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Hey all,

So, like almost everyone, I’m pretty new to Report Studio in IFS Cloud. We have been using Crystal Reports and because that is getting deprecated, I’m having to learn it pretty quickly.

Anyway, there have been two things whilst making the laser check print, that should have been easy to do, but weren’t, and because I couldn’t find them, I thought I’d share.

The first was the payee address, this was coming out as a single line, which is less than ideal. After a week, I brute forced it after adding a calculated field to the ADDRESS_LINE table, with the data member as the ADDRESS_LINE and the expression as [].Join( [PAYEE_ADDRESS], Char(10) ). Nowhere in the documentation, does it explain this, especially that part where [] is the data member.

The second part was the amount. We pad the start with asterisks, but the format would not stick for whole numbers, so, 1200 would not come out as ****1200.00 even though I had the format setup. After a day of trying I came up with this:

Iif(Round([LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP_REQUEST.LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP.SUPPLIER_CHECKS.SUPPLIER_CHECK.CHECK_FOOTERS.CHECK_FOOTER.CHECK_AMOUNT])==[LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP_REQUEST.LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP.SUPPLIER_CHECKS.SUPPLIER_CHECK.CHECK_FOOTERS.CHECK_FOOTER.CHECK_AMOUNT],PadLeft(Concat(ToStr([LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP_REQUEST.LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP.SUPPLIER_CHECKS.SUPPLIER_CHECK.CHECK_FOOTERS.CHECK_FOOTER.CHECK_AMOUNT]),'.00'),19,'*'),Round([LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP_REQUEST.LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP.SUPPLIER_CHECKS.SUPPLIER_CHECK.CHECK_FOOTERS.CHECK_FOOTER.CHECK_AMOUNT],1)==[LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP_REQUEST.LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP.SUPPLIER_CHECKS.SUPPLIER_CHECK.CHECK_FOOTERS.CHECK_FOOTER.CHECK_AMOUNT],PadLeft(Concat(ToStr([LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP_REQUEST.LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP.SUPPLIER_CHECKS.SUPPLIER_CHECK.CHECK_FOOTERS.CHECK_FOOTER.CHECK_AMOUNT]),'0'),19,'*'),PadLeft(ToStr([LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP_REQUEST.LASER_PRINT_CHECK_REP.SUPPLIER_CHECKS.SUPPLIER_CHECK.CHECK_FOOTERS.CHECK_FOOTER.CHECK_AMOUNT]),19,'*'))

So basically, I concat the .00 and 0 onto the end of the amount if the rounded number is equal to 0 and 1 decimal places.

As my post suggests, if anyone can come up with better solutions to these, I’d be really interested.

Hi, 

Probably a little late considering what you have been dealing with. 

However, my recommendation for my clients has been to print sample checks on blank paper and order custom checks. Custom checks are pretty inexpensive and that process always works. The working logic is banks and suppliers rarely care how a check looks, so order new layout. 

If advanced features are needed (for example MICR / other) then another quick / easy process is to export IFS check data to a 3rd party check writing tool. Many are available. I had one client spend a few hundred (like $250) on a tool. They then created their own check layout.   ideally any 3rd party tool should allow reading of a searchable PDF or XML.   Text or CSV are also possible, but probably more involved from the IFS side. 

20 years ago, one of my clients was highly skilled in Excel (was actually an instructor). That client created check print layout from excel. Not suggesting excel, just providing an example of what can be done / what tools can be used. 

Altering the IFS check layout is difficult at best. Consistent output (works under all conditions) can be very difficult. 

 

Thomas

Hi, 

Probably a little late considering what you have been dealing with. 

However, my recommendation for my clients has been to print sample checks on blank paper and order custom checks. Custom checks are pretty inexpensive and that process always works. The working logic is banks and suppliers rarely care how a check looks, so order new layout. 

If advanced features are needed (for example MICR / other) then another quick / easy process is to export IFS check data to a 3rd party check writing tool. Many are available. I had one client spend a few hundred (like $250) on a tool. They then created their own check layout.   ideally any 3rd party tool should allow reading of a searchable PDF or XML.   Text or CSV are also possible, but probably more involved from the IFS side. 

20 years ago, one of my clients was highly skilled in Excel (was actually an instructor). That client created check print layout from excel. Not suggesting excel, just providing an example of what can be done / what tools can be used. 

Altering the IFS check layout is difficult at best. Consistent output (works under all conditions) can be very difficult. 

 

Thomas

Hi Thomas,

Hopefully your information helps someone else. We have a MICR printer with custom checks, which is why we went the report route, but it is good to know there are other options. I was just surprised that printing the basics was so difficult to figure out in IFS. We could have ordered different checks I suppose too.

I’m pretty hand with Excel too, and that would have been my, “I need something that just works” go to.

Thanks for the reply,

Tim

Another perspective to consider for cheque handling is using a cheque outsourcing solution through the bank. This approach has become quite common in the US, and most banks now support such solutions.

The functionality is already available in both IFS Apps 10 and IFS Cloud under the ISO 20022 format, allowing the entire cheque creation process to be managed directly by the bank.

Another perspective to consider for cheque handling is using a cheque outsourcing solution through the bank. This approach has become quite common in the US, and most banks now support such solutions.

The functionality is already available in both IFS Apps 10 and IFS Cloud under the ISO 20022 format, allowing the entire cheque creation process to be managed directly by the bank.

That sounds like a much better option to me, I’m not sure we could implement this before we go live, but it would definitely be something to look into after we do, thanks so much Eranda.

​@timsides , I always recommend that my customers consider moving towards cheque outsourcing if the banking cost can be justified. Other than eliminating the hassle of cheque printing and delivery, cheque outsourcing also makes life much easier for the AP team, especially when it comes to reconciliation. Drop me a message if you need any guidance.

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