Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/busi/cartrak1.zip/CARTRAK.DOC

Text File | 1990-04-01 | 26KB | 629 lines

                         About The Program

     The program is for keeping track of maintenance cost and gas
cost of running an automobile. I have tried to make it as helpful
as possible for the person using the program. Some of the features
includes.
1. Milleage Log: It will keep track of cost of traveling on the
   road. These cost come in a couple of different catagories.

   Auto Other:   Expenses that are not covered by the other expense
                 catagories. You have a notes field so that you can
                 explain the expense

   Travel Fares: Fares for traveling. Like toll bridges, and toll
                 roads.

   Lodging:      Cost of lodging while traveling.

   Meals:        Cost of meals while traveling.

   Maintenance:  Cost of Maintenance. This is automatically tied
                 in with the maintenance requirements. When you
                 purchase any maintenance, the program will ask
                 what maintenance was performed. It is scheduled
                 maintenance, then it will keep track of the
                 maintenance, and when it is next required.

   Gas           It will keep track of all gas purchased. It will
                 calculate the MPG, and total cost of running the
                 automobile.

2. Key Information : The program will keep valuable information
                 ready for your use. This is useful when you have
                 to contact someone about your car. Some of the
                 information includes:

   Finance:     Will keep all of the information for the
                 financing of your car. This is useful when you
                 have to get ahold of the Finance Company.

   Insurance:    Will keep information handy for whenever you
                 have need for the insurance.

   Service Info: This will keep information important about getting
                 service for you automobile. Things that the
                 mechanic, or you will need to know to be able to
                 get the automobile worked on.

   Maintenance:  This will keep information about scheduled
                 maintenance of the automobile. Like oil changes,
                 and when they will be next required to be done.



3. Graphics:     Will allow you to graph the information that you
                 enter into the database. The graphics section will
                 graph such information as Yearly and Monthly:

                 Gas Purchased.
                 Gallons Purchased.
                 Auto Other Expenses.
                 Travel Fares.
                 Meals.
                 Lodging Expenses.
                 Maintenance Cost.

                 The graphics section was built around a EGA VGA
                 system. It will work on some CGA systems.

4. Reports:      This section will allow you to print all of the
                 information out. You can print in a number of
                 different ways. That is explained later.

5. Mouse Support: The program is fully mouse supported. All you
                 have to do is point to the command, or follow
                 the prompts on the screen for the mouse use. If
                 you see LB or RB, that refers to the Left and
                 Right Mouse Buttons.

6. Unlimited Amount of Entries. You can have any number of entries
   into the database.

7. Unlimited Amount of Datafiles. You can have any number of data
   files, for any number of cars.

8. Help Screens: You have help screens for all main functions. You
   will be prompted on the screen when help is available.

9. Fast Screen Updates:

10. Password for Access: You can Enable a password for access into
    the program.

11. Different Data Directory: You can specify a separate data
    directory to hold your information.

12. EMS Lim 4.0 Usage: The program will use LIM 4.0 for loading
    the overlays. This will speed up program operation.

13. Pull Down Menus: The Main Menus are pull down menus. The menus
    can be selected by either pressing the first letter of the
    menu you want, or using the arrow keys and pressing enter.

14. Easy Backup of Datafiles: Using the Files Menu, you can backup
    your datafiles fast and easy.

15. Numeric Coprocessor Support: If you have a coprosessor the
 program will be able to use it.

                         Installation Procedure

     Hard Disk Installation: Copy all of the files that came with
the zip file into a directory of your choice. If you wish to have
a different sub-directory for you data files, that make that before
entering into the program. After the files have been copied to the
sub-directory, then load the program. Then Proceed to the
configuration of the program.


     Floppy Disk Installation:

     Bootable Disk: First Make a Bootable disk. You can do that by
using the command
Format A: /S
Then copy command.com to the floppy. After you have a bootable
disk, then copy all of the files from the zip file onto the floppy.
The files that are required are
          CARTRAK.EXE
          CARTRAK.OVR
          HELP.IND
          HELP.FIL
After you have all of the files on the disk, then make a Config.sys
and Autoexec.bat. Then should look something like this.

     Config.sys
               DEVICE=ANSI.SYS       (Not Required for the program)
               FILES=16
               BUFFERS=16

     Autoexec.bat
               ECHO OFF
               CLS
               CARTRAK

After you have the disk ready, reboot the system and let it boot
off of the disk. When the program loads, it will ask you to
configure the program using the configuration command at the main
menu. Then Proceed to configuration.













                    Configuration Procedure

     Select Configure at the main bar menu. This can be done at the
main bar menu be hitting the first letter of the menu 'C'. Or you
can highlight it with the arrow keys and press ENTER when
highlighted. The Selection are;

Toggle Printer Port: Selecting this will select either printer port
number 1, or printer port number 2. A prompt will display at the
bottom showing which port was selected.

Toggle Create BAK: The program will automatically create backups
in the default sub-directory of the file that you edit. If you
disable it, it will speed loading of the information when you
select the Enter / Edit option. However you will not have a
immediate backup of your information if something happens to your
datafile.

Backup Drive: Selects either Drive A: or B: for backing up the
datafiles. This works with the Files Menu, Backup to Drive command.
It will take all of the datafiles, and back them up onto the drive
specified here. When you select the option, a mini menu will appear
for selecting drive. Press either A or B for the drive. The menu
will highlight your choice. Then press escape to return to the
configuration menu.

Default DataFile: Selecting this option will prompt you for the
filename for your default datafile. The prompt will only allow
eight characters. The extension part of the file name is used by
the program for datafile selection.

Toggle Enable Password: You can enable or disable password check
on program load with this option. Select this and you will see a
message pop up on the bottom of the screen telling you the status
of the password check. You can not enable password check if you
have not entered a password yet.

Enter Password: Selecting this option will prompt you for the
password that you wish to use. The password can be any characters
that you can type in. The password check is case sensitive. Meaning
that 'A' is not the same as 'a' when entering the password on
program load.

Default Sub-directory: Selecting this option will prompt you for
the sub-directory that will hold your datafiles. Enter the full
path for the directory that will hold your datafiles. Then press
enter.








Toggle Mouse Option: Selecting this option will enable and disable
the mouse. If the mouse is not installed, and you select this
option it will notify you of the error. If you have a mouse, the
mouse drive has to be installed to function. If the mouse is
installed correctly, the program will allow you to select it. Some
mouse drivers will not function when initialized in the program
because of the interrupts captured by the program. If the mouse
does not respond right away, try reloading the program after you
saved the mouse option.

Toggle EMS Installed: Selecting this option will allow the program
to load the overlays to EMS memory for faster program operation.
The Expanded Memory System must be LIM Spec 4.0. If EMS is not
available on program load, it will notify you of a program error,
but continue to run without loading overlays to EMS.

Save Configuration File: Will save the options that you have
selected. If you do not save the options, they will not be active
the next time you load the program.

Recall Configuration File: Will recall the last saved configuration
information on disk.


                    File Menu Options

Load New File: Used to load a already existing datafile other than
the default data file defined in configuration. This will load the
program, and take you into the Enter / Edit Purchases. This will
make that datafile the default while in the program while the
program is loaded.

New File: Used to create another datafile. It will create the new
datafile, and go to Enter / Edit purchases. The file will stay the
default datafile while the program is loaded. If you save the
configuration file, it will stay the default file.

File Directory: This will display a directory of the files in the
default sub-directory defined in the configuration. If no default
defined, it will pull a directory of the current sub-directory.

Delete: This will delete a specific file on in the default
directory. File cards are not allowed.

Quit: Quits the program, and exits to dos.

Backup To Drive: This will backup all of the datafiles to the drive
specified in the configuration. The files that are backed up end
with the extensions of .KEY and .GAS. You have to have a disk in
the drive before selecting the command. Other wise the program will
abort the backup.



Restore From Bak: If for some reason you main datafile has a
problem, this option will automatically restore your datafile from
the automatic backup. If you have disabled the automatic backup in
the configuration, this command cannot be used.

                    Enter / Edit Command

Purchases: This will load the default datafile, and allow you enter
or edit the database of purchases. This includes gas purchases,
auto other expenses, travel fares, maintenance purchases, meal
expenses, and lodging cost.

Key Information: Allows entering or editing key information. This
information includes:
     Finance Information
     Insurance Information
     Service Information
     Maintenance Information
This information is real handy to have when you have to get work
done on your car. Or get ahold of the finance company because of
problem. It contain the information that people will need to either
work on your car, or help you with your accounts. When you select
this command another pop up menu will appear for you to select what
information you wish to enter or edit.

                    Purchase Commands

F1: Enter a new purchase: This will put you into the enter purchase
screen for you to enter your information. The date, will be the
current date in the computer. The receipt number will automatically
be pulled from the last entry. All you have to do is press enter
if they are correct. The TO field if for you to enter to whom you
paid for the service or expense. There are a couple of different
ways of entering information.
     For Purchases of gas. Fill in the Amount, Gas Gallons, and
ending millage reading. These must be filled in correctly to be
able to figure the MPG correctly. The Beginning millage reading
will be pulled from the last entered transaction. If the gas tank
was not completely filled for the gas purchase, then you will have
to change the "Tank Filled" field to 'N'. This is need to
accurately figure the Miles Per Gallon. For the first transaction
in the database, you will have to fill that in also.
     For any other expense, all you have to do is enter the amount
for the expense in the field. If you enter a amount in the
maintenance field, the program will ask you what maintenance was
done when you exit this screen. When the program ask for what
maintenance was done, just mark with an X. If none of the fields
apply to the maintenance that was done, then do not mark any of the
fields.
     The notes section is three lines for you to explain what the
transaction was for. When you are done entering the information,
either press F1, or any mouse button to continue.


     The program will then ask you if you wish to save the
information. The prompt will ask for either 'Y' or 'N'. Or you can
press the mouse buttons also. LB stands for Left Mouse Button. RB
stands for Right Mouse Button.
     After you are done, and either saved or aborted you entry, the
program will return you to the main purchase screen. This screen
will give you the information of Date of Purchase, Receipt Number,
Purchased From, Amount of gas purchase, Gallons purchased, and
Miles Per Gallon. The Gallons Purchased, and MPG fields will only
be displayed if it was a gas purchase, and the tank was completely
filled.
     One note. If the tank is not filled for a gas purchase, the
gallons of gas will be held, then totaled with the next gas
purchase that fills the tank. This is done to accurately compute
miles per gallon.
     The program holds the last 70 entries in the database in
memory. If you have 70 entries in the database, you can enter 30
more, then the program will save the database automatically, and
reload. This is done to save memory space. You can have a unlimited
amount of entries in the database. However you can edit the last
70 entries only.

F2: Delete Transaction. This will delete the highlighted
transaction, and remove it from the database. If you exit without
saving the information, then the transaction will not be deleted,
but will return when you reload the file. The transaction that you
wish to delete must be highlighted.

F3: Sort the database. You can sort for different methods.
     1. Date.
     2. Receipt Number.
     3. Purchased From.
     4. Amount of Purchase.
This will aid you in finding entries when the database gets large.
When you select this command, a pop up menu will appear asking for
the type of sort you want. Select the letter matching the sort, and
it will sort and display the information. If you exit, and save the
data file when sorted, it will stay sorted when you load it next
time.

F4: Quick Stats. This will calculate the information held in the
last 70 entries in the database. It will give you the following
information.
     1. Beginning Milleage.
     2. Ending Millage.
     3. Total gallons purchased.
     4. Total Dollars for all amounts.
     5. Total for all amounts together.
     6. Average Miles Per Gallon.

F5: Exit and Save. This will exit the Enter / Edit screen, save the
datafile, and return you to the pull down menu for Enter / Edit.






Enter: This will pull the transaction highlighted and allow you to
edit it. The edit is the same as the Enter Command. One warning
here though. You can edit all information. However if you edit the
Tank Filled Field, and that transaction is not the last entry in
the database, your calculation for MPG will be wrong. To change
that field, you will have to delete all transactions that have not
complete filled the tank in order. Then re-enter them in order
correctly.

F10: Help. Will pull up the help screen for that section of the
program.

Escape: Exit without save. This is the only option that you can not
point to with the mouse and make it work. This is to prevent loss
of entered data. This command will exit the purchase screen, and
not save the information that you have entered. When you press it,
it will prompt you to make sure you want to do that.

Keys Used:

     Up/Down Arrow Keys: Will highlight a different transaction.
You can do the same thing with the mouse moving the mouse pointer
to the up and down arrow and pressing the Left Mouse Button.

     Page Up / Down: Will allow you to page through the transaction
in a rapid manner. You can do the same with the mouse by moving the
mouse pointer to the PGUP PGDN on the top of the screen and
pressing the left mouse button.

Keys Used while Entering a Purchase:

     Delete: Will delete the character at the cursor, an move the
     other respectively.

     Insert: Will Toggle insert on and off for data entry.

     Left Arrow: Will Move the cursor to the left in that field.

     Right Arrow: Will Move the cursor to the right in that field.

     BackSpace: Will delete the previous character, and move the
     cursor to the left.

     Up Arrow: Will move to the previous field. If in the first
     field it will move to the last field in the screen.

     Down Arrow: Will move to the next field in the data entry
     screen. If at the bottom field, it will move you to first
     Field.

     Enter: Will enter your information, and move to the next
     Field.

     F1: Will exit the input screen, and ask if to save it or not.

     Any Mouse Key: Will exit input screen, and ask if to save it
     or not.


Mouse Usage: While in the purchase screen, you can point to any
command, and press the left mouse button to activate that command.
You can highlight a transaction by pointing to it, and pressing the
left mouse button. Then you can press the right mouse button to
edit that transaction.  On the left side of the display, there is
a bar, with an arrow on bottom and top. This is used for
highlighting transaction one at a time. On the top of the page is
a PGUP PGDN display. Pointing to them, and pressing the left button
will activate them.

                    Reports Commands

Transaction Report: This will print out transactions to the printer
or the screen. You have two ways of printing the information.
1. Print All Transactions.
2. Print From Date too To Date.
When you select Transaction Report from the pull down menu, another
pop up menu will appear. This menu is to select one of the two
about formats. If you select all, the program will ask whether to
send it to the screen or the printer. If you select screen, it
start printing to the screen. If you select printer, it will ask
you to ready the printer and continue. Then it will print the
information to the printer. You can press ESC to exit while
printing the information.

Purchase From Report This command will prompt you for the search
string to locate the transactions to print. This routine will
search for any match of the string that you enter. If you enter
just the letter 'a', it will locate all entries that has the letter
'a' in it and print it. So the more characters that you enter, the
more restricted the printout will be. It will also print to the
screen or the printer at your choice, an works the same as the
Transaction report from that point on.

Maintenance Report: This will print out the when the scheduled
maintenance for the key information was last done. It will also
print the millage that it will be due, with the date due also.
This will also print to either the screen or the printer.

Key Information Report: This will print out all information held
in the key information. Including:
1. Finance Information.
2. Insurance Information.
3. Service Information.
4. Maintenance Information.
This report can only be printed to the printer. When selected it
will ask you to ready the printer. Then you can select whether to
continue or abort the printout.

Report Totals: This will print out the transactions with any
amount. Then at the end, it will print the totals for all of the
amounts. This can only be printed to the printer. When selected it
will ask to ready printer. Then you can select whether to continue
or not.
Note:  If you select a printout to the printer, the program will
lock until the printer is ready. Then will continue when the
printout is complete.
                         Graph Commands

     The graphics system will provide bar graphs for all of the
purchases. They can be broken down into either for the whole year,
or down to a specific month. EGA or VGA system is required for use
of the graphics system.
     To use the graphics system, select it at the main bar menu.
This will bring a input screen up. The program needs information
about what you want to graph. For a yearly graph, enter 'Y' for the
first field. You can skip the second field for yearly graphs. Then
on the third field select the value that you want the graph for.
Then press any mouse key, or F1 to get the graph.
     For a monthly report enter 'M' in the first field. Enter the
number of the month in the second field. Then enter the value that
you want the graph for in the third field. Then press any mouse
key, or F1 to get the graph.
     After the graph is displayed, you will be returned to the
graph input screen. If you want more graphs follow the procedures
above. If you do not wish to continue, just press any mouse key or
F1 with nothing in the fields. That will return you to the main
bar menu.





















                          Please Register

     I have worked hard on the program, and hope that is something
that you will find of use. If so, please register the program. The
registration fee for the program is $20.00. With that you will be
entitled to use of the program, and any updates that occur within
a year of you registering the program. You can register the program
easily. You can either call the number on the registration form,
and get your registration within minutes. Or you can mail in the
registration form with your check or money order. When you mail it
in, I will send back your serial / registration number in the mail
within 6 to 8 weeks. I work the registration for this program a
little different then others. The program that you get is the same
you will keep when registered. By registering the program, you will
get a serial number for your program. That number you can use to
register your program. This has a couple of benefits. One is with
Visa and Master Card, you can register your program right away,
with no delay. Number two is that the serial number will work on
any updates that I put out for the program. So you do not have to
wait for updates, you automatically get it when you download the
new program. Third is that you do not have a problem getting the
registered version. With some of the other programs that I have
made, I sent them out in the mail. Sometimes the disk was bad, or
they would get damaged in shipment. This causes bad feelings for
both me an the person registering the program. This way, you will
not have that problem. Forth is that it eliminates that same
problem for updates. Fifth, is that what you see is what you get.
The program is not crippled in options. It is inhibited in the
amount of time you can use it.
     I believe in the Public Domain, Shareware concept. Nothing is
more disappointing to me that going out and spending $40.00 and
more. Getting home and finding out it is totally useless for what
I wanted to do. The idea of being able to try a program out, and
seeing what it can do before putting out the money is a good one.
I hope that you will find this program of use, and register it. If
you find it of use, pass it around to others.


















                      Authors Note

     This program is a specialized program to help maintain a
automobile, and make it easier on you. It will also give you
information on how your car is performing. By looking at the gas
millage over a period of time, you can get a good indication of how
the car is performing. It is also handy in the fact that it will
keep information that is important to in maintaining the
automobile. It works really well for people that have to keep a
millage log on their travels and all of the expenses.
     My main reason for generating the program was because I could
not find anything else that would do what I wanted it to do. I want
to be able to get information about the automobile, without digging
through a bunch of paperwork. I could get all of the information,
but to keep in the computer I would have to use two or three
different programs to do so.
     Another reason, partially, is being in the Navy. I want to
make something that would aid my wife in taking care of the car.
Not everybody knows the information that is required to call a gas
station and get service. This way, with the program she could
easily get the information once I put it into the program.
     I have not finished adding features to the program. However
I felt that it was time to send it out. For a number of reasons.
As with all new programs, there can be bugs that are not out of it.
I have worked hard to get them out, and believe that it is a
reliable program for people to use. However, if you do run into a
problem, please take the time to fill out the bug report and send
it in. The bug report form is in the zip file when you got the
program. That way I will be able to fix the problem. Another reason
is to get other ideas. This is not the first program that I have
made. I have found that allot of people out there have some really
good ideas on how they like things to work. If you have a
suggestion, I will be more than glad to look at it. Just write me
a line. If I implement the suggestion, I will let you know.