Check printing alignment

Hytec

Check horizontal printing alignment has right-shifted 4-1/2" since last month. Vertical alignment has remained correct. Alignment offsets (-7V, -20H) have remained the same since setup a few years ago. Both the computer and printer have been rebooted. Quicken version is up to date.

Quicken Classic Premier, Version R62.16, Build 27.1.62.16.

Windows 11 Pro, Version 24H2, Build 26100.3915

HP Office Jet 8025e

Issue correction suggestions would be appreciated, thank you.

UKR

What check style are you using?
- 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".

Are you printing a full page of Wallet or Standard checks? Or are you trying to print on a partial page with 1 or 2 checks left on the sheet?

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.
- 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, 100% size. 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".

Hytec

Hi UKR, thanks for your reply.

I'm printing Standard size checks, page-oriented, letter size, one check per print, no stub attached.

Latest HP driver and firmware installed.

No difference of issue, whether printing with Windows managed or HP managed.

My concern is that no user settings were changed when the printed check text was aligned correctly on 4/17 and today when the printed check text was mis-aligned 4-3/4" to the right of the correct position.

This issue occurs only when printing Quicken generated checks. Check registers and reports generated by Quicken print correctly. Furthermore, all documents generated or download by commercial applications and by Windows Settings print correctly. This is why I assume this issue is unique to the check printing subroutine.

Quicken issued two version updates during April, R62.14 and R62.16 HF1. I don't know their installation dates. whether before or after 4/17, therefore if one of the updates may have caused this issue.

Is there a way this issue can be forwarded to the Quicken software department for analysis? Thanks.

UKR

Please try this:

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.

- Click File / Validate and Repair. Select only "Reset Quicken Printer Settings", then click OK.
- 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".

Also be sure to choose and test the proper selections for how to print a partial page in your printer … the settings to choose (e.g., horizontal vs. vertical feed) may depend on the make and model of printer that you use.

Select the Font and Alignment buttons to choose the desired font to use and to store and test Alignment settings specific for your printer … -7, -20 … wasn't it?

Hytec

The issue has been corrected. Thank you.

I reset the printer definitions. The check alignment parameters were then redefined to -20 and -7. Print Sample showed that the printing alignment had been restored to the correct positioning.

I remembered that I had inadvertently caused the check printed on 4/4 to be printed horizontally instead of vertically. Apparently this caused an alignment parameter to be overwritten with the 4-3/4" offset.

Thank you again for your support.

UKR

You're welcome. Happy to hear that you were able to resolve the problem.

If I may add:
I use Voucher Checks (1 business size check + 2 stubs on an 8.5x11" sheet). My printers do not have a manual feed tray or 2nd paper tray that can easily be reconfigured to feed partial pages (1 or 2 checks left from a 3-checks-per-page sheet), so for my occasional check printing needs Voucher Checks are easiest to use.
When it comes time for you to order a new supply of Quicken-compatible check forms, consider how easy or difficult it is to feed special forms or odd-size partial pages into your printer. Even though Voucher Checks use a little more paper, they're much easier to use every day. IMHO.

Hytec

My HP Office Jet Pro 8025e printer has sliding paper feed guides that close to 3". This is the width of one standard size check, three to the sheet, available from my bank. Check printing involves opening the tray, removing the paper stack, sliding the guides, and inserting the check. So, except for the occasional operator caused fat-fingered error, the process has been convenient for 2-3 checks a month over the past 40-ish years.

Though, I may price compare Quicken checks with my bank's checks. The advantage might be the programmed compatibility within Quicken for their own checks versus having to adjust Quicken printer formatting to comply with the bank's check format.