How To Print Checks

This is an *** ADVANCED TOPIC *** which explains how checks are designed in Collect!

Collect! uses this method to create the checks printed to clients when you choose Print Checks and to print the Check - Form #1000 report that enables you to accept debtor check payments over the phone.

Requirements

- setup Debtor Detail and Debtors
- setup Report and Printer Setup
- Experience using Collect!'s report writer

There is an excellent sample report included in both the Demonstration and Master databases that ship with Collect! We recommend that you use this report called Check - Form #1000 rather than attempting to create your own checks from scratch. Please look at the Check - Form #1000 report for examples of the usage of the commands and codes that are explained in this document.

Collect! uses this template for Check and GCheck when printing checks to clients during Month End. See How To Setup Check And GCheck.

Check Report Format

Checks pull information from the Debtor Detail form as well as the Debtor form. The information is enclosed in printer control codes which tell Collect! that it is receiving information to be displayed in a Check format.

Check

This command is used for creating a check. Report Body design for any check must begin with this code. It sets the size of the Check. R repeat the code at the end of the Check block.

@CHECK

SYNTAX: @CHECK(x, y, width, height)

x Represents the top left x co-ordinate of the check in 1/100ths of an inch.
y Represents the top left y co-ordinate of the check in 1/100ths of an inch.
Width: Represents the width of the check in 1/100ths of an inch.
Height: Represents the height of the check in 1/100ths of an inch.

The printable field codes for data to be pulled into the Check is typed into the Report Body.

A special code is added for printing the MICR numbers at the check's bottom. Then the section is closed with another @CHECK command, telling Collect! that it has reached the end of the Check format.

MICR Font Adjustment

Collect! can print two different MICR fonts. If you find that the default font is not correct for your needs, you will need to add ,1 to the @CHECK parameters to use the other available font.

SYNTAX: @CHECK(x, y, width, height,1)

1 Represents the second font choice available for check printing.

For Example:

Default is: @CHECK(23,10.5,749,306.2) For instance.

Adjust this to: @CHECK(23,10.5,749,306.2,1) Notice the addition of the 1 parameter.

MICR

This command is used to type the numbers necessary for magnetic character recognition at the bottom of the Check. This command only works INSIDE of the @CHECK block.

@MICR

SYNTAX: @MICR(@fieldcode, z)

@fieldcode: This is either a printable information code for a field on the Debtor Detail form or a variable that holds that information.

z: This number indicates the LAST character position from the right edge of the check.

The @MICR code is placed at the beginning of the line. Printable field code for Bank information from the Debtor Detail form follows, in parentheses, as shown above as "@fieldcode". The last character position represented by "z" is measured from the right edge of the check.

The report writer inserts the check Transit Symbols before and after the Transit Number that is taken from the Debtor Detail form. (This assumes you are using the standard 9 place transit or routing number.)

Position, Margin And Line Commands

The following commands and their parameters are explained in How To Position Text And Graphics.

@Pos, @Line

Usage: Places bank and Debtor information, such as headings, on the check in positions set by the "@Pos command and "draws" lines in appropriate places where indicated by the @Line command.

@RM, @LM

Usage: Sets the left and right margins appropriately for your check forms.

Using these graphics commands for positioning text, drawing lines, and setting margins, all the additional information is placed on the check.

Common Position Errors

If the identifier in your printed MICR number line is not in the box:

Or is not centered in the box:

You will have to adjust the @CHECK line in your report codes as described below until the printed identifier lines up with the identifier on the Form #1000 form. This is necessary so that the bank's automatic reader can parse the line.

TO LOCATE THE @CHECK LINE

1. Pull down the Print menu and choose Customize Printing, Edit Report Templates.

2. Scroll through the Report Definitions to find Check - Form #1000
or Checks - Form #1000 BATCH. Select the item to view its definition.

3. Click anywhere within the Report Body section when the Report Definition is displayed.

4. The Report Body will be displayed. Locate the default line as follows.

@CHECK(23,10.5,759,306.2)

Adjusting The Transit Number Identifier

1. When you have located the default line displayed above, to move the transit number identifier up or down, change the second value in parenthesis.

For example, to move it down just a bit so that it is in the box on the Form #1000 form, you may modify the second value as follows.

@CHECK(23,15.5,759,306.2)

When you change it, test print and see how far it moved.

This value can be incremented to the thousands of an inch. You will have to change and test until it lines up properly.

2. To move the transit number identifier left or right, you can change the third value in parenthesis.

For example, to move it left so that it is in the box on the Form #1000 form, you may modify the third value as follows.

@CHECK(23,10.5,749,306.2)

When you change it, you would again test print and see how far it moved. This value can be incremented to the thousands of an inch. You will have to change and test until it lines up properly.

The transit number identifier is exactly in the box on the Form #1000 form when correctly aligned.

Account Number Adjustment

Depending on your financial institution's requirements you may need spaces for a few more numbers in the account number. If so, please find the two areas of the report that resemble the following lines. Notice the line that stands out below, i.e. @MICR(@varAcctNum,16).

@varTranNum* = "A"
@varTranNum = @(varTranNum+dd.tn+varTranNum)
@varAcctNum* = "C"
@varAcctNum = @(dd.ac+varAcctNum)
@varCheckNum* = " "
@varCheckNum = "C" if (@tr.u1 > " ")
@varCheckNum = @(varCheckNum+tr.u1+varCheckNum) if (@tr.u1 > " ")
//MICRLINE
@MICR(@varTranNum,30)
@MICR(@varAcctNum,16)
@MICR(@varCheckNum,43)
@varTranNum = ""
@varAcctNum = ""
@varCheckNum = ""
@CHECK

This is the line that needs to be changed. You will need to change just one number. This number indicates the LAST character position from the right edge of the check. Our sample allows for 12 characters with the line @MICR(@varAcctNum,16). To fit in a few more characters this has to be changed. Try @MICR(@varAcctNum,12) and you should be able to fit 15 characters. You will need to change this number twice in the report.

Check Printing Report

Please refer to sample Check - Form #1000 report and also the Check and GCheck reports for examples of the use of these commands and codes to create check printing reports.

See Report Sample for a complete list of all sample reports available in Collect! and check out these sample reports and letters that ship with Collect! Visit our web site for the latest additions.