOGO_FRONT_ID>0</LOGO_FRONT_ID>
        <LOGO_BACK_ID>0</LOGO_BACK_ID>
        <CUSTOM_1/>
        <CHIP>
          <TYPE>MASTERCARD</TYPE>
          <PAN>5454543334080149</PAN>
          <PAN_SEQ>00</PAN_SEQ>
          <NAME>Firstname/Surname</NAME>
          <START_DATE>05/23</START_DATE>
          <EXPIRY_DATE>05/27</EXPIRY_DATE>
          <SERVICE_CODE>221</SERVICE_CODE>
          <CHIP_TRACK_2>1234563334080149D27052210115497322190F</CHIP_TRACK_2>
          <PINBLOCK>F374BCF15555C149</PINBLOCK>
        </CHIP>
      </CARD>
    </RECORD>
    <RECORD>
      <UID>11123</UID>
      <CLIENT_CARD_REF>client choice</CLIENT_CARD_REF>
      <CARRIERS>
        <CAR_DEL_METHOD>1</CAR_DEL_METHOD>
        <DEL_CODE/>
        <CH_TITLE>Mr</CH_TITLE>
        <CH_FNAME>Firstname</CH_FNAME>
        <CH_SNAME>Surname</CH_SNAME>
        <CH_ADD1>London</CH_ADD1>
        <CH_ADD2>London</CH_ADD2>
        <CH_CITY>London</CH_CITY>
        <CH_PCODE>00977</CH_PCODE>
        <CH_COUNTRY>London</CH_COUNTRY>
        <CH_EMAIL>[email protected]</CH_EMAIL>
        <CH_MOBILE>+1234565655522</CH_MOBILE>
        <CARRIER_TYPE>1</CARRIER_TYPE>
        <ENVELOPE_REF>1</ENVELOPE_REF>
        <CARRIER_LANG>ENG</CARRIER_LANG>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_1>1</CARRIER_INSERT_1>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_2>1</CARRIER_INSERT_2>
        <FULFIL1/>
        <FULFIL2/>
      </CARRIERS>
      <CARD>
        <CRD_ACTION>0</CRD_ACTION>
        <CRD_INST/>
        <TRACK1>B5454543334081543^Firstname/Surname^2705221184000000000000</TRACK1>
        <TRACK2>123456334081543=27052210115535222184</TRACK2>
        <TRACK3/>
        <EMBOSS_PAN>5454543334081543</EMBOSS_PAN>
        <EMBOSS_NAME>Firstname Surname</EMBOSS_NAME>
        <EMBOSS_START>05/23</EMBOSS_START>
        <EMBOSS_EXPIRY>05/27</EMBOSS_EXPIRY>
        <EMBOSS_CVC2>054</EMBOSS_CVC2>
        <EMBOSS_LINE4/>
        <EXT_LINE1/>
        <EXT_LINE2/>
        <LOGO_FRONT_ID>0</LOGO_FRONT_ID>
        <LOGO_BACK_ID>0</LOGO_BACK_ID>
        <CUSTOM_1/>
        <CHIP>
          <TYPE>MASTERCARD</TYPE>
          <PAN>5454543334081543</PAN>
          <PAN_SEQ>00</PAN_SEQ>
          <NAME>Firstname/Surname</NAME>
          <START_DATE>05/23</START_DATE>
          <EXPIRY_DATE>05/27</EXPIRY_DATE>
          <SERVICE_CODE>221</SERVICE_CODE>
          <CHIP_TRACK_2>1234563334081543D27052210115535222871F</CHIP_TRACK_2>
          <PINBLOCK>C9C2E6A34EC34C17</PINBLOCK>
        </CHIP>
      </CARD>
    </RECORD>
    <RECORD>
      <UID>11124</UID>
      <CLIENT_CARD_REF>client choice</CLIENT_CARD_REF>
      <CARRIERS>
        <CAR_DEL_METHOD>1</CAR_DEL_METHOD>
        <DEL_CODE/>
        <CH_TITLE>Mr</CH_TITLE>
        <CH_FNAME>Firstname</CH_FNAME>
        <CH_SNAME>Surname</CH_SNAME>
        <CH_ADD1>London</CH_ADD1>
        <CH_ADD2>London</CH_ADD2>
        <CH_CITY>London</CH_CITY>
        <CH_PCODE>00977</CH_PCODE>
        <CH_COUNTRY>London</CH_COUNTRY>
        <CH_EMAIL>[email protected]</CH_EMAIL>
        <CH_MOBILE>+1234565655522</CH_MOBILE>
        <CARRIER_TYPE>1</CARRIER_TYPE>
        <ENVELOPE_REF>1</ENVELOPE_REF>
        <CARRIER_LANG>ENG</CARRIER_LANG>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_1>1</CARRIER_INSERT_1>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_2>1</CARRIER_INSERT_2>
        <FULFIL1/>
        <FULFIL2/>
      </CARRIERS>
      <CARD>
        <CRD_ACTION>0</CRD_ACTION>
        <CRD_INST/>
        <TRACK1>B5454543334011748^Firstname/Surname^2705221450000000000000</TRACK1>
        <TRACK2>5454543334011748=27052210115540244450</TRACK2>
        <TRACK3/>
        <EMBOSS_PAN>5454543334011748</EMBOSS_PAN>
        <EMBOSS_NAME>Firstname Surname</EMBOSS_NAME>
        <EMBOSS_START>05/23</EMBOSS_START>
        <EMBOSS_EXPIRY>05/27</EMBOSS_EXPIRY>
        <EMBOSS_CVC2>097</EMBOSS_CVC2>
        <EMBOSS_LINE4/>
        <EXT_LINE1/>
        <EXT_LINE2/>
        <LOGO_FRONT_ID>0</LOGO_FRONT_ID>
        <LOGO_BACK_ID>0</LOGO_BACK_ID>
        <CUSTOM_1/>
        <CHIP>
          <TYPE>MASTERCARD</TYPE>
          <PAN>5454543334011748</PAN>
          <PAN_SEQ>00</PAN_SEQ>
          <NAME>Firstname/Surname</NAME>
          <START_DATE>05/23</START_DATE>
          <EXPIRY_DATE>05/27</EXPIRY_DATE>
          <SERVICE_CODE>221</SERVICE_CODE>
          <CHIP_TRACK_2>5454543334011748D27052210115540244727F</CHIP_TRACK_2>
          <PINBLOCK>18AB147E62A60CD1</PINBLOCK>
        </CHIP>
      </CARD>
    </RECORD>
    <RECORD>
      <UID>11125</UID>
      <CLIENT_CARD_REF>client choice</CLIENT_CARD_REF>
      <CARRIERS>
        <CAR_DEL_METHOD>1</CAR_DEL_METHOD>
        <DEL_CODE/>
        <CH_TITLE>Mr</CH_TITLE>
        <CH_FNAME>Adish</CH_FNAME>
        <CH_SNAME>Surname</CH_SNAME>
        <CH_ADD1>London</CH_ADD1>
        <CH_ADD2>London</CH_ADD2>
        <CH_CITY>London</CH_CITY>
        <CH_PCODE>00977</CH_PCODE>
        <CH_COUNTRY>London</CH_COUNTRY>
        <CH_EMAIL>[email protected]</CH_EMAIL>
        <CH_MOBILE>+1234565655522</CH_MOBILE>
        <CARRIER_TYPE>1</CARRIER_TYPE>
        <ENVELOPE_REF>1</ENVELOPE_REF>
        <CARRIER_LANG>ENG</CARRIER_LANG>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_1>1</CARRIER_INSERT_1>
        <CARRIER_INSERT_2>1</CARRIER_INSERT_2>
        <FULFIL1/>
        <FULFIL2/>
      </CARRIERS>
      <CARD>
        <CRD_ACTION>0</CRD_ACTION>
        <CRD_INST/>
        <TRACK1>B1234567894045787^ADISH/Surname^2705221854000000000000</TRACK1>
        <TRACK2>1234567894045787=27052210115520905854</TRACK2>
        <TRACK3/>
        <EMBOSS_PAN>1234567894045787</EMBOSS_PAN>
        <EMBOSS_NAME>ADISH Surname</EMBOSS_NAME>
        <EMBOSS_START>05/23</EMBOSS_START>
        <EMBOSS_EXPIRY>05/27</EMBOSS_EXPIRY>
        <EMBOSS_CVC2>501</EMBOSS_CVC2>
        <EMBOSS_LINE4/>
        <EXT_LINE1/>
        <EXT_LINE2/>
        <LOGO_FRONT_ID>0</LOGO_FRONT_ID>
        <LOGO_BACK_ID>0</LOGO_BACK_ID>
        <CUSTOM_1/>
        <CHIP>
          <TYPE>MASTERCARD</TYPE>
          <PAN>1234567894045787</PAN>
          <PAN_SEQ>00</PAN_SEQ>
          <NAME>ADISH/Surname</NAME>
          <START_DATE>05/23</START_DATE>
          <EXPIRY_DATE>05/27</EXPIRY_DATE>
          <SERVICE_CODE>221</SERVICE_CODE>
          <CHIP_TRACK_2>1234567894045787D27052210115520905911F</CHIP_TRACK_2>
          <PINBLOCK>6C124E4AF7D26A42</PINBLOCK>
        </CHIP>
      </CARD>
    </RECORD>
  </PRODUCT>
</CARDGEN>

Who to contact about a failed job or error

🗒️
You can contact our Customer Support via the Customer Support Platform.