magnetic code for checks

[Joe Chasan]

On Thu, Sep 15, 2005 at 01:39:08PM -0700, Jim Asman wrote:
> --------------- Original Message ---------------
> At 04:13P Thu Sep 15 2005, Dennis Malen wrote:
> 
> > This question has been asked before.
> > 
> > Does anyone have code that can be used in filePro that can create the 
> > magnetic fonts on the bottom of a check?
> > 
> > I can't seem to get a hold of Jim Asman.
> 
> You need a PCL MICR font and perhaps magnetic toner.
> 
> You'll have to find the specs for positioning of the MICR printing,
> character spacing and character size.
> 
> The font will have just 14 chars I think, 0-9 plus the 4 special MICR
> characters. Those 4 will be arbitrarily mapped to alpha, typically A-D.
> 
> For my checks, I turned the MICR data into a single .BMP and converted
> that to PCL with MKPCL. I preprint the MICR data with magnetic toner.
> Doing it that way, I CANNOT include the check # in the MICR data.

typically i get a (E13B?) MICR font for an HP laser (you can buy them 
with the font cartridge/SIMM/DIMM board pre-installed from select 
places or put it in yourself.  some use software downloadable font,
or an external font cartridge, but i prefer the internal h/w ones).
many (most?) banks still require MICR toner as well.

next, i use blank secure check stock, make an image of the check and throw
it into PCL macro to download with the check data.

for the check data, filePro prints pay-to info, amount, etc.
For the MICR line on the bottom (includes on-us symbol, check #, on-us 
symbol, transit symbol, bank routing/transit #, transit symbol, bank 
account #, on-us symbol, and optionally check amount) i usually just 
put it into a single dummy variable containing all ascii equivalent of
the MICR stuff - as jim mentioned - the MICR char set is just numbers 
0-9 and the 4 symbols - which are just translations of ASCI characters, 
but i don't recall wich 4 they are - i suspect they are some punctuation 
ones.  i preface the dummy with print codes that activate the MICR font 
- AND you will definitely need positioning print codes there as well 
as there is a very fine tolerance zone as to where things are and are 
not allowed to appear.

you can buy a micr document ruler/template to check alignment
yourself, there is a specific order of things and even stricter
positioning requirements (as well as places you are not allowed
to put MICR toner!) - after which you may (either by bank
request or your own peace of mind) submit a printed batch to
your bank for testing.  because the positioning and alignment
is so critical, skip the cheap printers for this, a mis-grabbed
check paper could easily print in the wrong spot.

note that my method uses MICR toner for the entire check so if
you print a huge number of checks you might consider a hodge-podge
approach to use less MICR toner
 
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-Joe Chasan-                      Magnatech Business Systems, Inc.
joe at magnatechonline.com           Hicksville, NY - USA
http://www.MagnatechOnline.com    Tel.(516) 931-4444/Fax.(516) 931-1264