magnetic code for checks

[John Esak]

Joe,
This is a great resource document. Thanks.
John


> -----Original Message-----
> From: filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com
> [mailto:filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com]On Behalf Of Joe Chasan
> Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 6:07 PM
> To: filepro-list at seaslug.org
> Subject: Re: magnetic code for checks
>
>
> 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
>
> --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---
> -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
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