Can't get correct check number

Am I the only one that sees a pattern with this guy's posts?

All software and hardware has bugs. It's a case of learning to live with it. If that's a pattern, so be it.

Bob

In your case there appears to be an infestation.

Read the entire thread. Someone else posted, "Besides, it won't work. QB just doesn't consistently remember check numbers as one moves from "Check" to "Pay Employees" to "Bill" and so forth. Just a burden we have to bear." I am not working in conjunction with the other person who noticed the same bug that I noticed.

Bob

If only it were that simple. Perhaps you have some helpful suggestions? Are there any updated drivers available that you know about? I downloaded the latest from the Brother site and from Drivers.com about a month ago and it didn't change anything. Since yours is working correctly, does it make a difference in the printer setup if you change the orientation? I've changed the orientation in both Word and in the printer setup and it makes no difference at all. Microsoft told me there is a compatibility issue with some printers and some motherboards when using XP. They had me enter 0 through 9 in the printer orientation in the registry. No change. This computer is a three year old Epiq, 1.7 GHz, plenty of RAM. My other computer is an ancient one running Win 2000 and the printer works ok with it. Printer worked ok on this computer until I upgraded to XP. I'm thinking it's gotta be the driver.

Bob

The problem is with you not the program. The way the program handles the next check number is perfectly logical to me. You are finding fault were none exits.

Then please explain what it is that I am doing wrong. I've set it forth in detail which screens pop up and what the choices are. At what point in the sequence of events am I making the error? Let's take it from The Bill Pay window and go from there. When the register pops open, I want to see the next consecutive check number. I can't get it to do it. You say it's possible. How? Or is your expertise limited to ridicule?

Bob

You are not doing anything wrong, It appears that you just don't understand the concept of what is going on. The check number that shows up is always the last check number actually printed by QB plus 1.

I've set it forth

Aha, so then I can get around it by printing a "check" onto a plain piece of paper, and then the register will indicate the correct check number. Thank you.

Bob

Yes, she suggested it but I don't recall her saying that it couldn't be done any other way. Now that I'm aware of how QB handles it, I can set it up to print to a printer file so I won't waste a piece of paper. Once a month, delete the printer file and start over. I was accustomed to MS-Money for Business which simply increments the last number in the register, so it doesn't matter how the physical check is produced.

Bob

Nope. He can't get his printer to work with XP- cuz it is a Brother. He can't get QB to remember his check #'s - cuz Intuit needs "a bug fix someday for the programmer who didn't know how to add one and one"

He wants to know "why it's reliable for some people and not for others", and as a former programmer at least I can answer that question for him... it is because people are not reliable.

A general caveat is that if a program 'bug' cannot be reproduced by other folks, then the bug is not with the program.

The reason you are having this problem is by going back and correcting the number after you have generated it, Quickbooks does not see the new numbering scheme. Instead of using the "follow next number" or whatever the exact wording is, use the "manually give it a number" option. This will get your sequence correct. After this you can switch back to the "follow next number" option and you should be set.

OK, thanks, I'll do that on the next check.

Bob

No. It's not.

QB keeps TWO sets of check numbers.. one for 'handwritten' checks and one for 'printed' checks.

In the Assign Check Numbers screen that pops up after you pay a bill, the helpfile tells you to 'Select "Automatically assign..." when you want to let QuickBooks choose the check number for you. QuickBooks remembers the number of the check that was printed last and uses the next number when you print checks again'.

That's a bit misleading. Because the next available number for PRINTED checks is NOT the one QB will assign to the current bill payment check. Since you are not marking the check 'to be printed', QB will use the next check number in the 'handwritten' number series.

The solution is as was stated elsewhere in the thread. The helpfile, under 'checks, numbers --> Resetting QuickBooks check numbers?' advises that you display the write checks window, in the # field, enter the number you want your checks to restart at, enter other information as normal, SAVE the check. "After you record this check, all checks that you don't print will follow your new numbering."

NO NO NO

QB *will* remember your check number and you do not have to waste a piece of paper.

QB keeps TWO sets of check numbers, one for checks printed by QB, the other for 'handwritten' checks.

Since you are not printing the checks from within QB, the program is using the set of numbers for handwritten checks.

In order to reset the check numbers for handwritten checks, create a new check in the write checks window, that has the number you wish to restart at. If you are not writing checks, but only paying bills, then you can still enter a check into the write checks window (a dummy check, if you will), give it the number of the last bill payment check you made, and save it. You will get a warning about a duplicate check number, and you can ignore it. After the check has been saved, simply delete the dummy.

Your check numbers are now reset.

The entire procedure is explained in the helpfile. In the Help Index select 'Checks, numbers'. The topic is 'Resetting QuickBooks' check numbers?'

Bob-You don't actually have to print to file or anything. As I stated in one of my posts - enter the check # in the check # column of the screen that comes up from the "pay bills" screen, where you say you are checking "use next # option". Much easier than trying to "print to file" or, wasting paper. Did you try this? N Owen To reply, please change "ONE" to numeral

Thanks to all, I have it working and it does automatically enter the next consecutive handwritten check now.

Bob