Configure Check Templates

The predefined check template satisfies most check printing requirements. However, you can change it to match any check format.

You can:

• Configure the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) codes

• Add a signature file

How to Change the MICR Codes

As each bank uses a different MICR code on their checks, you can configure the routing and bank account numbers to ensure the Generate Check Payment process prints each of them correctly.

For example, the default check template uses the following MICR code format:

<routing number> <account number> <check number>

However, a bank may require this format:

<check number> <routing number> <account number>

To configure how the MICR line appears on printed checks, you must modify the predefined check template.

The following is the preferred method for configuring the predefined check template. Alternately, you could define a new delivery option to reference your own check template.

1. Log into the BI Server.

2. Copy the predefined US Check Writer Report template.

   To locate this template:

   1. Navigate to:

      /Shared Folders/Human Capital Management/Payroll

   2. Select Payment Distribution.

   3. Under Cheque Report.xdo, click Edit.

   4. Click View a list.

   5. Select the US Check Writer report.

   6. In the top right corner, click Save as.

3. Save the template into the Custom folder using the same directory structure as the seeded template:

   /Custom/Human Capital Management/Payroll/Payment Distribution

   Keep the same .xdo and template name as the predefined version.

4. Open the copied template in Microsoft Word.

5. Use the Word tools to ensure the MICR line meets the requirements of your bank. Elements you may need to change:

   • Font size

   • Order of the MICR line fields

   • Adding any necessary leading zeros to the check number, routing number, and account number

6. Use Microsoft Word's symbol library to insert or update any special characters. This symbol varies by bank.

   The predefined template uses the following concatenation schema for the routing number.

   

   It uses the following for the account number.

   

   This concatenation of the special characters enables it to show in the check writer report output.

7. If you need to insert or update the special characters in the MICR line:

   1. Copy and paste the appropriate BI Publisher property for the appropriate field into a new Microsoft Word document.

   2. Place your cursor in the appropriate place.

   3. Open the symbol library.

   4. Select the MICR font. You may need to install this font.

   5. Insert the symbol you need into the copied BIP property.

   6. Copy the BIP property from the new Word document, and paste it into the modified check writer template.

      These symbols may appear differently when you paste it into the BIP property.

   7. Consider the following.

      • You may need to add or remove lines to control the positioning.

      • You may need to adjust the left margin alignment.

8. Save your changes.

When you run the Generate Check Payments process, the BI Publisher first looks for the template in the Custom folder. If it doesn't find it there, it uses the predefined template location.

How to Add a Signature File

If you want to use your own signature image, first save it as a .gif file.

Once you have the .gif, create a copy of the predefined check template as described in the previous section. Then you include the signature .gif in the template.

There are two methods for including the signature in the template.

What you can do	How you do it
Modify your configured check template	Create a copy of the predefined template as described in the previous section. Design your new signature as a .gif. Use Microsoft Word to open your configured check template in the Custom folder. Paste the signature .gif on the authorized signature line in the template. Save your changes.
Use nested templates	Create a copy of the predefined template as described in the previous section. Design your new signature as a .gif. Create a template for the signature .gif file. Edit your configured check template to call the signature template. Save the check template. For further info, see the Report Designer's Guide for BI Publisher in the Oracle Help Center.