DP Tool Club 31/CDASC_31_1996_juillet_aout.iso/vrac/atnd42s.zip/README.TXT

Text File | 1996-05-30 | 29KB | 555 lines

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║                                                                           ║
║         ATTEND.EXE Employee Attendance Tracking Database Program          ║
║                              Version 4.2                                  ║
║        Copyright 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 Robert J. Manning, author.        ║
║               Shareware version summary documentation 5/96                ║
║                                                                           ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║   Register your copy of ATTEND v4.2 and receive complete printed doc-     ║
║   umentation, the fully functional version of ATTEND, discounts on        ║
║   future upgrades, and discounts on custom versions for your business.    ║
║                                                                           ║
║   Avoid future price increases! See the file REGISTER.TXT for a regist-   ║
║   ration form. Print out a copy, fill it in and mail today!               ║
║                                                                           ║
║            Robert Manning, PO Box 2011, Lomita, CA 90717 USA              ║
║                                                                           ║
║          Email: [e-mail] or [e-mail]           ║
║                                                                           ║
║   Visit the SBCA Web Page (includes a link to the authors' FTP site) at:  ║
║   http://members.aol.com/robertm782/private/sbcapage.htm                  ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝


      DOCUMENTATION AND REGISTRATION
      ══════════════════════════════
      This is not the full documentation for ATTEND!! It is only a
      summary of some important functions. Full documentation for the
      program is only provided to registered users. The complete document-
      ation includes a program walk-through, to demonstrate all major
      features of the program, as well as full details on all features.
      Some features of the program reserved for the registered version.

      Upon registration you will be sent a package containing your fully
      functional copy of the program, and the full printed manual for
      Attend, as well as a copy of the documentation in Windows Write
      format, your personalized Master Passcode, and will be eligible for
      full support and 50% discounts on future versions of Attend.

      Register ATTEND today for just $30.00 U.S.!


      ABOUT ATTEND
      ════════════
      The short version:
      ──────────────────
      The program keeps a running record of attendance incidents, as well
as vacation and sick leave. Excused and unexcused incidents can be recorded,
and a running total of unexcused leave time is also shown. The program keeps
a seperate dataset of imported incidents in the form of timeclock punches,
and can be used to total time worked and calculate pay, if data is entered
consistently. Time clock punches can be imported from an external program,
or from the enclosed timeclock utility. Lengthy comment files can be kept
on each employee for those really interesting excuses.

      The slightly longer version:
      ────────────────────────────
      ATTEND is a single purpose Database program. It is designed to take
away some of the trouble involved in finding and implementing an easy method
of tracking and recording Employee attendance. It employs a combination of
database and spreadsheet functions, to help format and track attendance. It
can track approximately 200 employees per working directory, flags you when
updates are due, computes statistics on employee leave occurrence types, as
well as optionally storing employee personal information, allows use of
extended comment files for making notes, and many other useful functions.

      Versions 4 and above contain two completely new additional features:
A TimeClock program, which will perform the various time clock tracking
functions for recording actual work times, and an Import function, which
can not only import and track data from the TimeClock program, but import
ASCII text timeclock data to ATTEND from an external timeclock. The Import
utility can also be used to total hours worked over time, and report the
employees unadjusted pay.

      ATTEND can be run on any IBM compatible system, including the oldest
systems. It requires DOS 3 or higher, and that's about it. It can be run
in a text-window within Windows on a Pentium, or on a monochrome-screen XT.

      Version 3.4 and above can be run on a network, again using at least
DOS 3.0. SHARE.EXE must be installed in order to do so.

      Version 3.5 and above use a 'Master Passcode' feature, intended for
system administrators. It allows you to bypass the normal password (if
it's in use), lock out normal password usage, and also allows you to change
the normal pass-word. This feature has a hardcoded master passcode, which
is unique for each registered copy. The ShareWare copy uses one non-unique
passcode. The passcode for the ShareWare version is 4FP39QN6V. When you
register your copy of ATTEND, your new registered copy will be embedded
with a unique passcode, known only to the registrant.

      The screen saver enclosed can also be used on monochrome, EGA, or VGA
screens (though the graphics routines will not work in a Window - use full
screen mode for them).


      PROGRAM UPDATES
      ═══════════════
      Changes in this maintenance release include:

         -More exits from update routine
         -F6 Delete function checks data, comment, and master file seperately,
          and even if the file fails the size check
         -Moved the auto-select jump so you can find the main VIEW and UPDATE
          menus, and the extra functions in them, without first selecting an
          employee file
         -Fixed printing for stats in view master file
         -Added personal data report, all employees's, to printing menu
         -Fixed create function, allows correction of personal data
         -Added 3 functions to clearning menu, to clear all data/comment
          files


      WHY ATTEND?
      ═══════════
      ATTEND was created to fill a niche in business management, that of
keeping an organized record of employee attendance. In todays' more
competitive work environment, it has become more critical than ever to
monitor employee work attendance habits, so that corrective measures can
be taken, ensuring an employers' profit, and the employees' continued
employment.

      The cost of employee attendance is often overlooked. It is easy to
overlook those employees who arrive a few minutes late, leave a few
minutes early, and do this on a continual basis. Consider a person making
an hourly wage of $10, and suppose this person comes in just five minutes
late every day, and leaves five minutes early. They might also take five
extra minutes during their break, and another five if there's a second
break period. That's twenty minutes a day. Whether the employee realizes it
or not, they're costing both you and themselves money.

      In a week, this twenty minutes per day costs the employer $16.67, in
a 4.3 week month $71.67, in a year $866.67! So, it costs the employer the
equivalent of 1 and 2/3 hours per week in missed productivity. Multiply
this by the number of employees, and the numbers can get large quickly.

      ATTEND can help you reduce this needless business cost. It can pay
for itself in less than a month, by showing just one employee what their lax
attendance is costing you. Version 4.2 of ATTEND can track the cost of
employee attendance to at least one hundredth of an hour. The new TimeClock
function can also reduce your workload spent tracking attendance, and the
Import function can accept ASCII text clock punch files, for reduced time
spent on data entry. And now with version 4.2, you can use the program for
tracking hours worked over any period in a calendar year, and calculate
your employees unadjusted pay.


      NEWS FLASH: ATTEND FOR WINDOWS 1.0
      ══════════════════════════════════
      The previous version readme file advertised that there was no Windows
version of the program in development. Well, shortly after I made that
claim, I began working on one! (Never say never...) Attend for Windows 1.0
is nearing completion, and should be available in the summer of 1996. Keep
an eye on the SBCA Shareware Center WWW page for updates. There are two
conversion programs available to convert your Attend for DOS files over to
Attend for Windows (available only to those users who register).


      FILES IN SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTION
      ═══════════════════════════════
      This program may be freely distributed, provided that all files listed
below are included with the program. The zipped archive file ATND42S.ZIP
contains the following files:

      File Name:        Type:
      ───────────       ──────────────────
      ATNDRUN.CFG       Configuration file
      COLOR.CFG            "  "
      EXEMPT.CFG           "  "
      HOURLY.CFG           "  "
      OTHER.CFG            "  "
      SALARIED.CFG         "  "
      TCRUN.CFG            "  "
      TEMPEMPL.CFG         "  "
      FILE_ID.DIZ       Description In Zip file
      ATNRST.EXE        Utility executable
      ATTEND.EXE        Main program executable
      GRPUPDT.EXE       Utility executable
      IMPORT.EXE           "  "
      IP1.EXE              "  "
      MASTRSRT.EXE         "  "
      RUNCONFG.EXE         "  "
      SAVERSXA.EXE         "  "
      STATCFG.EXE          "  "
      TIMECLOK.EXE         "  "
      VIEWER.EXE           "  "
      ATTEND.ICO        Windows Icon
      ATTEND.PIF        Windows program information file
      README.TXT        Program information text file
      REGISTER.TXT      Registration form text file
      SAVEDELA.Y        Configuration file
      SAMPLES.ZIP       Contains sample employee files and their related
                        configuration files. Take care not to over-write
                        your existing master files with these. If in doubt,
                        unzip to a test directory first.

      If for some reason you are missing one or more of these files, please
contact the author. The complete program is available on the South Bay
Computer Assistance WWW page at:

      http://members.aol.com/robertm782/private/sbcapage.htm

      Please mention where you obtained the program that was missing files.


      SAMPLE FILES
      ════════════
      Some sample files are included with version 4.2. These files allow
you to explore Attend quickly. There are five files, each of them use
similar names; The employee Badge/ID#'s are Sample1, Sample2, Sample3,
Sample4, and Sample5, one of each status type. Sample1's file has had more
records added to it, and a larger comment file, so you can take a look at
what Attend can do.

      IMPORTANT:
      ──────────
      These sample files are enclosed in the file SAMPLES.ZIP. Be careful
if you are installing this version over an older one, as this file contains
a master tracking file and configuration files for the utilities! DO NOT
OVER-WRITE YOUR EXISTING FILES WITH ANY OF THESE, OR YOUR DATA WILL BE LOST!
If you don't have a previous installation of Attend, no problem. You will
need PKUNZIP version 2.04g or better to unzip this file.

      These sample files are all set up to run on each of Attend's util-
ities as well; You can experiment with punching the Timeclock for Sample1
for example, or search the Import dataset on another file to see how it
works.

      Once you are comfortable with what Attend can do, and before starting
data entry, you may wish to delete these files from Attend, or reinstall the
program to a fresh directory.


      RUNNING THE PROGRAM
      ═══════════════════
      To run the program, type in ATTEND and press Enter. To set ATTEND up to
be run from within Windows, please refer to your Windows documentation for
setting up a new program item. Keep in mind that the present password is set
to BOB, and that the master passcode for the shareware version is 4FP39QN6V.


      INSTALLING OVER PREVIOUS VERSIONS
      ═════════════════════════════════
      If you have a previous version of the program, please do not directly
install this version over your previous copy. You must take care not to over-
write your configuration files:

     EXEMPT.CFG
     HOURLY.CFG
     OTHER.CFG
     SALARIED.CFG
     TEMPEMPL.CFG

      You can over write these files, but then you will have to re-enter your
employee status configurations. Please over-write all other files, with the
exception of the files contained in SAMPLES.ZIP. See section above on the
'Sample Files'.


      BEFORE YOU BEGIN
      ════════════════
      Before you begin Data entry to ATTEND, it would be wise to review the
Employee Status Type configurations. Assure that the configuration adheres to
your Company policy before continuing. This configuration sets the number of
hours of Vacation and Sick leave to grant upon Anniversary. For more
frequent updating of Vacation or Sick leave, there is a Mass Update function
which can update employees in groups of status type, length of employment,
or all employees.

      Assure that your systems' Date is correct. ATTEND makes use of your
computers' internal Date to perform searches and updates. Incorrect Date may
produce undesirable results. Date and Time may be set from within ATTEND.

      Attend contains many features divided into related groups. It will
take some time to discover what the program can do. Use a copy of Attend
along with the sample files to experiment with the program - this will keep
you from learning the data entry part before actually using the program.
You'll find that once set up, Attend is fairly easy to use.

      The program is being updated and improved all the time, and your
questions and suggestions are most valuable in improving the program. Feel
free to send an Email to the author at any time.


      THE PASSWORDS
      ═════════════
      Password protection can be enabled; please write the password down in a
safe place before using the function. The current password is set to BOB.
Please change this password when possible for increased security. The
master passcode for the shareware version is 4FP39QN6V. Enter this passcode
in place of the normal password, and you can lock out the normal password,
or change it in case a user forgets theirs.


      THE IMPORT FUNCTION
      ═══════════════════
      This feature allows you to enter attendance occurrences into ATTEND
from an external program. Whether it be from a spreadsheet, word processor,
or another timeclock program, ATTEND will accept ASCII text type files for
input, and import resulting attendance incidents to the ATTEND database.
A copy of the import data can also be placed into the employee's comment
file.

      Version 4.2 has had a new feature added, due to many requests. The
Query Dataset for Totals feature (F5) will search the import dataset on
one employee, a status type, or all employees, over any date range in the
same calendar year, and report the hours worked for each employee, in
addition to their unadjusted pay. The results are displayed in a scrolling
window onscreen, and in the registered version, can be saved to ASCII
text file, and printed. Some features are reserved for the registered
version.

      The Import utility expects a certain format for input. The text
file records should be arranged in this order:

      Badge/ID# (8 chars maximum)
      Time of occurrence (8 chars in the format HH:MM:SS)
      Type of Occurrence (see below)
      (one blank line between each occurrence)

      Spaces should be inserted between each occurrence in this import text
file. For example, the next few lines show an example:

      12345
      07:05:00
      1

      678
      08:30:00
      3

      7654
      16:00:00
      2

      The first group shows employee #12345 clocking in at 7 a.m., and the
second group shows employee #678 clocking out to their first break at
8:30 a.m. The last group shows employee #7654 clocking out for the day at
4 p.m. Note that times are expressed in 24 hour format, and all digits are
used, even if zero.

      The types of occurrences that the import program is set to record are
as follows:

      Numeric Code:     Meaning:
      -------------     --------
      1                 Clock in for work
      2                 Clock out from work
      3                 Clockout to first break
      4                 Clockin from first break
      5                 Clockout to Lunch
      6                 Clockin from Lunch
      7                 Clockout to second break
      8                 Clockin from second break
      9                 Other

      The 'Other' fields are specified on two of the three timeclock
screens. For more detailed information on their meaning, please register
your copy of Attend. Full, printed documentation is provided only to
registered users.

      Before actually importing text, you must set up the import utility
dataset. This dataset contains normal clock times, work week hours, and so
forth. It can be accessed from the import menu. Information for all
employees in your ATTEND database will need to be entered into the import
configuration.

      Note that there is no date specified for these records. The date for
all records in an import text file comes from the file name. The import
utility will automatically look for a file using the date as a filename
whenever you try to import text. If it does not find one, it will ask for
one. For example, on August 1st, 1995, it will look for a file named
08011995.DAT. The file should be placed into the same working directory
with Attends' records, be it the current working directory, or the assigned
working directory you specified in the program configuration menu.

      The shareware version of the program will not actually finish sending
this data to Attend. This is a reserved feature for those who purchase the
program (register). However, the data will remain in the import dataset,
and may be sent to ATTEND using the Registered version of the program. You
will not lose any data; it will remain in the import dataset.


      THE TIMECLOCK FUNCTION
      ══════════════════════
      This feature can replace a normal mechanical timeclock, allowing
clock punches and attendance information to be more easily recorded and
tracked. ASCII text file output is standard; the registered version can
also send the clock punch information directly to the Import utility
dataset, bypassing the text import step and saving time.

      Passwords for each employee can be enabled; the first password for
each employee will be taken from the last four digits of the employees'
Social Security number, as entered in Attend. Three different clock
screens can be used, small/large text and graphical.

      Passwords can be changed by the administrator, in the event one of
your employees forgets their password. Note that employee passwords in the
configuration function are visible; take care to only let a responsible
party use the function. This function can also be used to automatically
set up the timeclock configuration using Attends' master file.

      For more information on this utility, please register your copy of
Attend. Some features reserved for the registered version.


      ANSWERS TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS
      ═════════════════════════════════
      The previous version readme file advertised that there was no Windows
version of the program in development. Well, shortly after I made that
claim, I began working on one! (Never say never...) Attend for Windows 1.0
is nearing completion, and should be available in the summer of 1996. Keep
an eye on the SBCA Shareware Center WWW page for updates. There are two
conversion programs available to convert your Attend for DOS files over to
Attend for Windows (available only to those users who register).

      This DOS version of Attend is not going to be abandoned. One of my
principles for keeping the DOS version around for so long is that it will
work on any IBM PC, XT and up, and on DOS 3+, and Windows. There are some
differences between the two versions; each has it's own benefits. You, the
user, will determine if Attend for DOS stays alive, as judged by the amount
of registrations.

      Let me encourage you to write in with your suggestions for the
program. Your feedback is critical in the product improvement process.

      Some features of Attend have been implemented in a general way. Some
of you have written in asking for very specific features. If you wish to
procure a custom version of Attend, please ask. Otherwise, your suggestions
will be taken and converted such that the average user can make use of
them.

      I have absolutely no problem with changing the title on the main
menu screen, for those of you setting up this program for a client's
business. I'd like to keep the Attend title up there, but the rest of it
is up to you. Should you wish the client's business name up there, I can
find another place to put the program title.

      Keep in mind that I rebuild each and every one of the registered
versions, as your unique master passcodes are all hard-coded into the
program. So, it's not a big deal to add a line of text, and I wouldn't
mind changing the signoff screen, either. Random jokes are out though,
there just isn't room!

      The source code is not available for purchase. I have a hard time
setting a price on a fourth year project, something like 15,000+ lines
of code, and well over a couple thousand hours time invested. If you have a
programming question though, feel free to ask.

      Let me apologize if the reserved features cause you some chagrin.
Attend is most certainly a labor of love, but one can't expect an author
to give away everything he makes for free. Speaking of which...


      REGISTRATION AND PRODUCT SUPPORT
      ════════════════════════════════
      Please see the file REGISTER.TXT for a registration/purchase form for
ATTEND version 4.2.

      Many hundreds of hours went into the development and preparation of
ATTEND. ShareWare is a type of distribution, not a type of software. You
may 'Try out' a shareware program for 30 days, before paying for it - this
is the main feature of ShareWare. Most ShareWare programs are equal in
quality - if not superior - to their commercially distributed counterparts.

      In addition to being able to try out a program before purchasing it,
you save on the cost of the program, as the author saves on costs associated
with commercial distribution. Thus, ShareWare benefits both the user and
the author alike, cutting the middleman and his costs.

      The main menu of ATTEND will report the first date the program is
used. This is a reminder to register your copy in 30 days, should you be
using the program at that time. Please do not continue to use ATTEND
beyond 30 days without purchasing the registered version. Only by legally
purchasing ATTEND can the author be convinced to continue to develop and
enhance the program. The program will not cease to function at 30 days - it
is not expireware. However, a few features are reserved for the registered
version, as is full program documentation.

      ATTEND is *not* free software. I regret that in addition to the
printed manual as a registration incentive, that I have reserved parts of
the new 'Additional Features' for people who pay for (register) ATTEND.
You can try out the TimeClock and Import features, but they will not per-
form all of their functions in the shareware distribution version.


      WHAT YOU RECEIVE FOR REGISTERING
      ════════════════════════════════
      Registering ShareWare usually brings the purchaser additional benefits,
such as documentation, program support, enhanced or updated versions, and
discounts on future versions of the program. These are all true for ATTEND.

      This file is not the full documentation for Attend. It is only a
short summation, distributed with the shareware version. Upon your
registration, you will receive by return mail the complete, printed
50+ page documentation package for the program (not found in the shareware
version), a new copy of ATTEND with all reserved features fully
functional (including a unique master passcode), full support by Email,
telephone, and post mail, and a 50% discount on future upgrades.


      WHAT IF ATTEND DOESN'T MEET MY NEEDS?
      ═════════════════════════════════════
      If you find that the program does not meet your needs, no problem.
Simply delete it from your computer system. If you would be so kind as to
send a short Email message to the author, your review of ATTEND would help
to further develop the program. Though full support is only granted to
registered users, if you experience a problem running ATTEND, please write
me and let me know what happened.

      Contact the author by Email or post, concerning customized versions
of ATTEND for your particular business. Write the author a note with your
question or suggestion, and if it fits the purpose of the program, it may
be implemented in a future version.


      WHAT ABOUT PROGRAM SUPPORT?
      ═══════════════════════════
      Registered users of ATTEND receive full product support. This means
if you have a problem with the program, have a special need that is *simple*
to implement, or don't understand something, your question or need will be
taken care of by the author. This also means that if necessary, a new
program executable will be rebuilt for you and sent by Email. The author
stands behind his work, and you may rest assured that your purchase of
this program is not the last you will hear from *this* author.

      The author can't support UNregistered users, and disclaims any and
all liability for any mishaps, errors, omissions, or any other problems
that may arise out of the use of the program, for the ShareWare version.
That's fair, isn't it? ;-)                    ──────────────────────────

      Thank you for trying out ATTEND!

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                                           ║
║  ATTEND V4.2 Employee Attendance Tracking Database Program Registration   ║
║                                                                           ║
║  Send completed registration form along with check or money order for     ║
║  $30 (U.S.) to:                                                           ║
║                                                                           ║
║         (For currently registered users, the upgrade fee is $15.)         ║
║                                                                           ║
║      Robert J. Manning, PO Box 2011, Lomita, CA 90717 (Current 8/95)      ║
║                                                                           ║
║      Email inquiries may be sent to the following addresses:              ║
║                                                                           ║
║      America Online: RobertM782       Compuserve: 76022,1630              ║
║      Internet: [e-mail]                                         ║
║                                                                           ║
║   Visit the SBCA Web Page (includes a link to the authors' FTP site) at:  ║
║   http://members.aol.com/robertm782/private/sbcapage.htm                  ║
║                                                                           ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝