Creating your own check forms from blank checks

Sage 100 Contractor uses different check form designs in each location from which you can print checks: 1-1 Checks/Bank Charges, 4-3 Vendor Payments, 5-2-4 Payroll Checks, and 8-5 Equipment Payments. If you are using blank checks, you need to create a new check form design for each company and checking account in each location from which you intend to print checks.

Suppose that your company only uses two checking accounts. One account is strictly for payroll while the other covers all other payments. For the payroll checking account, create one form that Sage 100 Contractor uses when you print checks from the 5-2-4 Payroll Checks window. For the general checking account, you need to create three separate forms to print checks from each of the remaining locations.

When designing your own checks, place three different fields on the bottom of the check design and formatted with the MICR font.

• In the left corner, the check number must be printed.
• In the middle, the routing number and account number must print.
• In the right corner, the check amount must print.

You must purchase and install the MICR fonts in order to print the appropriate information on your checks.

The MICR fonts allow you to type the special characters on your checks that banks use to read the routing number, account number, and the amount.

To create your own check forms:

1. Open 13-5 Form/Report Page Design.

2. From the File menu, click Open, and then select the form design you want to edit.

   Tip: If you do not know the name of the form design to edit, open the Report Printing window as if you were printing checks. On the Edit menu, click Form Design.

3. In the upper left portion of the check, draw a text box, and then enter the company information and bank information.

4. In the upper right corner of the check, draw a text box. Then, from the Insert menu, click Fields, then Calculated Fields.

   The Calculated Fields window appears.

5. Select the Check Number field.

6. In the left bottom corner, draw a text box that will contain the check number.

7. Click Edit, then Calculated Fields.

8. Click the drop-down arrow next to the Calculation box to display the Global Calculated Fields window, then select Micro code check number (lgtnln^chknmc) from the list.

9. Click Add to add to Calculated Fields for this form.

10. From the Insert menu, click Fields, then Calculated Fields, then select the Micro code check number.

11. From the Edit menu, click Font.

12. Select the AdvMICR font, apply to the Micro code check number, then click OK.

13. In the middle of the form at the bottom, type in the routing number and account number. From the Edit menu, click Font. Select the AdvMICR font, and click OK.

14. Repeat steps 7 to 13, and instead of selecting Micro code check number, select Micro code check amount (lgtnln^chkamc).

15. From the Insert menu, click Fields, then Calculated Fields, then select the Micro code check amount.

16. From the Edit menu, click Font.

17. Select the AdvMICR font, apply to the Micro code check amount, and click OK.

18. From the File menu, click Save, then save each form with a unique name and the correct file name extension.

19. Verify the routing number, checking account number, and the symbols. Then verify the placement of the MICR line.