(Visual Basic 6.0) PC/SC Check the Status of each Smart Card Reader (and USB token)

See more SCard Examples

Demonstrates how to list the smart card readers and USB tokens connected to the computer, and check the status of each.

Note: This functionality was introduced in Chilkat v9.5.0.87.

Chilkat ActiveX Downloads ActiveX for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows

' This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
' See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

Dim scard As New ChilkatSCard

' First establish a context to the PC/SC Resource Manager
Dim success As Long
success = scard.EstablishContext("user")
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print scard.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

Dim stReaders As New ChilkatStringTable
success = scard.ListReaders(stReaders)
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print scard.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

Dim numReaders As Long
numReaders = stReaders.Count
Dim i As Long
i = 0
Do While i < numReaders
    Dim reader As String
    reader = stReaders.StringAt(i)

    Debug.Print i & ": " & reader

    ' Connect to this reader.
    If (scard.Connect(reader,"shared","no_preference") = 1) Then

        ' Check the status to get the reader state, active protocol, and card ATR (if a card is inserted).
        If (scard.CheckStatus() = 1) Then
            Debug.Print "ReaderStatus: " & scard.ReaderStatus
            Debug.Print "CardAtr: " & scard.CardAtr
            Debug.Print "ActiveProtocol: " & scard.ActiveProtocol
        Else
            Debug.Print scard.LastErrorText
            Debug.Print "CheckStatus failed."
        End If

        ' Disconnect from this reader.
        success = scard.Disconnect("leave")
    Else
        Debug.Print scard.LastErrorText
        Debug.Print "Connect failed."
    End If

    Debug.Print "---------------------------------------"
    i = i + 1
Loop

' Sample output:

' 0: Alcor Micro USB Smart Card Reader 0
' ReaderStatus: specific
' CardAtr: 3B7F96000080318065B0855956FB120FFE829000
' ActiveProtocol: T0
' ---------------------------------------
' 1: Generic Smart Card Reader Interface 0
' ReaderStatus: specific
' CardAtr: 3BFC180000813180459067464A00641606F2727E00E0
' ActiveProtocol: T1
' ---------------------------------------
' 2: SCM Microsystems Inc. SCR33x USB Smart Card Reader 0
' ReaderStatus: specific
' CardAtr: 3BDF96FF8131FE455A018048494443313158587300011B09
' ActiveProtocol: T1
' ---------------------------------------

' Applications should always release the context when finished.
success = scard.ReleaseContext()
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print scard.LastErrorText
End If