Monster Media 1993 #2/Image.iso/finance/varin58h.zip/README.DOC

Text File | 1993-05-09 | 8KB | 199 lines

                  The Variable Investment Analyst 5.X   Page 1


     Welcome to the Variable Investment Analyst investment portfolio
     management program!  This program calculates profit, periodic total
     return, cumulative total return, average annual total return, internal
     rate of return, capital gain, buy/sell prices, and other statistics.
     It is especially useful for investments involving multiple cash flows,
     such as mutual funds, 401k plans, annuities, and partnerships, but
     also is helpful for stocks, bonds, CD's, etc.  Has pull down menus,
     dialog boxes, and mouse support.  Exports to Lotus, Excel, etc.  It
     runs on any IBM compatible monitor/display, and does *not* require a
     hard drive.

     Following is a summary of the major enhancements, and the version in
     which they were introduced:

     Introduced in Version 4:

         1)  Data files use the more accurate IEEE format numbers rather
         than Microsoft Binary Format numbers.
         2)  Data files use long format dates (MMDDYYYY) rather than
         MMDDYY, which will allow the the program's calculations to be
         accurate across centuries (There are many programs out there that
         won't calculate correctly after the year 1999).
         3)  The program calculates low, high, and average buy and sell
         price statistics.
         4)  The user can export the reports to disk file.
         5)  Advanced code optimization and memory management techniques
         allow tracking thousands of investments and transactions.
         6)  Includes more comprehensive instructions, input editing, and
         error handling.

     Introduced in Version 5:

         1)  Allows the input of service charge transactions which affect
         profit and % return calculations, but *not* buy or sell price
         statistics.  Previously, the user had to include service charges
         in their buy or sell prices, which adversely affected their low,
         high, and average buy/sell price statistics.
         2)  % Return calculations are accurate to the day.  Previously,
         return calculations were rounded to the nearest month.
         3)  Includes dollar-weighted annualized internal rate of return
         (IRR) calculation.
         4)  When listing an investment, the user can optionally use a date
         mask to compare returns from different investments more easily.
         5)  Pull-down menus, dialog boxes, and mouse capability (5.6).
         6)  A basis worksheet for determining capital gains (5.7e).
         7)  The limit of 10 records was removed from the non-registered
         versions, giving it all the functionality of the registered
         version (5.8).

     This version was compiled using Microsoft BASIC Professional
     Development System 7.1.  It works with any DOS version 2.0 or greater,
     and will use a math coprocessor, if it finds one on board.  Versions




                               Readme May 9, 1993






                  The Variable Investment Analyst 5.X   Page 2


     *prior* to 3.0 were written in GWBASIC, and data files created in
     those versions will *not* work using this new version, so you will
     have to re-input them.  If you are upgrading from version 3 or 4.X,
     however, you can re-format your data files to this version by first
     running the included program, 'Varcvrt.exe'.

     Included in the .ZIP file, should be the following files:

         1)  Varinv.exe is the program.  Just type 'Varinv' at the DOS
         prompt to run.
         2)  Readme.doc is the file you are reading now.
         3)  Varinv.doc is an ASCII file which contains the instructions
         and registration form which are accessed by the program.  It can
         optionally be loaded into your word processor, to allow you to
         search for specific subjects.  For proper program operation, this
         file should not be modified.
         4)  Varinv.dat holds the names and descriptions of the investment
         data files.  If you ever accidentally delete it, the program will
         recreate it; all you have to do then is re-input the names and
         descriptions of your investment data files with the 'Open' option
         under the 'Files' menu.
         5)  Example.dat, DJ_30.dat, and SP_500.dat are sample investment
         data files, included to help you better understand the program's
         features.
         6)  Varcvrt.exe will re-format version 3 or 4.X data files so they
         can be used by this new version.  For version 3 files, it will,
         among other things, convert dates from MMDDYY to MMDD19YY.  For
         version 4.X, it will convert dividend transactions into negative
         amounts.  This will allow the program to distinguish them from
         service charges (introduced in version 5), which have an identical
         format, but use positive amounts.
         7)  Prices.scr is a script file for use with Autosig to facilitate
         downloading market index price and dividend history from
         Compuserve.  This data can then be manually input into investment
         files.
         8)  Sharewar.doc is an explanation of the shareware principle.
         9)  Register.doc is a copy of the registration form.  Simply type
         'Copy register.doc prn' to print it on your printer.
         10) File_id.diz is a file which can be read by some BBS software
         to automatically provide a file description at time of upload.
         11) Vend&Sys.doc has information for disk vendors and BBS sysops.

     When first running the program, pick the 'Files' menu, then the 'Open'
     option; then move the cursor to the file named 'Example', and press
     Enter.  After returning to the main menu, pick the 'Transactions'
     menu, then the 'List' option, to see the transactions in this sample
     investment file.  This will help you better understand the program's
     features.  More detailed operating instructions are accessed by
     picking the 'Instructions' option under the 'Miscellaneous' menu.
     If you would like to run the program from your hard drive, simply
     create a directory, and then copy all the files from the diskette(s)
     to that directory.




                               Readme May 9, 1993






                  The Variable Investment Analyst 5.X   Page 3



     Important message from the Association of Shareware Professionals:
     "This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
     Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
     principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
     shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member
     directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you
     resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide
     technical support for members' products.  Please write to the ASP
     Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe
     message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536."
                                                _______
                                           ____|__     |               (R)
     William H. Baldwin                 --|       |    |-------------------
     8704 Broadmoor, #806                 |   ____|__  |  Association of
     Overland Park, Ks.  66212            |  |       |_|  Shareware
     Compuserve ID: 76200,275             |__|   o   |    Professionals
                                        -----|   |   |---------------------
                                             |___|___|    MEMBER





































                               Readme May 9, 1993