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How Do I Design Checks and Modify Check Alignment?

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darwin allows a user to easily modify check layouts in the user interface using merge fields. Users can take advantage of existing templates, or design check layouts from scratch. Then, use the drag-and-drop interface to add and move merge fields on the template.

This article will teach how to create and customize check layouts from start to finish.

For commission checks, this article will show how to customize the deductions displayed and add agent totals that agents want to track.

View an existing check template

  1. Click the Tools menu
  2. Click the Check layout sub menu
  3. You may select a check template from the drop-down list

Create a New Check Layout

To create a new check template:

  1. Click the new button
  2. Enter name of the check on the field
  3. Select the check type from the drop down list
  4. Check the box if you want to use a check template
  5. Select the template from the drop down list
  6. Click the add button

To create a check without using a template, skip steps 4 and 5. This will create a blank check to customize.

After the new check layout has been created, it will display on the check template drop down list. To access the new check layout, select it from the drop down list.

Warning: Make sure to begin the customization by creating a new template. Changes made to AccountTECH's default templates may be overwritten during software updates, but custom created check layouts will always be saved.

Moving a Merge Field

There are two ways to change the position of a merge field:

Option 1:

  1. Click to select the field in the layout
  2. Change the Location of the field by changing the x and y values
  3. Click save

Option 2:

Click to select the merge field, then drag it to a new position

When dragging a merge field, the cursor marks the position of the top left corner of the merge field

Format Merge Fields

To modify the format of a merge field in the check template:

  1. Select the merge field in the layout
  2. Modify using the following font options:
    • name
    • size
    • bold
    • italic
    • underline
    • fore color
  3. Resize the merge field by adjusting the numbers next to width and height
  4. Click the save button after all changes made in the layout

Adding and Removing Merge Fields

To add a field in the layout:

  1. Click the merge field from the list on the right side
  2. Drag it to the desired location in the layout.

Arrange the Layout of the fields by changing its Location

  1. Click to select a merge field
  2. Change location of the merge field by adjusting the numbers next to x and y or simply drag the merge field
    • x - to move left and right
    • y - to move up and down
  3. Click the save button after all changes made in the layout
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Test Check Printing and Alignment

Once the check template has been set up, check the alignment of the printing:

  1. Click preview
  2. Zoom in or zoom out the check
  3. Click show/hide to view the check with or without the background
  4. Click print

Make photocopies of your check stock to check the alignment of fields on the checks without using check stock

Customizing Commission Checks

To create a commission check

  1. Click the new button
  2. Enter name of the check in the field. This time, commission check will be created
  3. Select the check type from the drop-down list. Commission is the selected check type
  4. Check the box if you want to use a check template.
  5. Select the template from the drop-down list.
  6. Click the add button

Commission Check merge fields:

  1. {listBreakdown} displays deductions from the agent's list side commission
  2. {sellBreakdown} displays deductions from the agent's sell side commission
  3. {totals} displays totals on the agent's profile that are flagged to display on checks

Commission Checks: Selecting Commission Deductions to Display

Selecting the deductions that should be displayed on the checks is done on the Formulas tab under the Deduct types submenu:

  1. Click Formulas
  2. Click Deduct types
  3. Use the show on checks checkbox to select deductions to select and deselect deductions that should or should not display on checks
  4. Click save

The first 15 deductions are the ones that are potentially pulled by the merge fields {listBreakdown} and {sellBreakdown}

Commission Checks: Selecting Agent Totals to Display

Agent totals are designed on the Totals screen and added to agent profiles under People > Commissions.  Totals must be added to an agent's profile in order for them to appear on the check.

To add a total to an agent's profile:

  1. Click People
  2. Click Commission
  3. Click add tracking totals
  4. Type in the description field to filter results
  5. Check the checkbox next to the total to be added
  6. Click add
  7. Choose from options on where the totals will be saved
    • save for only this agent
    • save for agents on the same commission plan
    • save for agents in the same office
    • save for agents in the same company
    • save for all agents
    • save for terminated agents
  8. Click save

Understanding Totals:

AG - Agent Generated

OG - Office Generated

Trans Count - the general term for Units, Sides, or the number of transactions processed 

Click the hyperlink of the total's name to view the parameters used in calculating the value

The second step of setting up totals can be done before or after they are added to the agent's profile

  1. Click Formulas
  2. Click Totals
  3. Search the total by name or type a keyword
  4. Click the total on the list to open the record
  5. Update the name of the total to reflect the terms your company uses
  6. Click save

Customizing Payables Checks

To create another check template

  1. Click the new button
  2. Enter name of the check in the field. This time, payable check will be created
  3. Select the check type from the drop-down list. Payable is the selected check type
  4. Check the box if user want to use a check template from master
  5. Select template from the drop-down list
  6. Click add

The new layout will now display on the check template drop-down list

The merge field {WCCheckDetail} displays the details of the payables

Customizing Escrow Checks

  1. Click the new button
  2. Enter name of the check in the field. This time, Escrow check will be created
  3. Select the check type Escrow from the drop-down list
  4. Check the box if you want to use a check template
  5. Select the template from the drop-down list
  6. Click the add button

Make sure to select the check type escrow when creating an escrow check. The merge field {escrowDetail} will print a full report that shows all the escrow payments for this check.

Customizing Deposit Checks

To create another check template

  1. Click the new button
  2. Enter name of the check in the field. Deposit check will be created
  3. Select the check type from the drop-down list. Deposit is the selected check type
  4. Check the box if user want to use a check template from master
  5. Select the template from the drop-down list
  6. Click the add button

The new layout will now display on the check template drop-down list

Delete a Check Template

To delete the check template you have created

  1. Select a check template from the drop-down list
  2. Click the delete button
  3. Click yes to confirm
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