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README.TXT
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1994-05-15
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This file contains the latest additions or changes to CheckStar IV.
Getting Help
------------
A Help Index has been added to CheckStar IV. By using this index, a user
can directly select information on any topic covered by the On-Line help.
This broadens the scope of help available from the current program context
to all available information on file. The Help Index is accessible by
pressing the Ctrl-F1 key combination from within most program locations.
Registering your copy of CheckStar IV
-------------------------------------
To register your copy of CheckStar IV, return the enclosed yellow
registration form. In return, we will send you a registration password
which has your name encoded. The password characters will include the
numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through F. When this password is
entered, it will replace any reference in the program to "New User" with
your name, and eliminate the registration reminder message when you exit
CheckStar IV. Keep your password in a permanent place in the event you
have to reinstall CheckStar IV. The password can be entered using the
following procedure.
1. From the Main Menu, press the Ctrl-R key combination.
2. Type your password and press the Enter key.
Repeated transaction entry
---------------------------
When entering a transaction of the same type and of similar data to one
previously entered, CheckStar IV provides you with a quick entry option
which allows you to use the data from the previous transaction as the
default data for the next transaction. Here is the procedure to do
that.
1. From the Check Register Menu, highlight a transaction which is similar
to the new transaction to be entered.
2. Press the Ctrl-U key combination.
3. Modify the data as needed.
4. Press the F10 key to save the new transaction.
Quick Menus
-----------
For added convenience CheckStar IV has provided the user with quick access
to the other Main Menu options directly from the Check Register Menu.
These "Quick Menu" selections parallel the Main Menu options except
that they are preceded by the Alt key.
From the Check Register Menu these are the command options.
- Press the Alt-2 key combination for the Account Menu.
- Press the Alt-3 key combination for the Category Menu.
- Press the Alt-4 key combination for the Reports Menu.
- Press the Alt-5 key combination for the Reminders Menu.
Chapter: 13 Split transactions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
An automatic amount calculation option has been added for split
transaction entries. When entering the Payee or Memo portions of a
split entry, the user can enter a formula which CheckStar IV will use
to calculate the amount and paste it in the amount column. The
Algebraic Expression Evaluator is used to perform this calculation
so the formula format used is the same as described for the evaluator.
There are a few minor differences. The first is that the formula should
be bracketed by the characters "{}". The second is the use of the variable
@TA within the formula which represents the Main transaction amount.
Here are a few examples of how this automatic amount calculation can
be used.
By entering the formula {@TA * 0.25} in the Payee or Memo fields of a split
window and then pressing the Crtl-C key combination, twenty five
percent of the total transaction amount would be automatically entered
in the amount column for that split transaction.
By entering the formula {(@TA/70) * 100} in the Payee or Memo fields of
a split transaction and then pressing the Ctrl-C key combination, an amount
which is thirty percent greater than the total transaction entry amount
will be calculated and automatically entered in the appropriate amount
column.
While these amounts could be calculated as easily with the popup
calculators, the real utility of this option lies in its application
with Memorized Entries.
Example 1: Let's assume everytime you deposit your paycheck, you always
deposit 10% of your salary into savings. Set up categories for your paycheck
and savings. We will create a temporary split transaction and use the
Memorized Entry feature to memorize it permanently. Here is how to do that.
1. From the Check Register Menu, press the D key to create a deposit
entry.
2. Enter the Date, Payee, Amount and Memo of your choice.
3. At the category entry, enter B. (Refer to the CheckStar IV manual for
a detailed explanation of these options.) Press the Enter key.
At this point, you are looking at the split transactions entry window.
4. Enter the category you have selected for 'Salary' and press Enter.
5. At the Payee entry type in the formula {(@TA/90) * 100}. Before pressing
the Enter key, press the Crtl-C key combination. This will cause
CheckStar IV to calculate the actual Salary on the fly. Press the Enter
key to save the formula and accept the calculated dollar amount.
6. Enter the Memo of your choice and press Enter.
7. Press Enter to bypass the amount.
7. Enter the category you have selected for 'Savings' and press the Enter
key.
8. At the Payee entry type the formula {@TA * 0.1}. Again, you must press
the Crtl-C key combination to calculate the amount.
9. Enter the Memo of you choice and press Enter.
10. Press the F10 key to exit the Split transaction entry window and again
to save the transaction.
11. Now memorize this split transaction using the procedures outlined in
your CheckStar IV manual. When memorizing, set the option 'Modify
transaction(s) when entered' to 'Y'.
12. From now on, to use this entry, press the F9 key, highlight this
Memorized Entry, enter the appropriate dollar amount and press
F10. CheckStar IV will automatically calculate and enter both the
'Salary' amount and 'Savings' amount and save the transaction to
the check register.
13. After creating a Memorized Entry, you can erase this split transaction
from the check register if not currently needed.
Example 2: Suppose you wanted to document how much sales tax you have
collected from items sold in a business. The amounts can be easily
calculated using this feature. If the sales tax in your area is 8.25%,
you can create a Memorized Entry much the same way. For this example,
in step 5 above, enter the formula {@TA-(@TA*0.0825)} which would represent
your actual sales. In step 8, type the formula {@TA*0.0825} which
represents your sales tax.
NOTE
----
The values inside the brackets '{}' can be either fixed amounts or
formulas, positive or negative, and can be used in either the Payee or
Memo fields of a transaction.
The removal of the formulas
---------------------------
If you want to have CheckStar IV automatically remove these formulas from
the split payee or memo fields after the amounts are calculated, there are 2
options available to do the job. The option @D deletes the entire formula
including the brackets. The option @R replaces the entire split payee or
memo with the entry in the main transaction payee or memo. For example, if
you want to delete the formula, you could enter @D{(@TA/90) * 100} in step 5
or @D{@TA * 0.1} in step 8 etc. You can place these commands (@D and @R)
anywhere outside the {} brackets. The commands @D or @R along with the
formula will be deleted automatically.
IMPORTANT
---------
When creating a Memorized Entry using formulas such as those described above,
set the Memorized Entry option 'Modify transaction(s) when entered' to 'Y'
in order to force a recalculation of the formula when entered.
Chapter: 10 Printing checks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIPS & TRICKS: When you print checks using the Ctrl-P command from the
Check Register Menu, CheckStar IV pops up a list of the
available check layouts. If you are only using one check
layout, erase the others. This way, CheckStar IV will
bypass the popup list and automatically use the default
check layout available to print your check. To erase any
check layout, press the Ctrl-P key to pop up the list,
highlight the layout to be erased and press the E key.
Chapter: 14 Memorized Entries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Memorizing an Entry, the Payee/Payor information can be pasted at
the Entry Name prompt by pressing the Ctrl-P key combination. When more
than one transaction is blocked, the Payee/Payor of the first transaction
will be selected.
Chapter: 22 User Setup Options Addendum
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following new User Setup Options have been added since the manual was
printed. Some have been inserted in the list rather than adding them to
the end. This was done to keep options grouped by similarity of function.
However, some setup option are no longer numbered as they appear in the
manual.
General Setup Options
---------------------
19: Set number of decimals for the RPN Calculator:
When using the RPN Calculator, you have option to set the number
of decimals places to be displayed by the RPN Calculator. To change
this option, highlight this option, press the Enter key and type the
number of decimal places to be displayed.
20: Set number of decimals for Algebraic Expression Evaluator:
This option is similar to option #19 above except it sets
the Algebraic Expression Evaluator display.
40: Require a key press when exiting CheckStar IV:
If you run CheckStar IV from within a Dos Shell program you may
not be able to see the Time Tracker information when exiting
CheckStar IV. When enabled, this option allows you to view the
Time Tracker information before completely exiting CheckStar IV.
Check Register Setup Options
----------------------------
14: Automatically unpost postdated transactions when entered:
When this option is set to YES, CheckStar IV automatically
unposts all postdated transactions as they are entered.
15: Pad asterisks in amounts when printing checks:
When this option is set to YES, CheckStar IV will left justify
the numeric amounts printed on the check with asterisks.
Report Setup Options
--------------------
5: Include zero balance subcategories in the summary reports:
This option which is similar to option 4, includes or excludes
subcategories whose balances are zero.
18: Print detailed transaction information:
If enabled, detailed reports are printed in the compressed mode
and include complete transaction information. If disabled, detailed
reports are printed in normal mode, with a limited display of the
Payee and Memo information.
Chapter: 20 Calendar
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CheckStar IV provides a quick method of going back to the current date
when using the calendar. Simply press the C key.
Customizing CheckStar IV's Reports Menu
---------------------------------------
Each account in CheckStar IV is, by default, assigned to the standard
Reports Menu. However you can customize this menu for each account by
following the procedure as described in the CheckStar IV manual, pages
43 and 44. By copying a reports template to an account, the account
retains its own custom copy of the Reports Menu, which can then be modified
as you see fit. See pages 109 and 110 of your CheckStar IV manual.
Additional Check Layouts
------------------------
786 Systems is providing four preformatted check layouts with CheckStar IV.
These layouts labeled STYLE-A, STYLE-B, STYLE-C and STYLE-D fit the checks
you can order from 786 Systems.
APPENDIX E
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM: When I attempt to print a check with my laser printer, the
check does not come out of the printer.
SOLUTION: You need to add a form feed (@PB) command to the end of your
check layout. Edit your check layout using the Ctrl-E command
from the Check Register Menu. Add the command @PB at the end
of the last line of your check layout. Save the form and exit.
PROBLEM: When I exit CheckStar IV, my printer retains the setup last
used when I printed checks. How can I get my printer reset
automatically?
SOLUTION: Although the printer could be cleared by CheckStar IV when
exiting the program, this method causes delays under
certain conditions. The more elegant solution is to embed a
printer reset command at the end of the check layout.
PROBLEM: When I attempt to print checks or reports CheckStar IV preceeds
the information with some unexpected characters.
SOLUTION: There are two separate printer driver assignments which must be
made. One is for printing checks and the other is for printing
reports. Be sure that the right driver has been assigned for each
function. Refer to the chapter titled Printer Setup in your
CheckStar IV manual.