High Voltage Shareware/high1.zip/high1/DIR4/PUNCH11.ZIP/PUNCH.DOC

Text File | 1993-09-21 | 6KB | 126 lines

          ========================================================== PUNCH
                                       (c) Copyright 1993 Nathan Alan King




          ------------------------------------------------------- OVERVIEW

          I wrote PUNCH as a convenience for myself.  I work on a variety
          of projects on which I bill for my time.  I had worked out a
          system using Norton Time Mark to help keep track of my time on a
          project, but it had its shortcomings.  The main problem was that
          the Time Mark timers lose their place if you turn off your
          computer.  Also, it was not easy to modify the record of the
          time to add work not done at the computer.

          So I wrote this simple program. PUNCH creates and maintains a
          data file named PUNCH.DAT.  The data file is in ASCII, so it can
          be easily edited with an ASCII editor or imported into a word
          processor.  You can also print files produced by PUNCH by using
          the DOS commands COPY and PRINT.  See your DOS manual for
          details.

          -------------------------------------------------- RUNNING PUNCH

          PUNCH maintains its data file in the currently logged drive and
          directory.  Keep each of your projects in its own directory or
          on its own floppy diskette.  Be sure to log to that directory or
          diskette before running PUNCH.

          To run it you type PUNCH then press the [ENTER] key.

          If there is no PUNCH.DAT file in the currently logged drive and
          directory, the program assumes you want to start a new project
          and asks you for its name.

          If you are currently punched OUT, the program asks you if you
          want to punch IN.  If you are punched IN, it asks if you want to
          punch OUT.

          The PUNCH screen displays the current time and date, the amount
          of time in the current work session, and the total project time.
          The figures in square brackets is the billable time through the
          last tenth of an hour for the current session and the total
          project.

                                                             PUNCH/ Page 2


          ------------------------------------------------ PUNCH DATA FILE

          A typical PUNCH.DAT file looks like this:

           Project Name
          C:\DIR\SUBDIR\PUNCH.DAT
          PUNCH PROGRAM DATA                        SESSION       PROJECT
          I/O--DATE-------DAY--------TIME-----------H--M--S-------H--M--S
          IN   07-29-1993 Thursday   15:32:30
          OUT  07-29-1993 Thursday   17:30:43       1 58 13       1 58 13
          IN   07-29-1993 Thursday   18:32:53
          OUT  07-29-1993 Thursday   20:33:25       2  0 32       3 58 45

          The first line of the data file records the name of the project.
          The second line records the path to the PUNCH.DAT file when it
          was created.

          The I/O column tells PUNCH that you are punching IN or OUT.

          The DATE column records the date of the punch.

          The DAY column displays the day of the week of the punch.

          The TIME column records the time of the punch in the 24-hour
          format of HH:MM:SS (hours, minutes, seconds).

          The SESSION column records the number of hours, minutes, and
          seconds in the work session.  The PROJECT column records the
          accumulated time on the project.

          You can edit PUNCH.DAT with an ASCII editing program.  The
          alignment of the text in the data file is essential to the
          proper operation of the program.  Do not change the alignment of
          the data.  You may find it useful to edit the DATE and TIME
          fields.  Don't bother changing the DAY, SESSION, and PROJECT
          fields--PUNCH recalculates these fields each time you run the
          program.

          If you want to close out a part of a project for which you have
          already billed for your time, just use the DOS Rename command to
          change the name of PUNCH.DAT to some other name.  When you run
          PUNCH again in the same directory, PUNCH will start from
          scratch.

                                                             PUNCH/ Page 3


          ----------------------------------------------- SHAREWARE NOTICE

                  PUNCH (c) 1993 Nathan Alan King, All Rights Reserved

          This program is released as shareware.  If you find it useful,
          please send a check or money order for $10.00 to:

                         Nathan Alan King
                         3928 Leafield Drive
                         Austin, TX 78749

          You may copy and distribute this program provided you do not
          alter it or charge for it.  Your comments are welcome at the
          above address or through CompuServe, User 72737,324.

          Shareware by Nathan Alan King:
                - FRETS, a computerized chord and key chart for guitar
                - KEYPAD, a ten-key tutorial and practice program
                - LOG, a simple project logging program
                - STREAM, a version of LOG for writers
                - TEXAS, a Lone Star Flag graphics program

          Write for information about ScripTypist (tm), a non-shareware
          program that makes screenplay pagination and printing a
          pleasure instead of a chore.