All About the Fingerprint Reader

Overview

The OTC Fingerprint Reader is OnTheClock’s fingerprint login option. With this option, the employee places their registered finger(s) on the reader to securely log them in to punch in or out for the day. This option eliminates buddy punching and also requires the employee to be at the company facility to punch in or out, thereby eliminating the chance that they will punch in or out at home or on the road. The Fingerprint Reader replaces the employee's Username and Password and still requires the employee to click on the Punch In/Out button to actually punch in/out.

Requirements for the Fingerprint Reader

• A computer or tablet with a Windows operating system, running any version of Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10.
• A USB (type-A) port for the fingerprint reader to plug into. The fingerprint reader software only works in a Windows operating system.
• If you purchase a Fingerprint Reader Online it MUST be a Digital Persona U.are.U 4500 Fingerprint or an HID Digital Persona 4500 reader. No other reader will work with our system.
• We do recommend you buy a new reader so you do not have any problems. Used readers, if they are older may not function with the software.
• Internet access.

NOTE: You must install the software as the administrator of the computer. The software will not install for a user with standard access.

Purchasing a Reader

You can purchase a reader Online. You will also need to download the software from us, which includes the Fingerprint Reader software and the Driver for it. The software can be downloaded here. The software will only work on a Windows-based computer that has a free standard-sized USB port. We also recommend you download the Quick Install Guide and the Maintenance Guide which is in the same area of the Help section. The cost of the software is free.

Online Sources for Purchasing the Fingerprint Reader

1. Newegg
2. B&H Photo
3. Walmart Online
4. Fulcrum Biometrics
5. Amazon

OnTheClock Cost

This is a Premium Service provided by OnTheClock and is an additional cost of $0.50 per employee per month above the standard pricing per employee for accounts with 3 or more employees. 

You can use as many fingerprint readers as you need for your company's needs. You can only use one per PC or tablet. You just need to register the employee's fingerprint on one reader and it is available for all of them.

Care and Maintenance

The reader was designed for PC use, not for use outdoors or in unattended public installations which are subject to vandalism and abuse. It is warranted for used in an office environment as a PC/network access peripheral. When used in conditions and environments similar to this, the reader provides high performance and reliability. See question 6 for instructions on cleaning.

Depending on the amount of use, the reader window may need to be cleaned from time to time. It will pick up dirt and salts from fingers.

Recommended Cleaning

• Apply the sticky side of a piece of adhesive cellophane tape to the window and then peel it away, OR
• Gently dab the fingerprint reader window with a cloth that has been dampened with a mild ammonia-based (not alcohol-based) glass cleaner, such as Windex. (Do not use paper!)

Never Do the Following

• Clean the reader window with paper.
• Pour glass cleaner directly on the reader window.
• Use alcohol-based cleaners.
• Submerge the reader in liquid.
• Do not poke the window coating with your fingernail or any other item, such as a pen.

Scratches, pokes, or other physical damage to the window coating can compromise the system’s ability to recognize fingerprints. Such damage cannot be repaired. You will need to replace the reader.

A small amount of dust on the reader window will not cause problems. A large amount of dust may make it more difficult to read the fingerprint. Dust can easily be removed by applying the sticky side of a piece of adhesive cellophane tape on the window and peeling it away.

Setup

Download the Software

1. Step 1: Click here to download the required software
2. Step 2: Plug in the Fingerprint Reader into a USB port.
3. Step 3: If Found New Hardware starts, cancel it.
4. Step 4: Run the FingerPunchSetup.exe you downloaded as the administrator of the computer.
5. Step 5: Follow the instructions and when it is finished it will ask you to set your account key.
6. Step 6: Click on OK
7. Step 7: The Settings window will come up and you put your account key in the space provided and click on Save Settings. (You can copy and paste it in) (To find your account key you need to log in as the administrator into your Ontheclock.com account. Click on Time Clock Settings and you will find your account key in the Options section.)
8. 
9. Step 8: Reboot the computer.
10. Step 9: Click on the OTC FingerPunch Icon.
11. Step 10: Hover over the blue bar and click on Change Settings.
12. Step 11: You will need to put in your administrator password in the field and click on OK.
13. Step 12: Double click on an employee.
14. 
15. Step 13: Click on Turn On.
16. 
17. Step 14: Click on Add Fingerprint.
18. 
19. Step 15: Have the employee put their finger on the scanner
20. You can add additional fingerprints for each employee (At least one from each hand is recommended as a preventative measure in case their finger is injured.)
21. Step 16: Click on Done.
22. 
23. Then add additional employees the same way. When you have finished close the Settings by clicking on the red X in the top right corner.

After installing the Fingerprint Reader software, follow the prompts to install. After it is successfully completed you will have an Icon that is labeled “OTCfingerpunch.exe,” on your desktop. Click the icon to launch the fingerprint reader. A blue banner will appear at the top. 

What to Expect

Employee Instructions

1. Step 1: Place a finger on the reader.
2. Step 2: Internet Explorer will open up with you logged in.
3. Step 3: Click on Punch In (or Punch-Out.)
4. Step 4: Confirm Punch In / Out.

You can leave Internet Explorer up if other employees need to punch in

If You Need to Reinstall the Software

Sometimes it becomes necessary to re-install the software if it becomes corrupt. So the following is the process to reinstall the Fingerprint Reader software. Note: You must follow the instructions to properly uninstall and reinstall the software or the software may not work.

Uninstall

1. Step 1: You would first need to uninstall both the Digital Persona U.are.U RTE software as well as the OnTheClock Finger Punch software.
2. Step 2: Go to your Control Panel to uninstall the software.
3. Step 3: When it gives you the list of programs you first uninstall the Digital Persona U.are.U RTE software.
4. Step 4: After it is uninstalled Do Not reboot the computer at this time if it suggests it.
5. Step 5: Then you uninstall the OnTheClock Finger Punch software.
6. Step 6: You will then need to reboot your computer. This will finish uninstalling both software programs.
7. Step 7: Then once the computer is back up you have to sign on as the administrator of the Computer (not as a standard user) before you can re-install the software (If you try to install the software as a Standard user it will fail to work).

Reinstall

1. Step 1: You would first need to uninstall both the Digital Persona U.are.U RTE software as well as the OnTheClock Finger Punch software.
2. Step 2: Go to your Control Panel to uninstall the software.
3. Step 3: When it gives you the list of programs you first uninstall the Digital Persona U.are.U RTE software.
4. Step 4: After it is uninstalled do not reboot the computer at this time if it suggests it
5. Step 5: Then you uninstall the OnTheClock Finger Punch software.
6. Step 6: You will then need to reboot your computer. This will finish uninstalling both software programs.
7. Step 7: Then once the computer is back up you have to sign on as the administrator of the computer (not as a standard user) before you can re-install the software (If you try to install the software as a standard user it will fail to work.)

Do I need to clean my reader to keep it working well?

Depending on the amount of use, the reader window may need to be cleaned from time to time. It will pick up dirt and salts from fingers.

Fingerprint Biometrics

The system does not copy or store actual fingerprints. The fingerprint scanner systems compare specific features of the fingerprint, generally known as minutiae. Typically, human and computer investigators concentrate on points where ridge lines end or where one ridge splits into two (bifurcations). (See the graphic in this section)

The scanner system software uses highly complex algorithms to recognize and analyze these minutiae. The basic idea is to measure the relative positions of minutiae, in the same sort of way you might recognize a part of the sky by the relative positions of stars. A simple way to think of it is to consider the shapes that various minutia form when you draw straight lines between them. If two prints have three ridge endings and two bifurcations, forming the same shape with the same dimensions, there's a high likelihood they're from the same print.

To get a match, the scanner system doesn't have to find the entire pattern of minutiae both in the sample and in the print on record; it simply has to find a sufficient number of minutiae patterns that the two prints have in common. The exact number varies according to the scanner programming.