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*****************************************************************
-> This file contains detailed instructions for installing,
loading and using PERS-PLAN. It can be used for reference
purposes or resolving any problems encountered when using
PERS-PLAN.
-> The file has been supplied as an integral part of PERS-PLAN.
This is a personal financial planning software package developed
as a shareware package for use on a 'try-before-you-buy' basis
by Invest-Tech Limited. For contact details, see end of this file.
-> To print this file, type "PRINT MANUAL.TXT"
(Press CTRL+BREAK to quit now)
*****************************************************************
PERS-PLAN (r3.0)
================
Personal Cashflow Planner
=========================
Invest-Tech Limited
27 Ardmeen Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Irish Tel: 01-283 4083 UK Tel: 01232-315454
(Call 9 to 9 weekdays and 10 to 6 weekends - GMT/BST)
Fax: 278 2391
Fax codes: Irish:01- UK:00-353-1- Inter'l:+353-1-
CompuServe: 100606,2665
Internet: 100606.2665@compuserve.com
***************************************************************
CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
=====================
1. Introduction
2. Very Quick Start
3. Loading PERS-PLAN
3.1 Loading from a Hard Disk or 3.5" Disk
3.2 Loading from Two 5.25" Disks
4. Basics of PERS-PLAN
4.1 Loading a PERS-PLAN Budget
4.2 Key Instructions
4.3 Saving Assumptions
4.4 Changing Display Settings
4.5 Changing Printer Settings
5. Exploring PERS-PLAN
5.1 First Exercise - Reports & Assumptions
5.2 Second Exercise - Getting Help
5.3 Third Exercise - Using CTRL
6. Using PERS-PLAN
6.1 Getting Started
6.2 Building the Budget
6.3 Printing Graphs
6.4 Advancing Projections
6.5 Using the Budget
7. Support & Assistance
*****************************************************************
1. INTRODUCTION
===============
Invest-Tech's main activities relate to management consultancy
and the development and sale of business and financial planning
software. Details of our other products are contained in the Help
Pages within PERS-PLAN and in a text file, README.TXT,
accompanying PERS-PLAN.
For a general introduction to PERS-PLAN, its system requirements
and related information, please refer to the README.TXT text
file.
PERS-PLAN is a shareware product and supplied on a "try-before-
you-buy" and unsupported basis. If you wish to continue using it
after a 30-day trial period you must register as a user with
Invest-Tech. In return for registering, you will secure the latest
full version of PERS-PLAN with access to all its print and file
facilities and you will receive a copy of the more complete printed
and bound manual. You also gain access to full support. See README.TXT
for further details.
You can use the Registration Form in the text file REGISTER.TXT
to register via Invest-Tech. If you are located in North America,
you can register via "PsL" (Public software Library).
The information and data contained in this file are subject to
change without notice and do not represent a commitment by the
vendor.
The described software is supplied under a licence agreement
and may be used only in accordance with the terms of the User
Licence Agreement which is included in README.TXT.
PERS-PLAN can only be distributed or copied under the terms of
the Distributor Agreement contained in the VENDOR.TXT file.
This is the most comprehensive of all the text files accompanying
PERS-PLAN. The other text files are as follows:
Read-1st.txt Key introductory info. to be read by all new users.
Filelist.txt Contains a list and descriptions of all
PERS-PLAN's files.
Readme.txt Basic text file. Should be read by new users.
Enterass.txt Contains detailed guidance on entering
assumptions. Will be useful to first-time users.
Register.txt Contains registration details and Registration
Form. Use to register.
Vendor.txt Contains short/long descriptions of PERS-PLAN
etc. as well as a copy of Distributor Agreement
and Form. For use by shareware libraries.
Money.txt Dozens of quotes about money to amuse and/or
inform users.
Picprt.txt Describes use of PICprint, the graph printing
utility incorporated in PERS-PLAN.
The following batch files also contain explanatory text:
Pp.bat Used to load PERS-PLAN in conjunction with an
*.ASS file specified by the user.
Go.bat Special introductory program to be run by new users
as soon as they have installed/unzipped PERS-PLAN.
Start.bat May not be present. Used to facilitate
installation and unzipping of PERSPLAN.EXE.
*****************************************************************
2. VERY QUICK START
===================
The following guidelines assume that you have already installed
(i.e. copied, unzipped, unarchived, uncompressed etc.) the
complete set of PERS-PLAN files onto a hard disk, a 3.5" disk
or two 5.25" disks.
If you wish to check that you have received all PERS-PLAN's
files, refer to FILELIST.TXT.
Once you have completed the instructions immediately below,
skip down to Section 4. If you encounter problems or need
additional guidance, refer to Section 3 below.
If PERS-PLAN has been installed onto a hard disk:
------------------------------------------------
a) Get into the sub-directory where you have installed all
PERS-PLAN's files (for example if the sub-directory PERS was
used, type "CD PERS" and press RETURN at the DOS prompt).
b) For general introductory information, type "GO". If your
PC uses a very old type of display, do not select this option
- choose c) or d) below.
or
c) For guidance about the syntax for loading PERS-PLAN
etc. type "PP".
or
d) Type "PP MASTER" to load PERS-PLAN along with a set of
specimen assumptions in a file called MASTER.ASS.
If you are running PERS-PLAN from a 3.5" drive:
----------------------------------------------
a) Place the disk to which you have installed PERS-PLAN in a
drive. If necessary, switch to that drive by typing the
drive designation followed by a colon, e.g. "A:", and
press RETURN.
b) For general introductory information, type "GO". If your
PC uses a very old type of display, do not select this option
- choose c) or d) below.
or
c) For guidance about the syntax for loading PERS-PLAN
etc. type "PP".
or
d) Type "PP MASTER" to load PERS-PLAN along with a set of
specimen assumptions in a file called MASTER.ASS.
If you are running PERS-PLAN from dual 5.25" disk drives:
--------------------------------------------------------
a) Place the two disks to which you have installed PERS-PLAN
(and labelled as A & B) into their respective drives.
Switch to the drive with the disk labelled A, e.g. type "A:"
if Disk A was inserted in drive A and press RETURN. If you
are unsure about the correct distribution of PERS-PLAN files
on the A and B disks, refer to README.TXT.
b) Type "PP B:MASTER" to load PERS-PLAN along with a set of
specimen assumptions in a file called MASTER.ASS which is
assumed to be on Disk B in the B drive.
For further guidance about the syntax for loading PERS-PLAN
etc. type "PP".
*****************************************************************
3. LOADING PERS-PLAN
====================
This Section repeats (in greater detail) the instructions for
loading PERS-PLAN which was already presented in the previous
Section.
Skip this Section if you have already loaded PERS-PLAN without
encountering any problems.
Refer to Section 3.1 if you are loading from a Hard Disk or
3.5" Disk, and to Section 3.2 if you are using dual 5.25" disks.
3.1 Loading from a Hard Disk or 3.5" Disk
-----------------------------------------
If using a hard disk, get into the sub-directory on the hard
disk where PERS-PLAN has been installed, i.e. type "CD PERS" and
press RETURN at the C:\> prompt if PERS-PLAN was installed onto
a sub-directory called PERS on a hard disk called C.
If using a 3.5" disk to run PERS-PLAN, it may be wise to make
a backup copy of the supplied files/disk before continuing any
further.
To run PERS-PLAN from a hard disk or a 3.5" drive proceed as
follows:
a) If a Hercules mono display is being used, run a special
set-up programme called MSHERC at the DOS prompt (e.g.
C:\PERS>) before loading PERS-PLAN.
b) Type "PP MASTER" (ensure that a single space is inserted
between PP and MASTER) and wait whilst PERS-PLAN loads
itself together with a set of specimen budget assumptions
contained in a file called MASTER.ASS.
c) After a few moments the title screen for PERS-PLAN will
appear. Press any key a few times to move through the
introductory screens.
If the video display is unsatisfactory, press I (for Initialise)
from PERS-PLAN's Main Menu and then V (for Video) to select a
different type of display.
If using a LCD display, PERS-PLAN's on-screen cursor may not be
visible until the display has been reset to LCD/B&W within the
Video sub-menu (press I, V & L from the Main Menu).
If a Hercules display is being used, PERS-PLAN's graphs will not
display unless Step a), described above, was completed prior to
loading PERS-PLAN.
To quit PERS-PLAN, press G (for Goto), if necessary, to get back
to PERS-PLAN's Main Menu, then press Q (for Quit) from the Main
Menu and give "Y" responses to any subsequent questions.
You should now skip to Section 4 below.
3.2 Loading from Two 5.25" Disks
--------------------------------
It might be wise to make backup copies of all PERS-PLAN's files
before you continue any further.
If you wish to check the distribution of PERS-PLAN files on your
previously labelled A and B disks, refer to README.TXT.
Proceed as follows to load PERS-PLAN:
a) Insert Disk A in one drive and Disk B in the second drive.
b) If using a Hercules mono display, run a special set-up
programme called MSHERC, before loading PERS-PLAN, by typing
"MSHERC" at the DOS prompt for the drive containing Disk A
(e.g. at A:/>).
c) At the DOS prompt for the drive containing Disk A (e.g. at
A:/>), type "PP B:MASTER" (ensure that a single space is
inserted between PP and B:MASTER).
This command has assumed that Disk B is in drive B (if not
so, replace B: in the command by the appropriate drive
designation). Wait whilst PERS-PLAN loads itself from the
disk in drive A together with a set of specimen budget
assumptions contained in a file called MASTER.ASS which
should be on Disk B in drive B.
d) After a few moments the title screen for PERS-PLAN will
appear. Press any key a few times to move through the
introductory screens.
If the video display is unsatisfactory, press I (for
Initialise) from PERS-PLAN's Main Menu and then V (for Video)
and select a different type of display.
If using a LCD display, PERS-PLAN's on-screen cursor may not
be visible until the display has been reset to LCD/B&W within
the Video sub-menu (press I, V & L from the Main Menu).
If a Hercules display is being used, PERS-PLAN's graphs will
not display unless Step b), described above, was completed
prior to loading PERS-PLAN.
To quit PERS-PLAN, press G (for Goto), if necessary, to get
back to PERS-PLAN's Main Menu, then press Q (for Quit) from the
Main Menu and give "Y" responses to any subsequent questions.
Now that you have loaded PERS-PLAN, you can learn the basics
of its operation in the next Section.
*****************************************************************
4. BASICS OF PERS-PLAN
======================
This Section explains the general syntax for loading PERS-PLAN;
key instructions for using PERS-PLAN; and procedures for changing
display and printer settings.
4.1 Loading a PERS-PLAN Budget
------------------------------
This Subsection describes in detail the command line which must
be used to load PERS-PLAN along with a set of budget assumptions.
Note: The shareware version of PERS-PLAN does not permit the
saving of new files - you are restricted to changing, loading and
saving the supplied assumptions file called MASTER.ASS. If you remotely
upgrade your existing copy of PERS-PLAN to the full version, you will
be able to create and save new files as well as access the MASTER file
which may contain assumptions prepared while you were evaluating
PERS-PLAN.
To start loading PERS-PLAN once it has been installed onto a
hard disk, get into the appropriate sub-directory on the hard
disk. For example, type " CD PERS" and press RETURN at the DOS
prompt (e.g. at C:\>).
To start loading PERS-PLAN when using 3.5" or 5.25" drives,
insert the working copy of Disk A into a drive. Users with
5.25" drives should also insert the working copy of Disk B into
the second drive.
The syntax for loading PERS-PLAN with the supplied specimen budget
called MASTER.ASS is as follows:
PP(SPACE)[X:]MASTER
The following is an explanation of this command line:
"PP" is a simple batch file which loads PERS-PLAN's two main
files (Pers.exe and Plan.ovr).
"(SPACE)" signifies a single blank space.
"[X:]" is optional and refers to the disk drive/path containing
the file called MASTER (see next par.). It needs to be used
only when MASTER is not on the same drive or sub-directory
as PERS-PLAN's other files, for example, when using dual
5.25" drives. If MASTER resides on a different sub-directory
to that containing PERS-PLAN, the path should be entered
immediately before MASTER. For example, to load MASTER
located in drive D in a sub-directory called PRIVATE, use the
following command line:
PP(space)D:\PRIVATE\MASTER
"MASTER" is the name of the file containing all the assumptions
relating to a specific budget.
(PERS-PLAN automatically adds a file extension .ASS to
MASTER when you save MASTER. It is unnecessary to type the
extension .ASS when loading MASTER. Typically, a *.ASS file
requires only about 15k of file space.)
PERS-PLAN always looks for its help system file (PERS.HLP) on
the same disk/subdirectory as is used to hold its assumption
files (*.ASS). If the help file is not found, an error message
"Help file not found" will be displayed. To restore the help
facility, copy PERS.HLP onto the disk/subdirectory containing
the assumption files (*.ASS). This task must also be done if the
disk being used to hold assumption files become full and another
disk is going to be used.
TIPS:
1. For on-screen guidance about the syntax for loading PERS-PLAN
etc. type "PP" (i.e. without any FILENAME).
2. For general introductory information, type "GO".
4.2 Key Instructions
---------------------
The following instructions are fundamental to using PERS-PLAN.
They explain how to use its menus, enter assumption values etc.
Section 5 below contain exercises which explore these matters in
greater detail.
If the appearance of reports is unsatisfactory, or the cursor
fails to appear when viewing reports or graphs do not display,
refer to the tasks described in Section 4.4 below to change the
video display.
If you wish, you can now load PERS-PLAN with the supplied assumption
file called MASTER.ASS. Get into the appropriate drive/directory etc.
(see the very start of Section 4.1 if you need guidance), then type
"PP(space)MASTER" if using a hard disk or a 3.5" drive. Type
"PP(space)B:MASTER" if dual 5.25" drives are being used.
To move around PERS-PLAN's menus, either (a) use the cursor keys
to position the cursor over a specific menu item and press RETURN
or (b) type the first capital letter (displayed in red on a
colour display) of the menu item's name (without pressing
RETURN).
Pressing G (for Goto) or RETURN when the cursor is at the first
item in any sub-menu always brings a user back to the Main Menu.
From the Main Menu, experiment by pressing R (for Reports) and
move the cursor down the sub-menu to a specific report; and then
press RETURN to select it. When viewing a report, use the
cursor keys to move the rectangular (red) or flashing cursor
around it. The computer will beep when the boundary of a report
has been reached.
A mouse can be used with PERS-PLAN to select menu items (press
left-hand button to select an item) and to move around reports
displayed on the screen.
All PERS-PLAN's formulae and most of the variable descriptions
contained in its reports have been "secured" to prevent any
possible accidental changes. You can only enter data or make
changes to assumptions in cells, or blocks of cells, which are
unsecured within the four Assumption Reports. These cells are
identified by the ->> and <<->> arrows and their light-coloured
or white backgrounds. Attempts to enter data in any other cells
will be frustrated by a "Secured cell" error message (press
RETURN to clear).
To enter an assumption value, place the cursor at the desired
position within an unsecured cell, enter the value and press
RETURN.
To get back to the Main Menu from within a report, press the
F10 function key (on most computers, these function keys are
located along the top or left side of the keyboard).
Alternatively, use one of the other function keys (F2 to F4), as
indicated by the function key strip at the bottom of the screen,
to directly call up a sub-menu relating to the monthly reports
or graphs.
If a menu unexpectedly disappears at any stage, press F10 to
bring up the Main Menu. Alternatively, press a function key
(F2 to F4) to display a sub-menu and press RETURN or G (for
Goto) one or more times to get back to PERS-PLAN's Main Menu.
If a system error should occur due to conflicting commands
being issued to PERS-PLAN, it may be necessary to press
CTRL+BREAK (press and hold down the CTRL key, tap the BREAK key
and then release both keys) to clear the error and then press
F10 to retrieve the Main Menu.
4.3 Saving Assumptions
----------------------
To save a set of assumptions on disk as an *.ASS file, press F
(for File) at the Main Menu to get into PERS-PLAN's File sub-menu.
This offers a range of options including Replace, Backup, New etc.
for saving assumptions using either a new or an existing file name.
Note: You cannot access the New option with the shareware version of
PERS-PLAN. Use Replace or Backup instead.
The second line of PERS-PLAN's screen display always shows the
name of the currently loaded file and its disk/directory
location (path).
When using the File Replace option, PERS-PLAN overwrites the
existing file with a new version and does not create a back-up
copy.
File Backup renames the current file by changing its extension
name from .ASS to .BAK before saving the updated copy onto disk.
If necessary, the back-up file (*.BAK) can be changed back to an
.ASS file using the DOS Rename command.
When using File Erase, be sure to only erase files with the
.ASS file extension otherwise key program files could be lost.
Press F10 after erasing a file in order to return to the Main
Menu.
Use File Default to change the default (normal) drive and/or
directory (i.e. path) which PERS-PLAN uses for holding its
assumption files (*.ASS).
If PERS-PLAN is being used on a computer with a hard disk which
can be accessed by other people, a user may wish, for personal
security reasons, to always save assumption files on a removable
disk rather than on the hard disk. The default drive should be
changed to refer to this disk drive by pressing F (for File) and
D (for Default) from the Main Menu and editing the indicated
path using the Backspace key.
To completely exit from PERS-PLAN, press Q (for Quit) from its
Main Menu and give "Y" responses to subsequent questions. Be sure
that the assumptions have been saved!
4.4 Changing Display Settings
-----------------------------
For most monitor displays, PERS-PLAN will correctly detect the
type of display being used.
If the video display is unsatisfactory, press I (for Initialise)
from PERS-PLAN's Main Menu and then V (for Video) and select a
different type of display.
If using a LCD display, PERS-PLAN's on-screen cursor may not be
visible until the display has been reset to LCD/B&W within the
Video sub-menu (press I, V & L from the Main Menu).
If a Hercules display is being used, PERS-PLAN's graphs will
not display unless the supplied MSHERC program is run prior to
loading PERS-PLAN.
Precise settings and appearances may vary from monitor to
monitor. If the white and bright white letters or values (denoting
Help Notes and "drill-down" values respectively) cannot be
distinguished on a mono display, try changing the monitor's
contrast settings. If it proves difficult to display PERS-PLAN,
or to see its cursor when viewing reports or Help Pages, try
changing the video display (from the Main Menu press I, V etc.).
4.5 Changing Printer Settings
-----------------------------
PERS-PLAN runs satisfactorily with dot-matrix, laser and ink-jet
printers. This Section explains how to set up PERS-PLAN for these
printer types.
Note: The printing of the monthly reports is closed off in the
shareware version of PERS-PLAN. The following discussion
on printer strings relates to the strings needed to print
full-year reports. Details of the strings required to print
monthly reports are given in the printed manual accompanying
the full version of PERS-PLAN.
If using a dot-matrix printer, use the Initialise sub-menu to
enter setup strings and page lengths for the printer so that it
will automatically print PERS-PLAN's full-year reports using a
non-proportional pitch and to the correct page length for the size
of paper and type of printer being used.
For details of the correct strings to use, consult the printer's
manual or dealer. If the appropriate strings are not immediately
available, ignore, for the time being, the instructions given
below in the paragraph starting with ### and see what happens when
the strings supplied with PERS-PLAN are used. The supplied
page length is 66 lines per page and should prove satisfactory
with most types of dot-matrix printer using either A4 sheets or
8.5" x 11" continuous paper.
If a laser or ink-jet printer is being used, select a 10 cpi or 12
cpi pitch from the printer's control panel or use the procedure
given in the paragraph marked ### below to enter the appropriate
strings and page length. If a HP LaserJet printer or compatible is
being used, try "\027(s12H" for the string and 64 for the length
for the full-year reports (note that you can ignore the prompts for
the monthly reports).
### From the Main Menu, press I (for Initialise) to get into
the Initialise sub-menu, press S (for Strings) and press any
key once to skip the explanatory note. Enter strings for the
full-year reports in response to the prompt which will appear on
the screen (or press RETURN to accept the offered strings). Next,
enter a page length in response to the prompt for full-year reports
(try 64 as the length) and then wait a few moments whilst these
settings are being installed.
If necessary, change the printer margins by choosing M (for
Margins) from within the Initialise sub-menu. Select one margin
to be changed, enter a new value and press RETURN. Repeat this
procedure to change other margins. New users should ignore this
step and try the margin settings supplied with PERS-PLAN.
If it proves necessary to change other printer defaults for the
interface and paper handling, choose D (for Default) from within
the Initialise sub-menu. As supplied, PERS-PLAN uses the
following defaults which can be altered by a user one at a time:
* Interface set for a parallel printer (LPT1:)
* Give line feed after RETURN
* Do not wait for paper to be loaded at a new page
Finally, go to the Main Menu and use F (for File) and R (for
Replace) to save the new printer settings, as an updated copy
of MASTER incorporating any new settings for the printer.
Having set up the printer, test the printing of any report.
From PERS-PLAN's Main Menu, press P (for Print) etc.
If successive reports tend to creep down/up the page during
printing, reduce/increase the page length being used by
PERS-PLAN by the number of lines of creep.
As PERS-PLAN sends extended ASCII characters to the printer no
other printer configuration should be necessary. However, if
the printer fails to print the pounds currency sign, it
may be necessary to switch the printer to using a different
character set or symbol set (try an "IBM" set). Refer to your
printer's manual or READ-1ST.TXT for guidance.
If, during printing, problems of alignment, line or page
skipping, line wraparound etc. are encountered, refer to the
guidance notes in the Help Pages dealing with Resolving printer
problems [ display the Main Menu, press P (for Print) and F1 ].
Then, either use the I (for Initialise) sub-menu to change the
printer set-up, or make changes directly to the printer using
its own controls.
A final initial task which a new user may wish to perform at
this stage is to print PERS-PLAN's full-year reports containing
the specimen assumptions and budget. Put the printer online,
prepare it with paper and then press P (for Print) from the
Main Menu and A (for All) to print all these reports in
succession on separate pages.
To discontinue printing a report at any stage, press CTRL+BREAK,
use the printer controls to clear its buffer and, if necessary,
press F10 to retrieve the Main Menu.
To conclude this Section, you may wish to resave MASTER by
pressing F (for File), B (for Backup) etc.
*****************************************************************
5. EXPLORING PERS-PLAN
======================
This Section introduces the main facilities provided by
PERS-PLAN by means of short exercises covering the following
areas:
* Viewing reports and entering assumptions
* Using PERS-PLAN's help system
* Using the CTRL function keys to speed up data entry etc.
The exercises can be completed using MASTER. So long as no
changes made to it are saved, no harm can be done to MASTER
by working through the guidance notes below and altering
assumption values.
If floppy disks are being used, always keep the working copies
of the disk(s) in their disk drive(s) when using PERS-PLAN.
5.1 First Exercise - Reports & Assumptions
------------------------------------------
This exercise explains how to view reports, enter assumptions,
access help facilities and use the primary function key commands.
To start, load a copy of the model which was set up in the
previous Section, namely MASTER, by typing "PP(space)MASTER"
at the PERS sub-directory prompt (if using a hard disk or 3.5"
disk). Type "PP(space)B:MASTER" if using dual 5.25" drives.
PERS-PLAN is divided into a series of reports containing
assumptions and calculated results. Begin by exploring these
reports with the aid of the menus. To access any report, get
into PERS-PLAN's Main Menu (press F10 if necessary), press R
(for Reports) to view the range of reports and then select and
access a particular report (by moving the cursor and pressing
RETURN or by pressing the first capital letter).
Once inside a report, use the down/up/right/left cursor keys
to hop from cell to cell and to explore the contents of the
report. Use the computer's PgDn or PgUp keys to move the cursor
quickly down or up a report and the CTRL+LEFT or CTRL+RIGHT
(or TAB) keys to step across a report. Use the HOME key to jump
to the top left-hand corner of a report and END, HOME to jump
directly to its bottom right-hand corner. The computer will
beep when the boundary of a report has been reached.
Alternatively, use a mouse to scroll around a report.
Notice that when viewing a Report, a function-key menu strip
always appears along the bottom of the screen. Any of these
primary function keys (F1 to F5) can be used to directly access
sub-menus or operations without having to revert to the Main
Menu. When finished with a report, press the function key F10
to get straight back to the Main Menu or use one of the other
primary function keys (F2 to F4) to directly display a sub-menu
which will pop-up on top of the report.
For the Income, Expenditure, Bank Account and Salary Deduction
Assumption Reports, note that assumptions can be entered
only in unsecured cells within rows of cells adjacent to the
<<->> and ->> arrows and shown in reverse video on most
displays.
Variable descriptions in the left-hand column of some reports
opposite the <<->> arrows and shown in reverse video can
be changed by the user or left blank.
Zero values are signified by the .. symbol and are automatically
changed to blank spaces during the printing of reports.
To enter an assumption value, place the cursor at the desired
cell position within an unsecured area, enter the value and then
press either RETURN or a cursor key to move directly to an
adjacent cell.
The following rules about entering assumptions must be observed:
* PERS-PLAN will not permit the entry of values other than in
cells or areas (blocks of cells) which have been designated
for inputted assumptions. Otherwise, a "Secured cell" error
message will be displayed (clear by pressing RETURN).
* All PERS-PLAN's formulae and most variable descriptions have
been 'secured' to prevent any possible accidental changes.
Attempts to enter data in these secured cells will be
frustrated by a "Secured cell" error message (press RETURN
to clear).
* When entering a value into a cell, always complete the
entry process by pressing RETURN or a cursor key. Never start
to enter a value and then, in midstream, try to invoke a menu
or function key option.
* To leave a cell empty, always enter a zero. NEVER enter a
'space' and NEVER use the letter "o" as in "oh!").
* PERS-PLAN allows "in-cell" arithmetic in unsecured cells.
For example, "2*3+7" could be entered into a cell and the
result, 13, would be displayed as soon as the RETURN key is
pressed. The usual calculator rules about precedence and
bracketing apply.
If you make a mistake while entering a value into a cell, use
the Backspace key to remove it and then press RETURN.
Note that PERS-PLAN does not update projections until the C
(for Calculate) option within the Main Menu or the F5 function
key within a report has been selected.
5.2 Second Exercise - Getting Help
----------------------------------
PERS-PLAN incorporates extensive on-line help facilities.
Use the primary function key F1 at any stage to access a
context-sensitive Help Page. For example, press the F1
function key when viewing any report to access help regarding
its origin and contents.
Alternatively, access the main Index to the Help Pages by
pressing F1 & PgDn when PERS-PLAN's Main Menu is being
displayed. Once in the Help Page Index, use the down/up
cursor keys to move the special Help Page cursor bar to a
highlighted item and press RETURN. If a hard disk is not
being used, there might be a slight delay whilst the help
file on the disk is being accessed. To exit from a Help Page,
press the ESCAPE key or refer to the instructions at the bottom
of the page.
Brightened letters and values have a special significance as
explained below. If these cannot be distinguished, try changing
the monitor's contrast.
Variable descriptions shown with brightened LETTERS in the
left-hand column of reports contain Help Notes relating to the
brightened description. A Help Note can be accessed by placing
the cursor on top of a brightened description, pressing RETURN
and then pressing the keyboard's PgDn key. Press the PgUp key
to clear the Note, or simply let it scroll off the screen, or
let it be tiled over by another Note.
Rows with brightened VALUES contain "drill-down" cells which
enable a user to view the assumptions on which the cells'
values have been based. To drill-down, place the cursor
anywhere inside a block of drill-down cells, press RETURN once
to see the underlying assumptions and press RETURN a second time
to get back to your starting point.
The drill-down facility can also be used to jump to a row of
assumptions for the purpose of inserting or changing a SINGLE
assumption value immediately prior to pressing RETURN to get
back to the start point. If an assumption has been altered,
be sure to recalculate by pressing the F5 function key.
Note: If a Help Note has been accessed immediately prior
to drilling, you must press RETURN followed by PgDn
to initiate drilling.
5.3 Third Exercise - Using CTRL
-------------------------------
This exercise introduces a second set of function key commands
which can be accessed by holding down the computer's CTRL key
BEFORE pressing a function key. These can be used to speed up
the entry of assumptions etc. With some slower computers there
might be a very slight delay before these function key commands
take effect.
As soon as the CTRL key is pressed a different menu strip
appears at the bottom of the screen. To use a CTRL function key,
hold down the CTRL key while tapping one of the listed function
keys. These work as explained below whenever a report is being
displayed on the screen:
CTRL+F1
-------
This accesses context-sensitive Help Pages relating to the CTRL
function keys.
CTRL+F2
-------
This enables a user to automatically mark the cursor's current
position, move to a new location anywhere in PERS-PLAN, perform
a task or tasks (such as checking, entering or changing
assumptions), and then jump back to the initial position.
Try pressing CTRL+F2, move the cursor sharply downwards, change
an assumption and then press ESCAPE to jump back to the start
again. After CTRL+F2 has been invoked, the cursor can be moved
freely around any of PERS-PLAN's seven reports. Avail of this
facility to become familiar with the sequence of reports and
their locations relative to each other.
CTRL+F3
-------
This creates a synchronised second window which splits the
screen horizontally to enable a user compare data etc. from two
separate reports anywhere in PERS-PLAN.
To try, locate the cursor in the middle of the screen, press
CTRL+F3 to split the screen, move the cursor up or down to
inspect another report (or to enter or change assumptions).
Press ESCAPE to get back to the starting position within a
single window. After this command has been invoked, the cursor
can be moved freely around any of PERS-PLAN's seven reports.
If you inadvertently return to the Main Menu while the screen
is split, get back into any report, press CTRL+F3, move the cursor
and then press ESCAPE to clear the split.
CTRL+F4
-------
CTRL+F4 enables a user to copy a single assumption value to another
assumption cell or to a rectangular block of assumption cells. To
experiment, get into an Assumption Report and proceed as follows:
1. Position the cursor over the assumption value to be copied.
2. Press CTRL+F4, move the cursor to the assumption cell to be
over-written and then press RETURN.
To copy a single assumption value into a rectangular block of cells
located within an assumption area the procedure is as follows:
1. Position the cursor over the assumption value to be copied.
2. Press CTRL+F4, move the cursor to one corner of the block of
cells to be copied to and press "." (full point), move the
cursor to the diagonally opposite corner of the block to be
copied to and press RETURN.
Note that PERS-PLAN will not permit either the copying of a secured
value or copying to a protected (secured) area. Always move the
cursor to the value to be copied before pressing CTRL+F4.
CTRL+F5
-------
CTRL+F5 can be used to copy a complete row of assumptions up or
down to another row containing assumption cells. To try it, get
into an Assumption Report and proceed as follows:
1. Position the cursor at the left-hand unprotected end of
the row of values to be copied.
2. Press CTRL+F5, move the cursor vertically (ignore any
screen flicker) to the corresponding left-hand end of the
unprotected row to be over-written and press RETURN.
Note that PERS-PLAN will not permit the copying of a row containing
secured values or copying to a secured row. Always move the cursor
to the left-hand end of the row to be copied before pressing CTRL+F5.
CTRL+F6
-------
CTRL+F6 (or F6 by itself) can be used to speed up the entry of
constant values across a row reserved for assumptions in an
Assumption Report.
To use it, place the cursor on a cell in a row containing a ->>
or <<->> arrow and in the column for the first month. Hold down
the CTRL key, press the F6 key and release both keys (or, more
simply, tap F6 by itself). Next, enter a constant value as
directed, and press RETURN. This value will be automatically
copied across the remaining months and the cursor will move down
one row. On some slower computers, allow a few moments for this
command to take effect.
CTRL+F7
-------
This can be used to erase assumption values in a cell or group
of cells within a rectangular assumption area.
To try it, get into an Assumption Report and proceed as follows:
a) Position the cursor at a corner of the unsecured area
whose values are to be erased.
b) Press CTRL+F7, move the cursor to the diagonally opposite
corner of the unsecured area to be erased and press
RETURN.
Note that with a colour display and some B/W displays, the
cursor can be used to paint the area to be erased. With some
mono displays, the cursor may change from a solid dark block to
a flashing dash during copying etc.
Experiment to gain familiarity with these CTRL function keys
before using real data. Bear in mind that PERS-PLAN only permits
copying or erasing values within unsecured areas shown in
reverse video. Values must not be copied to areas which overlap
into secured areas or extend beyond a report's limit. If such
tasks are attempted, the command may fail; the computer will
beep; or an error message will be displayed (clear by pressing
CTRL+BREAK and/or F10).
If a "Secured cell" message is encountered, press RETURN to
clear it.
*****************************************************************
6. USING PERS-PLAN
==================
On the first occasion that PERS-PLAN is used to produce a
personal or household budget, curtail the number of initial
monthly assumptions relating to income and expenditure. For
example, start by only entering key assumptions relating to
major items of income and expenditure. Review the results and
then progressively add greater detail.
6.1 Getting Started
-------------------
PERS-PLAN contains many variables and features which may not be
required by every user. These can be left empty or with zero
values (displayed as .... on the screen). PERS-PLAN runs
satisfactorily with only the minimum number of assumptions
relating to income, expenditure etc.
Starting to construct a budget for the first time is likely to
reveal some very significant gaps in the information which is
required to plan effectively. It may be necessary to review
old bills, cheque stubs etc. or to set up a simple accounting
system to temporarily record details of expenditure.
To get going, load a copy of MASTER and erase all its monthly
assumptions by using the R (for Remove) command within the
Initialise sub-menu.
Assumptions can be entered only in rows containing ->> or <<->>
arrow signs on a printout and shown in reverse video on the
screen. Variable descriptions opposite <<->> arrows and shown
in reverse video in the left-hand column of Assumption Reports
can be altered by a user (or simply left empty if not needed).
Zero values display as ... on the screen and change to blank
spaces during printing.
When entering assumptions, make liberal use of the facilities
provided by the CTRL function keys; consult PERS-PLAN's Help
Pages; access the Help Notes appended to brightened variable
descriptions; and use the "drill-down" cells associated with
brightened values.
6.2 Building the Budget
-----------------------
To use PERS-PLAN to prepare a household budget, proceed as
described in detail below.
(After entering any batch of assumption values, you can
recalculate to check progress using the F5 function key)
-------------------------------------------------------------
1) From the Main Menu, press I (for Initialise) and B (for
Basic). Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the number
of the first month to be covered by the budget (1 for January,
2 for February etc.); the year (as 19??) to be covered by the
budget; the first name of the principal wage earner in the
household; and the currency symbol and units to be shown in
reports (pound symbol, $, 000's etc.).
If the currency units being used are in 000's, enter ALL
assumptions to the nearest thousand (PERS-PLAN does not
accommodate decimal values for income and expenditure
assumptions). If pounds or dollars or similar denomination/value
currencies are being used, do not use 000's (unless very wealthy!)
as PERS-PLAN can handle values up to 99,999.
If a mistake is made when entering this basic data, correct it
immediately using the computer's Backspace key, otherwise repeat
the entire procedure. Once the basic data has been entered, the
first name of the wage earner will be automatically entered
throughout the model, and the appropriate months, years and
currency symbols will be inserted into all the report headings.
-------------------------------------------------------------
2) From the Main Menu, press I (for Initialise) and T (for
Title) to give the budget a specific title e.g. "First Attempt".
This will be inserted at the top of the screen and on the cover
page when all the full-year reports are printed as a set using the
(P)rint (A)ll command.
-------------------------------------------------------------
3) From the Main Menu, press I (for Initialise) and R (for
Remove) to remove all existing assumptions.
-------------------------------------------------------------
4) From the Main Menu, press A (for Ass) and I (for Income) to
get into the Income Assumptions Report. Concentrate initially on
entering the most significant and/or approximate values with a
view to refining them later.
For detailed guidance on entering income assumptions, refer to a
separate text file, ENTERASS.TXT. Refer also to the Help Pages
(press F1) and to Help Notes.
When entering gross salaries, note that a separate assumption
report must be used to enter details of salary deductions for
income tax etc. Until this report has been completed, in the
next step, any values given for deductions in the Income
Assumptions Report are likely to be meaningless.
Use the facility for "in-cell" arithmetic and use the CTRL+F6
(or F6 by itself) function key to quickly enter constant values
across the six months.
-------------------------------------------------------------
5) From the Main Menu, press A (for Ass) and D (for Deductions),
or press F2 and then D, to get into the Salary Deductions
Assumptions Report.
Enter details of variable deductions which involve income tax
allowances and banded rates in Table 1. Use Table 2 to enter
details of other deductions.
For detailed guidance on entering these assumptions, refer to a
separate text file, ENTERASS.TXT, and to the Help Notes appended
to several descriptions.
-------------------------------------------------------------
6) From the Main Menu, press F (for File) and R (for Replace)
to save this updated version of MASTER to disk. Alternatively,
press B (for Backup).
-------------------------------------------------------------
7) From the Main Menu, press A (for Ass) and E (for Expenditure),
to get into the Expenditure Assumptions Report. Concentrate
initially on entering the most significant and/or approximate
values with a view to refining them later.
For detailed guidance on entering expenditure assumptions,
refer to a separate text file, ENTERASS.TXT. Refer also to the
Help Pages (press F1) and to Help Notes.
Use the facility for "in-cell" arithmetic and use the CTRL+F6
(or F6 by itself) function key to enter constant values across
the six months.
-------------------------------------------------------------
8) From the Main Menu, press A (for Ass) and B (for Bank), or
press F2 and then B, to enter opening bank and credit card
balances and details of credit limits, interest rates etc. If
necessary, enter approximate values which can be refined later.
For detailed guidance on entering these assumptions, refer to a
separate text file, ENTERASS.TXT. Refer also to the Help Pages
(press F1) and to Help Notes.
-------------------------------------------------------------
9) Calculate using the Main Menu or F5 function key. Watch for
and respond to any advisory messages which may pop-up on the
screen.
You can review the main output reports - Budget and Analysis -
by pressing R (for Reports) etc. or by using the F2 function key.
Use the "drill-down" facility to review or change underlying
assumptions (see Section 5.2 above for guidance).
-------------------------------------------------------------
10) From the Main Menu, press F (for File) and R (for Replace)
to save this updated version of MASTER to disk. Alternatively,
press B (for Backup).
-------------------------------------------------------------
11) From the Main Menu, view graphs (press G etc.), inspect
reports (press R etc.) and print results (press P etc.). If
necessary, review procedures for changing the printer strings,
margins, page lengths etc. being used by PERS-PLAN.
-------------------------------------------------------------
6.3 Printing Graphs
-------------------
PERS-PLAN offers a choice of two methods of printing graphs.
The first method uses specially generated PIC files in
conjunction with a supplied utility called PICprint. It is the
more complicated and slower method but it produces higher
quality output and offers the user a high degree of control over
layouts, formats etc.
The second method uses DOS's GRAPHICS program to dump screen
graphs to the printer. These methods are described below in
Sections 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 respectively.
6.3.1 Printing Graphs using PICprint
------------------------------------
Prior to printing graphs with PICprint, special graphic files,
known as PIC files, must be created for each of the PERS-PLAN's
graphs by selecting P (for PICs) from within the T (for
picprinT) sub-menu and following the on-screen instructions.
This process takes a few minutes to complete for all six graphs
and requires approximately 50k of free disk space. As any
existing PIC files will be automatically overwritten, these
should be copied to another directory before initiating the
process if they must be preserved. (To temporarily exit from
PERS-PLAN to DOS for this purpose, press F & T from the Main
Menu).
The procedure for printing graphs entails temporarily leaving
PERS-PLAN in order to use PICprint. Depending on the system
set-up, PERS-PLAN may require about 300k of space on the hard
disk for temporary storage of its program files (in a file
called SLASHS.TMP). Be sure that sufficient space is free
before starting to use PICprint.
To load PICprint once the PIC files have been created, choose O
(for Output) from within the T (for picprinT) sub-menu. Allow a
few moments delay for PERS-PLAN to temporarily save some of
itself onto the hard disk in order to create sufficient space in
memory for PICprint. If there is insufficient free space on the
hard disk, PICprint will not load or the entire system might
hang!
To return to PERS-PLAN at any stage, select Q (for Quit) from
PICprint's Main Menu and wait while PERS-PLAN reloads itself
into memory.
The accompanying text file PICPRT.TXT gives detailed instructions
on using PICprint. Section 1 contains a general introduction.
First-time users will need to configure PICprint to suit their
printer etc. by referring to the instructions in Section 2 of
this text file. In particular, make sure to:
Set the correct Picture Directory by pressing C (for
Configure) and F (for Files) from the main PICprint menu.
The supplied default directory is C:\PERS. If this is not the
drive and directory to which you have installed PERS-PLAN,
change it immediately.
Select the appropriate Graphics Device by pressing C (for
Configure) and D (for Device).
These and other changed settings should be saved as defaults by
pressing C (for Configure) and S (for Save) before starting to
use PICprint.
To print a graph, follow the detailed instructions in Section 3
of the PICPRT.TXT file. Depending on the graph's complexity and
the settings being used, it may take a few minutes to "Generate
Pictures" and print a graph. As supplied, PICprint will print
two graphs per page. If a single graph is printed over several
pages, try setting Options Eject to No.
Once configured, PICprint can be used independently of
PERS-PLAN to print previously created PIC files by typing
PICPRT at the DOS prompt for the PERS sub-directory.
6.3.2 Printing Graphs using DOS Graphics
----------------------------------------
The GRAPHICS program supplied with MS-DOS can be used by
PERS-PLAN to print a graph while it is being displayed on the
screen directly to a printer.
Try it before using PERS-PLAN with real data (or immediately
after having saved a model file), in case the system hangs etc.
To use GRAPHICS, run it before loading PERS-PLAN by entering
GRAPHICS at the hard disk's root directory DOS prompt. Refer to
the DOS manual for further guidance on the range of options
provided by the GRAPHICS program to accommodate different
printer types etc. especially if a laser printer is being used.
If this method of printing graphs is used frequently, it would
be worthwhile adding the GRAPHICS command line to the batch file
(PP.BAT) used to load PERS-PLAN . Enter it immediately above
the line shown as "PERS PLAN %1".
Having loaded GRAPHICS before running PERS-PLAN, proceed to
display one of its graphs on the screen. Make sure the printer
is online, press the SHIFT+PrintScreen keys and wait a short
time while a very presentable copy of the graph on the screen is
print (depending on the printer set-up, a page feed might be
required to eject the printed page).
To improve the appearance of the printed output, try changing
the parameters used by GRAPHICS (refer to the DOS manual for
details). Also, if using a colour monitor, change the display
temporarily over to LCD/B&W (press I, V & L from the Main Menu)
before printing.
6.4 Advancing Projections
-------------------------
PERS-PLAN incorporates a facility to advance or roll-forward
assumptions and projections one month at a time. For example, if
a budget had been originally prepared for the twelve months
commencing March, the Advance facility could be used to replace
March's assumptions & projections by April's and so on for the
remaining months.
The Advance facility makes PERS-PLAN ideally suited for
preparing regularly updated cashflow forecasts and financial
plans. Because most assumptions will not change dramatically from
one month to the next, the task of updating assumptions can be
very simple and quick.
To use the Advance facility, press D (for aDvance) and follow
the on-screen instructions.
Once assumptions have been advanced, the opening balances in the
Bank Account Assumptions Report for the following items
must be updated (Press B from within the Assumptions sub-menu):
- Current account
- Credit card account
- Deposit/savings account
- Work expenses due (for principal wage earner)
As all the income and expenditure assumptions for the new twelfth
month will now be the same as for the old twelfth month, they
should be reviewed carefully, paying particular attention to
once-off items which will be automatically duplicated in the
new eleventh and twelfth months.
Some of the original income or expenditure assumptions for the
earlier months, particularly for non-recurring major expenses,
may also need to be revised in the light of recent experience.
Your original assumptions relating to salary deductions are not
altered by the Advance facility.
6.5 Using the Budget
--------------------
Once an initial budget has been constructed, more detail and
accurate assumptions can be entered.
"What-if" analyses can be readily undertaken with PERS-PLAN. For
example, the consequences of deferring major expenditures could
be examined or the benefits of a possible salary increase could
be assessed.
A soundly based budget will help anticipate financial problems
and opportunities or identify issues which might need to be
pursued. These could include such matters as:
# Determining the overall financial health of the household
over the coming twelve months.
# Providing an early indication of possible financial problems
or opportunities
# Smoothing out expenditure peaks by cancelling or deferring
major items or acquiring them by other means.
# Critically examining anticipated expenditure with a view to
reducing specific items or devising alternatives.
# Planning future savings if surplus cash is projected to
accumulate in the current account.
# Maximising credit card purchases to avail of the free credit
periods associated with most cards.
# Using any funds on deposit, or other savings, to offset
projected overdraft or credit card borrowings.
# Switching borrowings from credit card accounts to an
overdraft with much lower interest rates.
# Negotiating loan facilities, justifying salary increases,
assessing other possible sources of income, measuring the
likely consequences of changes in taxation etc.
Now that you have prepared a budget, discovered just how wealthy
(or poor ?????) you are and made (or cancelled ????) plans for a
holiday, you might like to have a look at the MONEY.TXT file in
order to see what other people have said about money - making,
using and losing it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*****************************************************************
7. SUPPORT & ASSISTANCE
=======================
PERS-PLAN has been supplied as shareware at minimal cost to
enable users to try it out before registering and upgrading to
PERS-PLAN, our personal planning package on which PERS-PLAN was
based.
We regret that we can only provide support to PERS-PLAN users who
have registered with us and upgraded or secured a fully operational
copy of PERS-PLAN.
In addition to PERS-PLAN, Invest-Tech offers an extensive range of
business and financial planning packages for use by businesses. As
the same basic structures, menus etc. are used throughout the product
range, conversion from one product to another would be very straight
forward for a PERS-PLAN user. General information about these other
products is contained in Help Pages within PERS-PLAN or in README.TXT.
More comprehensive details can be obtained by contacting Invest-Tech.
Invest-Tech would like to hear from distributors and dealers in
the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America, Australia
and Asia interested in reselling its financial planning products.
Shareware distributors etc. throughout the world are invited to
apply to Invest-Tech for authorisation to distribute PERS-PLAN
in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the
accompanying VENDOR.TXT text file.
*****************************************************************
PERS-PLAN (c) Copyright Invest-Tech Limited 1992-95
All Rights Reserved
Invest-Tech Limited
27 Ardmeen Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Irish Tel: 01-283 4083 UK Tel: 01232-315454
(Call 9 to 9 weekdays and 10 to 6 weekends - GMT/BST)
Fax: 278 2391
Fax codes: Irish:01- UK:00-353-1- Inter'l:+353-1-
CompuServe: 100606,2665
Internet: 100606.2665@compuserve.com
*****************************************************************
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