By default, Accounts Payable invoices belong to the Purchase Invoice journal (PI) which requires requires a detailed items (distribution) to be entered. This is due to Inventory costing and taxes. If you wish to enter purchase invoices that are simple transactions you will need to pres F3 under the journal column and select a journal of type General which will allow for simple transactions.
In regards to recording vendor checks, you can block the vendor accounts from the list of Vendors under NewViews > Account > Accounts Payable and menu select Tools > Pay Account which will allow you to print one check per vendor with multiple open invoices. I suggest that you set the Confirm/edit prompt to Yes. This will allow you choose which invoice you wish to pay from a displayed table. Change the pay amount to zero if you do not wish to pay the invoice.
I hope this helps.
Regards to All,
Martin
