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ShareWare OnLine Volume 2 (CMS Software)(1993).iso
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14.INF
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1991-12-16
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13. HOUSEKEEPING
13.1 Set Up
The set up screen is the means used to customize the PMIS
environment to suit the user's needs. Note that none of the
changes are permanently recorded until the user selects the
Save Set Up function. So experiment to your heart's content
until you find the set up that pleases you and best suits
your needs. There are thirteen separate features that are
available for customization from the set up menu as follows:
13.1.1 Use Password
A password scheme is available to the user to provide a
level of security for PMIS. Prior to entering the main menu
screen, a password is requested from the user, if this
feature is turned on. Initially, this feature is turned
off. To turn it on, respond with a Y. Turning the password
feature on, automatically invokes the Change the Password
feature described below.
When the password feature is turned on, the password screen
is presented to the user upon entry to the PMIS. Three
chances given to enter the correct password. If none are
successful, the program exits and returns to DOS.
13.1.2 Modify Password
If the password feature is turned on, a password must be
input to PMIS. The password is requested from the user and
displayed back with the reminder to make a record of it, so
it is not forgotten. The password must contain at least one
character and no more than 18 characters. Any alpha or
numeric characters may be used in the password string, both
upper and lower case. An empty password string is not
allowed. If the the password is lost or forgotten, the user
can edit the database file user.dbf using any string or
screen editor and look for it there. This file is a hybrid
ASCII and binary file, so lots of strange characters will be
displayed along with the ASCII text. As the password owner,
the user should be able to recognize the "lost" password.
If a lost password cannot be found by the above means, the
user can re-install PMIS using the installation instructions
found in the readme.1st file for the ShareWare version, or
by running the INSTALL program for the Registered version.
Doing this, PMIS no longer has password protection and the
user can gain access to the system. A note of warning. Re
installing PMIS will OVERWRITE ALL DATA FILES. Do a manual
backup of all files with the .dbf suffix before attempting a
re-installation. See Section 13.2 for some hints on backing
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up the data files for different installations.
The initial value of the password is set to "scheck" in
order to keep a new user from locking himself out of the
program while initially experimenting with the feature.
13.1.3 Confirm
The confirm status feature allows the user to require a
carriage return <CR> in order for PMIS to accept an input
command. Initially, the confirm status is turned on. To
turn it off, enter a N. In turning off the confirm status
feature, the user loses the ability to see selections and
correct them before they are executed. The only advantage
of turning off the confirm status is increased execution
speed. A disadvantage is the execution of of unwanted
actions due to keyboard entry errors.
13.1.4 Video Screen
Initially, the screen colors are set to blue background,
high intensity white text, a white light bar and black light
bar text. Monochrome monitors will see shades of gray. To
change this setting select monochrome or color as desired.
There are two options on the monochrome selection, normal or
reverse video. Choose one. The reverse video option is
somewhat of a useless option, since the light bars on the
menu are unreadable. In this case menu selection must be
done by entering the first letter of the menu item. The
color selection screen allows four choices. First is the
choice of the screen background color followed by the text
color. Next is the color of the light bars and finally, the
color of the text in the light bars. The available colors
are displayed for each choice. Experiment with several
combinations until you find a pleasing combination.
13.1.5 Print Format
Selecting the Set Check Print Format feature first requests
the user to select a format. Choose one. Its format is
displayed. Almost all pin feed checks fall into one of
these formats. Choose the one that matches your needs.
Once a format is selected, the user is asked if any change
of the settings is desired. After the settings are
selected, the user is asked if a printout is desired.
Answer Y or N as desired. It is recommended that plain
paper be used in setting up the check print format and use a
strong light to view the trial efforts through blank pin
feed checks. This step may require a few iterations until
everything lines up. Another hint. Print at least two
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checks in a row to verify that the succeeding checks are
spaced properly.
Options are provided to print either the payee account
number in Format A or the account number or a Memo in Format
B.
If you are using Format A, you are asked if you want to
print the account number of the payee. If you choose Yes,
the account number will print directly under the payee
address as illustrated on the screen. You are also asked if
you want to print the address of the payee on the face of
the check. Select Y or N. The address and account number
are separately selectable, so either, none or both can be
printed.
If you are using Format B, you are asked if you want to
print a memo or the account number of the payee on the face
of the check. If you select Yes, an account number, if one
exists, will appear on the face of the check display screen.
You then have the choice of printing the account number, or
you may overwrite it with your own personal memo. This
option gives you the ability to print or not print the payee
account number or a personal memo on the face of the check.
If you have a pin feed check that does not fit the two
formats, send a voided check or copy to the author with your
order for the registered version. The new format will be
incorporated into the program prior to shipment.
13.1.6 Banner
All screens have a banner that includes a user selected
portion along with the screen name. Initially, this banner
is set to "ShareWare Ver. 2.0". Selecting Banner on the Set
Up Screen allows the user to change the banner. Any
combination of letters or numbers of up to eighteen can be
specified.
13.1.7 Save
Saves the current set up. Any changes made on the Set Up
Screen are permanently written onto the program disk.
Future invocations of the program will use the new
parameters.
13.1.8 Disk Drives
Setting the disk drives is used for determining where the
program files will reside, where the PMIS user data will
reside and where backups will be made. The initial settings
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are intended for hard drive user with the the program drive
set to drive C, the data drive also set to drive C and the
backup drive set to drive A.
If you are a hard disk user and your drive letters
correspond the initial settings, you should leave them
unchanged. If you have different drive names, or you are a
dual floppy user, make the corresponding disk drive settings
prior to using PMIS. Failure to do so will cause errors
when entering transactions into the system.
A typical hard drive set up is to have the program and data
reside on the hard drive, usually drive C, and to perform
backups on the floppy drive, usually drive A. A typical set
up for a dual floppy user is to have the program reside on
drive A, and the data reside on drive B. The backup drive
should be set to the same drive name as the data drive, in
this case drive B.
When changing the disk drive set up, the user is first asked
if the set up is for a hard drive or dual floppy drives.
Make the choice appropriate for your application. This
information is required to insure meaningful configurations
for the dual floppy user.
13.8.1.9 Auto Back Up
If the user would like a data backup to be done each time
they exit the program, set the auto backup feature to yes.
Initially, this feature is not set.
13.1.10 Incorporate Budget
The Incorporate Budget selection allows the user to
incorporate the budget feature into the check book program
as previously described in Section 12.3 for Check and Cash
Withdrawl transactions and queries. If the user wishes to
tie the budget and check book features together set the
budget feature to On. Turning off the budget feature stops
the queries for choosing a budget category when recording
check and cash withdrawl transactions and queries.
13.1.11 Tones
The user has a choice of hearing tones as a confirmation of
inputting the correct data and to indicate that an error was
made. Both are separately selectable. Follow the
directions to set them on or off as desired.
13.1.12 Format Date
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Six different date formats can be used in PMIS. Select one
from the examples shown.
13.1.13 Equip Printer
The equip printer selection asks the user if their
installation is equipped with a printer. Initially, this
parameter is set to indicate that a printer is equipped. If
your installation does not have a printer available, set
this parameter to No. With the printer option set to no,
you will not be bothered with queries to print a check or
print any of the available reports.
A user that has no printer cannot print checks or reports;
however, all other PMIS features are still available.
If the user has a printer and selects "Y", he or she is then
queried to enter a print mode set and reset sequence, to
leave the sequence as displayed, or to not enter any printer
mode sequence. The current set and reset modes are
displayed. The user needs to consult their printer manual
to select the escape code sequences to choose the desirable
print mode that both sets and resets this mode. All printed
output will be in the selected print mode. The default
settings that initially are set are the code sequence to set
and reset NLQ mode for an IBM (tm) Proprinter II.
If the user selects the no print mode option, the printer
will print in its default mode. This option allows the user
to select a print mode from the printer console if so
desired.
13.1.14 Help/Calculator Keys
The F1 key is used to summon on-line help, and the F2 key
pulls up the built in calculator. If you would like to see
banners which remind you of the the key assignments, select
Yes. Selecting Yes will display the key assignments on the
top of every user screen. If you do not want to see these
banners, select No.
13.1.15 Review Modem Settings
The addressbook feature can be used to dial telephone
numbers that the user has requested; however, a modem must
be equipped and connected to one of the PC's ports. If you
do not have a modem, indicate so when asked, and PMIS will
not allow access to the telephone dialer function. If you
have modem, indicate yes and provide the necessary
information requested.
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You will be asked where the modem is connected. Usually it
is connected to the serial port COM1. If yours is connected
elsewhere, indicate where. For example, COM3. You will
then asked if you want to use the default Hayes
initialization string. You should answer yes unless you
have found that this string is unusable by your modem. In
that case, you should enter the initialization string needed
by your modem. Next, PMIS needs to know your telephone area
code, so that dialing is done correctly for both local and
long distance calls. Finally, you must indicate what type
of telephone signalling your line is equipped for: tone or
dial pulse.
The current version of PMIS only supports dialing of seven
or eleven digits. People that use special prefix codes to
access long distance companies are out of luck.
The telephone dialer function only works with Hayes or Hayes
compatible modems. Also, the port, usually a serial port
must have been initialized prior to the PMIS program being
entered. The DOS MODE command should be executed to set up
the port for communication. An example of the MODE command
to set up port COM1 is as follows:
MODE COM1:24,n,8,1,,
This example sets up COM1 to communicate at 2400 baud with
no parity, eight data bits and one stop bit. See your DOS
manual for more details. It is recommended that your
autoexec.bat file contain the above or similiar MODE command
sequence to insure that your COM port is properly
initialized for communication with your modem. Some
communication programs used with modems leave their COM
Ports in unpredictable states after they have completed
their execution.
13.1.16 Quit
Return to the Main Menu Screen. Note that none of the
changes made on the Set Up Screen will be permanently
recorded unless the Save feature is selected to write the
new environment onto the program disk, prior to exiting this
screen.