CBT

CheckBook Tracker

GPL (C) 2003 Anthony Maro
Contents

Printing Checks

CheckBook Tracker offers the ability to print checks on predesigned form checks available from most check printing companies.  Due to the magnetic ink used in checks, CBT is not able to print checks on plain paper (and neither can any other check printing software.)

Checks are generally printed in batches.  Enter several transactions, choosing "Print" as the transaction number.  After several transactions have been entered, choose "Print Checks" from the "File" menu.

The number of checks to be printed will show at the top of the dialog.  Below this you can select the check number of the first paper check you are about to print on.  You can also specify how many checks are on the first page.  This way you don't waste forms when you have already used one check off a page last time you printed, just select that there are 2 checks remaining, and CBT will start printing there.

Many users will want to have both a carry-along checkbook and printed checks. These will use different numbers. The idea is that you can enter your daily checks normally, but when it comes to paying bills, print out 1 to 30 at a time that you have already queued.

If you want a check to be printed in a batch, you enter it like a normal check, but change the transaction number to "Print". You can enter many checks at a time this way. They will NOT immediately print. See the screenshot below:



All checks you wish to print must be entered prior to printing the batch. If you try to leave CBT without printing checks in the queue, it will warn you - but it doesn't HURT to leave with checks flagged to be printed.

Once you have 2,3 or even 30 checks in your CBT register, all who's check number says "Print" will be printed when you select "Print Checks" from the file menu.

You will then have the option of designating the starting check number, and telling how many checks are remaining on the first page (in case you used one of them from that page last batch.) See the screen below:



Notice that it automatically knew it was printing three checks, because I had selected three checks as check number "Print" when I entered them (see first screenshot.) If last time I printed, the last page of checks had only used one check, I'd change the number of checks on the first page to be "2". The starting check number would be the first check on the first page of the preprinted forms.

Once the batch is printed, all checks that were flagged for printing will have the corresponding check number replaced in the CBT check register, UNLESS you select "REPRINT", and then it will assume nothing has happened.

The real power comes in if you schedule a recurring transaction to be auto-entered every month with a transaction type of "Print". Then all you have to do is open CBT the day your bills are due and select "Print Checks".

If printing does not seem to be aligned exactly with your forms, you can change these settings from the "Settings" option in the "Tools" menu.  The "Check Printing" tab gives complete control over spacing when printing checks.

Check Printing Settings