Software Vault: The Diamond Collection

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Menu Options ============ Pull-Down Menus --------------- A review of the various menu options will provide an analysis beyond that provided in Chapter 3. To call up the main menu press /. To select a main menu item move the cell-block over the choice and press ENTER To select a sub-menu item move the cell-block over the choice and press ENTER To move between sub-menus press either the left or right arrow keys To leave the sub-menu press ESC To leave the main menu press ESC The following are the main pull-down categories, each followed by their respective sub-categories. CALCULATE --------- Calculate --------- To reach this level move the cell-block left to Calculate and press ENTER. A sub-menu will pull down. Move the new cell- block down to Calculate on the sub-menu (as this is the first choice the cell-block should already be over Calculate) and press ENTER. This selection will perform a re-calculation of all balance sheet, income statement, cash statement and ratio analysis amounts. You may not stop a calculation already in progress. Be alert for any BEEPS. If your file links to an account number which does not exist a beep will sound and an error message will be displayed in the lower left corner of the screen. The calculation will be completed. Errors are informational only. A slightly longer beep will sound when the calculation has been completed. The time to calculate will be displayed in the lower left corner of the screen. The pull- down menu will disappear and the cell-block will be positioned over Calculate on the main pull-down menu. All entered and calculated amounts must be within the range +2,147,483,647 and -2,147,483,647. If any amounts exceed this range, you will need to forecast amounts in thousands of dollars. Note this change in File Info, so that printouts will display the message '($000)' at the top of printed pages. Only the first nine digits will be displayed on screen. Numbers eight digits long will be displayed on screen with commas; e.i. 12,345,678. Numbers nine digits long will be displayed on screen without commas; e.i. 123456789 or -123456789. Error Rprt ---------- If error messages are noted during a re-calculation of the file an error report will be created by FW. As noted above, an error will occur if your file links to an account number which does not exist. Each error will be displayed in detail in the error report. Only the first 100 errors will be maintained. Except for very complicated files, you should have very few errors, if any at all. This error report will be maintained until you re-calculate. In addition, the latest error report will be saved when you save a file. Auto Calc --------- If you have a 386 Computer the re-calculation speed will be very fast. Similar to other spreadsheet packages, FW provides you with an automatic re-calculate feature. If you make changes to a Data Entry screen, a re- calculation will be performed if you then call-up a Calc or Monthly Calc screen. The program displays the status of "Auto Calc" or "Manual Calc" in the lower right portion of the screen. This feature may also come in handy if your are making minor changes, and then re-calculating. Manual Calc ----------- Changes to the Data Entry screens will not be reflected in the calculation screens unless you perform a re- calculation. To re-calculate use the pull-down menu, move to the Calculate heading, pull down the menu and select Calculate. Generally, you will operate under the Manual Calc mode. RatioMethod ----------- Opinions differ on specific formulas used in calculating various ratios. The differences are with respect to whether balance sheet amounts should be determined at the beginning of the period, end of the period or an average of the current and the previous period. Opinions also differ from ratio to ratio. This author generally feels that whenever possible an average should be used. However in an effort to provide the user a say in this matter, FW has provided the user with the ability to select how the ratios will be calculated. Each ratio may be calculated differently. The screen is rather simple to use. Merely move the cell-block to the ratio to be changed and press your selection from the choices on screen. Some ratios will only show NONE. These accounts are not adjustable, however they have been included in case of future need. Also, methods dealing with days (360 days/year or 365 days/year) use the keys (0) and (5) to represent 360 and 365 days, respectively. SCREENS ------- Data Entry ---------- There are six Data Entry screens. This is where you will spend most of your time, inputting forecast amounts and selecting formula methods. The six screens are 1. B/S - Data Entry 2. B/S - Formulas 3. I/S - Data Entry 4. I/S - Formulas 5. C/S - Data Entry 6. C/S - Formulas The first screen displayed will be the B/S - Data Entry if you are loading a new file. If you are loading a previously saved file your last screen and screen location will be recalled. The three Data Entry screens contain approximately 250 predefined accounts. These accounts have account numbers in even thousands (example: Cash is 100000 and Inventories is 108000). New sub-accounts may be easily added (See "Add New Line" in Chapter 5). These sub-accounts have the same properties as the main account. For example, if you added a new Cash account #100001, all forecasted amounts would be added to cash in the calculation of Cash Flow and various Ratio Analyses. In addition, this account could, if you choose, be "rolled-up" into Cash in Financial Report printouts. As shown in the charts in chapter 1, the key commmands used to move around the spreadsheet are very similar to those already used on popular spreadsheet programs. If you are a spreadsheet user you will find FW easy to work with. In fact, because most of the power of FW is pre-programmed, you will find this program much easier to use than most spreadsheet programs since FW makes tremendous power available to even a first time user. By pressing F1 you will exit the B/S - Data Entry screen and enter the I/S - Data Entry screen. Pressing F1 again will exit the I/S - Data Entry screen and enter the C/S - Data Entry screen. Once more will return to the first screen, B/S - Data Entry screen. All file information is maintained in memory, with no disk swapping of data, so the screen flips are very fast. Parts of the program will be swapped from the disk drive, so the faster your computer the faster FW will appear. (FW writes directly to the screen, bypassing the computer's BIOS, resulting in fast screen display response. Also, the Data Entry and Calculation screens employ a special buffered screen-interface for superior screen display response). To enter or change the historical B/S you must use the left arrow key from the first forecast column. All other keys relate to the forecast columns only. As you will generally not be changing the opening B/S, HOME and CTRL + HOME relate to the first forecast column and not the opening B/S. In addition to the ease of changing Data Entry screens, FW remembers the three last used locations (the relative cell-location of each of the three financial screens). If you were at A/R #105000 in December of 1990 and pressed F1 three times (flipping through the screens) you would arrive back at A/R #105000 in December of 1990. The last locations of the I/S and C/S would also be retained regardless of your work in other parts of FW. FW goes even further. In switching between Data Entry, Formulas, Calculations and Monthly Calc screens of the same type (B/S, I/S or C/S) your last used position will be retained. The screens column layout between the Data Entry and Monthly Calc screens (whether from the Data Entry to the Monthly Calc or vice-versa) is not the same, however, FW will determine a proper month/period location in the next screen. Therefore, you can easily switch between the Data Entry, Formulas, Calculations and Monthly Calc screens without changing your relative location. Although easy to use, FW actually consists of three spreadsheets, each with four dimensions all working together as one set of financials. Depending on the formula methods chosen, you will enter "Dollar or Unit amounts", or "Percentages". In order to enter or change amounts or percentages simply move the cell-block to the desired location and enter the number (pressing the number is sufficient - there is no need to first press an edit key). The new number will be displayed as you type in the lower left corner of the screen. The old number stays in the spreadsheet as a guide. Press ENTER after you have completed entering the number. You may also use the arrow keys to both enter the new number and move the cell-block to a new location. If you mistype the new number, simply use the <-- (back-arrow key) to erase the last character(s) and continue entering the new number. Should you decide to leave the original number unchanged simply press ESC. You will be returned to the screen (use of the arrow keys prior to ESC will enter the new number or 0). The formula method for each individual cell will be displayed just below the Data Entry screen display. As you move about the screen, the formula method display will be updated. About now you may be expecting a convoluted way of entering or changing formula methods. NO WAY! Entering or changing formula methods is a snap, and the power behind the 120 methods available far exceeds that previously possible using a general spreadsheet package. In addition, EVERY INDIVIDUAL DATA ENTRY CELL MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT FORMULA METHOD. FW calculates each Data Entry cell individually, based on the results of the previous cell for that account (chronologically). Additionally, some of the formula methods link to the results of other accounts or sub-accounts, which in turn could be linked to the results of other accounts or sub- accounts. From the Data Entry screen, press F10. This will switch you into the Formulas screen for the respective financial statement (B/S, I/S or C/S). Unlike the Data Entry screen which provides one line to each account number the Formulas screen provides two lines to each account with one blank line between accounts. The first line displays the chosen formula method for that cell, with the second line providing the link account if needed (6 digit number) or the seasonality chart selected (2 digit number). To enter or change a selected method simply move the cell-block to the desired location and enter the new formula method's number (pressing the number is sufficient - there is no need to first press an edit key). The new number will be displayed as you type in the lower left corner of the screen. If you mistype the new number, simply use the <-- (back-arrow key) to erase the last character(s) and continue entering the new number. Should you decide to leave the original number unchanged simply press ESC. You will be returned to the screen (use of the arrow keys prior to ESC will enter the new number). Press ENTER after you have completed entering the number. You may also use the arrow keys to both enter the new number and move the cell-block to a new location. Should you choose a method requiring the entry of a link account number or selection of a seasonality chart number (1 to 100), you will then be prompted for the information. When you have finished entering or changing formula methods press F9 or / to return to the respective Data Entry screen. You may only flip between Data Entry screens, not between Formulas screens. Calculations ------------ There are three Calculations screens. FW will first calculate all results on a monthly basis (see Monthly Calc below). Then FW will display all balances (B/S) and cumulative amounts (I/S and C/S) in the same manner (column structure) as you used to input your forecast. The purpose of these screens is to provide you, the user, with results in the same groupings as that used for Data Entry. You should use these screens first, in reviewing results. The Monthly Calc screens may then be reviewed for the spreading of amounts. Remember, FW looks at each cell as a separate calculation. Most errors may be clearly identified from the Calculations screens. If you change the column structure of the Data Entry screens, the Calculations screens will also change, although you will need to re-calculate your file. Calculation screens are for display only. You may not make any changes to the results displayed. The three screens are 1. B/S - Calculations 2. I/S - Calculations 3. C/S - Calculations Monthly Calc ------------ There are three Monthly Calc screens. FW will first calculate all results on a monthly basis, and then display all balances (B/S) and amounts (I/S and C/S) on a monthly basis. You should use the Calculations screens first in review of results. The Monthly Calc screens may then be reviewed for the spreading of amounts. Remember, FW looks at each cell as a separate calculation. Most errors may be clearly identified from the Calculations screens. If you change the column structure of the Data Entry screens, the Monthly Calc screens will not be affected, although you will need to re-calculate your file. Monthly Calc screens are for display only. You may not make any changes to the results displayed. NOTE: ----- Selecting formula method 99 in the data entry screen will allow you to then enter amounts directly into the Monthly Calc screen. The three screens are 1. B/S - Monthly Calc 2. I/S - Monthly Calc 3. C/S - Monthly Calc Seasonality ----------- There are 100 monthly Seasonality screens. All formula methods relying on seasonal trends use these screens. You may make changes to seasonal trends at any time, and then re-calculate. FW will use the specific month/year percentages, for the screen number selected, in performing its calculations. For example, if the forecast period is the fourth quarter ending December 1990, the seasonal percentages provided by the user for Oct to Dec 1990 will be used by the program - This is automatic! Yearly percentages must equal 100 percent for all years forecast. Percentages may be entered to three decimal places, but may not be 0 percent or a negative percent for any month. DeletePeriod ------------ You might expect that once you have set up a Data Entry columnar structure and entered amounts you would not be able to change it! FW to the rescue! DeletePeriod allows you to combine Data Entry periods, for example three monthly columns into one Quarterly column or four quarterly periods into one yearly period. DeletePeriod erases the unwanted periods. NO changes will be made to the unchanged period (column) remaining. For example, if you were to combine three monthly periods into one quarterly period the first two months of Data Entry and Formula methods would disappear. The remaining third month would be turned into a quarterly period. Amounts in that third period and respective formula methods will be unchanged. It will be up to the user to make any necessary changes. Forecast balances may not need changing, however, period amounts in the I/S and C/S will generally need some modification. InsertPeriod ------------ FW also allows you to insert new periods. This allows you to refine your forecast by increasing your control over amounts forecast. In addition, this allows you to break-down early forecast periods in order to enter actual monthly or quarterly results, and then re-calculate your forecast based on these new historical results. In this manner your forecast acts not only as a one shot forecaster but as an ongoing analysis tool. InsertPeriod adds blank new periods. For example, if the current period was quarterly, two new monthly periods would be added before the existing period. The quarterly period would become the third monthly period of the quarter. All amounts and formula methods would remain in that third monthly period. It will be up to the user to make any necessary changes. The additional memory needed to store the added periods has already been allocated at start-up. This avoids the problem of the user building too large a model, and then not being able to use this feature. Move Columns ------------ This feature allows you to move entire columns left or right within the existing spreadsheet. The insert/delete period features (described above) maintain your file's Data Entry setup (month/quarter/year). The "Move Columns" option ignores your Data Entry setup, and instead acts like a standard spreadsheet program. You may separately move your B/S, I/S, and C/S Data Entry columns. Your Monthly Calc cells will not be adjusted until you recalculate your file. Both the Data Entry amounts and its formulas will be moved. BE CAREFUL to reset any amounts entered into the Monthly Calc screens using formula method #99. The Monthly Calc cells are moved left or right while operating in either the REPORT or CONSOLIDATION mode. Representative Data Entry accounts (I/S or C/S) will also be moved. MoveBlkRows ----------- This feature allows you to move a consecutive block of sub-accounts from one main account, to be placed as sub-accounts of another main account. For example, if there were 4 sub-accounts to be moved from under #216000 Factory Overhead to under #220000 Other Costs as follows Accounts to be moved New Account -------------------- ----------- #216001 #220001 #216002 #220003 #216004 #216008 and you chose to move all sub-accounts from #216001 to #216008 to accounts starting at #220002 by 2's, the four accounts would become #220002, #220004, #220006 and #220008. Accounts #220001 and #220003 would stay the same such that the new account would include the following accounts (by line order) New Accounts After Move ----------------------- #220001 #220002 #220003 #220004 #220006 #220008 All Data Entry, Formulas, Calculations and Monthly Calc information will be moved. However, other variables linked to these accounts will need to be corrected by the user, and a re-calculation may be in order. If your proposed move would overwrite another account, FW will display an error message and request that you try again. Main account rows may not be moved. Move Row -------- Move Row allows you to move one sub-account. (See MoveBlkRows discussion above) Goto Row -------- This feature allows you to go to a row within the current screen. Screens include Data Entry, Formulas, Calculations and Monthly Calc. If the row number requested is outside the bounds of the active screen an error message will be displayed. If the row number requested is within the bounds of the active screen but does not exist, FW will go to the next closest row number. In this manner approximate row numbers are adequate. To use this feature move the pull-down menu (up) to Goto Row. The pull-down menu scrolls up as well as down. PRINTOUT -------- Printouts --------- This selection will send to your printer those screens selected under PrintSelect. Printouts contain the account number, account description and amounts or percentages. Pressing ESC will stop the printout at the completion of the then active screen print. PrintSelect ----------- Select the screen printouts which you would like, then call the Printouts sub-menu (noted above) to initiate the printing. Ten reports are available 1. B/S Data Entry (including Formula method selections) 2. B/S Calc 3. B/S Monthly Calc 4. I/S Data Entry (including Formula method selections) 5. I/S Calc 6. I/S Monthly Calc 7. C/S Data Entry (including Formula method selections) 8. C/S Calc 9. C/S Monthly Calc 10. Seasonality Print Option ------------ You may change your printer setup at any time prior to printing Printouts or Reports. Don't be afraid to play with different typefaces or changing the lines per inch. There are up to 43 different typefaces available. If you like small condensed printouts (or reports) try superscript (16 characters per inch) with 8 lines per inch printing. Or stick to a standard 10 characters per inch with 6 lines per inch. It's a snap to change! You can even change the margins on the printed page and the number of columns printed on each page. You may also change the printer provided the printer file was properly installed using the SLATE printer installation program. The following options are available in print options: 1. Select Different Typeface Up to 43 different fonts are available (printer dependent). 10 or 12 cpi is standard. 16cpi represents compressed mode. 2. Change Lines Per Inch Select the number of lines printing on each page. Six is standard. Eight with a 16cpi font works well. 3. Change Page Length A standard page is 11 inches long. Additional lines will print on longer paper, automatically. 4. Change Page Width Standard page width is 8.5 inches wide. 5. Change Margins / No. of $ Columns Set the left margin, or front and back left margins for two sided printing. Also, you can decrease or increase the number of ten digit dollar columns printing on each page. FW will automatically adjust for changes between 10, 12 and 16cpi on standard 8.5 inch wide paper. However if you need to use large left margins or have changed the width of the page you will need to change the number of $ columns printing on each line. 6. List Printers Installed FW can address the SLATE database file from within FW. If you have installed several print drivers using the SLATE program, FW will allow you to easily change print drivers. A list of drivers installed will be displayed. 7. List Active Printer & Typeface Selected The active print driver and font selected will be displayed. 8. Select Print Driver for Primary Printer A listing of installed print drivers will be displayed. Select a new print driver. You will then be asked to select a new font. The print driver must have been installed prior to running your current session with FW. 9. Print File Name & Date on Each Page ? At the top of each printed page will be displayed the name of the file and the date the file was last saved to the hard drive. Printing of this information can be suppressed. 10. Print 2 Sided Paper ? FW will print two-sided. You need not have a two sided- printer. By setting the margins under #5 above, you can use a one-sided printer, print two-sided, then use the one-sided to two-sided feature of many copying machines to produce smaller reports. Theses can then be bound or placed into a ring-binder. 11. Install other fonts ? The very popular HP LaserJet printer, has limited font capability included. If you wish to use other available fonts "soft fonts" have been included under the directory \slate\font. Those included in the HP may produce sharper results. 12. Print B/S Historical Period ? This is a simple yes or no choice. If you do not make a selection FW will assume that you do not wish to start all printouts and reports with the opening B/S. 13. RETURN TO TOP MENU REPORTS ------- Reports ------- This selection will send to your printer those screens selected under ReportSelect. Reports contain the account description and amounts or percentages. Dollar signs and formal single and double lines are drawn as would be expected of a formal report. Pressing ESC will stop the printout at the completion of the then active screen print. ReportSelect ------------ Select the screen reports which you would like printed, then call the Reports sub-menu (noted above) to initiate printing. Eight reports are available 1. B/S Calc 2. B/S Monthly Calc 3. I/S Calc 4. I/S Monthly Calc 5. C/S Calc 6. C/S Monthly Calc 7. FASB 95 - Calc 8. FASB 95 - Monthly Calc The FASB 95 Cash Statements may use either the Direct or the indirect method; individually selectable at the time you print. Acct On/Off ----------- Reports may be customized with this feature. Up to 20 different report layouts may be stored and then selected for printing. Customization affects "reports" but not "printouts", as follows: 1. All accounts will be printed out, unless an account can be, and is, set to "Off"; see the chart in the Financial Reference section. All accounts and sub-accounts are set to "On" by default. 2. If a sub-account is changed to "Off", any amounts in that account will be added to the main account. The line for that particular sub-account will not be printed. Sub-accounts may always be turned-off. 3. If the main account is changed to "Off", any amounts in that account will be added to its respective Other account. For example, if inventories were to be changed to "Off" its amount would be added to Other Current Assets. If Gross PP & E were to be changed to "Off" its amount would be added to Other Assets. 4. If both a main account and some or all of its sub-accounts were changed to "Off" those amounts would all be added to its respective Other account. The sub-accounts left "On" would print normally. 5. Accounts #300000 to 381000 are not normally printed in reports. The Print feature is not applicable to these accounts. RatioRepts ---------- This selection will send to your printer those screens selected under RatRptSelect. Reports will print each Ratio Calc (based on your sensitivity range) and Ratio Review (ratio analysis description) on the same page, if you would like the descriptions printed. RatRptSelect ------------ Select the ratio reports which you would like printed, then call the RatioRepts sub-menu (noted above) to initiate printing. After making your selections, FW will ask whether or not you would like the Ratio Review descriptions printed. Twenty-two reports are available 1. Gross Profit Margin 12. Debt - Equity Ratio 2. Operating Profit Margin 13. Debt - Capital Ratio 3. Net Profit Margin 14. Equity Ratio 4. Net Profit Retained Marg 15. Times Interest Earned 5. Return on Investment 16. Total Asset Turnover 6. Return on Equity 17. Inventory Turnover 7. Return on ComStk Eqty 18. Days in Inventory 8. Earnings Per Share 19. Accounts Rec Turnover 9. Quick Ratio 20. Days in Receivables 10. Current Ratio 21. Accounts Pay Turnover 11. Debt Ratio 22. Days in Payables RatSensitive ------------ With your knowledge of your own business, we have allowed you to grade your future - and hopefully modify your future (in both this forecast and in actual practice) if your forecast is not as you would like to see it. This management tool is both easy to use and extremely powerful. You simply enter your concept of what you would consider EXCELLENT, GOOD, AVERAGE, FAIR, and POOR. These parameters will then be used to rate your forecast. If areas need improvement, some descriptive analysis is available. Both the calculation of your sensitivity range and the description analyses are available in Ratio Calc, which is explained below. Ratio Calc ---------- The results of your grading (described above) will be displayed. The grading will be applied to the latest re- calculation and are the same as the ratios displayed in the Cash Statement. The grades are applied based on your pre-determined grading system. You can change the grading system and review the changes in Ratio Calc without the need to re-calculate the entire file. By using the left/up and right/down arrows you can page through all 22 ratios. Pageup and pagedown will move five ratios at a time, home and end will move to the first and 22nd ratio, respectively. Press F1 to display our descriptive analyses. Press F1 to return to the ratio calculations. Pressing an arrow key will move between the ratio calculations and not the descriptive analyses. FILES ----- Load File --------- This feature allows you to load a previously saved file. You may also use this feature to view a listing of files previously saved. Import from Lotus 1-2-3 or Opens Systems Accounting (requires Financial Wonder for OSAS, for OSAS import). Financial account export to Lotus 1-2-3 (export of financial statements is handled as a separate menu option). Save File --------- This feature allows you to save all information in the current file. Screen colors, spreadsheet locations, error reports, etc. are all saved. You should frequently save your work to avoid the possibility of lost data. New File -------- Call New File in order to create a brand-new file using the template supplied with FW. You will first be prompted for some general information, such as the name of the Company, the years to be forecast and the Company's month-end. All of this information may be changed at any time by pulling-down the Files menu and selecting File Info. You must then set up the periods of data entry. Although the structure chosen may be changed at a later date, this may entail considerable extra work on the part of the user, from the need to possibly change amounts or change forecast method selections. Press "/" when you have completed your setup. A set of financial accounts and account numbers will be created automatically. You will then be presented with a Seasonality screen. The Seasonality default values have been pre-selected. You may make changes representative of your business to one or all ten screens. Seasonal rates may be changed at any time. Press "/" when you have completed customizing seasonality. You will then be left at the main pull-down menu. Use the right-arrow-key to move to Screens and press ENTER. Then use the down-arrow-key to move to Data Entry and press ENTER. (After initial start-up you will be able to re-enter the financial screens from the main pull-down menu by pressing ESC from the main menu). You are now at the position in order for you to enter data, or created new accounts to finish your corporate setup. NOTE: Once the file has been loaded you may use any of the pull-down menu selections. Once you have completed your file structure, we suggest that you use the Save File feature to permanently store the file. You may also wish to save this file under another name prior to making additional changes. This file could then be used as a template for future use, although FW has sufficient features to make and save templates from completed forecasts. New Struct ---------- FW allows you to change the size or number of Data Entry periods. For example, if you use a previously saved file as a template and then blanked the amounts, you might also like to change the shape of the Data Entry periods. For example, say that Data Entry was quarterly for the first year and annual for the second and third year. You can now change to annual for all years, if so desired. Note: If you did not blank amounts, but for some reason wished to change the shape of the Data Entry amounts already entered, this feature would change the size of the various periods without disturbing the amounts already entered. For example, if you accidentally set up the first year to be quarterly and in error you entered annual data into the first three forecast periods, you would not have to retype the information. Just change the structure. The Data Entry amounts will be undisturbed. (Amounts entered into later Data Entry periods, no longer used, will be erased - but only on saving the file. So, if you make an error you can recover - but before you save and erase the existing file). DeleteFile ---------- This feature allows you to erase FW files previously saved to your hard drive. This allows you to remove old files no longer needed, and this also allows you to remove old files in case there is insufficient space on your hard drive to store a newly created file. CopyFilDsk ---------- This feature will copy a selected file from the hard drive to either drive A or B. A list of files will be supplied for your selection. The current file will only be listed if you have previously saved it. If you select the current file, the last saving of that file will be copied to the floppy disk - NOT the one in memory. This feature provides safety in case of a hard drive failure. It will do you no good unless you use it. Floppy disks are inexpensive, so backup your files often. File Info --------- Various items of information may be stored or changed here. They are 1. Company Name 2. Scenario Name 3. First Year(ex: 1990) 4. Last Year (ex: 1992) 5. Last Month of Year(ex: December=12) 6. $ Unit - (# of $0's) [0,3,6] 7. Currency Number[1 to 9999] 8. Loss Carryforward ($ Unit) 9. NOL(1) Carryback(2) or Ignore(3) The Company Name will appear on all printouts and reports. The Scenario Name will appear on all printouts and reports. All screens, printouts and reports will use the first year as entered here. Enter the year representing the first full year to be forecast. Years must be between 1900 and 2500. This version of FW will always produce a three year forecast, therefore #4 above, "Last Year" need not be completed. However, future versions of this program using extended memory on a 386 computer will make use of this information. Enter the numeric representation for the last month of your company's year. This must be between 1 and 12. If amounts are in $ enter 0 as the $ Unit, 1 if you are entering amounts in $1000 units, or 2 if you are entering amounts in $1,000,000 units. The $000's or $000,000 Omitted will be noted at the top of each printed page. This will also allow our consolidation program (not available at this time) to combine different size files. Currency number can be set to 1. This will allow our consolidation program (not available at this time) to combine different currencies. Loss carryforward represents tax loses available for all forecast years. These losses will be used if you select NOL(1) or Ignore(3) in choice #9. Enter amounts in units. If you have a $1,000,000 carryforward and you are working in $1000 units, enter $1000. Selecting NOL in choice #9 means that loss periods will increase available NOL's for future use. Carryforward in choice #9 means that there are adequate tax profits in previous years needed to carry losses back, reducing the current period's tax expense. Current tax rates are used. Ignore in choice #9 means that monthly losses will be ignored, however loss carryforwards from #8 above will be used against profits. Blank Amounts ------------- This feature allows you to blank amounts, formulas or seasonal percentages. This allows you to use your completed files as templates to create new scenarios. Information may be blanked as follows 1. B/S Data Entry Amounts 2. I/S Data Entry Amounts 3. C/S Data Entry Amounts 4. B/S Data Entry Formulas 5. I/S Data Entry Formulas 6. C/S Data Entry Formulas 7. Seasonal Percentages Upper/Lower ----------- This will allow you to convert account descriptions to Upper or Lower case on a global scale. When you convert to Lower case the first letter will be capitalized. Use of this feature can be a nice touch when printing final reports. Options available are as follows 1. B/S Accounts - To Upper 2. I/S Accounts - To Upper 3. C/S Accounts - To Upper 4. B/S Accounts - To Lower 5. I/S Accounts - To Lower 6. C/S Accounts - To Lower TL to Up/Lw ----------- This will allow you to convert account total descriptions to Upper or Lower case on a global scale (account totals are accounts such as Total Current Assets and Total Assets). When you convert to Lower case the first letter will be capitalized. Use of this feature can be a nice touch when printing final reports. Options available are as follows 1. B/S Account Totals - To Upper 2. I/S Account Totals - To Upper 3. C/S Account Totals - To Upper 4. B/S Account Totals - To Lower 5. I/S Account Totals - To Lower 6. C/S Account Totals - To Lower Sp to Up/Lw ----------- This will allow you to convert special account descriptions to Upper or Lower case on a global scale (special accounts are those reserved for use by FW, such as MARKETABLE SECURITIES (#1040000) and NOTES RECEIVABLE (#111000)). When you convert to Lower case the first letter will be capitalized. Use of this feature can be a nice touch when printing final reports. Options available are as follows 1. B/S Special Accounts - To Upper 2. I/S Special Accounts - To Upper 3. B/S Special Accounts - To Lower 4. I/S Special Accounts - To Lower LOTUS Conv ---------- FW Calculation and Monthly Calc reports may be exported to LOTUS (there is no import facility). FW creates data files in the "WONDER" directory on your hard drive which may then be called directly by LOTUS. Files created will be complete with pre-arranged cell widths, range names by group (ex: Total Current Assets), and SUM of rows or ranges. Although the LOTUS file will not be interactive, the range names will make it easy for you to modify the file if you wish. File Created ------------ 1. B/S Calc - To Lotus BSP.WK1 2. B/S MonthlyCalc - To Lotus BSM.WK1 3. I/S Calc - To Lotus ISP.WK1 4. I/S MonthlyCalc - To Lotus ISM.WK1 5. C/S Calc - To Lotus CSP.WK1 6. C/S MonthlyCalc - To Lotus CSM.WK1 7. FASB 95 - Calc - To Lotus RCSP.WK1 8. FASB 95 - MCalc - To Lotus RCSM.WK1 The FASB 95 Cash Statements may use either the Direct or the Indirect method; individually selectable at the time you create the Lotus files. As the files created are not arranged in strict LOTUS format, you may need to load these files into LOTUS, and re-save from LOTUS before using them in some LOTUS compatible spreadsheet programs - although we have not noted any such problem. Quattro, Excel, 1-2-3 2.0 and 2.01, Lotus Release 3, and SuperCalc5 can all read our files directly. Files created with the extension .WK1 are compatible with LOTUS version 2 and above. However, these files are also compatible with version 1a by renaming the files to use the .WKS extension or Symphony version 1.2 by renaming the files to use the .WR1 extension. QUIT/DOS -------- DOS --- This will exit to DOS while maintaining your FW program. The program will call-up a second copy of COMMAND.COM. You will be able to perform all of your regular DOS commands. But, please refrain from calling up any fair sized programs as the second program would need room to co-exist with FW and might lock- up both programs. To return to FW, type EXIT at the DOS prompt. FW will continue from the point where you left. Quit ---- This will exit you from FW. Always exit FW through this feature so that allocated memory can be returned to the system. There is a safety prompt to avoid accidentally exiting the program prior to saving your work.