Why isn't the date and dollar amount in digits not printing on my checks

Brenda Hoffman

I have a Quickens Window subscription, Classic, Business and Personal Version R60.15, Build 271.60.15. I bought this to replace Quicken 2017 Classic Business and Personal because I was having a problem printing checks (I use Quicken checks). Everything except the date and dollar amount in digits printed correctly. Switching to the subscription did not fix the problem. After many hours spent with technical support, uninstalling, reinstalling, going back to a prior backup, upgrading to Windows 11, and periodic updates, I still have the same problem. It used to happen to all of my bank accounts, now it's just happening on one of them. A previous discussion about this in 2022 is closed and it seems technical support has no idea how to fix it.

Am I the only one having this problem?

RalphC

No, I don't have this issue and never have. It would seem that alignment on your check print setup is incorrect, but I'm going to assume that it's the first thing Quicken Support looked at. You've changed and upgraded everything, so it's not Quicken program software, the Quicken data file, or Windows OS. The only thing you haven't changed is the printer. First, the quickest troubleshooting step I would try is to uninstall and reinstall your printer driver with the latest software release. If that fails to resolve the issue, a new/different printer might be the solution.

UKR

Has your printer run out of black ink / toner and is now printing black as composite of all colors?

Are you using a Date Format setting (in Windows) other than the standard MM/DD/YYYY format? Long formats with text for month and/or day of week may not work

For printing the numeric check amount, $123.45, the font Arial, 10 pt., must be available. Check your Windows installation's list of fonts.
All other fields on a check are printed using the font selected in your Printer Setup / For printing checks

How to Repair Printer Setup:
Try resetting your printer definitions in Quicken and then redefine the printer:
The printer must be powered up and connected to the PC.

For Quicken for Windows versions 2009 and older:
- Close Quicken
- Use Windows File Explorer to locate and rename the file
C:\Users_username_\AppData\Roaming\Intuit\Quicken\Config\WPR.DAT to WPR.OLD
- Now set up your printer again, as described below. The WPR.DAT file will be recreated next time you start Quicken.

For Quicken for Windows 2010 until Quicken Subscription (US, 2021) R33:
- Click File / File Operations / Validate and Repair. Select only "Reset Quicken Printer Settings", then click OK.
- Now set up your printer (see below)

For Quicken for Windows Subscription (US, 2021) R34 and newer:
- Click File / Validate and Repair. Select only "Reset Quicken Printer Settings", then click OK.
- Now set up your printer (see below)

Printer Setup (all versions):
- Close and restart Quicken (might not be necessary, but it can't hurt)
- In Quicken click File / Printer Setup / For Printing ... and visit all popup selections as needed
(a) for Reports,
(b) for Checks,
(c) for Invoices [Quicken HB&R users only]
and define your printer.

If you're printing checks, do not forget to select the correct check style.
- For 3-per-page personal size checks choose "Wallet Checks (Check 21 ...)", not "Wallet Checks" (unless you still use some very old stock from many years ago, pre-2006)
- For 3-per-page business size checks choose "Standard Checks", not "Voucher Checks".
- For 1-per-page business size checks with 2 stubs choose "Voucher Checks".
- Canadian users need to choose between 2 layout styles, e.g., old style "Voucher" vs. new style "Voucher - Image ready".

Additional things to check:
- If you are printing a logo (image) on your checks, click the Logo button and make sure that your logo image file still is where Quicken expects it to be.
- Also choose the proper features for printing partial pages when using 3-per-page stock.
- Users of continuous forms on dot matrix printers: Be sure to select "Continuous Forms" instead of "Page-oriented".
- Laser / inkjet sheet-fed printers: in Windows Printer Properties select paper size 8.5*11", standard paper. Do not use any "Auto detect" or photo print settings.
- If checks print OK on one computer but do not align properly on another computer, compare printer settings, printer port selections and installed printer driver versions.
- Download and install the latest printer driver directly from the manufacturer's website. The driver that comes with your Windows installation media may not be up to date.
- Make sure that at least one of your printers is marked as Windows Default Printer ... doesn't have to be the one you want to use with Quicken, but you need at least one marked Default Printer
- In some of the newer versions of Windows you may also need to do this:
Go into Windows Settings or Control Panel, Printers & Scanners.
Uncheck "Let Windows manage my default printer".

Brenda Hoffman

Quicken support checked all of the print problems mentioned (ink levels, how many checks, fonts, paper size, basically everything). I also uninstalled and reinstalled my my Epson Ecotank ET-8550 by calling Epson support and they walked me through it. That fixed the problem for a while, but as soon as I installed the latest Quicken update, the problem started all over again.

The weird thing is this problem does not occur with all of my checking accounts. It is a problem with only one of them. Another weird thing is if I print a check on the "problem" checking account on plain paper, everything prints correctly including the date and dollar amount in digits.

Is anyone else having trouble using the Epson Ecotank ET-8550 to print checks?

UKR

The weird thing is this problem does not occur with all of my checking accounts. It is a problem with only one of them.

What's different between accounts? Are you selecting a different check style in the problem account? If so, which one?

If a live check (not a printer setup sample) prints correctly on plain paper but doesn't print OK on check form … what are the printer default properties? 8.5x11", standard paper or something like "auto paper detect"?

Brenda Hoffman

The live check print settings on all of my checking accounts is identical (Wallet checks (Check 21 image compatible)). Printer default properties are 8.5 x 11 standard paper (not auto paper detect).

UKR

Thanks for responding.
Are you printing a full sheet of 3 Wallet checks or are you printing a partial sheet with 1 or 2 checks left over?
Is a full sheet misprinting the same as a partial sheet with 1 or 2 checks left over?

If you are feeding a short page with only one check, are you feeding it sideways like an envelope or portrait (normal orientation) mode?
If you are feeding it sideways, which side goes in first: the left side with the stub or the right side where the date and amount print?

Here's my suspicion: is it possible that the check falls out of the printer's grasp before the date and amount print on the paper?

Brenda Hoffman

Thank YOU for helping. Quicken support went through all of the printing 1 vs 2 vs 3 checks, it doesn't matter how many checks are on the sheet nor how many sheets are in the printer, nor whether or not I select "print 1 check" "print 2 checks" etc. It doesn't matter if I print a short page or a full page and I don't think the check is falling out of the printer's grasp since this never happens on the other 3 checking accounts using exactly the same procedures.

The only thing I can think of is this whole problem began right after Hurrican Helene. Could the storm have caused some sort of glitch? (I didn't have any hurricane damage).

I have been using Quicken for 40 years without any problems. The only new thing is the Epson Ecotank printer (which was purchased and used months before Helene). I asked support if they thought the new printer was the problem and they said no. But maybe I should just hook up my old printer and see if the problem persists on that one.

You wouldn't believe how frustrating it is to spend at least 8 hours with Quicken support, get the problem fixed and then have it start all over again.

You've been very kind. Have a Happy Holiday:)