This window allows setting up to print the checks and access to Printer Alignment if needed. Follow the
three steps in this window to print the checks. The number of the first check should be the same as the
number already printed on the check form. If you stop printing for some reason and a check form is cancelled
you must start over and re-enter the number of the next check to be used.
When you click the Print button the checks will print. After each check you will be asked if the check printed properly on the form. If you answer ``NO'' the check request will be canceled and will not effect any accounts. You must re-enter the request to reprint this check. If you answer ``YES'' the program will proceed to print the next check. When all checks have been printed a message will appear telling you that the totals for this batch of checks has been entered into the BasicBooks General Journal. When you run the BBGL program you can see these entries under the View Unposted Entries option of the General Journal. The entries can then be posted to the General Ledger accounts just the same as any other General Journal entry.
Printer Check ALIGNMENT. You MUST complete this process before attempting to print any checks. (You must also have the default system printer set to handle Postscript. This can be done in the BasicBooks Printer Setup function. If your printer is not set as a Postscript printer the checks will not print properly.) Once the printer calibration is correct and saved you should not need to repeat this process again unless you change printers or check forms.
Why use Printer Check Alignment? - Using preprinted check forms requires that the check printing programs use the correct spacing and alignment to assure that the amounts and other data appear in the right place on the check. The Printer Check Alignment function allows you to set up the print routine to meet this requirement. Select this option from the Write Checks menu. A detailed explanation and set of instructions will appear in the window. (We suggest you use plain paper to do the test printing for Printer Alignment. Follow these instructions and continue trying until the square box is exactly one inch by one inch from the lower left corner of the paper. When this happens the check printing program is calibrated to your printer's capability.
How it Works. - The alignment program prints a 1 inch by 1 inch square box in the lower left corner of the test page. The Printer Alignment window has two boxes in which you can enter a number representing how much the box is to be shifted right and left, or up and down. Entering or incrementing the number by 1 represents approximately 1/10th of an inch. That is, entering the number 1 in the horizontal adjustment field will move the box approximately 1/10th inch to the right. A -1 would move it 1/10th inch to the left. Entering 2 would mean 2/10ths of an inch. The same math is true for the vertical adjustment field. You should keep testing these adjustments until the box prints exactly 1 inch from the left side of the page and 1 inch from the bottom of the page.
NOTE: Before you print actual checks you should make photo copies of a blank check form on plain paper and test printing checks on these photo copies to be sure that the printer calibration is correct. (This is a much less expensive choice than wasting printed check forms.) After the check prints answer NO when asked if the check printed correctly. This will cancel the check request in the database and will not create any journal entries.
