Software Vault: The Diamond Collection

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Text File | 1995-02-13 | 33KB | 725 lines

.TOPIC: Contents LENDER'S TOOLBOX HELP SYSTEM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To select a Help Topic mouse-click on the `link' phrases outlined by two triangles or press your TAB or Shift-TAB key to select a link and then press [Enter]. The following Help topics are available: Using the Help System General Information Mouse and Keyboard Instructions Amortization Schedule Loan Calculator Program Preferences Registration Info Registration Form .TOPIC: Using the Help System LENDER'S TOOLBOX :: USING HELP ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCROLLING THE HELP WINDOW: Mouse-click on the vertical scroll bar (right side of this window) or use the cursor keys on your keyboard. CLOSING THE HELP WINDOW: Double click on the window's Control Box icon [■] or, from the keyboard, press CTRL-F4 or the ESC key. HELP COMMAND BUTTONS: Click on a command button or press the button's highlighted access key to activate. The following command buttons are available: CONTENTS - displays a table of contents for the application's Help system. (Access key = C) SEARCH - opens a dialog box that lists all available Help topics. Select a topic from the list box and press ENTER. (Access key = S) BACK - jumps to the last Help topic viewed. This command button will be disabled when you first access the Help system. (Access key = B) HISTORY - lists the last 20 Help topics viewed. Jump to a topic by selecting from the list box and press ENTER. This command button will be disabled when you first access the Help system. (Access key = T) PRINT - prints the contents of the current Help topic to your printer. Your printer must be turned on and `on-line' before activating this command button. (Access key = P) See Mouse and Keyboard Instructions for more information on cursor movement, Command Buttons, Control Box, etc. or Contents to view a list of available help topics. .TOPIC: General Information LENDER'S TOOLBOX :: GENERAL INFORMATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THIS PROGRAM VERSION IS DISTRIBUTED AS SHAREWARE, AND THE USER IS GRANTED A LIMITED LICENSE TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. IF YOU FIND THIS PROGRAM IS USEFUL AND YOU WISH TO CONTINUE USING IT, PLEASE REGISTER BY COMPLETING THE FORM WHICH WILL BE PRINTED WHEN YOU SELECT THE 'PRINT' COMMAND BUTTON ON THE Registration Form. The LENDER'S TOOLBOX provides you with the most often used `tools' in one package. A mouse is supported, but not required. To use a mouse your mouse driver MUST be loaded prior to starting the program. Features include: AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE - A program that not only computes the schedule for the `normal' monthly-pay loans, but also for quarterly, semi-annual, annual, bi-weekly, or semi- monthly payment schedules. You can choose to accrue interest on equal 30 day months basis (normal method) or exact days between payment dates (bank method). In addition, you can specify fixed principal payments or `balloon' the loan at the end of the specified term. LOAN CALCULATOR - A program that allows `what if' calculations, computing the payment amount, term, annual interest rate, or original loan amount when you provide any three of the four variables - the `missing' variable is calculated from your input. Periodic payments can be input or calculated on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, bi-weekly or semi-monthly basis. PROGRAM PREFERENCES - A form that lets you set your own program defaults for the Amortization Schedule and Loan Calculator modules to use whenever they are activated. These defaults will save keystrokes when entering data by automatically entering your default data into the appropriate `fields' for you, eliminating repetitious entries. The FILE option on the menu bar consists of the following sub- menus: OPEN - opens a previously saved data file for the Amortization Schedule module, and automatically loads this data into the form. SAVE - saves your data currently displayed on the current Amortization Schedule form to the filename currently in use. (If no filename is currently in memory this option will activate the `Save As' option for you.) This option is ONLY available while the Amortization Schedule form is displayed on your screen. SAVE AS - opens a `file save' dialog box which allows you to enter a new file name or choose an existing file to save your current data to. (NOTE: Your data is saved to files with the .LTB extension. If you omit this extension it will automatically be added to the name you supply. If you enter a different extension you will receive an error message.) This option is ONLY available while the Amortization Schedule form is displayed on your screen. PRINT - activates the Amortization Schedule `Okay' command button and displays the `print destination' dialog box (automatically defaulting to Printer, but you can change the destination to Screen). Depending on the print destination chosen, selecting the Okay button at this dialog box will: [1] PRINTER - display the Printer dialog box, allowing you to direct the output to LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, or a File (be sure to enter the desired filename if printing to a file), or [2] SCREEN - display the Amortization Schedule on your screen. This option is ONLY available while the Amortization Schedule form is displayed on your screen. MONO/COLOR DISPLAY - allows you to change your display between color and monochrome, depending on the display currently in use. (If you are using a color monitor the only difference you will be able to see in monochrome mode is the absence of the 3-D effect on boxes and lines.) The program automatically determines the correct video setting to use at startup, but this option is available for those configurations that "fool" the program's video test. PREFERENCES - (see the `Program Preferences' explanation above) EXIT - closes all open windows and exits the program. If you have any `unsaved' data you will be warned before the program terminates. If you experience difficulty reading the screen (as with an LCD display on a laptop or notebook computer) restart the program using the `LCD' command line switch: LENDER LCD [Enter] This should make your screen easier to read. (You may have to adjust your Contrast or Brightness controls for optimum display.) See Mouse and Keyboard Instructions for information on cursor movement, Command Buttons, Control Box, etc. and Using the Help System for instructions on using the help screens. Registration Info for information on how to obtain a licensed version of this program. Registration Form to print the registration form. .TOPIC: Mouse and Keyboard Instructions LENDER'S TOOLBOX :: MOUSE AND KEYBOARD INSTRUCTIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LENDER'S TOOLBOX features a Windows-like environment with multiple windows (forms) that can be moved, minimized and restored, while allowing `random' cursor movement. `Windows' users will immediately recognize the controls available to them. After the opening title screen you will be presented with the Main Menu bar. You can make a selection by clicking with the mouse or pressing the ALT key and the highlighted access key for that option. (Note that all commands or cursor movements can be activated by either a mouse click OR the ALT-[access key] from the keyboard throughout the program.) CONTROL BOX (■): Located at the top left corner of the ACTIVE window. A mouse click or pressing ALT-[-] (minus) will open this menu. Speed keys (Ctrl- [F keys]) are shown next to the menu choices and can be used without opening the control menu. Inactive menu selections will appear `grayed' out. Double-clicking on this box will close the active window (or press Ctrl-F4). MINIMIZE BUTTON (): Located at the top right corner of the ACTIVE window (when available) allows you to reduce the window to an `icon.' You can also minimize the active window by opening the Control menu (see above) or by pressing Ctrl-F9. (Restore the window by double-clicking on the icon, pressing ALT-[-] for the control menu, or by pressing Ctrl-F5.) COMMAND BUTTONS: Located at the bottom of open windows. Clicking on one of these buttons (or pressing the ALT- [access key]) will execute the command indicated. (For example, the Quit button will close and exit the ACTIVE window.) Command buttons that are either highlighted or enclosed in a double-line box are the current DEFAULT for execution at any time the ENTER key is pressed. Since the ENTER key will always activate the currently selected command button you should use the TAB key to navigate the command buttons using the keyboard. NOTE: Pressing the ESC key will automatically activate the `Quit' or `Cancel' command buttons on any active screen, as well as exit this Help system. CURSOR MOVEMENT: Pressing ENTER or TAB at an input field will accept the data shown and move the cursor to the next input box or the command button. BE CAREFUL - if a command button is highlighted (or shown with a double line `box') pressing ENTER will execute that command! You can also `jump' to any input box OR command button with a mouse click or by pressing the ALT-[access key] for that box. If you `jump' to a command button by either mouse or access key that command is automatically executed. (Use the TAB key to navigate the command buttons from the keyboard.) CTRL-DEL: Pressing Ctrl-DEL inside an input field will erase all characters from the cursor position to the end of the field (including the character UNDER the cursor). ESCape key: Pressing the Escape key while inside an input field will discard your current entry and restore the data that was present when your cursor entered that field. HOME/END keys: Moves your cursor to the first/last character in an input field. You may have more than one window OPEN at once, but only one is ACTIVE at any given time. (The Main Menu is always active.) To switch between multiple windows simply click anywhere on the window you want to make active, select `Next Window' (when available) from the Control Box menu, or press Ctrl-F6 to `tab' between open windows. CLOSEing an active window (by using the Quit command button, the Control Box, or pressing Ctrl-F4 or the ESC key) does NOT erase any values you have entered in that window. They will still be available when you re-open that window, until you exit the program completely. EXIT the program by selecting Exit from the FILE option on the Main Menu bar. This will close all active windows and return you to the operating system. See General Information Registration Info for information on how to obtain a licensed version of this program. Registration Form to print the registration form. .TOPIC: Amortization Schedule LENDER'S TOOLBOX :: AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Selecting `Amortization' from the Main Menu by highlighting it and pressing Enter, clicking on it with a mouse, or pressing ALT-Z will open the Amortization Schedule window (form). What makes this program different is its ability to compute and print `customized' schedules from a single easy-to-use input format. Features include: ∙ Name line - can be your customer's or your own organization's name ∙ Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, Annual, Bi-Weekly, or Semi-Monthly payment schedules ∙ Normal P & I payments or Fixed Principal plus accrued interest payments ∙ Calculation of accrued interest using equal 30 day months or exact days between payments ∙ Odd Days to 1st payment - can be positive or negative to adjust accrued interest on 1st payment (equal 30 day months interest calculation method) ∙ Ability to compute the Payment amount based on the Term, or, for Fixed Principal Payments, compute the Term based on the Payment amount. ∙ Allows for a `balloon' amount at the end of the scheduled Term. ┌─────────┐ │ DETAILS │ └─────────┘ See the Mouse and Keyboard Instructions for information on cursor movement, Command Buttons, Control Box, etc. or the General Information section for program information. NAME Can be either your customer's name or your organization's name. This name will appear at the beginning of each printout and on each succeeding page. LOAN AMOUNT The INITIAL amount of the loan at funding. Do not add accrued interest for any Odd Days (i.e.: other than a normal payment period) until the first scheduled payment - this will be handled in the `Odd Days' field (below) or automatically accrued when using the `Exact Days' calculation method (below). This is a required field and must be completed. CALCULATE INTEREST USING - EQUAL 30 DAY MONTHS: The `traditional' method used in computing amortization schedules, where each month is assumed to contain the same number of days (30.42, to be exact). This type of schedule more closely follows the `computed' payment amount on a standard term loan. EXACT DAYS BETWEEN PAYMENT DATES: This method (used by banks and most commercial lenders) accrues interest using the exact number of days between each payment date. (e.g.: Interest accrued for January will be calculated for 31 days; for February will be 28/29 days, etc.) This type of schedule will have precise interest accrual amounts, regardless of the payment frequency or days between funding and the 1st scheduled payment. (You must enter the Loan funding date when using this method.) INTEREST RATE The Annual Percentage Rate charged on this loan. Enter in a 99.99 format. (e.g.: a rate of 10.75% would be entered as 10.75, not .1075) This is a required field and must be completed. TERM IN MONTHS The term of the loan stated in MONTHS. (A 30 year loan would be 360 months; a 5 year loan would be 60 months; etc.) Even when using a payment frequency other than monthly, convert that schedule to months for this field. (e.g.: A schedule allowing 16 quarterly payments would equate to 48 months; a schedule allowing 52 bi-weekly payments would equate to 24 months.) To print a `BALLOON' (or lump sum payment) schedule enter the Term (in months) of `normal' payments to be made, and complete the Periodic Payment field - the schedule will then show the remaining principal balance due (balloon) as part of the LAST payment printed. Unless you have specified Fixed Principal Payments (see below) and completed the Periodic Payment field the Term must be filled in. 1st PYMT (due) Enter the date of the 1st SCHEDULED payment using a `mm/dd/yy[yy]' format. The 4 digit year is optional, but if you enter only 2 digits for the year the date will be converted to read 19yy. (e.g.: 2/5/95 will be converted to 02/05/1995) The program will automatically estimate this date when you activate this window, based on the default `Frequency of Payments' option. FREQUENCY OF Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, Annual, Bi- PAYMENTS Weekly, or Semi-Annual payments may be selected by using the mouse or the Up/Down arrow keys. (Note: You MUST use the `Exact Days' between payments method for Bi-Weekly or Semi-Annual payments.) When Semi-Monthly payments are chosen you will also be asked to select the dates to be used: 1st & 16th, 5th & 20th, 10th & 25th, or 15th & 30th. PERIODIC PYMT This can be either (1) the amount necessary to fully amortize the loan (will be computed if `0' AND the Term {see above} is filled in, or use the LOAN CALCULATOR to compute), (2) the amount to be used for calculating a `balloon' schedule, or (3) any subjective amount you want to use with a specified term. If you use amount (3), the schedule will terminate as soon as the principal balance reaches zero (payment larger than needed for stated term), `balloon' on the last payment if Full Payout/Last Pymt field is `checked' (default), or print the stated term and show the remaining principal balance (unpaid) at the end of the schedule if the Full Payout/Last Pymt field is not checked. The Periodic Payment field and the Term field cannot both contain zeros. ODD DAYS TO (Available when `Equal 30 Day Months' interest 1st PYMT calculation method is used) The program assumes a full payment period until the first scheduled payment is due. (30 days for MONTHLY payments, 3 mos. for QUARTERLY, 6 mos. for SEMI-ANNUAL, or 1 year for ANNUAL.) You can adjust for different periods by using either positive or negative numbers in this field. (e.g.: Enter 15 for a loan with 45 days until the 1st scheduled MONTHLY payment; enter -30 for a loan with 60 days until the 1st scheduled QUARTERLY payment.) The FIRST scheduled payment will be adjusted to account for additional (or reduced) accrued interest due for the days entered here. LOAN FUNDED (Available when `Exact Days' between payment dates calculation of interest method is used) This is a REQUIRED field and must be completed when visible on your form. Initially this field will default to the current system date, but you should modify this to reflect the actual (or estimated) date that loan funds will be disbursed. (Use `mm/dd/yy[yy]' format.) The program will use this date to calculate accrued interest for the 1st scheduled payment. FIXED PRINCIPAL This check box can be `toggled' on or off PYMTS with a mouse click or the spacebar. When toggled ON the program will calculate the accrued interest for each scheduled payment and then ADD the amount shown in the Periodic Payment field to that interest for a total payment due. This will result in larger payments at the beginning of the term, gradually decreasing with each payment made. When this box is toggled OFF (default) the schedule is prepared using normal P & I payments which will remain the same during the entire term (except for 1st payment adjustments for Odd Days and last payment adjustments for `full payout') FULL PAYOUT/ This check box can be `toggled' on or off LAST PYMT with a mouse click or the spacebar. When toggled ON (default) the last payment will be adjusted (positive or negative) as necessary to completely pay out the remaining principal balance owed at the time of the last SCHEDULED payment. When toggled OFF the last payment will be a `normal' payment, and any remaining principal balance unpaid will be printed at the bottom of the printout. COMMAND BUTTONS Three command buttons are available: [Remember to use the TAB key to navigate these buttons from the keyboard - a mouse click or access key automatically executes the command] * OKAY (ALT-O) accepts the values shown and opens a PRINT DESTINATION dialog box, giving you the option to print the schedule on a printer or the screen, or Cancel the operation and return to the Amortization window. (Note: Choosing PRINTER will display a second dialog box, allowing you to direct output to LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, or a File. Be sure to enter the desired filename when directing output to a File.) * CLEAR VALUES (ALT-V) clears all input entered and returns to the program's default values. * QUIT (ALT-Q or ESC) closes the window and moves control to the next open window or the Main Menu. (You will be warned if you have not saved your current input.) See General Information and Mouse and Keyboard Instructions .TOPIC: Loan Calculator LENDER'S TOOLBOX :: LOAN CALCULATOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Selecting `Loan Calculator' from the Main Menu by highlighting it and pressing Enter, clicking on it with a mouse, or pressing ALT-L will open the Loan Calculator window (form). This program provides a `quick and dirty' way to play `what if' scenarios to calculate any one of four loan variables ... Loan Amount, Loan Term, Periodic Payment, or Annual Interest Rate. By tailoring your input to the needs/ability of your customer and the policies of your organization you could save countless hours of hand calculations trying to properly structure your loan terms. ┌─────────┐ │ DETAILS │ └─────────┘ See the Mouse and Keyboard Instructions for information on cursor movement, Command Buttons, Control Box, etc. or the General Information section for program information. LOAN AMOUNT The INITIAL amount of the loan at funding. If this field contains zero (and the remaining three fields contain values) the program will compute the amount you can advance based on the interest rate, term, payment, and payment frequency specified. ANNUAL INTEREST The Annual Percentage Rate charged on this RATE loan. Enter in a 99.99 format. (e.g.: a rate of 10.75% would be entered as 10.75, not .1075) If this field contains zero (and the remaining three fields contain values) the program will compute the applicable interest rate for a loan based on the amount, term, payment, and payment frequency specified. TERM IN MONTHS The term of the loan stated in MONTHS. (A 30 year loan would be 360 months; a 5 year loan would be 60 months; etc.) Even when using a payment frequency other than monthly, convert that schedule to months for this field. (e.g.: A schedule allowing 16 quarterly payments would equate to 48 months.) If this field contains zero (and the remaining three fields contain values) the program will compute the period required to fully amortize the loan based on the amount, interest rate, payment, and payment frequency specified. PERIODIC The amount of the monthly, quarterly, PAYMENT semi-annual, or annual payment (P & I) the borrower will pay to liquidate this loan. If this field contains zero (and the remaining three fields contain values) the program will compute the payment NECESSARY to fully amortize the loan based on the amount, interest rate, term, and frequency of payments specified. PLEASE NOTE: If all four fields contain values greater than zero the program will ASSUME that you want to recalculate the periodic payment and re-compute the payment based on the other three values. (In this way you don't have to `clear' the payment field when trying different term or rate scenarios.) FREQUENCY OF These option buttons allow you to specify PAYMENTS whether payments will be made on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, bi-weekly, or semi-annual basis. Move between the options by using the Right/Left arrow keys, and toggle the button on or off by pressing the space bar (or click on the button with a mouse). Pressing Enter at one of these buttons will toggle the button and move you to the `Calculate' command button. The chosen option will determine the basis of the other calculations. COMMAND BUTTONS Three command buttons are available: [Remember to use the TAB key to navigate these buttons from the keyboard - a mouse click or access key automatically executes the command] * CALC (ALT-C) accepts the values shown and computes the missing (0) variable. You will receive an error message if (1) the specified Periodic Payment does NOT cover the first month's accrued interest, or (2) the values entered are insufficient to complete the calculation accurately. * CLEAR (ALT-V) clears all input entered and returns to the startup default values. * COPY (ALT-O) copies the current entries to the Amortization Schedule form, eliminating the need to reenter this data in order to print the schedule. (You will be warned of any unsaved Amortization Schedule data before it is overwritten.) You should enter the borrower's name (optional) and verify the 1st payment date (and Semi-Monthly payment dates, if applicable) after using this feature. * QUIT (ALT-Q or ESC) closes the window and moves control to the next open window or the Main Menu. See also General Information Mouse and Keyboard Instructions .TOPIC: Program Preferences LENDER'S TOOLBOX :: PROGRAM PREFERENCES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This feature, accessible through the `File' option on the menu bar, allows you to set up your own program `defaults' to be used when activating (or CLEARing) the Amortization Schedule and Loan Calculator forms. Enter your preferences for: * Company/Lender's Name (useful if you want your or your organization's name to appear at the top of all Amortization printouts) * Interest Rate * Frequency of Payments * Fixed Principal Payments option * Full Payout on Last Scheduled Payment option * Calculation of Interest option Setting these defaults for frequently used options will save you time and keystrokes on each data entry. (Please note that ALL of the defaults can be overridden on the entry screens themselves, when necessary.) The following command buttons appear on this form: * SAVE (ALT-S) accepts your current entries and saves them to a file named LTBPREFS.INI * RESET (ALT-R) will discard your current preferences and restore the ORIGINAL program defaults. You will be asked to confirm this action. * CANCEL (ALT-R) will discard your current entries and restore the preferences that were in effect when you activated this form. See also: General Information Mouse and Keyboard Instructions .TOPIC: Registration Info -== L E N D E R ' S T O O L B O X ==- THIS PROGRAM VERSION IS DISTRIBUTED AS SHAREWARE, AND THE USER IS GRANTED A LIMITED LICENSE TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. IF YOU FIND THIS PROGRAM IS USEFUL AND YOU WISH TO CONTINUE USING IT, PLEASE REGISTER BY COMPLETING THE FORM WHICH WILL BE PRINTED WHEN YOU SELECT THE 'PRINT' COMMAND BUTTON ON THE Registration Form AND SENDING IT WITH THE REGISTRATION FEE OF US$35.00 (OR US$45.00 FOR THE WINDOWS VERSION) PLUS $3.00 S/H TO: E. G. COLLINS 2300 EDENBORN #147 II METAIRIE, LA. 70001 Registration will entitle you to a licensed copy of the latest version, user support, and special upgrade prices on future releases of this program. Governmental and business entities MAY NOT use this program without remitting the full registration fee. To print the registration form simply press ALT-P or click the PRINT command button at the top of the Registration Form help screen. The user is granted permission to make unlimited copies of this program and to distribute those copies as long as all the files are copied intact and no fee is charged for the program. A duplication charge not to exceed $8.00 may be collected. The LENDER'S TOOLBOX(tm) is copyrighted by Everett G. Collins and all rights are reserved. No warranties are made, either express or implied, with respect to the software, its fitness for any particular purpose, or its documentation. This product is sold "as is." ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ See Registration Form │ └─────────────────────────┘ See also General Information .TOPIC: Registration Form REGISTRATION FORM ----------------- PROGRAM: LENDER'S TOOLBOX for DOS <2.0s/w> MAIL TO: E. G. Collins 2300 EDENBORN #147 II METAIRIE, LA 70001 Your Name:__________________________________________________ Company: __________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _________________________________________ Daytime Phone No: ( ) _______________________________ ==================== PLEASE SEND ME: ===================== ______ copies of Lender's Toolbox @ $35.00 ea $ ___________ Shipping & handling (each copy) @ $3.00 $ ___________ TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $ ___________ *DISK SIZE NEEDED: [] 5 1/4" 360K [] 5 1/4" 1.2M [] 3 1/2" ======> PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: E. G. COLLINS <====== * Foreign orders: Remit fee in US Dollars drawn on US Bank * << Please note: Windows version also available for $45 >> Where did you hear about this program? _____________________ Comments/Questions: ________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ T H A N K Y O U F O R R E G I S T E R I N G !