Printing MICR Checks

Can I print checks with MICR encoding at the bottom?

Goldenseal accounting software allows you to print MICR encoding on checks. It takes some fussing, but it can save you some money if you print large numbers of checks.

MICR Fonts

You'll need to add a MICR font to your system so you can print the special spacing characters in the MICR text.

There are commercial and public domain fonts available-- a search for "MICR Font" on Google will turn up a good selection.

Account Info

Goldenseal includes an optional field in checking accounts which stores the text for the routing number.

To add it to your account layouts, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Custom Layouts from the Options menu, and choose Accounts from the submenu.
  2. Enter Checking Accounts in the Account Type field at upper left.
  3. Click on the Field Tool (fourth row left in the tool palette on the left side of the window).
  4. Click in the layout, and drag a rectangle at the location where you'd like to add a new field.
  5. You'll see a list of optional fields. Choose MICR Text, then click OK.
  6. You can position the new field anywhere on the layout.
  7. Click on the new field, then choose Fonts from the Text menu at the top of the screen. Select your MICR font from the list of fonts.
  8. Choose Save from the File menu, then close the layout window.

To add MICR info to each checking account, follow these steps:

  1. If the Checking Account window is already open, close it.
  2. Choose Checking from the Accounts menu.
  3. Enter MICR text into each account that you'll use for check printing. You'll to include the bank routing number, your account number, plus whatever letters are used for the special spacing characters in your MICR font (they often use capital A for the start block, and capital C for the end block).

Layout Setup

You'll need to add MICR text to the print forms that you use for check printing. To do that, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Custom Layouts from the Options menu, and choose Printed Forms from the submenu.
  2. Enter Checking Transactions in the Transaction field at upper left.
  3. Choose your usual check printing layout in the Print Form field.
  4. Click on the Field Tool (fourth row left in the tool palette on the left side of the window).
  5. Click in the layout, and drag a rectangle at the location where you'd like to add the MICR text.
  6. You'll see a list of optional fields. Choose MICR Text, turn off the Create Label checkbox, then click OK.
  7. You can position the new field anywhere on the layout.
  8. Click on the field.
  9. Choose Font from the Text menu, and select the MICR font that you added to your system.
  10. Choose Save from the File menu, then close the layout window.

Printing

To print MICR checks, choose Print Forms from the File menu, and enter Checking Transactions into the Transaction field.

You probably will want to print on blank checks that include microprinting and other safety features, since your laser or inkjet printer doesn't have the resolution to print those directly.

You'll also need to use special MICR-compatible toner for your printing.

For general info about check printing, click here.

To return to bank topics, click here.
Click here to return to printing topics.

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