DP Tool Club 8/CDASC08.ISO/VRAC/RPM33.ZIP/RPM.HLP

Text File | 1993-06-29 | 121KB | 4,598 lines

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Sorry... no help available for this field.

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Project File Path
======= ==== ====

Enter the DOS file path containing
your project files.  Enter nothing
for the current directory.  For
example:

   d:\rpmdata\

would indicate the directory "rpmdata"
off the root directory of the "d" drive.

The path should end with a backslash (\);

If no file(s) are found, they will be
created.

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                     System Options
                     ====== =======

This screen sets global system operating options.  All options set
here are automatically saved to file when you return to DOS or select

File
 and 
Save
 from the main menu.  In general, you will only
need to set them once.

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Project File Name
======= ==== ====

The system will load project data from this
file.  The DOS file extensions are supplied
automatically.  Project data are stored in a
file with extension .PRJ and resource data
are stored in a file with extension .DIS.
Notes are stored in two files with extensions
.NOT and .IND.

When the project name is changed, the
project, resource and notes files are saved
and new data loaded using the file name
given.  If these files do not exist, new ones
will be created on the current directory.

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Calendar File Name
======== ==== ====

The system will load calendar data from this
file (using the extension .CAL and the file
path supplied).  If no such file exists, a
new file will be created on the current
directory.

Changing calendars (or dates in a calendar)
should be done with some care. Project dates
are not automatically adjusted to meet the
new calendar.  Thus, some start/end dates
may actually be on holidays if the calendar
is changed after a project is defined.

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Printer Setup String
======= ===== ======

The Printer Setup String will be sent to
the printer destination before any reports.
This string instructs the printer on how
the report should be printed.  It controls
attributes such as: portrait vs. landscape
printing; font selection; lines per inch;
character spacing; etc.

The setup string is ignored if your
destination is a Lotus file.

Many printer control characters are not
"type-able" or printable.  The most common
example is the escape character: ASCII 27.
To enter an unprintable character into the
setup string, precede its three digit
decimal code by a backslash.  For example,
\027 would be translated into the escape
character.

Because the escape character is so
ubiquitous in setup strings, a special case
is made of it.  
A backslash (\) which

is NOT followed by a number is translated

into the escape character.

When displayed with TED or some other text
editor, the escape character displays
thus: 

).

The default printer setup string is for
compressed text for IBM/Epson and compatible
printers (i.e.: \027\015).

An example setup string for an HP LaserJet
is:

\E\&l1O\(8U\(s0p16.6h8.5v0s0T\&l7.27c45F

This useful string gives a landscape page
using compressed text which is 45 lines
deep.  On HP Series II printers, a font
of "(11U" (replacing "(8U" above) will
give you access to the extended ASCII
character set.  The characters used in
reports can be set in the Run Reports
screen.

See your printer manual for other printer
codes and instructions if you wish to change
the printer setup string.

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Print Destination
===== ===========

Reports can be sent to the printer (LPT1),
to an ASCII file (RPM.RPT) or to a Lotus
1-2-3 file.  Reports printed to the file
RPM.RPT can be printed at anytime by
copying the file to the printer.
To do so, enter the following at the DOS
prompt:

COPY RPM.RPT LPT1:

Warning: The file RPM.RPT is erased each
time you start up the RPM program.

Before printing, RPM tests to see that the
printer is ready.  If it is not, an error
is generated.

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Editor Name
====== ====

The system's notes facility uses the editor
indicated here. The default is EDIT, which
is supplied with DOS 5. If you have a
favorite editor and would rather use it,
enter its name here.

Regardless of the editor you use, it must
take as its first parameter the name of the
file to edit.  That is, you must be able to
invoke the editor from the same directory
you invoke RPM by entering a DOS command of
the form:

   editorname FILE.TXT

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                   Reporting Progress
                   ========= ========

Projects that are underway require progress to be reported.  This
window allows all the work progress data for one cell to be entered
at one time.  The system maintains up to three figures for each cell:

   To Date hours:        Hours spent from the project start to
                          the progress date;

   Remaining hours:      Estimated hours to complete;

   Snapshot hours:       A copy of Allocated hours ( = To Date +
                          Remaining).

Allocated hours are derived from the sum of To Date and Remaining
hours.  Snapshot hours are used to calculate Earned Value figures.

The following equalities are always maintained:

     Allocated Hours = To Date + Remaining.

     Percent Complete = To Date X 100 / Allocated.

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To Date
== ====

This is the time spent to date.  "To Date"
means to the Progress Date and may be
different for each project.  Enter data as
hours or as a percentage in the Percent
Complete field.  If entered as a percentage,
the To Date and Remaining hours will be
automatically revised and displayed.

Figures are normally in hours, but any
consistent unit may be used.

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Remaining Effort
========= ======

This is the time remaining to complete the
work.  See help screen comments about the To
Date field.  The following relationship is
maintained:

  To Date + Remaining = Allocated

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Allocated Effort
========= ======

This is the total time for the work.  It is
sometimes called the "estimate at
completion".  The following relationship
is maintained:

  To Date + Remaining = Allocated hours.

Figures are normally in hours, but any
consistent unit may be used.

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Percent Complete
======= ========

The Percent Complete is a derived figure.
It is always equal to:

   (To Date X 100) / Allocated

If Percent Complete data are entered here,
To Date and Remaining hours are modified to
keep Allocated hours constant and hold the
relationship true.

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                           Phase Definition
                           ===== ==========

A phase consists of a phase code, (e.g.:  "Phase 1", "Design", etc.),
phase name (e.g.:  "Contract Documents"), a start date, a duration, a
finish date and a Deadline date.  Press 
F1
 to edit or view an
already defined phase or simply type a new phase name on the last
available spreadsheet phase row to define a new phase.

A phase may be "exploded" into a sub-project.  This sub-project
inherits the project and phase data of its parent.  Sub-projects are
used to develop a more detailed break-down of phases within the
parent phase.  Work cell values for the parent phase are taken from
the totals for the sub-project.

Press 
F1
 to:     Edit or view an already defined phase;
                 Explode a phase into a sub-project;
                 Collapse a phase which has been exploded;
                 Take a snapshot of a phase;
                 Create a new phase at the end of the list.
                 Insert a new phase anywhere in the list.

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Phase Code
===== ====

Each phase is identified by a phase code,
e.g., "Phase 1" or "Design".  The phase code
is purely descriptive since the system
identifies a phase by its position in the
spreadsheet, not by its code.  Therefore,
phase names need not be unique.

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                           R  P  M

                
R
esources and 
P
rojects 
M
anager

RPM is not a project management system, but a project
s
 management
system.  RPM is specifically designed to manage all your firm's
projects and employee resources simultaneously.  Unlike other
project management systems, RPM does NOT use Critical Path Method
(CPM) or Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) methods or
require any knowledge of such complex network processes.

  RPM is easy to use, all you need to       FFFFFFFF    11
  remember is where to find 
F1
 to           FFFFFFFF   111
  select or invoke a function and 
F10
       FF          11
  to ask for help.  Use the 
Esc
 key         FFFF        11
  to exit a function or window.             FF          11
                                            FF          11
                                            FF         1111


 RPM was conceived by Bud Hoyles and Lee Moller.  It was written by
   Lee Moller -  Copyright (C) South Pointe Software, 1990, 1991.


   USA                                  CANADA

   South Pointe Software                South Pointe Software
   816 Peace Portal Drive,              1-1812 Southmere Crescent
   PO Box 880                           South Pointe
   Blaine, Washington 98230-0880        White Rock, BC V4A 6W9

For technical support or inquiries, call 
[phone].

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Spreadsheet Screen
=========== ======

This is the system workhorse.  All project
modeling and tracking is done here.  Select
this option (press F1) to:

    Define new projects;
    Report progress;
    View resource utilization curves etc.

In order to model a project, you must have
defined resources that can be applied to it.
If you have not defined any resources, do that
first by selecting 
Resources
 from the main menu.
Also, do not forget to select either the USA
or Canadian calendar using the 
System
 main
menu option.

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Gantt/Utilization Screen
================= ======

This view displays a Gantt (bar) chart of
all defined projects and phases.  Also, a
resource utilization curve for all projects
(blue color) and a project by project
utilization curve (pink color) is displayed
at the bottom of the screen.

Projects and phases can be edited directly
from the Gantt screen by pressing F1 and
selecting 
Edit
.

Project dates and phase dates and durations
can be manipulated as well.

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Resources Screen
========= ======

A resource is typically an employee or
member of some discipline (e.g.: engineer).
A resource can also be any collection of
other resources. The resource "Dept 1" could
consist of (or summarize) any number of
employee resources.

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Reports Screens
======= =======

Select this option to:

    define new reports;

    print reports;

    view reports printed to file;

    send reports to the printer;

    clear the reports file.

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Calendar Screen
======== ======

The calendar defines those days which are
working days and those which are not.
Typically, the calendar will specify all
statutory holidays and weekends.

Depending on the install options you
selected, the system comes with a default
calendar appropriate for either the USA or
Canada which specifies all the usual
holidays and Saturdays and Sundays as
non-working days.

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System Screen
====== ======

Use this option to set a number of global
options.  They are:

  The System File Path;

  Your Project File Name;

  Your Calendar File Name;

  Turn beeping on and off;

  Select date format for entry and
   display;

  Register RPM with South Pointe Software;

  Set or change the system password;

  The name of your notes editor;

  Review new product features.


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Help
====

Help is available at any time by pressing
F10.  The first time F10 is pressed, help
will be displayed about the current field on
which the cursor is located.  If F10 is
pressed again, a help screen about the
screen you are viewing will be displayed.
Finally, pressing F10 a third time will
display the Help Index, from which any
help screen may be viewed.

Use the Page Up/Dn keys to page through
long screens.  Use Escape to return to RPM.

Refer to your user manual for any additional
information.

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Quit RPM
==== ===

Select this option to return to DOS.  All data
files will be saved on exiting the system.

If you wish to exit to DOS without saving your
changes, press Ctrl-C.

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Phase Name
===== ====

The phase name is a display-only field.  Place
any explanatory text here.

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Phase Start Date
===== ===== ====

The phase starts on this day.  If a project
start date is already defined, it will
initially be inherited.

The project start date is always the
earliest phase start date.

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Phase Finish Date
===== ====== ====

The phase finishes on this day.  If a
project finish date is already defined, it
initially will be inherited.

The project finish date is always the latest
phase finish date.

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Enter "Y" to confirm the change or request.
Otherwise, press Escape.
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                         Resources
                          =========

The term resource is used to represent a single resource (e.g.:
an employee), or a collection of resources (e.g.: Department 1, or
architects). Each resource may have its own availabilities and rates
and may sum and sum into as many other resources as desired. For
example, if an employee is an architect, then that employee might
be made to 
sum into
 the resource architects. In this case, the
employee's utilization and availability will be summed into the
utilization and availability of the architect resource.

The resource "architects" in this example may have no availabilities
and utilizations of its own. Its availabilities and utilizations may
consist entirely of the avilabilities and utilizations of resources
that sum into it.

Use 
F1
 to:    Create or delete resource;
              Edit or view existing resource;
              View or edit contributing and summarizing resources;
              Add new availability-rate pairs to the A/R schedule;
              Edit or view notes.
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Resource Code
======== ====

Each resource is identified by a six
character code.  This code will be used by
the system to identify resources attached
to projects.

For example, Bill Smith might be identified as
"BSmit" and Mechanical Engineers might be
identified as "Mech".

Press 
F1
 to:   Define a new resource;
               Edit or view an existing
                   resource.

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Resource Name
======== ====

Each resource has an associated name
(i.e.: description) that will be used
on lists and reports.  This field is
used for display purposes only.

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Base Availability
==== ============

The base availability is assumed if no
availability/rate (A/R) schedule is
supplied.  Availabilities are expressed in
any desired units per day.  Hours are the
most common and are assumed for the purposes
of discussion.

A resource's availability curve is the sum
of the resource's A/R curve (the base
availability combined with the A/R
schedule), and the availability curve of any
contributing resources. The same is true
for the resource's utilization curve

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Base Rate
==== ====

The base rate is assumed when calculating
dollars figures unless it is overridden by
rates given in the availability/rate (A/R)
schedule availabilities and rates.  Rates
are expressed as dollars per unit of
utilization.

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Edit Contributing Resources
==== ============ =========

Resources may sum into (or contribute)
to any number of other resources. Resources
may also sum any number of resources. Using
this function, and 
Edit Summarizing Resources,
as complex a network of relationships as is
desired can be built up between resources.

Use the 
Ins
 and 
Del
 keys to add and
subtract resources from the list. More
than one resource may be selected for
insertion at a time by using the space bar
to select them.

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Edit Summarizing Resources
==== =========== =========

Resources may sum into (or contribute)
to any number of other resources. Resources
may also sum any number of resources. Using
this function, and 
Edit Contributing Resources,
as complex a network of relationships as is
desired can be built up between resources.

Use the 
Ins
 and 
Del
 keys to add and
subtract resources from the list. More
than one resource may be selected for
insertion at a time by using the space bar
to select them.

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Availabilities and Rates
============== === =====

A resource may have a complex schedules
of rates and availabilities. Rates change
with time, and availabilities are affected
by vacations and other issues.

An availability/rate pair (A/R pair)
consists of a starting date and an
associated availability and rate that take
affect starting on that date.

For example, a resource could have: a base
availability/rate of 6.5 hrs/day and
$35/hour; a 2 week vacation starting 1 May
89; and a new rate of $40/hr staring 1 June
89.  This would be done by applying the
following A/R pairs:

     Date     Avail.     Rate

    01May89      0.0    $35.0
    15May89      6.5    $35.0
    01Jun89      6.5    $40.0

Press F1 to view, edit or modify the A/R
schedule.

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Notes
=====

Notes may be associated with any resource.
Press F1 to access the notes editor.

* 38

                           Calendars
                           =========

The Calendar defines which days are working days and which are not.

The system is supplied with two initial 100 year Calendars called
"Canada" and "USA".  You should select the appropriate one for your
site from the System option on the main menu.  Each Calendar contains
an initial set of holidays appropriate for the associated country.

Use 
F1
 to:    Toggle an individual day from working to non-working;
              Toggle all such days from working to non-working
                  (e.g.: all Saturdays/Sundays);
              Review a list of events -- i.e.: when projects etc.
               start and end.

Use Page Up and Page Down to page through the years,
6 months per page.

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Calendar Dates
======== =====

Any given day of the year is either a
working day or a holiday (e.g.:  a
non-working day).

Press F1 to toggle a day or days from
working to non-working.

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                        Project Dates
                        ======= =====

Each date for each project and phase can be manipulated as desired
or, alternatively, all dates can be manipulated at once.  The Project
Dates screen allows you to do this.

Setting the project start date will move all phases forward or
backward in time by the change in working days implied by the new
start date.

Setting a new project duration will shrink or grow each phase in
proportion to the change in total project duration.

Setting a new finish date works the same as changing the duration.

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Project New Start
======= === =====

Enter a new start date here.  All project
phase start dates will be moved forward or
backward in time by the appropriate number
of days.

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Project New Duration
======= === ========

Enter a new project duration in working days
here.  The durations of all project phases
will be scaled by an amount proportional to
their current durations.


Note:
 Scaling of durations uses "integer
arithmetic".  Truncation can cause the
duration you enter to change by a day.
If this happens, specific end dates for
a project can be entered by entering the
finish date of the last phase explicitly.


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Project New Finish
======= === ======

Enter a new finish date here.  Entering a
new finish date is equivalent to entering a
new duration.  The durations of all project
phases will be scaled by an amount
proportional to their current durations.

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                          Gantt Chart
                          ===== =====

The Gantt chart displays a bar chart of your projects and their
phases, with a simultaneous display of selected resources
utilizations.  The resource utilization(s) will occupy what is left
of the bottom of the screen down to a minimum size.

Gantt lines are blue for phases and red for projects and subphases.

If a project is in progress and the progress date is on-screen, it
is marked with an "" character.

In-progress projects and phases are colored white ("+" characters
are used for monochrome monitors) for work performed and red or blue
for work remaining.

The amount colored white is on the percentage of hours worked to
total hours.  Projects/phases where the white portion reaches or
passes the progress mark () are on or ahead of schedule.  Others are
behind schedule.

  Position the cursor and press 
F2
 to edit a project, phase or
  resource.

  Press 
F3
 to increase the scale (i.e.:  display more time on the
  screen).  Press 
F4
 to decrease the scale (i.e.:  display less
  time on the screen).

  Press 
F5
 (or Ctrl-left arrow) to page the Gantt chart to the
  left.  Press 
F6
 (or Ctrl-right arrow) to page to the right.

  Press 
Page Up
 to move the display up one screen.  Press
  
Page Dn
 to move the display down one screen.

  Cursor to a phase or project and use the "less than" and
  "greater than" keys (
<
 and 
>
) to shift the phase or project
  backward or forward in time.

  Cursor to a phase and press the plus or minus keys (
+
 and 
-
)
  to shrink or grow the phase.

  You can use 
F7
 to position a project or phase at the top of the
  screen.

  When manipulating dates using the +, -, <, or > keys, RPM must
  recalculate the resource utilization curves.  This can be time
  consuming.  In order to improve performance, if you do not need
  to see the RU curve, press F1 and select 
Hide Utilization
  
Display
 to suppress its display.

Each Gantt line shows the position in time of a project, Phase or
sub-project.

The character 

 appears at the snapshoted start date if it is
different from the current start.

The character 

 appears at the snapshoted finish date if it is
different from the current finish.

The character 

 appears at the Deadline date if there is one.

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Gantt Project or Phase
===== ======= == =====

Press 
F5
 (or Ctrl-left arrow) to page the
Gantt chart to the left.  Press 
F6
 (or
Ctrl-right arrow) to page to the right.

Press 
Page Up
 to move the display up one
screen.  Press 
Page Dn
 to move the display
down one screen.

Press 
F1
 to:   Edit or view the phase or
                   project;
               Collapse this phase or
                   project;
               Collapse all phases or
                   projects;
               Level the resource loads
                   on the current project;
               Hide the RU  curve;
               Set display options;
               Shift phases or projects
                   in time;
               Expand or shrink phases;
               Move the current project
                to the first row (Here);
               Get help;

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Gantt Resource
===== ========

Press 
F1
 to select any resource.
"All" may be selected, in which case all
resource utilizations will be added
together.  Only active projects are
considered in summing the utilization
curve.

* 47

                       Utilization Curve
                       =========== =====

The utilization curve displays the utilization of one or all
resources on one project or on all projects (excluding pending
projects).

Press 
F3
 to increase the scale (i.e.:  display more time on the
screen).  Press 
F4
 to decrease the scale (i.e.:  display less time
on the screen).  Each cell on the screen represents either 1, 2, 4, 8
or 16 days.

Press 
F5
 (or Ctrl-left arrow) to page the chart to the left.  Press

F6
 (or Ctrl-right arrow) to page to the right.

Press 
Page Up
 to move the display up one screen.  Press 
Page Dn

to move the display down one screen.

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Utilization Resource
=========== ========

Press 
F1
 to select any resource to
display.  "All" may be selected, in which
case all resource utilizations will be
summed. If "All" is selected for the
projects to display, only active projects
will be considered.

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Utilization Project
=========== =======

Press 
F1
 to select any specific project or
All.  The current project is the default.
For "All", the sum of all the active
project's utilizations of the current
resource is displayed.  If a specific
project is chosen, its utilization of the
current resource is displayed regardless of
its active/pending status.

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Utilization Scale
=========== =====

The scale is the number of days each
character on the screen represents.  The
default is one.  Press 
F1
 to select a new
scale.

Alternatively, 
F3
 increases the scale by a
factor of two and 
F4
 decreases it by a
factor of 1/2.

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Utilization Start Date
=========== ===== ====

Modify this date to force the utilization
curve to start on the given date.

Alternatively, use 
F5
 or (Ctrl-left arrow) to
page left and 
F6
 (or Ctrl-right arrow) to
page right.

* 52

                        Spreadsheet
                        ===========

The spreadsheet is where you develop your project.  It consists of
project phases (rows) and resources (columns).  A spreadsheet cell
contains the estimate of work, usually in hours, for the associated
resource on the given phase.  At the edge of the sheet are phase
and resource totals and percentages.

Use 
F1
 to:     Create or Delete projects;
               Edit or view existing projects;
               Copy an existing project to a new project;
               Level the resource loads on a project to reduce
                utilization to below availability.

Use 
F2
 to view the Gantt screen for the current project at any time.

If your spreadsheet is too large to fit in the display area, or you
wish to go to a different project, you can use the following keys:

   Function                 Keystroke
   ========                 =========

   Page Down                Page Down
   Page Up                  Page Up
   Page Left                Ctrl-left arrow
   Page Right               Ctrl-right arrow
   Scroll Down              Shift-down arrow
   Scroll Up                Shift-up arrow
   Scroll Left              Shift-left arrow
   Scroll Right             Shift-right arrow
   Next Project             Ctrl-Page Down
   Previous Project         Ctrl-Page Up


Only Active projects are considered when displaying Gantt or
utilization charts.

Each project and phase should eventually have a start and finish
date.  Initially, phase start and finish dates will be derived from
the project start and finish.  Finally, however, the project start
will be the earliest phase start and similarly for the project
finish.  Use F1 on the start date to manipulate the project's dates
and durations.  This feature can be used to shrink, grow or move the
project and all its phases.

Use 
F1
 on the View title field to select from a number of different
project Views such as the project Snapshot or Modelling Views.

Both phases with their associated work cells, and individual work
cells, can be exploded into a sub-project that contains a more
detailed model of the whole phase or individual work cell.  If a
whole phase is exploded, the phase code screen color will change from
green to red and the screen color of all associated work cells will
change from white to blue.  Alternatively, if an individual work cell
is exploded, the cell screen color will change from white to red.

In both cases a change in color indicates that the phase or work
values will become read-only and their numeric values will be taken
from the detailed (exploded) sub-project.

* 53
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Project Code
======= ====

Each project is identified by an 8 character
code, e.g., "89120A:, "XYZ9001", or
"Giffels."  The system supports up to 500
projects or the size of main memory.

Projects can be filtered on the Gantt chart
or selected for reporting using the wildcard
characters * and ?.  For these features to
be useful, project names must be developed
consistently.

Press 
F1
 to:  Create a new project;
              Edit or view an existing
                 project.
              Delete an existing project;
              Copy an existing project to a
                 new project;
              Level the recource loads on a
               project;
              Rename a project.

* 54
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Project Name
======= ====

The project name is a descriptive field of
40 characters and may contain any
explanatory text, e.g., "Giffels:  New
Corporate Headquarters."

* 55
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Project Manager
======= =======

Enter the project manager's name.  This is
a display field only, as is the project
principal field.

* 56
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Project Principal
======= =========

Enter the project principal's name.  This is
a display field only, as is the project
manager field.

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Project Start Date
======= ===== ====

The project start date is the first working
day of the project.  Also, it is the
earliest phase start date.  Once phases have
associated dates, the finish date cannot be
changed except by:

  Pressing 
F1
 on the project start date
   and entering a revised date;

  or by changing a phase start date.

If no phase dates have been entered yet,
this date may be entered directly.  All
existing and subsequently created phase
start dates will inherit its value.

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Project Finish Date
======= ====== ====

The project finish date is the last working
day of the project.  It is the latest phase
finish date.  Once phases have associated
dates, the finish date cannot be changed
except by:

  Pressing 
F1
 on the project start date
   and entering a revised date;

  or by changing a phase finish date.

If no phase dates have as yet been entered,
this date may be entered directly.  All
subsequently created phase finish dates will
inherit its value.

* 59
 52

Project Progress Date
======= ======== ====

The progress date must fall between the
project start date and the project finish
date. It is the date up to which To Date
hours have been reported. To Date hours are
work taken to have been performed between
the project start and the progress date.
Remaining hours are work to be performed
after the progress date and before the
project finish.

* 60
 52

Project Notes
======= =====

Press 
F1
 to invoke the notes editor for this
project.  Notes are saved each time you run
the program, indefinitely.  The editor used
to edit notes is that indicated in the System
screen.

* 61
 52

Project Status
======= ======

Press 
F1
 to toggle this project between

Active
 and 
Pending
.

Pending projects are ignored in Gantt
and utilization displays.

* 62
 52

Project View
======= ====

The spreadsheet can be "viewed" in a number
of ways.  Each view displays different data
about the spreadsheet.  Only three views,
(To Date, Remaining and Snapshot) are actual
views - the rest are derived by arithmetic
operations on the values of the three actual
views.

Press 
F1
 to invoke any of the following:


Allocated View:

This is where you develop your project's
allocated (or, equivalently, budgeted or
estimate at completion) hours or dollars for
each resource.  This view is the default.
The following relationship is always
maintained:

  Allocated = To Date + Remaining.


Remaining Per Day View

This view displays Remaining hours
divided by the phase's duration, giving the
per day utilization of each resource on
each phase.  The relationship between
Allocated, Remaining and To Date values
is maintained.

This view allows you to estimate tasks
by daily, rather than total, resource
requirements.


To Date View:

This is the hours or dollars spent so far
(up to the progress date of entered percent
complete hours/dollars) by phase and
resource.


Percent Complete View:

The Percent Complete can be used to report
progress.  Data is entered and shown as a
percentage value, not in hours or dollars.
The following relationships are maintained:

   To Date =
      Percent Complete X Allocated / 100.

   Remaining =
      (100 - Percent Complete) X Allocated
         / 100.


Remaining View:

This is the hours or dollars remaining for
each cell, phase, or resource.


Snapshot View:

The project snapshot is a copy of the
Allocated values at a point in time.
Normally, a snapshot would be taken near the
start of a project when estimates/budgets
are approved.  A comparison of the snapshot
with current phase and resource hours or
dollars will show variances, if any.  Use
the Snapshot Variance View or Variance
Percent View to observe variances.  Earned
Value figures are calculated from the
snapshot using snapshot values.


Snapshot Variance View:

This is a read-only derived view.  Cell
values are derived using the formula:

  Cell value = Allocated - Snapshot.


Variance Percent View:

This is a read-only derived view.  Cell
values are derived using the formula:

  Cell value = (Allocated - Snapshot) /
                  Snapshot X 100.


Modelling View:

This is the same as the Allocated View
except that only the totals can be changed.
This allows you to model (estimate/budget) a
project "backwards" by entering total hours
or dollars for each phase and each resource.
The cell values are determined by the relative
percentages of the totals.  When you exit
from the Modelling View, To Date and Remaining
values can be updated to reflect the model.


Earned Value View:

A snapshot must have been taken before Earned
Value View calculations can be made.  This is
a read-only derived view.  Cell values are
derived using the formula:

  Cell value = To Date / Allocated *
                    Snapshot.


Take Snapshot:

This is not actually a view.  This function
generates the snapshot view in hours, not
dollars, when invoked.  The current view
must be the Allocated View.  Place the
cursor on the Allocated View title field and
press 
F1
, then select "Take Snapshot".
The system maintains only one snapshot of a
project at a time.  If a snapshot is taken,
any existing snapshot data will be replaced
with current Allocated data.


Clear Snapshot:

Select this option to remove (erase) all
project Snapshot data.  You will be
required to confirm the request.

* 63
 52

Project Scale and Dollars Display
======= ===== === ======= =======

At any time, the scale of the spreadsheet
display may be changed from hours to
dollars.  Dollar values can be displayed in
tens, hundreds, and thousands of dollars.
When the scale is changed, the spreadsheet
views, including the pop-up progress window
values, will be displayed in the given
scale.  Also, any changes made should be in
the given scale.

* 64
 52

Project Resources
======= =========

Columns on the spreadsheet are resources.
To add a new resource to the spreadsheet,
cursor to the blank resource cell and
press 
F1
.

Press 
F1
 to:  Add/Change a resource.
              View the utilization curve.
              Delete the resource.
              Snapshot the resource.
              Enter progress by resource.

Not all options are available if the
resource is on an exploded phase.

* 65
 52

Project Phase Totals
======= ===== ======

In all views this number is the horizontal
total of the hours for the appropriate
phase.  It is a read-only field in all
views except the Modelling View where it
is accessible for data entry.

If this field is changed in the Modelling
View, the indicated total hours are spread
over each resource according to the
resource's current percentage value.

* 66
 52
Project Phases
======= ======

Rows on the spreadsheet are project phases.
To add a phase, enter the phase name in the
first available row, e.g., "Phase 1."

Each phase has a start and finish date
within the start and finish of the project.
If the project has start and finish dates
associated with it, the phase will inherit
them initially.  Once any phase has dates,
the project dates will become read-only
except by pressing 
F1
 and making a selection
and appropriate changes.

Press 
F1
 to:   Edit or View an existing
                    phase;
               Delete this phase;
               Snapshot this phase;
               Explode this phase;
               Collapse this phase;
               Insert a new phase.


* 67
 52

Project Work Cells
======= ==== =====

A work cell is the intersection of a row and
column on the spreadsheet.  In the Allocated
View, it contains the total allocated effort
for a particular resource during a particular
phase.  This is a modifiable field in most
views.  Work cells are not modifiable in any
view if either the work cell or phase has
been exploded.  You must enter the exploded
sub-project to make changes.

Press 
F1
 to:   Explode this cell;
                Snapshot this cell only;
                Report progress for this
                   cell;
                Collapse this cell.

* 68
 52

Project Grand Total
======= ===== =====

In all views, this number is the total of
the hours for all phases and resources.
It is only accessible in the Modelling View.
In all other views, it is a read-only field.

If this field is changed in the Modelling
View, the indicated total hours are spread
over each cell according to the cell's phase
and resource current percent values.

* 69
 52

Project Resource Totals
======= ======== ======

In all views, this number is the vertical
total of the hours for the resource.
It is only accessible in the Modelling View.
In all other views, it is a read-only field.

If this field is changed in the Modelling
View, the indicated total hours are spread
over each phase according to the phase's
current percent value.

* 70

No help on this topic.

* 71

                    Availability/Rate Schedules
                    ================= =========

The Availability/Rates (A/R) schedule is the description of the
availability and rates for a resource over time.  The base rate
and availability apply unless A/R pairs are added to the A/R schedule.

If A/R pairs are added, the base rate and availability apply up to
the starting day of the first A/R pair.  Then the new rate and
availability apply up until the next A/R pair start date, if there is
one, or otherwise continue forever.

A/R pairs are maintained in order.  New entries can be added by
pointing to the date field of a pair, if there are any, and pressing

F1
.  The new pair will may be inserted into the list in
chronological order.

* 72
 71

A/R Start Date
=== ===== ====

This is the date that the given availability
and rate will start to apply.  They remain
in effect until the start date of the next
A/R pair or, if there is none, forever.

Press 
F1
 to:    Add a new A/R pair;
                Delete an existing pair;

* 73
 71

Availability Level
============ =====

This availability will be in effect until
the start of the next A/R pair, or forever
if none have been added.

* 74
 71

Rate Level
==== =====

This rate will be in effect until the start
of the next A/R pair, or forever if none
have been added.

* 75
 14

Phase Duration
===== ========

Enter either a phase duration or a phase
finish date.  The system will automatically
calculate the other.  The duration is always
in working days.

* 76
 16

File Menu
==== ====

Select from:

  
Load
 will save the current projects file
  (if it is read-write) and load a new
  projects file.

  
Save
 will save the current database if
  it is read-write.

  
Save as...
 will change the name of the
  current projects database and save it.

  
Drop Reservation
 will make the current
  projects database read-only.

RPM is an "in-memory" system (like Lotus
1-2-3). As such, it is a good idea to save
your data regularly.

* 77

Reporting Functions
========= =========

Select 
Run Reports
 to print your reports.

Select 
Define Reports
 to define new
Tabular Report formats.

Select 
Review Report File
 if you have
sent reports to file (rather than directly
to the printer) and would like to review
or edit them.  This will invoke your Notes
editor on the file RPM.RPT.  Initially,
you will be viewing the top left corner of
the file.  Use the usual navigation keys
(e.g.: Page Up and Page Down) to review your
reports before printing.

Select 
Clear Report File
 to delete the
report file from disk (allowing you to
"start over").

Select 
Print Report File
 to print
the current contents of RPM.RPT.  Reports
are printed to parallel port 1 (LPT1).

* 78
 89

Page Length (default)
==== ====== =========

This is the number of lines per page on your
printer.  This value is used by all non-
Tabular Reports and is the default used
by Tabular Reports if none is explicitly
supplied by them.

* 79
 92

Page Length (Tabular Reports)
==== ====== ======== ========

This is the number of lines per page on your
printer.  A non-zero value here will
override the value specified in the
Run Report screen.  This value should
correspond to the page length defined
in your Printer Setup String (if any).

* 80
 89

RU Report Width
== ====== =====

This is the number of characters on the
baseline of the Resource Utilization curve.
It can be no larger than 256 and should be
no larger than the number of characters per
line on your printer less 10.  e.g.,if your
printer will print 132 characters per line,
this value might be 122.

For a scale of 10 days between marks, i.e.:
1 day per character, a value of 122 would
print a RU curve spanning 122 days.

* 81
 89

Curves Per Page
====== === ====

Enter the number of resource utilization
curves per page you wish to print.

* 82
 89

EXECUTE (F1)
======= ====

Press 
F1
 while the cursor is on this field
to run your report request with the
parameters you have specified.  Output will
either go to your printer or to the file
RPM.RPT depending on the destination you
have selected.

* 83
 89

Detailed
========

For Tabular Reports:

   If "Yes" is selected, phases or cells
   that have exploded sub-projects
   associated with them will be reported
   on.  If "No" is selected, only
   "top-level" phases, resources and
   cells will be reported on.

* 84
 89

Gantt/RU Scale
======== =====

This value is the same scale factor used by
the Utilization and Gantt screens.  The scale
is the number of days each character on the
screen represents.  Each scale value is twice
the previous one.  The scales are marked as:

Days Per Character             Scale

        1                      Bi-Monthly;
        2                      Monthly;
        4                      Semi-Monthly;
        8                      Quarterly;
        16                     Bi-Quarterly.

Gantt lines will only be printed in Tabular
Reports that request a Gantt line using the

GA
 field specifier.  E.g., include a
field specifier similar to the following:

   ga -w40

to get a 40 character Gantt line.

* 85
 89

Gantt/RU Start
======== =====

This value is the same start date used by
the Gantt and utilization screens.  Gantt
and Resource Utilization curves will begin
at this date.

Gantt lines will only be printed in Tabular
Reports that request a Gantt line using the

GA
 field specifier.  E.g., include a
field specifier similar to the following:

   ga -w40

to get a 40 character Gantt line.

* 86
 89

Resources (for reporting)
========= ==== ==========

This option is used only by the Resource
Utilization Report.  RU curves are generated
for the resources that are selected.
Resource codes may be typed in directly,
separated by commas, or values may be selected
from a list by pressing F1.

Enter "All" to report on all resources.

* 87
 89

Projects (for reporting)
======== ==== ==========

List the projects on which you wish to
report for Tabular Reports here.  Values may
be typed in directly, separated by commas,
or selected from a list by pressing F1.

Select (or enter) the code PA to force a
page break and effectively start a new
report.

If only one project is listed and you are
executing a Resource Utilization Report,
that project will be highlighted on the
report.

Projects may be specified using the
wildcard characters * and ? in the same
manner as in DOS.

     
*
 selects for one or more of any
      character;

     
?
 selects for one of any character.

Some examples are:

  
AB*
     matches all projects starting
          with "AB";

  
AB?2
    matches all projects starting
          with "AB", followed by any one
          character, and ending in "2";

You may use the * and ? together if you
wish.

* 88
 89

Report Type
====== ====

Press 
F1
 to select a report type.

The types available are:


Tabular Reports
 are used to print project
data such as start and end dates and Gantt
lines.  If you select Tabular Reports, you
must supply a report definition that defines
what data are to appear in the report.

After selecting a Tabular Report, you may
or edit the report's definition by pressing

F2
.  This is just a short cut into the
Define Report screen available from the
main menu.

The 
System Report
 prints the calendar and
the definitions of the system resources.

The 
Events Calendar
 prints a calendar of
project/phase start/end dates and user-
defined events.

The 
Resource Utilization Report
 prints RU
curves for selected resources.


Periodic Resource Utilization Reports
 are
the numerical equivalent of the RU curve.
They show weekly, monthly or quarterly
resource utilization and availability.


Matrix Reports
 reproduce the Spreadsheet
screen as a report.  All the Spreadsheet
Views are available.

* 89

                              Reports
                              =======

RPM supports a number of basic report types:

  
Tabular Reports


   Shows project data in a tabular user-defined format starting
   with projects, then phases within projects, and then either
   resources or tasks within phases.

  
System Report


   Shows basic system data including the calendar, resource
   rates and availabilities and other "basic" data.

  
Event Reports


   Displays a monthly calendar in a typical 7 days x 6 weeks
   rectangular format.  Each day lists the events associated
   with it - including at user discretion - project start/finish
   dates, phase start/finish dates and user-defined dates.

  
Resource Utilization Reports


   This is the hardcopy equivalent of the on screen resource
   utilization reports.

  
Periodic Utilization Reports


   This report shows resource utilizations in a numeric form
   by weeks, months, or quarters.  In addition to hours,
   utilizations can be displayed in dollars, giving what amounts
   to a "cash-flow statement".

  
Matrix Reports

   The Matrix reports essentially reproduce the Spreadsheet
   screen as a report.  All the various Spreadsheet Views are
   supported.

This screen allows you to select the report type you desire and to
specify a number of run-time options for your report.

Most reports use the projects and resources lists to select which
data will be reported on.

Reports may be sent to a file (RPM.RPT) rather than directly to your
printer.

Each report is preceded by the given printer setup string.  This
string is used to set printer options such as "compressed text" and
lines per page.

Cursor to the 
EXECUTE
 field and press 
F1
 to run your report.

When you select Tabular Reports, you must also specify a report
definition.  Report definitions are user-defined instructions to RPM
on what data should be included in each tabular report.

Projects may be selected using the "wildcard" characters 
?
 and 
*

in the same manner as in DOS.  See the help screen on selecting
projects for more about wildcard characters.

 
 Gantt Line Symbols
   ==================

   Printed Gantt reports use the following symbols:

     
=
    A project or subproject
     
-
    A phase
     
+
    Progress as a percentage of total project effort
     
v
    The project status date (project line only)
     
S
    The snapshot start date
     
F
    The snapshot finish date
     
D
    The deadline date


* 90
 92

Scale Factor
===== ======

Cell values and totals are divided by this
value before being displayed.  Thus, if you
entered 1000, all values would be displayed
in units of thousands.

* 91
 92

Report Specifications
====== ==============

A tabular report definition consists of 4
specification lines, one each for projects,
phases, resources and cells.  If a phase
line is specified, the resource line is
ignored and reports consist of cascading
lines of detail on projects, phases within
projects and cells.  If a resource line is
specified and no phase line supplied,
reports will display data on projects,
resources within projects and cells within
resources.

A specification line consists of a series of
line elements separated by commas or blanks.
For example, "co" means "code" and causes
the project code to be displayed (if it
appears on the project line).  Press F10
again for a detailed list of available
codes.

Each code may take a number of parameters.
A parameter follows the code to which it
applies and must be preceded by a minus
sign.  For example "-w12" indicates that a
field should have a width of 12 characters.
Press F10 again for a more detailed
discussion of line elements and their
parameters.

* 92

                            Report Elements
                            ====== ========

A typical report definition line might read:

   co, na, sd, fd, al -$$ -w12 -"Current"

which, if it appeared in the project line would cause the system to
print the project code, name, start date, finish date, and allocated
dollars.  The allocated dollars field will be 12 characters wide and
would have a title of "Current".  Note that the Allocated field
contains no commas separating the allocated (al) field parameters.

Available elements are listed below:

 
AL
   Allocated                           
PR
   Project Principal
 
AP
   Availability/Period                 
PV
   Percent Variance
 
AV
   Base Availability                   
RA
   Resource Rate
 
CO
   Code                                
RD
   Remaining Duration
 
DD
   Deadline Date                       
RE
   Remaining Hours/Dollars
 
DL
   Double Line                         
SD
   Start Date
 
DU
   Duration                            
SF
   Snapshot Finish Date
 
EA
   Earned Value                        
SK
   Slack (DD - FD)
 
EV
   Events                              
SL
   Single Line
 
FD
   Finish Date                         
SN
   Snapshot Hours/Dollars
 
GA
   Gantt Line (See Below)              
SP
   Spaces
 
MA
   Project Manager                     
SS
   Snapshot Start Date
 
NA
   Name                                
TD
   To Date
 
NL
   New Line                            
UD
   Utilization per Day
 
NO
   Notes                               
UL
   Underline
 
PA
   New Page                            
UP
   Period Utilization
 
PC
   Percent Complete                    
VA
   Variance
 
PD
   Progress (Status) Date              
X1
   Export Project Code
 
PP
   Percent Utiliz'n/Period             
X2
   Export Phase Code
                                          
X3
   Export Resource Code

Valid parameters are:

Parameter     Purpose/Description
=========     ===================


-w#          Override the default field width.

             For example, -w12 yields a field width of 12
             characters.


-c#          Force a field to print at a certain column.

             For example, -c64 will cause the field to begin in
             column 64.  This is very useful when indenting
             (see below) is being used.


-i#          Indent exploded phases and cells.

             For example, -i5 causes each new level of exploded
             phases to be indented 5 characters.


-$           Print values in dollars rather than in hours.

             This parameter is ignored for inappropriate fields such
             as a description or duration.


-$$          Same as -$, but prints a preceding dollar sign as well.


-p#          Setting the number of decimal places to be printed.

             This parameter is ignored for inappropriate fields such
             as a description.



-"text"
     Defining your ouw titles.

             For example, -"Current" would replace the default field
             title with the string "Current".

 
 Gantt Line Symbols
 
 ==================

   Printed Gantt reports use the following default symbols:

     
=
    A project or subproject
     
-
    A phase
     
+
    Progress as a percentage of total project effort
     
v
    The project status date (project line only)
     
S
    The snapshot start date
     
F
    The snapshot finish date
     
D
    The deadline date

   These symbols may be user-redefined to, for example, extended
   ASCII characters (if your printer supports them).



* 93
 92

Report Title
====== =====

The report title will appear at the head of
each page of your report.

* 94
 92

Report Name
====== ====

Report definitions are stored on file as
they are defined and are identified by their
name.  Select an appropriate and descriptive
name for each report.

* 95
 203

Merge
=====

RPM can merge data into the current RPM
database from other RPM files or from
ASCII files produced by other applications.

Often, individual project managers may
develop projects on different machines. In
order that the impact from these projects
on the corporation can be evaluated, they
must all exist in a single RPM file.  The

Merge RPM Files
 facility will read the
projects data from another RPM file and
merge it with the currently loaded project
file.

NB: It is your responsibility to ensure that
resources are consistently named in each
project file.

RPM can also read data from ASCII files
produced by programs such as Timberline.
If you use Timberline or other systems,
this facility can allow you to
generate your RPM plans from Timberline data
and keep them updated (in terms of hours
worked and progress dates) automatically.

* 96
 71

Deadline Date, Phase
======== ===== =====

The deadline date can be thought of as the
contract date -- the latest possible
completion date.  RPM displays the deadline
date on the Gantt chart and can print it on
RPM Tabular Reports.  Variances between the
deadline date and the finish date can also
be displayed.

RPM does not prevent you from scheduling
a phase or project after the deadline date.

* 97
 52

Deadline Date, Project
======== ===== =======

The deadline date can be thought of as the
contract date -- the latest possible
completion date.  RPM displays the deadline
date on the Gantt chart and can print it on
RPM Tabular Reports.  Variances between the
deadline date and the finish date can also
be displayed.

RPM does not prevent you from scheduling
a phase or project after the deadline date.

RPM also allows you to define your own
events.  Press 
F1
 to gain access to the
Events screen.  These events can be
displayed from the Calendar screen, on
Tabular Reports, or on the Gantt/RU screen.

* 98

Merge File Name
===== ==== ====

To merge an external (i.e., unloaded)
file of projects with the current project
file, enter the name of the project file
here.  The extension .prj will be supplied
automatically.

Projects from the indicated projects file
will be merged with the current projects
file and saved on exit from RPM.  If a
project in the incoming projects file has
the same name as a project in the current
projects file, you will be given an
opportunity to replace the current project
or ignore the incoming project.

* 99
 44

Maximum Rows on Gantt Screen
======= ==== == ===== ======

The Gantt screen is broken into two parts,
the Gantt portion and the resource
utilization portion.  This number
determines the maximum number of Gantt
rows to be displayed, and hence the area
of the screen available for the resource
utilization curve.  At least 8 lines of the
screen are reserved for the utilization
curve if it is to be displayed.

* 100
 2

Register RPM
======== ===

On delivery, your copy of RPM is either
unregistered or is a shareware version.  The
maximum number of projects that RPM will
save restricted.  To register RPM
Professional, you must:

  1.  Make sure that you can run RPM
      and use the phone at the same time.

  2.  Phone South Pointe Software at
      [phone] and ask to register
      your copy of RPM.  If you have not
      already purchased the system, you will
      be required to do so at this time.

  3.  Press F1 on the Register RPM field.
      A number will appear on your screen.
      Report this number to your South
      Pointe representative.  You will then
      be given the correct response code
      that will register your copy of RPM.

RPM is sold on a single machine license to
use basis.  You may copy your unregistered
RPM disks at will and distribute them
freely.

The shareware version does not require
registration. Limits are 10 projects,
10 phases per project, and 10 resources
of each type. Registering a share copy
will prevent the shareware message from
appearing at the end of each session.

* 101

Error Messages
===== ========

The action you have taken is not allowed.

Press Esc to return to RPM and
then take corrective action as indicated
by the error.

* 102

Messages and Warnings
======== === ========

The action you have taken has some
consequence you should be aware of.

Depending on the nature of the warning,
you may be given an opportunity to
change your request.

Press Esc to continue.

* 103

 Invalid day.  Current format is xxxxxx.

 Invalid month.  Current format is xxxxxx.

 Invalid year.  Current format is xxxxxx.

 This date has been advanced to a working
     
day.

The RPM date format is set in the System
screen.  Dates on entry must conform to
the format selected there.

Supported date types are:

 Type          Format        Example
 ----          ------        -------

 RPM           DDMmmYY       14Jan90
 USA           MMDDYY        011490
 EUROPE        DDMMYY        140190
 METRIC        YYMMDD        900114
 USA LONG      MM/DD/YY      01/14/90
 EUROPE LONG   DD/MM/YY      14/01/90
 METRIC LONG   YY/MM/DD      90/01/14

As soon as a date is entered, it is
checked and, if necessary, advanced to
a working day.  All dates must correspond
to a working day and all durations are
stated in working days.

The long format dates may be entered using
a dash rather than a slash (i.e.: you may
enter 90/01/14 as 90-01-14) but the slash
is always used for display purposes.

RPM dates have two main advantages. First,
1Jan90 is acceptable for 01Jan90.  As well,
RPM dates store the last year entered for
an RPM date as a default.  Thus, if the
last RPM date entered were 12Jan90, then
the next may be entered as 22Jan.  The year
90 will default.

The long format dates can be entered their
corresponding short formats, but will be
displayed in their long formats.

* 104

 Unable to open Help index file!

 Unable to open Help file!

The two files RPM.HLP and RPM.NDX
must be present in the directory from
which RPM is invoked.  Exit RPM,
correct the problem and start again.

* 105

 Sorry, no help for this field.

A help entry for this field is present
but it has zero length.

* 106

 Memory is dangerously low!
   
Recommend you exit to DOS!

 Out of memory (text)

 Not enough memory to invoke the editor.

If you get a message stating that memory is
low, then you should, at a minimum,

save your data!

RPM maintains an emergency supply of memory
which will be freed up to satisfy the latest
memory request.

If the message states that RPM is out of
memory, save your data and exit RPM
immediatly!

To solve the memory problem, you might:

  Delete old projects;
  Exit and re-enter RPM;
  Exit, remove any TSRs and re-enter RPM;
  Change other configuration aspects of
   your system.

Any expanded memory error indicates an
internal RPM error. Please contact South
Pointe Software.

* 107

 The calendar appears to have NO working
       
days!

Probable cause: all days are weekend days.  The
calendar MUST have some working days for RPM
to produce useful results.  Correct the calendar
and try again.

* 108

 Unknown type in field definition.

This is an internal error.  Save your data
immediately; record the events that lead to
the error; and call RPM technical support.

* 109

 Invalid key... Use F1, Enter or
   
select by number.

Use the space bar or the arrow keys
to move through selection on the main
menu.

Press F1 or Enter to select an option.

You can invoke a mein menu option directly
by typing its number.

* 110

 Enter Y or N.

 Enter a number between n and m.

 Enter a number.

 Enter a number greater than or equal to x.

 Enter a number.

These are basic data entry errors.

Yes or no questions require either "Y"
or "N".  Case is not important.

Numeric responses often must fall into a
range of valid values.  No alphabetic
characters are allowed.

* 111

 The last character of the path must be
   
a \\ (backslash).

 Unable to access directory. Please check

   the path!

A typical file path is:

  d:\dir\dir\

where "d:" is the drive letter and "dir"
is a directory entry.

The path must terminate with a backslash
and must already exist.

* 112

 This copy of RPM is already registered.

 The shareware version of RPM does not
     
need to be registered.

 System registered.

 Response incorrect.

 RPM not registered: all projects were not
     
saved.

 The phase limit has been reached
     
for this version of RPM.

 The resource limit has been reached
     
for this version of RPM.

Copies of RPM Professional must be registered
with South Pointe Software.  Once registered,
RPM's full functionality is activated.

Shareware versions of RPM are limited to 20
projects and 20 resources.
Please contact South Pointe Software
for details on acquiring 
RPM Professional.

Any number of projects can be created, but
only a fixed number will be saved for either
evaluation copies of Shareware copies of
RPM.

Before registering RPM Professional, only
five projects and five phases per project
are allowed and only five resources can be
allocated.

Registration only needs to be done once per
machine.

To register RPM, you must supply a correct
response to the activation query.  This
response must be obtained from South Pointe
Software by calling [phone].

* 113

 Can't merge Projects File: (name)

 Merge failed. Check the import log.

RPM attempted to open and read a projects
database for merging. The attempt failed,
probably because the file name given was
incorrect.

Enter the file path and name.  For example,

  \RPM\DATA\TEST

* 114

 An A/R level already exists starting on
    
that date.

A/R (Availability/Rate) levels describe
changes over time in the rates and
availabilities of resources.  Only one
pair can be defined per day.  That is,
rates and availabilities can only change
once per day.

* 115

 A resource by that name is already
      
defined.

 Unable to define resource.

The most common reason that a new resource
cannot be defined is because one with the given
code already exists. Choose a different code.

Another possible reason is running out of
memory.  If you get a memory problem,
save any changes you have made right away.

* 116

 Use F1 to select a resource to delete.

 Press F1 for a list.

Use 
F1
 to access various functions or to
select a resource to examine.

Before you can delete a resource, you
must select it using F1.

* 117

 Not allowed!  Project x still refers
    
to this resource.

 Not allowed!  Resource x still refers
    
to this resource.

 All references to a resource must be
    
removed before it can be deleted.

Resources cannot be deleted until 
all

references to them are removed
from the project database.  Project
spreadsheets can refer to any resource and
resources can refer to other resources.

To remove a resource, first remove all
references.

* 118

 No resources contribute to the
    
availability of this resource.

No resources sum into this resource.

* 119

 Unable to open Projects file!

 Unable to open Resources file!

 Unable to open Calendar file!

 Unable to open Notes file!


 Resources not written.  Disk
    
could be full!

 Error writing resources to file!


 Projects not written.  Disk
    
could be full!

 Error writing projects to file.


 Unable to open and save
    
Initialization file!

RPM was unable to access its files.

Check all file paths on the 
System

screen.  Ensure that adequate disk space
is present.


* 120

 Project x corrupt and not saved.
     
Restore backup.

RPM detected an error while writing the
Project file. Rename the backup file
name.BAK to name.PRJ and try again.

* 121

 The Project database could be corrupted!

 The Calendar file could be corrupt!

 The Resources file could be corrupt!

When RPM reads its database, consistency
checks are run.  If an error is
encountered, it is displayed and then RPM
attempts to proceed.

These messages usually indicate serious
problems with your database.  RPM
maintains a backup copy of your projects in
a file called name.BAK which you should
restore if there are problems with your
projects.

     DO NOT SAVE YOUR DATA.

Use Ctrl-C to quit RPM. Contact South
Pointe Software for technical support.

* 122

 Unable to resolve disc/emp reference in
     
project file!

 Resource(s) will be generated.

Either projects or resources are referring
to resources that are not defined.  RPM
generates resource definitions when this
happens.  This is usually caused by one of
two circumstances:

  You are merging a project file into the
   current file and it refers to resources
   that are not defined;

  The project resource file (name.DIS) has
   be corrupted.

In either case, RPM will generate resources
to match the encountered codes.  Check your
resource definitions.  Generated resources
will have appropriate descriptions. You may
have to re-assign resources to projects or
delete/define resources that have been
merged.

* 123

 The Calendar file is empty!

No Calendar file was found, or the
one found was empty.  Check your
calendar definition and the 
System

screen.

* 124

 There are no working days in your
     
calendar!

 This must be corrected immediately!

Your calendar must contain some working
days.  Before you do anything else,
check its definition and make sure that
it includes working days.

* 125

 No project code given.

 A project with that code already exists.

Each project must have a non-blank code.
Trailing blanks are trimmed.

Each project must have a unique code.

* 126

 Attach a resource to the project first.

 No resources are defined!

 Only one occurrence is allowed.

Before you can allocate hours to a
project, it must have both phases and
resources.

Before allocating resources to a project,
resources must be defined (using

Define Resource
 on the main menu).

A resource may only appear once
in any given project.

* 127

 The project will be scaled back to hours.

Utilization curves can only be viewed in
hours (units).  If you are viewing
the project in dollars, it will be
converted back to hours before the
utilization curve will be displayed.

* 128

 You can only snapshot Allocated project
     
hours.

 You must snapshot the whole project
     
first.

 You must take a snapshot first!

Snapshots can only be taken while in the
Allocated View.  Confirm that you are
viewing allocated hours.

You cannot snapshot single cells, rows, or
columns until at least one snapshot of the
complete project has been taken.

You cannot access any project views that
rely on snapshot data until a snapshot
has been taken.  Views that use snapshot
data are: Snapshot Variance; Snapshot
Percent Variance; Snapshot; and Earned
Value.

* 129

 You must delete this phase's sub-project
     
first.  (Select \"Collapse\").

 There is no sub-project associated with
    
this phase.

 This cell has not been exploded.

Phases and cells can be "exploded" into
subprojects that contain more detail.

You cannot delete a phase which
has been exploded.  If a row or column
containing a cell that has been exploded
is deleted, the cell's subproject is
deleted as well.

The opposite of "exploding" is
"collapsing".

You cannot collapse a phase
or cell that has not been exploded.

* 130

 Allocated hours cannot be less than
     
To Date hours.

 Percent Completes must be between 0
     
and 100.

 You must have a Progress Date to
     
view or enter progress data.

 Progress for exploded cells must be
     
entered in the sub-project.

 The progress date cannot be outside
     
the project start/end.

You must remove all actual hours first!

These errors all deal with reporting
progress.  Before any progress data
can be entered, a progress date between
the project's start and finish dates must
be entered.

Progress can be reported in a number of
ways.  Percent complete is one way
(not recommended however).  Percent
completes must be between 0 and 100%.

Progress data for exploded phases or cells
must be entered at the detailed level.
These values are "rolled up" to the
higher level automatically by RPM.

You cannot remove the project's progress
date if any actual hours have been
reported.  If you wish to remove the
progress date, remove all reported actual
hours first.

* 131

 The finish date is earlier than the
     
start date.

 The finish date cannot precede the
     
start date.

Almost needless to say, a phase or
project cannot end before it starts.

* 132

 Initial hours must be loaded into Model.
     
Update the Grand Total.

 Where "To Date" exceeded "Allocated"
     
model, "Remaining" set to 0.

 Model abandoned.

Before modeling can take place, you must
have some initial hours loaded into the
project.  Update the Grand Total and all
cells will be updated with values.  If you
enter 100 into the Grand Total values, each
cell will contain a percentage value.

If you decrease Allocated hours below
the current To Date value, Remaining hours
are set to zero.

When exiting Modelling, you have the choice
of updating the Allocated values or
abandoning the model.

* 133

 There is no "F1" processing for
     
sub-projects.

 To delete a sub-project, use "F1" on
     
the parent phase.

Subprojects are not projects on the
projects list.  They can't be copied.

They can be deleted by selecting

Collapse
 in the parent cell or phase.

* 134

 You must select a project first.

 Use F1 to select a project from the
     
current list!

Before you can do anything on the
Spreadsheet, you must select a project.

Press F1 and select a project from the list
(or select 
New
).

* 135

 Internal error: unrecognized spec.

 Internal error: bad Type in report.

 Internal error: Date Type.

 Internal error: project rename.

Contact South Pointe Software and report
this problem to technical support.

* 136

 Report definition already exists.

 Select a report definition (press F1).

Before you can do anything in the

Define Report
 screen, you must either
select a report definition or 
New
.

New definitions must have a unique code.

* 137

 No reports have been defined.

Before requesting a Tabular Report,
you must define some report definitions.

Normally, a select will have been supplied
with RPM.

* 138

 The choice list is full.

 This report spec line is full.

 This line is full.

The line containing either project,
resource or report specifiers is full.
No more can be added.

If available, use the second report
specifier line.

Press F1 and choose 
All

to select all resources or projects or
use wildcard characters to select more
projects.

* 139

 You must select a Report Definition for
    
tabular reports.

 Select a report type.

 No projects requested.

 No matching projects found: specifier

 No matching files for that filter!

 No such resource: code

 No resources selected.

 No projects match the project filter!

In order to run a report, you must:

   Select a report type and, for Tabular
    reports, a report definition;

   Select the projects on which the
    report will be run;

   Select the resources on which the
    report will be run;

Filters can be used in reporting and with
the Gantt/RU screen to select projects.

Press F1 on the report type field and
on the projects and resources lists.

You may edit the projects and resources
lists directly.

Projects may be specified using the
wildcard characters * and ? similar to DOS.
For example, entering "AB*" would select
all projects starting with "AB".

The Gantt filter must select at least one
project.  If no projects match the Gantt
filter, the filter will be set to "*"
which matches all projects.

Resource Utilization and Tabular by
Resource reports require a resource list.

* 140

 Unable to open output device or file.

 Printer not ready.

This indicates a "hardware" failure.

Your disk may be full, or your printer
"off line".  Correct and try again.

* 141

 Unknown report specifier: text

Check the report specifier versus the
list of recognized specifiers. See
the User Guide for a complete list.

* 142

 Unable to open report definition
     
file.

 Unable to read report definition
     
file.

 Unable to read the report specs
     
file RPM.RDF.

 Error reading report definition file.


Check that the file RPM.RDF is
on the current subdirectory.  The
reporting system cannot function without
it.  This file was supplied on your RPM
disk.

Each report you define is saved in a file
with a name the same as the report name and
with the extension .DEF in the current
directory.

If an error occurs reading the report
definition file, it may be corrupted.
Try deleting the file in DOS and redefining
the report.

* 143

 This day is already flagged as a
      
holiday!

Weekend days are already non-working days.
You cannot change their status.

* 144

 No active projects have been defined!

You cannot view the Gantt chart until some
active projects are defined.

* 145

 The display is already in hours.

The display's units are already in hours.

Press F1 on the display units field to
change the units to a different value.

* 146

 Note index file appears corrupt!

A problem has been encountered loading
the notes indexes.  Please contact
South Pointe technical support.

* 147

 Can't open temporary notes file!
     
The disk may be full.

 Unable to open Notes file.

 Unable to open temporary notes file for
     
reading!

 Unable to open Notes Index file.

Verify that adequate disk space is
available for the notes buffer file
and for the extension of the notes
file.

Be sure that the directories specified
in the 
System
 screen are correct.

* 148

 Could not find the editor!
     
Check the path name.

Check the 
System
 screen and ensure
that a correct file path is given
for the editor.

You should be able to run the editor
outside RPM (but in the same directory) by
entering the same file path to DOS.

* 149
 2

Calendar File Path
======== ==== ====

Enter the DOS file path containing
your calendar file.  Enter nothing
for the current directory.  For
example:

   d:\rpmdata\

would indicate the directory "rpmdata"
off the root directory of the "d" drive.

The path should end with a backslash (\);

If no file(s) are found, they will be
created.

* 150

 Updating file structures.

The system read files that belonged
to a previous version of RPM.  These
files will be translated to up-to-date
versions when you quit.

* 151

 WARNING: Project notes may be corrupted
   
if not saved!!

You have made changes to notes.  Any
changes you have made to notes have been
saved but the index has not.  Exiting
RPM without saving may corrupt notes that
have changed.

* 152

 Unable to register RPM.

RPM tried to register itself but, due to
technical difficulties, was unable to do
so.  Please contact South Pointe Software
for technical support.

* 153

 Short project durations reduce phase
   
duration accuracy.

When project durations are changed, each
phase's duration is scaled by the ratio
of the change in the project duration. This
can result in phase duration's of, for
example, 5.73 days.  This is then
truncated to 5 days.  This truncation to
an integer date can be significant for
projects of short duration.


Note:
 As a consequence of this
truncation, shrinking a project's duration
and then expanding it back to its original
size may cause phase durations to change.

* 154
 2

Beeping
=======

RPM will normally beep when a disallowed
key is pressed or an error occurs.  Enter
"No" in this field to suppress beeping.
The "beeping" setting will be saved between
runs.

* 155
 2

Date Format
==== ======

RPM supports a number of date formats.
They are:

 Type          Format        Example
 ----          ------        -------

 RPM           DDMmmYY       14Jan90
 USA           MMDDYY        011490
 EUROPE        DDMMYY        140190
 METRIC        YYMMDD        900114
 USA LONG      MM/DD/YY      01/14/90
 EUROPE LONG   DD/MM/YY      14/01/90
 METRIC LONG   YY/MM/DD      90/01/14

The format for entry and display (what you
enter and see on the screen) can be
different from the format used on reports.


RPM dates for data entry are recommended.

RPM dates have two data entry advantages:

  RPM dates store the last year entered for
  an RPM date as a default.  Thus, if the
  last RPM date entered were 12Jan90, then
  the next may be entered as just "22Jan".
  The year 90 (in this case) will default.

  1Jan90 is acceptable for 01Jan90.


Press 
F1
 to select the format(s) you
desire.

* 156

 Modify phase durations to change
   
project/sub-project durations.

You cannot change the duration of a project
or sub-project on the Gantt/Utilization
screen directly.  The reason is that the
project duration is determined entirely
by the durations of its phases.  Changes
of only one or two days in the project
duration generally cannot be "spread"
over the phases evenly.

You must either go to the Spreadsheet
(select 
Edit
) and press F1 on the
project Start Date or you must modify the
start dates or durations of the associated
phases.

* 157

                    RPM Ver. 3.3 New Features
                    === ==== === === ========


RPM File Browser

RPM now uses a home-grown file browser to preview reports files etc.
rather than the system editor. The file browser requires no memory
and will therefore always work. The editor can require substantial
amounts of memory. (The editor is only used now to edit notes.)


Hot Keys

Most RPM menus now support hot keys. The use of hot keys has
necessitated a structure change in some menus, most notably the
Projects menu in the Spreadsheet.


Spreadsheet scrolling

Improvements have been made in the scrolling of spreadsheets which
are larger than the view area in the Spreadsheet screen.


EMM Support

If your system has an Expanded Memory Manager, RPM will load much
of its data into expanded memory. This increases RPM's
potential projects capacity to well over 1,000!


Color Customization

New options in the System screen allow you to customize the
colors used by RPM.


New Command Line Options

Enter RPM /h to review new command line options. Most significantly,
tou may enter a projects file to be loaded at the command line.


Support for Sub-Contractors

Sub-contractor support allows you to attach a flat dollar fee to
a phase. The dollar fee may be spread over time in a number of ways.


General Remarks:

Remember, use 
F1
 (Function Key 1) to select items, 
Esc

to exit screens without selecting, and 
F10
 for help.

You may use a mouse. The left button corresponds to F1, and
right to Esc.

Select 
System
 from the main menu and set "Display New Features"
to No to stop this screen from appearing when to start RPM.

* 158
 92

Suppress Titles
======== ======

Answer "Yes" to suppress titles on this
report.  This option also suppresses any
pagination processing.  This option is
useful for exporting data for other
applications.

* 159

 To Date hours have been adjusted!

To Date hours cannot be greater than
Allocated hours.  They have been reduced
such that the relationship

  To Date + Remaining = Allocated

is maintained.

* 160
 157

New Features Display
=== ======== =======

Enter "No" here to suppress the display
of new features data before the RPM main
menu appears.

Press 
F10
 while viewing this screen
to review new RPM features.

* 161

  Phase xxx has remaining hours scheduled
    
before the status date!

The indicated phase has remaining hours but
the phase's end date is before the status
date.  In other words, the phase has
scheduled hours in the past.  These hours
will be 
ignored
 by the utilization
calculations (although they will still
be reported as remaining by the report
writer).

Extend the phase's end date until it is
sufficiently far in the future to allow
the work to be performed.

* 162
 92

Report Comments
====== ========

Enter any explanatory comments here.
There are used only to remind the user
what the purpose of each report is.  The
comments never appear on any report.

* 163
 89

No. Periods
===========

Enter the number of periods (either
in Weeks, Months, or Quarters) to be
reported in the Periodic Resource
Utilization Report.

At most 100 periods can be reported on
at once.

The width of the report in characters will
be equal to:

 (Number Of Periods * 10) + 12

* 164
 89

First Period Start
==================

Enter the start date of the first period
for the Periodic Resource Utilization
Report.

* 165

 Enter a First Period Start date.

Periodic Utilization Reports require
a start date for the first period.

* 166

 Clearing a note entry.

This error is indicative of an internal
problem.  During the execution of a
report that prints notes, an element was
found which references a note which does
not exist.  The reference to the note
is being deleted.

Please call RPM technical support.

* 167

 Not allowed!. This would set ALL days
   
to holidays.

You are attempting to make all days holidays!
This will result in projects with infinite
durations and is not allowed.

* 168
 92

Suppress Zero Lines
======== ==== =====

Enter Yes to suppress the printing of
report lines for which allocated hours is
zero.

* 169
 92

Report by Resources
====== == =========

Answer Yes to run the report for each
resource in the resource list.

This is most useful for producing a
task list or turn-around document
for each resource in a company.

* 170

                         Report Specifiers
                         ====== ==========

A report specifier consists on any of the valid RPM report codes plus
any associated parameters.  Parameters are distinguished by their
preceding dash.  The report specifier screen will generate valid
specifiers for you, or you may enter of edit specifiers directly.

A typical specifier might be: 
TD -w12 -"New Title"
.

This specifier indicates that the element "to date hours" (TD) should
appear in the report, with a width of 12 characters (-w12) and a
title called "New Title".

You must select a valid report code.  In many cases, this will be all
that is required.  In other cases, you may wish to override certain
default attributes of the code by entering data for the parameters
displayed on this screen.

* 171
 170

Report Code
====== ====

Press F1 to select from the complete list
of valid reporting codes.

Report specifiers may be generated using
this screen or added to the report line
manually.

* 172
 170

Width Override
===== ========

Each RPM report element has a default
width.  Enter a value here only if you
wish to override the default width.

This is a parameter to the report code
and will generate a parameter of the form

    -w#

where # is the new width.

* 173
 170

Precision Override
========= ========

Each RPM numeric report element has a
default precision.  Enter a value here
only if you wish to override the default
precision.  The precision of a number
refers to the number of places of decimal
displayed.

This is a parameter to the report code
and will generate a parameter of the form

    -p#

where # is the new precision.

Durations default to zero precision.  Hours
default to a precision of two.

* 174
 170

Indent Factor
====== ======

Each RPM report element can be indented
according to their depth in the project
"tree".  Exploded phases have a depth of
1, exploded subprojects of these phases
have a depth of 2 and so on.

The default is no indenting at all.  Enter
the number of characters to indent for
each level.

This is a parameter to the report code
and will generate a parameter of the form

    -i#

where # is the number of characters to
indent.

* 175
 170

Column
======

RPM report elements can be forced to start
in a specific column using this parameter.
If zero, the element will appear in free
form following the previous element.

Use this parameter with the Indent parameter
so that names and codes can be indented but
gantt and other data will be correctly
aligned.

This is a parameter to the report code
and will generate a parameter of the form

    -c#

where # is the desired report column.

For example, the parameter

   -c80

would cause the report element to start in
column 80 of the current line.

* 176
 170

Display as Dollars
======= == =======

Use this parameter to display resource
utilizations in dollars rather than hours.
This parameter is ignored by elements to
which it does not apply.

This is a parameter to the report code
and will generate a parameter of the form

    -$

For example,

    AL -$

will show allocated resource time in
dollars.

* 177
 170

Show a Dollar Sign
==== = ====== ====

Use this parameter to display resource
utilizations in dollars rather than hours.
This parameter is ignored by elements to
which it does not apply.  This parameter is
identical to the -$ parameter except it
causes the values to be displayed with a
preceding dollar sign.

This is a parameter to the report code
and will generate a parameter of the form

    -$$

For example,

    AL -$$

will show allocated resource time in
dollars with a preceding dollar sign.

* 178
 170

Field Title
===== =====

Each report element has a default element
title.  The field title parameter allows
you to replace the default with a title
of your own.

This is a parameter to the report code
and will generate a parameter of the form

    -"text"

where "text" is the new title.

For example,

   -"My Title"

will change the elements title to that
given.  The element's width will be
expanded if required.

* 179

Gantt Characters
===== ==========

Each Gantt line used in a report is built
up of characters, each with a specific
meaning.  This screen allows you to
replace the default RPM characters with
characters of your own choosing.

To enter a normal character on the
keyboard, simply type the character
desired.  Depending on the nature of your
printer, you may wish to use characters
from the extended ASCII character set.
For example, you may wish to use the
character "▄" (decimal 220) or the
character "═" (decimal 205).

You may enter extended ASCII characters
in one of two ways. Press F1 to select
from a list, or enter the character's
decimal equivalent.  They will be
immediately translated into the
corresponding ASCII character.  To enter
ASCII characters from 1 to 9, enter
01 to 09.


WARNING:
 Your printer may not support
printing of characters from the extended
ASCII character set.

* 180
 2

Passwords
=========

If your copy of RPM Professional is
registered, you may password-protect
the use of RPM.

If passwords are active you will be
prompted for a password before you may
execute RPM.

When you set a new password, it will be
saved and access to RPM will be denied
if you are unable to supply the
correct password.

To disable security, enter a null (i.e.:
empty - not even blanks) password.

* 181

 Security is not active on this version
     
of RPM.

 Access to RPM denied.

You must be running a registered copy of
RPM Professional to use the security features.

If security is active, you must supply the
correct RPM system password to access RPM.

* 182
 92

Page Width
==== =====

The Page Width is the width of your printer's
physical page.  If a non-zero Page Width is
given in the definition of a Tabular
Report, it overrides the page Page Width in
Run Report screen.

Any report that is wider than the physical
page will be printed in vertical strips.
Each strip can then be pasted together to
produce the final report.

* 183
 92

Page Width
==== =====

The Page Width is the width of your printer's
physical page.  If a non-zero Page Width is
given in the definition of a Tabular
Report, it overrides the page Page Width in
Run Report screen.

Any report that is wider than the physical
page will be printed in vertical strips.
Each strip can then be pasted together to
produce the final report.

* 184

 Select a Tabular Report definition first.

You must select a 
Tabular Report

definition before you can invoke the
Define Reports screen from here.

* 185

 You cannot make a project Pending from
   
the Gantt.

You must go the the Spreadsheet screen to
set a project to Pending. This project
has been set back to Active.

* 186
 9

This Period
==== ======

This figure should be the expended hours
since the last time the project was
updated.

For normal phases, when you enter a value
in this field, the following will happen:

   the value is added to the
    To Date hours;

   the value is subtracted from the
    Remaining Hours;

   and the value is set to zero.

For Level Of Effort phases, in order to
keep the level of effort constant, the
hours entered are added to the Allocated
Hours.

Thus, this field assumes that each hour
entered has an earned value of an hour and
does the arithmetic of increasing the
To Date hours and decreasing the Remaining
hours for you.

* 187
 89

Units
=====

You may execute the Periodic Resource
Utilization or Matrix reports in hours,
dollars, tens of dollars, hundreds of
dollars or thousands of dollars.
Press 
F1
 to select the report units
you desire.

Reports in dollars will not display the
availability and percent utilization
information for each resource (RU report
only).

* 188
 89

Period (Periodic RU Report)
====== ========= == =======

Press 
F1
 to select from Weeks, Months,
or Quarters.

* 189
 89

Events
======

The Events Calendar Report displays a
standard calendar with events displayed
in each day's box.  You may choose to
display all project events, phase events
and/or user defined events.  Project and
phase events are only displayed for those
projects selected in the Run Reports menu.

Answer Yes or No to each option.  It is
suggested that you print only project and
user defined events as the number of phase
events can be very large.

If you answer No to all options, the report
"degrades" to a simple calendar with no
events displayed.

* 190
 89

Calendar Start and Finish Dates
======== ===== === ====== =====

The Events Calendar report will print an
events calendar for each month from the
start date to the finish date inclusive.
The day part of the date is ignored although
it must be entered.

* 191
 89

Event Width/Depth
===== ===========

The Events Calendar is a standard calendar
seven columns (days) wide and 6 rows (weeks)
deep.  You can control the width of each
column (the Event Width) and the minimum
number of lines in each row (the Event
Depth) with these figures.

Events that are to long textually to fit
in the width provided are truncated.

If there are more events than will fit in
any given cell, the number of lines in
every cell on the current row will be
increased until all events can be displayed.

Thus, all events requested will be displayed
but some may be truncated.

* 192
 52

Event Date
===== ====

An event is any significant date in the life
of a project.  It is a point in time.
Typical examples might be tender dates,
contracted delivery dates etc..  RPM
creates events at the start and end of each
project and phase.  You may define your own
dates here.

To enter a user-defined event, enter the
date first.  The rest of the fields will
become available when you press Enter.

To delete a user-defined event, delete the
event's date.  It will be deleted when you
exit the Events screen.

* 193
 52

Event Gantt Characters
===== ===== ==========

User-defined events can be displayed by
the Gantt/RU screen and in Tabular Reports
(using the EV report code).  In each case,
the point in time will be marked by the
character you choose here.

Simply type the character you wish to use.
If the character is not on the keyboard,
type the decimal ANSII equivalent and it
will be translated into the appropriate
character.  For example, if you type
"31", the character "" will appear.

* 194
 52

Event Description
===== ===========

Events can be viewed using the RPM calendar
or using Tabular Reports.  The text
entered here is used in both cases.

* 195
 44

Project Filter Expression
======= ====== ==========

The Filter Expression is used to select
those projects to be displayed on the
Gantt/RU display.  You may use the DOS-like
wildcard characters * and ? to select
projects. The default filter is "*",
which selects all projects.  A filter that
includes no wildcard characters will select
a single project.

* 196
 44

Gantt Current Resource Only
===== ======= ======== ====

Answer Yes to this question to restrict the
Gantt to displaying only those projects that
utilize the current resource.  This is
useful when analyzing the resource loads
a particular resource.

* 197
 44

Gantt Dates Display
===== ===== =======

The Gantt display will show user-defined
Events and/or Snapshot/Deadline dates.

Answer Yes to display these dates.  Answer
No to suppress the display.

Snapshots are taken from the Spreadsheet
screen.  Events may be defined by pressing
F1 on the Deadline Date field of the
Phase Definition screen or the Project Dates
screen.

* 198
 44

Display Type
======= ====

If your computer supports a VGA or EGA
display, you may switch modes in the Gantt
to display either 43 or 50 lines on the
screen.  This doubles (for 50 lines)
the amount of detail that can be seen at
once.

Once selected, RPM will automatically
switch to the appropriate video mode when
the Gantt/RU display is selected from the
main menu.

* 199

 EGA/VGA modes not available on MDA
   
monitors.

 DOS version 3.3 or greater is required

  for this feature.

The operation you have requested cannot
be performed with your hardware/operating
system configuration.  You must upgrade
your hardware or software first.

The recommended HW/SW configuration is:

  EGA/VGA color monitor/board.
  DOS 3.3 or higher.

* 200
 89

Report Type (Periodic RU Report)
====== ==== ========= == =======

The Periodic Resource Utilization Report
can be displayed in one of two ways:

By Resource
 and then by project and
period; or 
By Period
 and then by project
and resource.

In the 
By Resource
 form, the report will
appear similar to the following:

Res1
           01Oct90   01Sep90   01Dec90
           -------   -------   -------

 Project1     22.4      33.0      45.3
 Project2     12.4      42.0      12.3


In the 
By Period
 form, the report will be
displayed as follows:


            01Oct90 to 31Oct90

             Res1      Res2      Res3
           ------    ------    ------

Project1     22.4      33.0      45.3
Project2     12.4      42.0      12.3


Both reports show the same data, only in
different form.

* 201
 89

Suppress Zeros
======== =====

Answer Yes to only display non-zero values
in the report.  These reports tend to
contain mostly zeros and this option can
make them substantially more readable.

* 202

 n Project records read and merged.

RPM has successfully read and processed n
ASCII records containing project data.


 n Hour records read and merged.

RPM has successfully read and processed n
ASCII records containing hours data.

* 203

                   Merging Other Files with RPM
                   ======= ===== ===== ==== ===

RPM can read data files produced from a number of sources, including
other RPM databases, and ASCII files which can be produced by other
systems.  Currently, RPM can merge reports from Timberline's AEasy
system.

To merge other RPM databases with the current RPM database, select

Merge RPM Files
 from the merge menu and when asked supply the
complete file path, excluding the file extension.

To merge Timberline or other ASCII data with the current RPM
database, first ASCII report(s) must be run with output going to a
disk file.

RPM will read data from two types of files.  One contains
project and phase definition data.  The other resource
hours worked and hours remaining data.

Select 
Import Timberline Projects Data
 to read and merge the
projects file.  Projects or phases that already exist in the
RPM database will be ignored.

Select 
Import Timberline Hours Data
 to read and accumulate the
hours worked.

You may import project data as often as you wish.

However, hours worked as reported in the hours file are
accumulated and, as such, you must be sure each hour worked is
only counted once.

The 
ASCII projects file
 should be formatted as follows:

Name            Width   Column  Comments
====            =====   ======  ========

ProjectCode     10      1       Project code
PhaseCode       10      12      Phase code
Description     40      23      Project/Phase description
Manager         30      64      Ignored for phase records
Principal       30      95      Ignored for phase records
StartDate       9       126     Project/phase start
FinishDate      9       135     Project/phase finish

The 
ASCII hours file
 should be formatted as follows:

Name            Width   Column  Comments
====            =====   ======  ========

ProjectCode     10      1       Project code
PhaseCode       10      12      Phase code
ResCode          6      23      Resource code
ResDesc         35      30      Resource description
DiscCode         6      66      Summarizing resource code.
DiscDesc        35      73      summarizing resource description.
ProgressDate     9      109     Timesheet date.
HoursWorked      9      118     Hours worked
HoursRemaining   9      127     Decremented by hours worked if not 0
EmpRate          9      136     Currently ignored
DiscRate         9      145     Currently ignored
HoursAllocated   9      154     = Budgeted hours;
                                Allocated = ToDate + Remaining

* 204
 203

Merge Functions
===== =========
Select one of the following:

 
Merge RPM Files

  Select this option to import other
  RPM projects databases into the
  current one.

 
Import Timberline Projects Data

  Select this option to read the
  projects ASCII file.  This
  file must exist under the current
  subdirectory.

 
Import Timberline Hours Data

  Select this option to read the
  hours ASCII file.  This file
  must exist under the current
  subdirectory.

 
Review Import Log

  Each time an import/merge function is
  run, history data is written to a fixed
  RPM file called IMPORT.LOG.  Select
  this option to review the contents of
  that file.  It is erased at the start
  of each new RPM run.

 
Options

  This option allows you to set various
  processing options for the two files
  RPM can read.

* 205
 2

Mouse Sensitivity
===== ===========

Press F1 to set the vertical and
horizontal sensitivity of the mouse.

RPM will use a Microsoft compatible
mouse if one is available.

The mouse buttons are mapped to keystrokes
as follows:


  Mouse Button          Keystroke

    Left                   F1
    Right                  Esc
    Middle                 Enter
    Left & Right           Enter

* 206
 2

Mouse Vertical/Horizontal Sensitivity
===== =================== ===========

Sensitivity of the mouse can be set by
adjusting these figures.  You may enter
a number from 5 to 100.  5 is very
sensitive, 100 is very insensitive.

* 207
 203

Import Source Path
====== ====== ====

When Timberline reports or reports from
other systems are run to be imported into
RPM, they will usually reside in a
directory associated with that system. RPM
will import reports from the directory
given here.

The path given is saved automatically
between runs.

* 208
 89

Level of Detail
===== == ======

Select from the following:

 
Total Only

    Only grand totals for all projects
    will be shown.

 
To Project Level

    Totals for individual projects will
    be shown, as well as grand totals.

 
To Phase Level

    The grand total, project totals and
    phase totals within each project will
    be shown.

* 209

No help on this topic.

* 210
 44

Number of Resources
====== == =========

RPM defaults to displaying a single
resource of your choice on the Gantt/
Utilization screen.  You may display up
to five.  The number that can actually
be displayed will depend on the number
of lines on the screen your system
supports.

* 211

 Can't open file (name)

RPM could not find the file with the
given name.  Check the file path and name.
When merging project data from other
sources, the path is set under "Options".

* 212
 203

Merge Use Summarizing Resource
===== === =========== ========

The hours file can contain two resources.
The first is taken as contributing to the
second if there is a second.  Only one
or the other can be assigned to RPM projects
and phases.  Toggle this switch to select
between the first (contributing) and the
second (summarizing) resource.

In both cases, RPM will generate both
resources.

* 213
 203

Merge Import File Date Format
===== ====== ==== ==== ======

ASCII import files contain dates.  You must
tell RPM what date format is in use.  Select
the appropriate date format for the files
you are importing.

* 214
 203

Merge Import File Extension
===== ====== ==== =========

When you select to import an ASCII file, you
will be presented with a list of files that
exist under the chosen directory and with
this file extension.

* 215
 14

Level of Effort Phase
===== == ====== =====

"Normal" phases represent a fixed amount of
work to be performed over a certain period
of time.  Even if the phase's target dates
are not met, typically the total amount of
work remains roughly the same.

A "Level of Effort Phase" is used to
represent work which is proportional to the
amount of time the work takes.  For example,
it costs twice as much project management
time to manage a two month phase as a one
month phase.  If you answer yes to this
question, the phase's start and end dates
will be derived from the projects (rather
than the other way around) and the level
of effort -- the per day effort -- will
always be kept a constant.  Thus, if the
project's dates slip, so to will the cost
of all "Level of Effort" phases.

* 216

 This is a `level of effort' phase.
   
Its dates are tied to the projects.

 Exploded phases cannot be Level Of
   
Effort phases.

The start and end dates of a Level Of
Effort phase are tied to the project's
start and end dates, which in turn are
tied to non-Level Of Effort (LOE) phases.
To change the dates of a LOE phase, you must
manipulate the project as a whole or any
non-LOE phase's dates.

Exploded phases have their dates derived
from their associated sub-projects and
therefore cannot be Level Of Effort
phases.

* 217
 89

Highlight Phases?
========= =======

Answer Yes to show each phase's contribution
to the utilizations of displayed resources as
you cursor down phases on the Gantt chart.

If you answer No, only the total contribution
of each project will be displayed.  The
default is No.

* 218
 89

Matrix Report Detail
====== ====== ======

Select from Low Medium or High.


Low
 displays a report very similar to the
Spreadsheet screen.


Medium
 adds the phase's description to the
report.


High
 adds the phase's start and end dates,
and its duration.

* 219
 89

Matrix View
====== ====

Select the View desired. The Views available
are the same as for the Spreadsheet screen.

* 220

  Help is not available.  Set the RPMPATH
    
environment variable.

The RPM help files could not be located.  One
possible reason is that RPM has not been
invoked from the RPM sub-directory. If this
is the case, setting the RPMPATH environment
variable will correct the problem.

* 220
 92

Printer Type and Setup
======= ==== === =====

Press 
F1
 to setup the printer for this
report.

You may select from:

  
Default


  Select Default to use the printer setup
  information from the Run Reports screen.

  
Text Only


  Select this option to define a text only
  report. This kind of report can run on any
  type of printer. Reports larger than the
  physical page will be stripped.

  
Hewlett Packard

  
Hewlett Packard Series II


  Select this option to define a PCL printer.
  RPM will work with any PCL compatible
  printer. There are minor differences in the
  capabilities of the HP Plus and the
  Series II from RPM's perspective.

* 221
 89

Calendars Horizontally/Vertically
========= =======================

If you wish to print a calendar on a single
page 
using a PCL printer
, use these
options to manipulate the number of months
that will appear per page.

To print an events calendar that shows
project events, these values must be 1.

* 222
 89

Set Fonts
=== =====

Select this option to choose which system
fonts (as selected for PCL printers from
the Reports screen) are to be used by the
report.

This options applies only to PCL capable
printers.

* 223
 224

Font File Name
==== ==== ====

Press 
F1
 to select from a list of
available files in the fonts directory.
The fonts directory used is as selected
from the System screen off the RPM main
menu. The file selected 
must
 be a
valid HP soft font file.

If you are using an HP 3 printer, a number
of fonts are built in. Using soft fonts
may not be necessary.

* 224

                        Fonts and Printer Setup
                        ===== === ======= =====

RPM supports the use of soft fonts or the selection of built-in
fonts on HP PCL compatible printers. If you are using an HP Plus
or Series II printer, you may need to use soft fonts. If you have
a Series II printer with a cartridge, or an HP 3 printer, you
may select built-in fonts. Consult your HP manuals for more about
fonts and font selection.

In addition to fonts, printer setup also may involve page size and
orientation. Supported page sizes are Legal and Letter, and supported
page orientations are Portrait or Landscape.

Printer setup for Text Only printers (that is, non-PCL printers)
involves specifying the number of columns and rows of text per
page. The number of columns may be larger than the physical page.
In this case, reports are printed in "strips".

* 225
 224

Spacing
=======

Enter either 1 or 0. Typically, you will
use a 1, for a proportional font.

* 226
 224

Height
======

Enter the height of the font in points.
One point equals 1/72 of an inch.

* 227
 224

Style
=====

Enter a 0 for upright, a 1 for italics.

* 228
 224

Typeface
========

The typeface refers to the look of the
font. The two most common typefaces are
Swiss and Dutch (also known by various
copyrighted names, such as Times Roman
and Helvetica). The key distinction
between the two is the presence or lack
of serifs.

  0 = Line Printer
  3 = Courior
  4 = Helvetica
  5 = Times Roman

* 229
 224

Selecting System Fonts
========= ====== =====

System Fonts are those fonts selected from
the font selection for PCL (HP) printers
from the Run Reports menu. You may
select up to five system fonts. Each
non-Tabular report uses a subset of the
selected System Fonts. You may select which
of the previously selected System Fonts you
wish this particular report to use.

* 230
 224

Page Size/Orientation
==== ================

For PCL Printers (e.g.: HP printers), you
may select page size (Letter or Legal) and
page orientation (Portrait or Landscape).

* 231
 224

Font Selection
==== =========

Press F1 to define either System Fonts (if
selected from the Run Reports screen) or
Tabular Report Fonts (if run from a Define
Report screen). You will be able to either
select a soft font for downloading, or
set the parameters for selecting a built-in
printer font.

* 232
 224

Printer Type and Setup
======= ==== === =====

Press 
F1
 to select the printer type and
set other printer related information.

Printer types are:

   
Default
   
Text Only
   
Hewlett Packard
   
Hewlett Packard Series II

Only 
Text Only
 reports support report
stripping. The 
Default
 type is used by
Tabular reports to use the printer type
defined in the Run Reports screen.

The two Hewlett Packard PCL printer types
are very similar. They differ only in
certain fill patterns supported by each
printer.

* 233
 2

Super VGA Setup
===== === =====

Press 
F1
 to select this option. This
screen allows you to select the Super VGA
video mode to be used when you select
Super VGA as the display mode in the Gantt/
RU screen.

VGA or Super VGA video cards support
text displays ranging in detail from 80
columns by 25 rows to 132 columns by 60
rows. However, not all cards support all
modes, and the mode numbers vary from card
to card.

First, select the video card type you have.
If you are unsure, select "Paradise".
The Paradise selection uses the standard
video BIOS to set the video mode.

Then enter the video mode number in

decimal
 and the corresponding number
of rows and columns for that mode.

These data can usually be obtained from
the documentation you received with your
video card.

* 234
 44

Utilization Display Units
=========== ======= =====

Press F1 to select the units the utilization
curves will be displayed in. You may select
from Hours or three different units of
dollars.

* 235
 44

Cumulative Utilization Curves
========== =========== ======

Answer Yes to display the utilization curve
as a cumulative curve. The availability curve
is not displayed when cumulative curves are
selected.

* 236

                       Leveling Resources
                       ======== =========

Select Level from either the Gantt screen menu or from the projects
list in the Spreadsheet. Leveling works on only one project at a
time.  It resolves over utilizations of resources in a project by two
methods:

      

 First, phases are extended in duration until each resource's
        daily utilization on that phase is reduced to the resource
        base availability.

      

 Secondly, phases are moved forward in time until resource
        conflicts created by overlapping resources are removed.

The leveling feature can be a useful tool for quickly modeling a project.
Use the Modeling View to quickly spread hours over each phase and
resource. Then use leveling to spread the phases over time.

* 237

Soft Fonts File Path
==== ===== ==== ====

RPM supports the use of soft fonts for PCL
capable printers such as the HP Laserjet
series.  Set this path to the directory
containing your soft fonts.  Soft fonts can
be selected for downloading and use in the
Run Reports screen under Printer Type and
Setup.

* 238
 224

Weight
======

The font weight is the "boldness" of the
font. Enter a number between -7 and 7.
Typical values are 0 for medium weight
and 3 for bold.

* 239
 2

Utilization Curve Smoothing
=========== ===== =========

Enter a number greater than 1 to smooth
utilizations curves. Smoothing is done
on a running average basis. That is, if
you enter 10 as a smoothing value, each
utilization value will be the average
utilization of the 10 surrounding days.

* 240
 89

Force Scale
===== =====

Enter zero to have RPM calculate an
appropriate scale for each curve. To force
a common scale for each curve, enter a
scale maximum. This number represents the
minimum scale for any curve.

* 241
                
RPM - Resources and Project Manager
       Copyright South Pointe Software, 1993 -- [phone]

             RPM Shareware can be purchased for $295 US.
  This price includes a 300 page user guide and free support for 30 days.

  We hope you found RPM useful. RPM is a powerful projects planning and
 management system designed to allow managers to handle multiple projects
  easily and quickly. Unlike virtually all other planning systems RPM
     does not use or require knowledge of CPM or PERT techniques.
   RPM's easy-to-use modeling facilities allow you to make quick and
             accurate project estimates and reports.

    If your firm manages many internal or external projects or jobs,
   RPM can help you to manage current resources, prioritize projects and
                       plan for the future.

             
You may treat this copy of RPM as shareware.

       RPM Shareware is limited to 20 resources, and 20 projects.
   
RPM Professional
 utilizes expanded memory and can manage hundreds
                   of projects and resources at once.
   Contact South Pointe Software at 
[phone]
 for more information.

* 242
 2

Today's Date
======= ====

This date is used when advancing unstarted
projects only. You may set this date to
any working day.

* 243
 2

Advance Unstarted Projects
======= ========= ========

Press F1 to advance any unstarted projects
to Today's Date. This feature can be used to
ensure that all planned projects are not
starting in the past.

* 244
 2

Set Date Options
=== ==== =======

Press F1 to set date input and output
formats and/or to manipulate all project
dates.

* 245
 52

% Likelihood
= ==========

Enter a number from 0 to 100 representing the
likelihood of "getting the job". Utilizations
for the project will be displayed as 
expected

utilizations
 in the Gantt/Utilization display.
That is, the utilizations will be scaled by the
% Likelihood figure.

* 246

Auto-Merge List
========== ====

This is a list of RPM projects files that will
be automatically merged when the current
projects file is loaded.

The import log reports the files that have been
merged.

Use the Ins (insert) and Del (delete) keys to
insert or delete entries.

* 247

 Redundant merge file: file name

An auto-merge is trying to merge an already
merged file. Such references could create a
circle of merges. This reference should be
removed.

* 248

Change Projects File Name
====== ======== ==== ====

Enter a new projects file name. If the projects
file already exists, you must be able to get
read-write access to it.

To change directories, use the 
System
 screen.

* 249

 Reservation dropped. Database is read-only.

The Reservation on this file has been dropped.
The database is now read-only.

Any changes made will not be saved!


 Can't get reservation. Database is read-only.

The database is either flagged as read-only or
some other user has the reservation.

Any changes made will not be saved!


 Can't open file for read-write.

You have selected an existing database that
is either read-only or in use. Command
canceled.

* 250

Projects Database Name
======== ======== ====

Due to prior errors, the projects database
is un-named. You must either supply a name
or give up the reservation on this database
(i.e.: make it read-only).

* 251

Comma Delimited ASCII Files
===== ========= ===== =====

Enter Yes if the ASCII files you wish to
import are comma delimited. Comma delimited
files contain records which are "free format".
That is, the fields in each record do not
appear in fixed columns. Each field is
separated one from another by commas.

* 252

Help Index
==== =====

Press F1 or Enter to select a help screen.
Press a letter key to move directly to
items that begin with that letter.

* 253

 EMM get error!

 EMM free page access error!

 EMM free page offset error!

 Freeing an EMM locked page!

 EMM page fault!

 EMM load failure!

 EMM Malloc failure!

All of these errors indicate an internal
RPM fault. It is possible that memory has
been corrupted. Exit to DOS! Contact
South Pointe Software.

* 254
 2

Color Mapping
===== =======

RPM uses colors to indicate different field
types. These fields can be used to re-map the
colors RPM uses to any color desired. For
example, RPM uses red for "select-only"
fields, fields where you must use the F1
key to select a value. You might re-map RPM's
"red" to "bright red", in which case all
previously red fields would be bright red.

You may re-map both foreground and background
colors.

* 255
 2

Gantt Colors
===== ======

Press F1 to set the colors used in the Gantt
screen to those desired.

* 256
 2

Reset Colors
===== ======

Press F1 to set all colors back to their
defaults.

* 257
 2

Fill Color
==== =====

Press F1 to change the background color used
by RPM. If you change this value, you will
probably wish to adjust all colors to new
appropriate values.

* 258
 2

If you answer yes to this option, zero
values in the spreadsheet will be
displayed as blanks. This can make the
spreadsheet much easier to read.

* 259

* 260