© 1998-2000 NSC
All rights reserved.
Introduction
CheckMate4Quicken is a simple to use program that captures
the check data from Quicken, then reformats and prints the data on your personal checks. CheckMate4Quicken can
be used with any personal check. CheckMate4Quicken allows you to print on checks, from different banks, with varying
layouts. CheckMate4Quicken includes a Layout editor that allows you to create an unlimited number of check layouts.
CheckMate4Quicken employs "Wizard technology" that makes configuring CheckMate4Quicken, and creating
check layouts a breeze.
The CheckMate4Quicken Check Printer is automatically
started when Windows starts up. The Check Printer will appear in the system tray typically located in the lower
right-hand of your screen.
Before you can use CheckMate4Quicken you must configure
it. Configuring CheckMate4Quicken amounts to telling it how your checks are laid out, and how to print on them.
See section 1 below, entitled Initial
Setup.
Installation
To install CheckMate4Quicken double click on the file
(cmsetup.exe) that you downloaded. The setup program will guide you through the installation.
Initial
Setup
Configuring
CheckMate4Quicken
There are three major steps required
to configure CheckMate4Quicken. The first is creating a check layout that will be used to print your checks. The
second is configuring CheckMate4Quicken to use your printer and the third is configuring Quicken to use CheckMate4Quicken.
The first set of instructions will guide you through the first two task, creating a Check Layout and configuring
CheckMate4Quicken to use your printer. The second set of instructions will guide you through setting up Quicken
to use CheckMate4Quicken.
Items
needed
Check
Layout Setup
Locate the CheckMate4Quicken Icon in
the lower right corner of your screen. Right click on it and select Setup->Layout Editor,
from the menu. The CheckMate4Quicken Layout Editor will appear on the screen. Select File->New. The CheckMate4Quicken Check Layout Wizard will appear.
Selecting
the Date Format
Select the date format. If your checks
have a Date field that is pre-printed with the first two digits of the year, and space for the last 2 digits, then
Click on the 2 Digit radio button in the Date Format box. If your check has a Date field without the year pre-printed,
then click on the 4 Digit Radio button In the Date Format box.
Printer
Setup
Click on Print. Since this is your first
time running the Layout Editor, Wizard will offer to run the Printer Setup Wizard to guide you through configuring
CheckMate4Quicken to use your printer. Click on Yes. The CheckMate4Quicken Printer Setup Wizard will appear.
Click on Next to begin, a dialog box will appear that
allows you to select the printer you will use to print your checks.
Selecting
a Printer
Use the drop-down list and select the
printer you will use to print your checks. Set the Paper Size to 8.5 by 11 and the Source (depending on your printer)
to Default, or Feeder. The Orientation should be set to Landscape. Then click OK.
Setting the Type of Envelope Feeder
Select the type of envelope feeder your
printer has. If your printer has an Adjustable Feeder then close the feeder down to the smallest size that will
accept one of you checks. If the feeder will hold the check securely, and there is no more then a 32nd of an inch of slop then Click the Adjustable Feeder radio button. If your feeder will not hold the check
securely, and there is more then a 32nd of an inch slop, then select the Slot or Wide Feeder radio button.
Printing the Alignment Test Pattern
You will be presented with a set of directions
to insert the first canceled check into the printer. Follow them exactly. Even if you know your printer prints
on the opposite side of the paper, still insert the check as directed. After the check is inserted, click on the
Print test pattern button. In a few seconds a test pattern will be printed on your check. Once the pattern is done
printing, click on Yes, then click on Next. If the pattern was not printed, click on No. The wizard will help you
troubleshoot any print problems.
Setting the Orientation and Origin
Hold the check so that the numbers printed
on it are read from left to right. From the four orientations shown on the dialog box, click on the one that matches
your check. Once you select an orientation, it will allow you to set the origin. Type in the five digit number
found in the upper left most corner of your check. Enter all 5 digits, then click on Next.
For example, if your check printed as shown here, then
you would click on the Top Right Image, and enter 00210.
If you cannot read the number then use the one below
it. If your check printed like the one shown here, you would enter 00240.
.
How
to Insert a Check
On this screen the Wizard shows you how
to insert your checks into your printer. When printing with CheckMate4Quicken always insert your check as shown.
You may wish to mark this orientation right on your printer.
Printing the Layout test Pattern
Click on Finish. You will be prompted
to insert a second canceled check into your printer. Do so and then click on OK The printer will print the Layout
Alignment test pattern on your check.
Creating
a Layout
Press the tab key to move the cursor
to the first red arrow on the screen. Enter the 5 digit number found on your check at that location indicated by
the red arrows. Use the tab key to move to the rest of the fields and enter the rest of the numbers. Choose the
number that starts below or just on the line, closest to the point indicated by the arrow. If your check looked
like this one, then you would fill out the form using the numbers highlighted.
© 1998-2000 NSC All rights reserved.
Setting up Quicken to use CheckMate4Quicken
Windows
2000/NT:
Setting the Printer for Checks
Windows 2000 and NT
require the use of a Generic Text Printer driver. Please use Add
Printer to install a Generic/Text Only printer on to the port
<folder CheckMate is in>\Data\$CM4Q$.$$$.
Run Quicken. Select
File->Printer Setup->For Printing
Checks. A dialog box like the following will appear. Use the drop-down list
and select Generic / TextOnly as your printer. The Check
Style should be set to Standard
Checks with Continuos feed. Click on
O.K.
Windows
95/98:
Setting the Printer for Checks
Run Quicken. Select
File->Printer Setup->For Printing
Checks. A dialog box like the following will appear. Use the drop-down list
and select CheckMate 4 Quicken as your printer. The Check
Style should be set to Standard
Checks with Continuos feed. Click on
O.K.
© 1998-2000 NSC
All rights reserved.
Using
CheckMate4Quicken 
All of the CheckMate4Quicken functions are accessed
through the Check Printer's main menu. To access the menu, locate the Check Printer Icon located in your systems
tray. Right click on the Icon. From this menu you can select the active layout, run the Layout Editor, configure
your printer, display the about box, access the CheckMate4Quicken web site, and close the Check Printer program.
Select
Check Menu Option
Setting the Active Layout
To format the data from Quicken onto your personal check,
CheckMate4Quicken uses the active Check Layout. A Check Layout is a description of your check that
is stored in a Check Layout file. The active
layout is the currently selected Check
Layout. Check Layouts are created with the CheckMate4Quicken's Layout Editor (See Section 2.2.1 below). The first
time you run CheckMate4Quicken you will create a Check Layout file for each of the different types of checks that
you use.
The active layout is the one selected
through and displayed on the Check Printer's main menu. To change the active layout: From the Check
Printer menu, choose the Select Check option. You will be presented with a dialog box that allows
you to select a Check Layout file. (Layout files end with .ckt.) This Check Layout will become the active layout.
The CheckMate4Quicken Check Printer remembers the last
active layout and will automatically reload it each time the Check Printer is started. If you have more than
one checking account, and have created multiple Check Layout files, then simply select the corresponding layout
file from the Check Printer's Select
Check menu option before you print
checks for that account.
Setup
Menu Option
Running the Layout Editor
From the Check Printer's main menu you can run the CheckMate4Quicken
Layout Editor. The Layout Editor is a graphical editor that is used to create and edit Check Layout files. A Check
Layout is a description of your check used by CheckMate4Quicken's Check Printer to format the data from Quicken
onto your personal check.
A layout contains the fields that will be printed on
your checks. The fields are configurable. A field can be set to be printable or non-printable. A field can be positioned
anywhere on the check. The length of the field can be changed, as well as the font used to print the field.
If you have more than one checking account, and the
checks that you use have very different layouts, each account will need its own Check Layout file.
To start the Layout Editor select Setup->Layout Editor from the CheckMate4Quicken Check Printer's main menu. This will open the Layout Editor.
Opening an Existing Check Layout.
From the File Menu select the Open option. This will present you with a dialog box from which you can choose a layout file to edit. For
instructions on how to edit the layout, see section 2.2.1.3 below.
Creating a new Check Layout.
If you have not completed the Initial
Setup please proceed to section 1, complete the Initial Setup and then return here.
From the File Menu select the New option. This will open a new layout window. If the Check layout wizard has been previously run, you will
be asked if you wish to you begin with the last layout definition or re-run the Wizard and create a new definition.
If the Wizard has not been previously run, then it will run and help you create a layout.
The Check Layout wizard helps you create a rough layout
rapidly. It does this by printing an alignment pattern on your check. You then enter the five digit numbers found
at the locations shown in the wizard's window. The wizard then converts these numbers into positions and generates
a check layout automatically.
Selecting
the Date Format
If your checks have a Date field that is pre-printed,
with the first two digits of the year, and space for the last 2 digits. Then Click on the 2 Digit radio button
in the Date Format box. If your checks has a Date field without the year pre-printed, then click on the 4 Digit
Radio button in the Date Format box.
Printing
the Layout Test Pattern
Click on Print. You will be prompted to insert a canceled
check into your printer. Do so and then Click on OK. The printer will print the Layout Alignment test pattern on
your check.
Entering
the Layout Data
Press the tab key to move the cursor to the first red
arrow on the screen. Enter the 5 digit numbers found on your check at that location indicated by the red arrows.
Use the tab key to move to the rest of the fields and enter the rest of the numbers. Choose the number that starts
below or just on the line, closest to the point indicated by the arrow. If your check looked like this one, then
you would fill out the form using the numbers highlighted.
Once you have filled in all the locations click on Save and Exit. The Layout Wizard will create a layout that matches
your check.
Editing a Check Layout
Adjusting the Border
The border is just to give you a frame of reference.
Click anywhere on the border. It will turn blue indicating it is selected. To change its size, simply drag it.
Notice that the rulers indicate the location of the corner. Use the position indicators to help you set the size.
Changing Fields
To change a field you must first select it. Select a
field by clicking on it. The field will turn blue indicating it is selected. You can change the field's position
by dragging it. The anchor point of the field will snap to the cursor. The anchor point
is the location of where that field will print on your check. Notice that the rulers indicate the location of the
cursor. Use the position indicators to help position the fields. To change the length of a field, select the field,
then left click the end opposite the text. Drag the end of the field to set its size. To change the font or set
if the field will be printed, select the field and right click on it.
Changing
the Date Format
The 4-digit date option is used with checks that have
a date field without the year pre-printed on it. If your checks have a date field that is pre-printed, then deselect
this option.
To change the date format to 4 digits, select Options->4 Digit Date menu. A check mark will appear next to the item indicating that 4-digit date format will be used with
this layout. If it is unchecked then this layout uses the two-digit date format.
Saving the Layout
Select File->Save to save the
check layout. Choose a name that represents the account that the layout is for. For example, if you only have one
account you could call it "default". But if you have a checking account at First National Bank and one
at Crocker Bank. Then you might call one "FirtNat" and the other "Crocker".
The Printer Setup Wizard
The Printer Setup Wizard is used
to configure the printer that will be used to print your checks. It walks you through the steps to determine how
to insert checks into your printer so that CheckMate4Quicken will print correctly on them. The wizard will automatically
set the
Origin point. This value will be used to offset the
printed check image, so that it lines up correctly on your check. See the Section 2.2.3 below for information on
manually changing the origin.
Select the Setup->Printer Setup wizard option
to run the Printer setup wizard.
Configuring
your printer.
Changing printers or even updating
a printer driver may require the Origin values to be changed. Setting the Origin is automatically done by the Printer
Setup Wizard. Therefore it is best to use the Printer Setup Wizard whenever you change printers.
You can manually change the printer and the origin setting
with the Setup->Configure Printer menu option.
Selecting a Printer
To change the printer or its configuration select the
Setup->Configure Printer option. You will be presented with a Print Setup dialog box.
From this dialog box you can change the printer, the paper size and its orientation.
It is strongly recommended that you leave the Paper
size set at 8.5 X 11. With certain printers, that do not have an envelope feeder, you may have to feed your checks
in the portrait mode. Therefore you may need to change the paper orientation from Landscape to Portrait.
Setting the Origin
The origin sets the position of the upper left-hand
corner of the check image on the Check. To shift the whole image, you can change the Top or Left values of the
origin. To change the Origin select the Setup->Configure
Printer option. Click OK in the printer
setup dialog box and enter new values for the Top and/or Left origin offset. Note, the offset values are in hundredths
of an inch.
The best way to adjust the origin is to print a check
onto an 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper and then figure out how the image needs to be shifted.
About CheckMate4Quicken Menu Option
Selecting the About option, on the Check Printer menu will open the "About" box for the CheckMate4Quicken Check
Printer. The "About" box contains the version and copyright information for the Check Printer. To access
the CheckMate4Quicken web site, place the mouse over "CheckMate4Quicken Home" and click on it. This will
open your web browser and take you to the CheckMate4Quicken web site. There you will find information on CheckMate4Quicken
and a list of companies that sell quality checks at discount prices.
Closing the Check Printer Menu Option
By selection this option you will close the
Check Printer and it will stop capturing the output from Quicken.
In the event that you forget to run the Check Printer,
before you print checks from Quicken. Start the Check Printer. Then tell Quicken to re-print the last check(s)
starting from the same check number. The Check Printer can be started by selecting "Start" from the windows
task bar, and selecting Programs->StartUp->ckprt.
© 1998-2000 NSC
All rights reserved. rev 2.12
