Managing access cards for multiple locations or tenants, requires careful consideration as cards from different formats can have the same number. By default, Mercury hardware doesn't allow adding the same card number (even from different formats) to the controller. So, what can be done in such situations?
To address this, Mercury offers a solution called "offset." This involves adding an arbitrary number before the card number to make each card unique. For example, if two cards have the number 3323 but are from different formats, adding an offset to one of the formats changes the actual card number, making it different. So, if an offset of 100000 is added to format 2, the card 3323 from format 2 now becomes 100000 + 3323 = 103323. Now, the system allows adding both cards from two different formats to the controller since the end numbers are different. Mercury also provides a 'Corporate Card Mode' flag to solve similar problems, especially with a large number of cards with duplicate numbers.
If your organization employs a card format that utilizes offsets or is flagged as a corporate card, it's advisable to explicitly select the card format when adding a card. In such cases, Genea will manage the necessary calculations seamlessly. When a card is added with the chosen card format, and if recalculating the card number is required based on the format, Genea will automatically handle those calculations. This ensures smooth integration and accurate management of access cards, even in complex scenarios involving different card formats and requirements.
Let's see how can we select the card forma manually while adding a card:
Enable the 'Manual Card Selection' option from the global overview by navigating to Global Overview > Settings > Enable Manual Card Format Selection.
2. Once enabled, you will have the option to select the card format while creating a card in your portal.
You can also choose to enforce the card format selection. If you do, please note that every card you add to the portal will need a format to be mapped before it can be added.
3. Choose the appropriate card format and add the card number.
4. After adding a card with a specific card format, an additional column labeled "Card Format" will become visible in tables related to keys, activity, and other relevant sections. This column provides information about the format associated with each card, enhancing clarity and organization within the system.
Building sync scenarios
In order to manage building sync scenarios effectively, where cards are synchronized between users from buildings to tenants and vice versa, both building admins and tenant admins have the capability to define a default card format. This format will be automatically linked to the cards created within their respective portals.
Building portals:
Navigate to the tenant detail page and select the "Edit" option.
Configure the default card format. This will ensure that all cards synchronized from the specific tenant to the building are automatically associated with the set card format.
Tenant portals:
Within the tenant portal, go to Building Sync > Settings.
If the flag for creating and updating users and cards is enabled, you will then have the option to establish the default card format setting. The format you define here will be automatically associated with all cards during their synchronization from the building to the tenant portals.
Please note that the default card format setting only takes effect during the creation of cards for users.