Self-hosted web app for printing checks on blank check stock. Replaces ezCheckPrinting (Halfpricesoft) — a Windows-only desktop app — with a Dockerized Node.js web app accessible on the local network.

Stack

Runtime: Node.js 20
Framework: Express 4
Database: SQLite via better-sqlite3
PDF generation: PDFKit with embedded GnuMICR E-13B font (GPL-2.0)
Frontend: Vanilla JS, no framework
Container: Docker Compose pulling from Docker Hub

Project structure

check-printing/
├── src/
│   ├── routes/
│   │   ├── checks.js       # CRUD for check records
│   │   └── pdf.js          # PDF generation endpoint
│   ├── services/
│   │   └── pdfService.js   # PDFKit rendering, MICR line, amount-to-words
│   ├── db/
│   │   ├── schema.sql      # SQLite schema
│   │   └── database.js     # DB connection + WAL mode
│   └── app.js              # Express app, all routes
├── migrations/
│   └── import-mdb.js       # One-time .mdb → SQLite migration script
├── public/
│   ├── index.html
│   ├── css/style.css
│   └── js/app.js
├── fonts/
│   └── GnuMICR.otf
├── docker/
│   └── Dockerfile
├── docker-compose.yml
├── package.json
└── .env.example

Getting started

Production (Docker)

cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your NTFY_URL if desired
docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

On first launch, the app detects no account is configured and opens a setup wizard in the browser. Fill in three steps — checkwriter info, bank info, and account/routing numbers — then start entering checks.

If you have an existing ezCheckPrinting .mdb file, click Import .mdb instead.

Development (local)

npm install
cp .env.example .env
npm run dev        # nodemon src/app.js

Importing from ezCheckPrinting (.mdb)

Two ways to import:

Via the UI (recommended): Click Import .mdb in the toolbar, select the file, and click Import. The server runs the migration and shows the log output.

Via CLI (inside the container or locally with mdbtools installed):

docker exec -it check-printing node migrations/import-mdb.js \
  --file "/app/data/YourAccount.mdb"

# Preview without writing:
node migrations/import-mdb.js --file YourAccount.mdb --dry-run

The script imports account config (T100), logo (Settings), check layout (T200), and check history (T104).

Printing

Select 1–3 checks from the ledger (checkbox column)
Click Generate PDF
A 3-up 8.5"×11" PDF opens in a new tab — three 3.667" check slots per page
Print from the browser; checks are marked as printed in the ledger

Use the Reprint button on printed checks to regenerate without re-marking them.

Check layout

Page: 8.5" × 11", zero margins
Three slots of 3.667" each
MICR line at Y = 3.4" from top of slot (0.267" from bottom)
MICR format: A{routing}A {account}C {checkNo}A (GnuMICR E-13B encoding)

CI/CD

Push to main triggers a GitHub Actions workflow that builds a multi-arch Docker image (amd64/arm64) and pushes it to Docker Hub as dogiakos/check-printing:latest. An ntfy notification is sent on success or failure.

Environment variables

See .env.example. Key variables:

Variable	Default	Description
`PORT`	`3000`	HTTP port
`DB_PATH`	`data/check-printing.db`	SQLite database path
`MICR_FONT_PATH`	(see .env.example)	Path to GnuMICR.otf inside container
`NTFY_URL`	—	ntfy topic URL for push notifications

README.md Unescape Escape

check-printing