Checks are printed in GnuCash from the account register. GnuCash provides the ability to print to standard Quicken Checks (US Letter) or to make a custom check format. Check position and Date formats are also customizable.
To access the check printing feature in GnuCash, select the transaction to print a check for and go to File -> Print Check. This will open the Print Check properties dialog.
The Print Check dialog has two tabs. The first tab, Options, is used to setup the most common options to print a check. The second tab, Custom format, is used to setup the position of various fields on the check. It is useful to print a test check to a plain piece of paper first and use that to make any adjustments needed.
The default selection in Options is for Quicken/Quickbooks (tm) US-Letter checks.
Check format: Test with Quicken first then use custom if the position is incorrect.
Check position: This sets if the Top, Middle or Bottom check is printed. Custom is used if the position of the checks on the page is incorrect.
Date format: The default here is set in the Preferences International section. Choose a date format. This can also be adjusted by the Use of the Months: and Years: lines. Custom allows the date format to be set in the Format: box (%m means month, %d means day, %Y means year) A Sample of the format chosen is displayed below.
The Custom check format contains two columns to enter in the X and Y co-ordinates of the field position on the check. Positions in the Custom Check Format entry area are specified with x = 0 at the left edge of the check with x increasing to the right, and y = 0 at the top edge of the check with y increasing as you travel down. (If you are using a version of GTK prior to 2.10, then y = 0 is at the bottom of the page and y increases as you travel up.)
Payee:
Date:
Amount (words):
Amount (numbers):
Memo:
Check position:
Date format:
Units: Set the unit to use for the above positions.
Once OK is pressed on the Print Check dialog the Print GnuCash Document dialog is presented. Press OK to print the check.