Print cheques setup

The first time that you print cheques on preprinted forms, you must perform a few tasks so that information prints in the correct areas on your cheques.

1. Select a cheque type and print a sample

  1. Tell QuickBooks what type of cheques you have: voucher or standard. If you have only one type to choose from, it means that only that type of preprinted cheque is supported in your country.
  2. Load blank paper into your printer. You'll print on blank paper first so that if you need to correct alignment, you won't waste actual cheques.
  3. Click the button to view a preview and print a sample. From the preview window, you can right-click and select Print to print. Or, depending on your browser, you can click a Print icon at the top of the preview, or in a floating preview window that appears when you move your pointer to the lower right.
  4. Place your print sample on top of a blank cheque page and hold them both up to the light. If the information lines up in the correct areas of the blank cheque, you can print your cheques without further setup. If not, go on to the next group of setup tasks.

2. Set up Adobe Reader

  1. If your sample printout didn't line up right the first time, we suggest you download and use Adobe Reader to control printing in QuickBooks. Adobe Reader prints the most consistently, needing far fewer adjustments.
  2. After you download and install Reader, set it as the default PDF viewer for your browser.
  3. After you set up Reader as the default PDF viewer, repeat the earlier steps to print a sample cheque and hold it up to the light over a blank cheque page. If the information lines up in the correct areas of the blank cheque, you can print your cheques without further setup. If not, go on to the next group of setup tasks.

3. Fine-tune alignment

  1. On the Fine-tune alignment page, you must compare the alignment grid in the preview window with where it appears in the large square on the page.
  2. Drag the grid inside the large square to the place where it appears on your printout. QuickBooks will figure out how to adjust the alignment.

    Note: When you drag the grid, the horizontal and vertical numbers beneath the large square will change. These numbers are horizontal and vertical offsets that QuickBooks uses to figure out where exactly to print the cheque amount. More info

  3. Once you're done dragging the grid, repeat the earlier steps to print a sample cheque and hold it up to the light over a blank cheque page. If the information lines up in the correct areas of the blank cheque, you can print your cheques without further setup. If not, continue to fine-tune until the alignment is OK.

See also

Print cheques

Align cheques to print

Print with Adobe Reader