I routinely get asked why Sage 50 is printing “Duplicate” in the signature area of a check even though it is being printed for the first time and the check number hasn’t been used before and. The two possible solutions are both simple. If “Duplicate” is printing on your invoices, you can use these same procedures.
The duplicate warning occurs when you enter the check number (or invoice number) before printing it. So the obvious solution is “Don’t do that.” If you leave the check number blank when you are entering the check, then you will be prompted for a starting check number when you click Print. That simple change is all you need to get rid of the duplicate warning.
As odd as that behavior seems, there is some logic behind it. Sage 50 doesn’t actually track which transactions have been printed, so it needs another way to figure that out. Most people print checks on pre-numbered forms. So if a check number has already been assigned to a transaction, it stands to reason that it must have been printed already or you wouldn’t know what the number would be for this check. You can debate the validity of their logic if you want, but I’ve always felt it helps to understand how a program “thinks”.
If you don’t want to change your procedure, there is another option. Simply create a custom check format and delete the duplicate warning. Go to Reports & Forms > Forms > Checks. In the list of forms, find the check format you have been using. Right click on it and choose Customize. In the forms design window look for the field Duplicate Check Note. Right click on it and choose Delete. Click the Save button and give your check format a new name. Next time you print checks, be sure to select your new format.
