The final option under the Write Checks menu is Printer Check ALIGNMENT. You MUST complete this process before attempting to print any checks. (You must also have the default system printer set to handle Postscript. This can be done in the BasicBooks Printer Setup function. If your printer is not set as a Postscript printer the check vouchers will not print properly.) Once the printer calibration is correct and saved you should not need to repeat this process unless you change printers or check forms.
Why use Printer Check Alignment? - Using preprinted check forms requires that the check printing programs use the correct spacing and alignment to assure that the amounts and other data appear in the right place on the check. The Printer Check Alignment function allows you to set up the print routine to meet this requirement. Select this option from the Write Checks menu. A detailed explanation and set of instructions will appear in the window. (We suggest you use plain paper to do the test printing for Printer Alignment. Follow these instructions and continue trying until the square box is exactly one inch by one inch from the lower left corner of the paper. When this happens the check printing program is calibrated to your printer's capability.
How it Works. - The alignment program prints a 1 inch by 1 inch square box in the lower left corner of the test page. The Printer Alignment window has two boxes in which you can enter a number representing how much the box is to be shifted right and left, or up and down. Entering or incrementing the number by 1 represents approximately 1/10th of an inch. That is, entering the number 1 in the horizontal adjustment field will move the box approximately 1/10th inch to the right. A -1 would move it 1/10th inch to the left. Entering 2 would mean 2/10ths of an inch. The same math is true for the vertical adjustment field. You should keep testing these adjustments until the box prints exactly 1 inch from the left side of the page and 1 inch from the bottom of the page.
NOTE: Before you print actual checks you should make photo copies of a blank check form on plain paper and test printing checks on these photo copies to be sure that the printer calibration is correct. (This is a much less expensive choice than wasting printed check forms.) You can use either the Occasional Check or Pay Selected Invoices option to print the test checks. (After the check prints answer NO when asked if the check printed correctly. This will leave the invoice unchanged in the database and will not create any journal entries.)
