Dac-Easy Light - "Less Filling Accounting For Home And Office"
                       Copyright 1988 David W. Batterson


     I love the Dac-Easy Light manual cover--it looks like a can of "Light"
beer.  Now that's a refreshing difference for boring accounting software!
     Dac-Easy software (including Dac-Easy Accounting, Dac-Easy Payroll,
Dac-Easy Base, Dac-Easy Word II, etc.) has had remarkable success in the
marketplace, selling several hundred thousand copies.  The company was one of
the first to offer high performance, affordable accounting software for small
businesses.
     Their latest offering, Dac-Easy Light--is "tailor-made for the growing
home office market in America."  You don't need five years of training at Price
Waterhouse to use it.
     To setup, you select Home or Business accounting system, choose your
printer, change the default colors if you like, plus enter your name, address,
etc.
    The Home Chart of Accounts is categorized by such things as Home & Mortgage
Payments, Wages & Salary, and Furniture & Appliances.  The Business Chart of
Accounts includes Sales, Payroll and Office Equipment.
     Now you're ready to enter the exciting world of accounting via PC!  The
main menu is divided into Banks, Reconcile, Credit Cards, Invoices, Accounting
and Print.  I decided to try out a sample invoice.
     Although pre-printed forms are available, you can print invoices on plain
paper.  You enter information the same way you would fill out an invoice by
hand, such as invoice number, customer name & address, terms, product or
service sold, balance forwarded, sales tax, and total due.
     My sample worked the first time with no pains, and I printed it out on a
laser printer for a better appearance.  Virtually all popular printers are
supported.
     If my invoice had been real, it would be ready to mail.  You can also
create invoices in a point-of-sale environment, such as Bob's Muffler Shop.
     As I do very little in the way of accounting, I didn't explore all
Dac-Easy Light's features.  However, it does all the customary things: sales
journals, general ledger, check writing, bank reconciliation, transaction
reports and mailing labels.
     For the small businessperson, Dac-Easy Light looks like a pretty good
accounting system to this non-expert.  About 25% of Dac Software's staff are in
customer support, so adequate help is available via an extended support plan. 
     The price seems right at a suggested list of $69.95 (mail order software
dealers sell it for much less).
     For more information, contact Dac Software, Inc., 4801 Spring Valley Rd.,
Bldg. 110 B, Dallas, TX  75244; (214) 458-0038; (800) 992-7779 for orders only.
                                       #
     David Batterson is a computer writer and consultant.  He never met a
ledger he liked.  Contact him via MCI MAIL: DBATTERSON.