Current Shareware 1994 January/SHAR194.ISO/catalogs/vmsys27.zip/V.DOC

Text File | 1993-08-30 | 8KB | 199 lines

  Welcome to the VMSYS (vee' -em sys) PLUS shareware program.  This system
  will help you maintain your vehicle(s).  This version will work with
  MILES & GALLONS as well as KILOMETERS & LITERS.  If you are running
  DOS 3.x and above the program will also print currency using the style
  and symbols set for the country.  Make sure that the COUNTRY=xxx is set
  if you are running the system outside of the United States.

  Version 2.7 adds the slide-show tutorial (ALT-S).

  Version 2.6 adds better readings for Kilometres and Litres following
  standards of Systeme Internationale (S.I.).

  Version 2.5 adds the capability of editing prior fuel receipts and data
  entry errors via the FUEL MAINTENANCE MENU.  Also, data entry of fuel
  receipts is much easier with this version.

  Version 2.4 incorporates the mouse and will take advantage of EGA/VGA
  monitors when printing a report on the screen.

  To start using GALLONS and MILES, start the system with the following command:

      C> v

  To use the S.I. version, change the SYSTEM SETUP from the SYSTEM
  PARAMETER MENU.

  All references to MILES will be changed to KILOMETERS and references to
  GALLONS will be changed to LITERS.  The program will change only the labels.
  It will not actually convert any mileage data to kilometers and vice-versa.

START UP

  All of the data files (gas, repair, etc.) must be present in the current
  directory for the system to start.  After the banner is displayed press
  ENTER, you will then be presented with a popup calendar.  Simply press
  ENTER to continue and view the sample data.

  A sample vehicle is enclosed.  To clear out the sample vehicle you will
  wish to DELETE all database files.  A batch file is prepared which will
  do this.  To start from scratch enter the command from the DOS prompt:

      CLEARALL

  To insure that the fuel receipts that you enter are correct, you should
  enter the following minimum and maximum figures for your vehicles:

      o  Minimum/maximum litres/gallons per fillup

      o  Minimum/maximum kilom/miles traveled per fillup

      o  Minimum/maximum cost per tank per fillup

  It is important that you enter these figures before entering information
  into the system so VMSYS PLUS can catch your data entry mistakes as
  you make them.  These figures can be set from the SYSTEM PARAMETER MENU.

FUEL RECEIPT ENTRY

  Included with these files are the forms GAS.FRM and VEHICLE.FRM.  Both of
  these forms should be printed and kept in your vehicle(s).  Fill them in as
  you enter new fuel receipts.  To print the GAS.FRM and VEHICLE.FRM files
  use the DOS PRINT command:

      PRINT GAS.FRM

      PRINT VEHICLE.FRM

  You MUST enter all fuel receipts for a month before proceeding to a new month.
  This is because VMSYS PLUS needs to compute miles traveled per day, MPG,
  miles traveled since last fillup, etc.  It needs to maintain tight control
  over the data entry process.  To prevent data entry errors from occurring,
  you will want to set the MIN/MAX vehicle defaults as described above  under
  START UP.

  Each time you fillup, all you need is the following four items:

      o  Odometer reading at time of fillup

      o  Date of fillup

      o  Cost of fuel

      o  Number of gallons/litres purchased

  Keep these on a piece of paper in your vehicle so that once a month or
  so you can enter the new fuel receipts.

  IMPORTANT!  You MUST fill the tank everytime you purchase gas for accurate
  MPG readings.

REPAIR DATA ENTRY

  Only the fuel receipts are subject to strict chronological data entry.  You
  can enter repairs for any date in the past at any time, although it is
  wise to enter the repair tickets as they occur so that the mileage figures
  will make sense.

  From the REPAIR MENU, press "A" to add a new repair.  You will be prompted
  for the "ID" of the vehicle.  The vehicle MUST be already added to the
  system from the VEHICLE MENU before proceeding.

  Enter the ODOMETER reading at the time of the repair,  the DATE of
  the repair, the MECHANIC doing the repair and a miscellaneous MEMO.

  There are 8 line items in the REPAIR SCREEN including QUANTITY,
  DESCRIPTION and COST.  The COST is multiplied by the QUANTITY to arrive
  at a TOTAL COST for the line item.

SAMPLE DATA

  The system comes with sample data dated as of October 1989.  You may view and
  change the sample data.  The sample data was entered in miles and gallons.

  To delete the sample vehicle, go to DOS and enter the CLEARALL command.
  All sample information will be deleted allowing you to enter your information.

  If you wish to set the calendar BACKWARDS:

     1) Exit the VMSYS PLUS system.

     2) Run the CLEARALL.BAT batch file from the DOS prompt:

             CLEARALL

     3) From the DOS prompt enter :

              V

        You will be presented with a NEW STARTING MONTH MENU.  You can
        then backdate the system to any date after 1950.  You can then
        enter your vehicles with old fuel ticket information.

  Enter the fuel tickets and repairs as they occur.  You will find that you
  need to change the date of the SYSTEM in the ALTER THE DATE MENU to match
  the date of the fillup.  Make it a practice to enter your fuel tickets at
  least once a month ... you will get the best information that way.

  Plan on pressing the F1 key when first running the system.  A help screen
  will help you understand the system.

BACKUPS

  It is important that you make regular backups of your data.  At the
  end of each session, answer "Y" when prompted to backup.  The batch
  file VBACKUP.BAT will be run.  It uses the PKZIP program from PKWARE
  to compress the datafiles into one file - VMSYS.ZIP.  The file VMSYS.ZIP
  is then copied to drive A.  If you don't wish to make a backup on drive
  A you can modify the batch file to backup to drive B.

  To restore the backup file, simply run the VRESTORE.BAT batch file.
  It is the counterpart to VBACKUP in that it uses the PKUNZIP command
  from PKWARE to uncompress the database.  The batch file VRESTORE.BAT
  also can be modified to suit your needs.

REGISTRATION

  This version is restricted to 2 (two) vehicles that may be maintained.
  This should give you enough capacity to fully evaluate whether or not you
  can actually use VMSYS PLUS to help you maintain your vehicle(s).

  We have provided a file INVOICE.DOC that you can print and fill out to
  make your order easier.

  The price for the registered version is $50 plus shipping. Print the
  INVOICE.DOC file and fill it out.

  You will receive a printed manual and an update disk which
  contains a capacity for up to 4 vehicles.  Call or write if you
  want prices on larger capacities or are ordering from outside of
  the United States.

  The registered version also includes a utility that will dump all information
  to DBASE III format, thus allowing you to create your own customized reports
  if you have access to DBASE III or a DBASE compatible program.

  Call or write to:

      Contact Plus Corporation
      PO Box 372577
      Satellite Beach, FL  32937-0577

      [phone]
      [phone] (24 hour 9600/2400/1200 baud BBS system)
      [phone] Fax

  We also provide several other software solutions for business including:

      ZeppeLAN (Novell Netware Popup Printer utility)

      Hours/Expenses/Mileage tracking system

      Personal Inventory System

      Phone Message TSR

      Contact Plus - Contact management system called :
                     BEST SHAREWARE 1990  - PC World Magazine (Oct 90)
                     BEST BUY OF THE YEAR - Business Marketing Magazine (Jan 89)