writing checks in quickbooks

You can't. QB presumes pre-printed checks (in several configurations). Absent compelling reasons to the contrary, order some "voucher" checks and you'll be good to go.

lol, they are doing it somehow, I've perused quickbooks site all afternoon trying to figure out how. I'd clone that drive and move it over but the new system doesn't support pata drives, and the old one doesn't support sata.

3rd party program you also need to copy? I don't believe QB can print checks except on to preprinted forms. Perhaps a 3rd party printer driver?

Or for that clone do both systems support another format say USB?

I theoritically could clone over the network, never done it before, but then, I'd have to deal with the driver thing and all, perhaps a repair install of xp would fix it. Pretty serious stuff as there has gotta be something simple making this happen. I don't see any third party software installed on the system, guess I'll try to get ahold of the person who set it up originally.

Are you sure they aren't running an addition program for check printing to blank check writing paper? I have seen packages of blank safety check paper with software to print the entire check. I've never explored this option, but I would assume that this software intevenes between QB and the printer to lay down both the check image and the data from QB. In DOS days, when I would write escape codes into dBase or other programs there was the ability to send two separate overlayed images to a laser printer (page as opposed to line printing like dot matrix printers) to print as one page.

The problem with computer-generated check forms is the MICR blurb. The ink is special in that it includes iron particles that can be recognized by magnetic character recognition devices. True, there are special laser toner cartridges that have this substance and very few enterprises still use the old magnetic recognition machines, but some companies still will reject a laser-generated check.

Another option is to pester the bank. My bank provides free checking and free checks for business accounts.

The old system must be using a third-party check printing application. You need to install that program as well if your client wishes to continue printing checks on blank check stock. (Hard to believe they are printing on just blank paper) I have several clients using Wellspring's Print Boss/Print Boss Express just for that purpose.

You are using expressions like old system and new system. If the new system is Vista then you may need versions QB and the check writing software that are compatible with it.

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It is not a problem simply a requirement that special toner is required. Given the amazingly low prices of laser printers today it is not unusual to have a dedicated printer with special toner installed set up just for checks. Companies with multiple checking accounts find the ability to print the actual check at the same time they issue a check is a great time saver. It also reduces errors created by putting the wrong checks in the printer.

Another plus with some check writing software is the ability to automatically create Positive Pay files to upload to their bank(s).

This is so not true. I write over a thousand checks monthly for multiple clients. All checks appear on the statements in (most times) the correct order. The old method of reading a magnetic strip has been replaced by OCRs and I never have a check rejected or supplemented with an additional magnetic strip once added by banks. Occasionally, a check number is misrecognized but never the account or amount.

I am using Versa-Check to create the custom check from blank stock. A second pass is required to print the specifics by QB. There is an IIF transfer method but after testing, for me, this is faster.

While it's true that virtually all banks and clearing houses have switched to optical character recognition, it's still not universal. For example, one of my clients sent a laser-printed check to the ex-finance minister of Nigeria for necessary transaction fees and got an urgent email suggesting that the local banks could not accept the check and could he please send another. Or wire transfer.

Sam's Club's check-reading equipment won't take a non-MICR check.

The fact that you have not incountered a problem is not statistically significiant. That said, I will agree with you and say for many banks the use of magnetic toner is not required. So I will repharase and say that if you want to be 100% certain the check can be read automatically by all banks then invest in special toner.

Print Boss by Wellspring Software does not require a second pass. The user configures QB to use their print driver as the check printer and the rest is automatic.

Are you telling me that first you must print the check using Versa-Check then put in back in the printer to use with QB?

That's what I'm doing.

Thanks, I'll look into that. An easy single pass would be much more desirable.

And regarding the special toner, The fact that I have not encountered a problem is quite statistically significant. I say don't waste the money, dedicate a printer or waste time changing cartridges. Let these odd banks catch up to new technology. They've got to be third rate in "Burgville" at best.

There are several programs that allow you to print checks that are generated by the QuickBooks program on blank check stock paper. We use a program called Check Magic to print well over 1,000 checks per month for more than fifty checking accounts. The program CheckMagic Deluxe cost us about $60.00 and I believe the application will allow us to have up to 999 separate checking accounts. They also have a more limited program for either $20.00 or $30.00. We buy the safety paper check stock for about $25.00 per 500 sheets. The program prints the entire check including the MICR line and can also print a logo on the check. To print the checks is a two step process, first you print to a file rather than a printer and then the Check Magic program prints the checks from that file in one pass. We used to use the magnetic toner cartridges because of problems with one bank, but that bank appears to have changed over to OCR so we no longer have to use the magnetic toner cartridges. CheckMagic has a web site

which might be helpful to you.

Good-o. I still like the bank-supplied "free checks" idea solution better, though.

Living on the edge, OK, but one never knows when a rock is embedded in a fluffy white snowball.

Anyone that prints well over 1,000 checks per month on 50 different checking accounts is absolutely nuts not to move up the food chain and get a better check writing program, one that does not require two passes.

Does CheckMagic automatically know which of the fifty checking accounts it needs to print the checks for on each run or does the user have to specify which one? I'll bet the answer is the latter.

Nothing like having to store 50 boxes of checks and having to constantly re-order.