Re: MICR printing

It's a function of the MICR font.  If you've got PSF/400 licensed and can 
get the proper MICR font the characters are part of the font.  ACOM, 
Digital Designs, Quadrant Software, and Source Technologies all have good 
information on MICR.  You'll probably want an actual MICR printer -- MICR 
toner works best with a diffferent temperature for the fuser than regular 
toner.  Simply putting MICR toner in a standard laser can work, but you 
might run into trouble later on.

We got our MICR font with InfoPrint Designer, purchased a MICR printer, 
designed our form definitions, page definitions, overlays, and page 
segments using InfoPrint Designer.  Everyone has been *VERY* happy with 
the results.  (We worked with Digital Designs and the salesman was very 
helpful.  But other companies seem very helpful, too.)

You can design an overlay using the AFP printer driver from IBM's website 
and then convert and upload it using iSeries Access.  Then you'll just 
have to have the font for the MICR pritning defined in your print file. 
Your bank should be able to provide you with the proper specifications for 
the check -- there's more to the requirements than just the MICR.

Michael Quigley
AS/400 Programming Coordinator
The Way International
www.TheWay.org

Original message:

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date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 11:43:04 -0600
from: "William Huguenard" <huguewm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: [COBOL400-L] MICR printing

We are searching for an alternative to printing checks on preprinted
check forms that already have the bank and account info encoded on the
bottom of each check.  We would like to use some type of form overlay to
print the entire check on blank check stock.

We realize that we will have to use a MICR enabled printer to do this. 
It appears that I can use Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) on the
Iseries to create the overlays I need (I've never used AFP).  My
question: Do I need additional software to create the funky characters
that appear at the bottom of the check between the bank routing number
and the encrypted account number?  Or, do the MICR enabled printers
handle this?

If anyone has experience using AFP to print checks, I would appreciate
a simple reply stating whether it is worth the effort learning how to
use it.

Thanks.



Bill Huguenard
Bay District Schools
850-747-5416