No part of this document may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Source Technologies,
LLC.
Published in the United States of America by:
Source Technologies, LLC
2910 Whitehall Park Drive
Charlotte, NC 28273
Author: Source Technologies, LLC
Notice
This manual serves as a reference for a Source Technologies Secure MICR Printer.
This manual should be used as a reference for learning more about MICR technology
and developing MICR printing applications. This guide was produced to assist IS
Technicians and Engineers in the integration of Source Technologies’ programmed
printers with their custom MICR applications. The guide also contains information on
MICR related error messages that post to the operator panel.
To the best of our knowledge, the information in this publication is accurate: however,
neither Source Technologies, LLC nor its dealers or affiliates assume any responsibility
or liability for the accuracy or completeness of, or consequences arising from, such
information. Changes, typos, and technical inaccuracies will be corrected in subsequent
publications. This publication is subject to change without notice. The information and
descriptions contained in this manual cannot be copied, disseminated, or distributed
without the express written consent of Source Technologies, LLC. This document is
intended for informational purposes only. Mention of trade names or commercial
products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by Source
Technologies, LLC. Final determination of the suitability of any information or product for
use contemplated by any user, and the manner of that use is the sole responsibility of
the user. We recommend that anyone intending to rely on any recommendation of
materials or procedures mentioned in this publication should satisfy himself as to such
suitability, and that he can meet all applicable safety and health standards.
All trade names or products used in this manual are for identification purposes only and
may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Note: To access Source Technologies’ secure fonts loaded on the printer, such as
the E13B MICR font, download the universal driver as described in the next
section. The printer drivers on this CD may be used for general office printing but
do not facilitate using secure fonts.
For complete information on how to unpack and setup your printer, see your printer’s
user’s guide.
1. Locate the CD that was shipped with your printer and load into CD drive. The
CD should auto-run and the following screen will be displayed. If auto-run is
disabled on your computer, browse to the CD and click Setup.exe to run
2. Click on View User’s Guide for information on unpacking, installing, and
operating your printer.
Your new MICR printer requires specific PCL 5 commands to load and print secure fonts
such as the MICR E13B font. These specific commands may be coded in to your
custom application, or if you use a software program such as Source Technologies’
CheckPartner™ Enterprise, these commands are automatically sent to the printer as
needed. To print checks or other documents requiring secure fonts from other Windows
applications please download the universal driver— designed specifically to allow
access to your printer’s secured resources—using the following steps:
1. Select the Driver Zip file matching your operating system and printer model.
2. Download this file to a location, such as the Windows Desktop.
3. Unzip this file and make sure the “Use Saved path” option is selected.
4. Browse to the Source Tech Driver folder extracted from the zip file.
5. Run the driver install program. For example:
Printer_UDO_2KXP03_x86_PCL_Emul_sys_en.exe
6. Follow the instructions to install the driver.
7. Configure the driver to use MICR_on.sep page separator file (used to select
MICR mode).
8. Configure the driver to “Update the Font list” using the 96XXfont.pcm file. This
will enable Windows applications to recognize the printer’s secure fonts.
9. From the Windows application, select the installed printer.
10. From a Windows application, select the specific text to be printed. Then select
the secure font name and point size using the capabilities of the particular
Windows application.
The following fonts and point size are supported.
Font Name Point Size Font Sample
MICR E13B 8
MICR CMC7 8
SECURE 36
ICR Secure 12
MicroPrint 1
Note: The fonts illustrated above may not match the size or appearance of those
printed by the MICR printer. The characters are enhanced for illustration purposes
only.
4. Leave the “Save files in folder” option as shown above then clickNext >.
5. After the installation program installs the necessary files, the following
message will be displayed revealing the next steps required to install the
driver. At the same time, an “Add Printer Wizard” will run as shown in the next
step.
To unlock the secure font resources located in the printer, the driver must be configured
to send down a separator page before each print job. The separator page contains the
necessary commands to unlock the resources.
1. ClickStart then select the Printer and Faxes folder.
2. Locate the printer you just installed and right-click the icon. Then select
Properties.
3. From the General tab, type a descriptive name for the printer, such as
ST9620 MICR.
4. Click the Advanced tab.
5. Click the Separator Page button. Then select Browse and locate the
Configure the Driver to Recognize the Printer Secure Fonts
1. Select the Fonts tab. SelectUpdate List.
2. Select the upper Browse button.
Locate the directory that contains
the 96XXfont.pcm file and selectOK.
3. Select the Search Path button.
4. SelectST 96XX Font Collection.
Then select the Add to driver
button.
5. Select the Done.
6. When you have made all of the
desired changes chooseOK to
save your settings.
Configure another driver to print without MICR toner
If you plan to use your printer for normal office printing (without MICR toner or fonts) you
must add a second instance of the printer driver. Switching between MICR and nonMICR modes alters settings which are stored in the printer’s NVRAM. It is
recommended not to switch between the modes more than a few times per day to avoid
wearing out the NVRAM part.
to differentiate it from
the MICR instance of
the driver and then
decide if it is to be the
default printer. SelectNext >.
7. If you do not wish to share your printer on a network, leave the "Do Not share
this printer" button marked and choose "Next". Otherwise, select the "Share
as" radio button and enter the name you wish to assign to this shared printer.
Then chooseNext >. If you wish, you may enter the location of this printer
and/or any comments to associate with the printer and chooseNext >.
8. You now have the option to print a test page to test the configuration of your
printer. ClickNext >.
9. SelectFinish to complete the installation.
10. You can now setup your printer by browsing to the Printers folder and right-
clicking on your printer's icon. From the menu, click Properties.
□ Select the Advanced tab.
□ Select the Separator Page button.
□ SelectBrowse and locate the MICR_off.sep file.
11. When you have made all of the desired changes chooseOK to save your
Printing Secure font resources from a Windows Application
First, set the MICR printer as the active printer – in most applications this is done by
selecting Print from the File menu. This is not necessary if the MICR printer is the default
printer.
Source Technologies’ fonts should appear in the application’s font formatting options.
The fonts are named:
ICR Secure 12 pt.
MICR CMC7 8 pt.
MicroPrint 1 pt.
MICR E13B 8 pt.
SECURE 36 pt.
They will usually appear in alphabetical order among all other available fonts.
The font size must be selected as indicated in the font name. The font displayed on the
screen will not resemble the printed font.
MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. All MICR documents have a MICR
line with numbers and symbols printed in a unique MICR font with magnetically
chargeable ink or toner. Each character of the MICR font has a unique waveform when
sensed magnetically. Financial institutions and the Federal Reserve use the MICR line to
identify and sort checks. The high-speed automated processing of checks and other
financial documents depends on the accuracy and the integrity of the data printed in the
MICR line. Your new Source Technologies Secure MICR Printer is specifically designed
to produce high quality MICR documents.
The Check Clearing System
The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21) was signed into law October 28,
2003. Prior to Check 21, checks traveled through the bank’s high speed reader/sorter
equipment an average of near seven times in the Check Clearing process. Some checks
could be read up to 30 times or more by these machines.
In today’s environment high and low speed check readers can capture a picture or
image of the check allowing for images to be exchanged between financial institutions,
the Federal Reserve, and other clearing houses. This new law, Check 21, defines what
is called a “Substitute Check”, and removed barriers that existed in converting physical
checks to check images for clearing. The original physical check can now be truncated
by the first institution that converts the check to image. The original check can now be
destroyed.
United States and International MICR Standards still require the printed MICR line
information to be of the highest quality and durability. Additionally, issues related to
check fraud continue to place high importance on print quality. For these reasons, the
quality and durability of information printed with Source Technologies Secure MICR
Printers remains a key new product development criterion.
MICR Printing Standards in the United States Today
Congress established the Federal Reserve System (FRS) in 1913. Today most
commercial banks in the United States belong to the FRS. Many other depository
institutions provide banking and checking account services to the public. These other
institutions, such as some credit unions, savings and loan associations and non-member
banks, are not formally part of the FRS. However, they have access to the payment
services it provides and are subject to many of the FRS regulations.
In 1958, because of the explosive growth of check usage, the American Bankers
Association selected the E-13B MICR font and the MICR system as the technology for
high-speed check processing. Today, check standards are determined by the Accredited
Standards Committee X9AB Payments Subcommittee of which Source Technologies is
a voting member. The latest versions of the standards and technical guidelines are
available from:
Global Engineering Documents X9 Electronic Bookstore
Phone 800-854-7179 or 303-397-7956 www.X9.org - click ESS
Fax 303-397-2740 www.ansi.org - click ESS
global@ihs.com or
http://global.ihs.com http://webstore.ansi.org
The key standards that address check documents are as follows:
ANS X9.7 Specifications for Bank Check Background and Convenience Amount Field
ANS X9.100-160 Specifications for Placement and Location of MICR Printing
ANS X9.100-10 Paper Specifications for Checks
ANS X9.100-20 Print and Test Specifications for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
(MICR)
For those with an interest or need there are also US standards that address Deposit
Tickets, Check Endorsements (the back of the check), image interchange file formats,
and other MICR areas.
Users of our Secure MICR Printers are not required to have access to the above
standards. Our Technical Support staff maintains current knowledge of the standards
and changes that affect the check industry in the US and other countries with unique
requirements.
To be a legal and negotiable document, the necessary data elements required on a
check are the date, amount, payee name, payer’s bank name, and payer’s signature.
Other elements included in a good check design are: the amount in words, account title,
check serial number, fractional routing number and MICR line.
A good check design contains security features and is formatted to be easily read by
both machines and the human eye. If the format is complicated, the depositor, bank
employee or reader/sorter machine may make an error in reading the data.
Position and Dimension Gauge
A MICR position and dimension gauge, like the one available from Source Technologies
(part number 205-1000MGE or 220-M1027-34, is an important tool for use in designing
checks. During check design, check your output against this gauge to determine if the
data elements (date, amount, payee name, payer’s bank name, and payer’s signature)
are correctly positioned on your document.
Design Elements in Detail
Paper
The ideal paper for check production is 24 to 28 lb. laser bond. Source
Technologies’ MICR lab has tested paper stock from most major manufacturers
and has compiled a list of products that produce superior results. Contact your
sales representative for this information. For a fee, Source Technologies will test
your paper for proper MICR adherence and check reader/sorter performance.
There are also many security features available to aid in the overall security of
your MICR documents. Please refer to Chapter 5, Security Issues, for more
information on check stock specifications and security features.
Size
The size of check documents must be:
6.00 inches to 8.75 inches in length
2.75 inches to 3.66 inches in height
We recommend standard 8.5" X 11" letter size stock or 8.5" X 14" legal size
stock for proper feeding through your ST Secure MICR Printer. The number of
checks per page is determined by your application. Custom size stock other than
letter or legal can be done with proper planning and application programming
within the paper size specifications for the base printer.
MICR Clear Band
The MICR clear band is an area at the bottom of the check where the MICR line
prints. No other magnetic printing should appear in this area on both the front
and back of the document. The clear band is an area 0.625 (5/8) inches high
from the bottom of the check running the entire length of the check. Exact MICR
line placement in this area is very important. Please refer to Figure 3.1 for more
information on MICR line placement.
The date is a required data element for a check. It represents the day upon which
or after which the transfer of the check amount may take place. The date is
usually placed in the upper right portion of the check so it does not interfere with
the convenience amount field. The common format is Month, Day and Year,
however, the military format of Day, Month and Year is also acceptable.
Amount
The amount of the check is a required data element for negotiation. The amount
usually appears at least twice on the check. The amount printed in numbers is
called the convenience amount. The amount printed in words is sometimes
referred to as the legal amount; this is the amount that applies if there is a
difference between the two amount fields. The amount may also be printed a
third time on the check in a secure font, intended to make alteration of the
amount field difficult. Please refer to Chapter 6 and Appendix B for information on
Source Technologies’ Secure Numeric Font.
Convenience Amount
The convenience amount location is specified in ANSI X9.7. The basic location
is illustrated in Figure 3.1. Since this amount can be machine scanned, its
location and design should be kept within the specifications. The amount
beginning with the dollar sign should be left justified within the scan area with
numbers spaced normally to the right. The dollars and cents should be
separated by a decimal point with the cents printed in the same size font as the
rest of the field. Embedded commas should not be used. The convenience
amount background should have good reflectance so it does not interfere with
optical scanning (see ANSI X9.7).
The convenience amount should be printed in a simple, fixed pitch font. We
recommend our ICR Secure Numeric Font (see Appendix C). It was designed to
be easily read by image capture equipment and is also a fraud deterrent. A fixed
pitch courier font, or if available, OCR-B, are also acceptable fonts to print the
convenience amount.
Note: The Source Technologies’ Secure Numeric Font (see Appendix B)
should not be used in the convenience amount since it is not a machine
readable font.
Amount in Words
The amount in words (sometimes called the legal amount) is normally located
either above or below and to the left of the convenience amount. The area for
the amount in words should be entirely filled to make alterations difficult. The
amount should start at the far left of the line with the words placed immediately
adjacent to each other. The cents need not be written out. They may be
expressed as a fraction (60/100), and should be placed immediately to the right
of the dollar amount and followed by a line or other space filler to inhibit
alteration.
Example: One hundred forty-four and 62/100---------------DOLLARS
Given the available area on the document, you may need to use a smaller font
when printing larger value amounts.
Payee Area
The payee is a necessary data element for a negotiable document. The payee
area is generally to the left side of the document either above or below the
amount in words. It is often preceded by the words “Pay to the Order Of.” The
payee data should not enter the MICR clear band which extends 5/8 of an inch
above the bottom of the check. Some financial institutions have established
specific print requirements for the Payee Name and optional address. Consult
your bank for details on their print requirements.
Signature Area
A signature is a required data element for a negotiable document. The signature
or signatures authorize the bank to honor the check; therefore, it must match the
bank’s records. The signature area should be beneath the convenience amount
area but the signatures should not enter the convenience amount area nor the
MICR clear band. This is especially true if you print the signature with MICR
toner.
Drawee Institution Name
The name of the institution where the maker’s account is located is referred to as
the drawee institution. The bank’s name, city, and state are required.
Account Title
The account title is normally printed in the upper left corner of the check. It
includes the name of the account holder and other information such as
addresses, telephone numbers, and logos. The data in the title should be legible
and sufficiently complete so that if the MICR data account number is destroyed,
the drawee institution can refer to the account title in order to trace the account
number.
Memo Line
This line is located in the lower left quadrant of the check, and is not required.
Data printed here does not contain any legal significance. Printing in this area
with magnetic toner should not extend downward into the MICR clear band which
is 5/8 of an inch above the bottom of the check.
Check Serial Number
The check serial number is generally printed in the upper right quadrant of the
check. Although the check number is not required for the check to be negotiable,
the account holder and financial institution use these numbers to reconcile
statements and execute stop payments. The check serial number should also
appear a second time in the MICR line, and these numbers should match. The
number of digits in the check serial number is controlled by the financial
institution and the MICR line format. Consult your banking institution for their
requirements.
Fractional Routing Number
The fractional routing number should be printed in a fractional format in the upper
right quadrant of the check. This number is assigned to identify the Federal