Abstract: A system for handling files containing digitized images, such as digitized bank checks. Four digitized image-files are obtained for each check: front and back at the beginning of a process, and front and back at the end of the process. Four digital signatures are generated, one for each image-file. The four image-files are to be consolidated into a single composite file. However, for technical reasons, the content of the image-files must be altered somewhat. Thus, if the image-files are later extracted from the composite file, the extracted files will not correspond to the original image-files, and will produce different digital signatures. The invention allows the original image-files to be accurately extracted from the composite file.

Abstract: A method is provided of operating a check processing apparatus having a document feed path, a number of check processing devices disposed along the document feed path, and a number of pockets disposed at one end of the document feed path. The method comprises attempting to read a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) codeline of a document item as the document item is transported along the document feed path, capturing image data which is representative of an image of the document item as the document item is transported along the document feed path, attempting at least once to read a MICR codeline from the image of the document item, and transporting the document item to a non-reject pocket when a MICR codeline is unable to be read from the document item transported along the document feed path and a MICR codeline is able to be read from the image of the document item.