Hello listers, I mentioned on a recent email the writing of bank cheques. I've no doubt that amongst the clever people on this list, there are those who may have better solutions, but this way works for me. I have set up a folder named "bank" and within it are two files. one is named "cheque", the other "cheque lay-out." Here is a copy of my "cheque lay-out" file which I keep in case I accidentally spoil the actual cheque.
The cheque file is a text document and computer Braille is necessary for its writing. Firstly, having opened and named the file, from within the format menu's lay-out section, alter the lefthand margin from 10 to 6. and also from within the format menu's page setting section, alter the top margin from 6 to 2. Now for the writing of the actual cheque. from column 43, line 1, write the current date thus: 11-12 2003 the 2 of the year-date should be adjusted to fall on column 50, line 1. >From column 1 on line 4, write the payee. Then up 1 line (you should now be on line 5), write the cash figures commencing from column 38. (no pound-sign (dollar-sign) is necessary). >From column 1 on line 6, write the cash words, take care not to go beyond >column 36. If necessary, the cash words should be completed from column 1 on >line 7. when you have written your first trial cheque, tear a cheque from your cheque-book and carefully place it in your printer taking note, of course, as to the right way up, and correct facing. this will depend on your type of printer. now print your document in the usual way. It is almost certain that your first attempt will be faulty, for formats vary from bank to bank, and no doubt from country to country. still, I think you get the idea. Get a sighted person to comment on your effort and make adjustments in line with their analysis. The date, for instance, may need moving to the right, the payee might be a line too high. Anyway, try again. When you have it correctly spaced, write out a cheque lay-out file, as I have done, so that you will not have to experiment in the future if things go wrong. File your correct cheque under a suitable filename. When you wish to make out another cheque, bring it into the wordprocessor and carefully alter the figures and words to the newly required ones, taking care to keep the column numbers as recommended in your lay-out file. I should point out that not all printers like dealing with small pieces of paper. My hp 890c always prints cheques a little off-line, but my small Canon bj 85 always produces a good job. I've not had any sent back yet, anyway. obviously, you have to sign it in the correct place. I've not yet taught my Braillenote to do that, and in any case, I wouldn't trust it. Goodness knows what it would get up to. I have made a small wooden board the size of a cheque. Hinged on to its top is a narrow wooden flap which holds the cheque in position while I sign. toward the bottom of the board I have made a shallow groove into which I sign. Surely, something could be made from thin plastic or even stout card that would suffice. Let's be hearing how anyone gets on with this idea. Or how do you manage? don Cooper.
