home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
AOL File Library: 4,101 to 4,200
/
aol-file-protocol-4400-4101-to-4200.zip
/
AOLDLs
/
Business Management
/
FCS_ V1.5e1 Flexible Church S
/
FCSVER15.exe
/
FCS.DOC
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-05-30
|
99KB
|
2,008 lines
Flexible Church System (FCS) By Cedric Fairweather
4318 Ocean Ave
Copyright 1993 Cheyenne, WY 82001-2021
(307) 632-3317
A Note From the Author
FCS is a powerful, easy-to-use, church management system that can be
customized to meet the needs of practically every church, regardless of
denomination. For example, any place where the screen says "Deacon" can
easily be changed to say "Elder," or "Shepherd," or any other title
appropriate to your church fellowship.
I have listened carefully to the suggestions made by many people involved
with church software. To them I owe a special debt of gratitude. I am also
grateful to the Rev. Ken Castania for his assistance and tireless efforts.
Many of Ken's ideas were incorporated into FCS and he thoroughly tested the
program, and edited the manual for me. (Ken and I will provide seminars on
effective use of the church computer and my software. Call or write for
more information.) I am also grateful to my family for their support.
Most of all, I thank God for helping me in this endeavor and leading me
along this exciting road.
Disclaimer
No warranties are made as to the contents of this manual or the
accompanying software. Although every effort has been made to insure that
the manual is accurate and the software reliable, product distributors and
the author cannot be held responsible for any damages suffered from its
use. The user assumes all responsibilities. Installation and/or use of
FCS implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.
FCS is shareware, not free-ware. If you continue to use the program for
more than 30 days, you are required to register. If you feel you need more
time to evaluate FCS, contact me to request an extension. Normally, I will
send a printed manual to those who contact me to aid their evaluation. You
may distribute copies of the shareware disk to others so that they too may
evaluate FCS, however, you may not copy and distribute the printed manual.
The Flexible Church System (FCS) was designed for the typical church
office. This software was developed with the church secretary, treasurer,
Sunday School director, and pastor in mind. It is the result of over five
years of research and listening to feedback from literally hundreds of
churches. The real power of FCS is its flexibility. It is designed to
bend with your needs. Because the screen titles can be modified to display
the terms which you use every day, it can be used in practically any church
denomination or fellowship.
Nevertheless, I am fully aware that development is an ongoing process.
While extremely powerful now, future versions of this software will offer
even more flexibility. When you register FCS, part of my ongoing
commitment to your church is that I will listen attentively to all of your
feedback and ideas. This is what made FCS the powerful church management
software that it is.
Hardware & Software Requirements
- An IBM PC/AT compatible computer system (386 or 486 recommended)
- A hard drive with at least 2 megabytes of free space
- At least 640K of random access memory (RAM), although 2 megabytes RAM
is recommended. 540K minimum free.
- A monitor (color is highly recommended, but not necessary)
- A printer (an additional dot matrix printer dedicated to printing
labels is recommended)
- A printer port (one for each printer recommended)
- MS-DOS Version 3.30 or greater (Recommend using Version 5 or newer)
- Although not required, a disk cache program is recommended to increase
program speed. (MS-DOS 5.0 and 6 include a cache program called
SmartDrive, but there are many other cache programs available reported
to work better. See your DOS manual for details on using SmartDrive.)
- The FCS program file (FCS.EXE)
Installation
FCS should be installed in a subdirectory on the hard drive. Sheer
logic implores us to name it C:\FCS, but you may name the subdirectory as
you see fit. The only files required for the program to run is the
Fcs.Exe file. This primary program builds all necessary files
if they are not present. There are two methods of installation:
The first method of installation applies to people who obtained the
program through a shareware distribution center or directly from me.
There will be a file called Install.Bat on these disks that will perform
the installation for you. For example, if the distribution disk is in
drive A:, and you want to install FCS on drive C:, enter
A:INSTALL A: C:
To install from drive B: to hard drive D:, simply enter
B:INSTALL B: D:
The second method requires that you be somewhat familiar with MS-DOS
commands. Those who download the file FcsVer15.Exe from a bulletin board
would use this method. Simply create a subdirectory called \FCS and
copy the FcsVer15.Exe file into it. (Again, you may name the subdirectory
anything you wish.) For example, if the FcsVer1.Exe file was downloaded
to a disk in drive A:, and you want to install FCS on drive C:, then
follow these steps from the C> prompt:
MD C:\FCS
CD C:\FCS
COPY A:\FCSVER15.EXE C:\FCS
FCSVER15
DEL FCSVER15.EXE
FCS
When you run this program it will expand (create) all the files needed
to run FCS. When it is finished, you should delete the FcsVer15.Exe file
from your hard drive--not your original disk--to free up disk space.
During the start up, FCS will automatically check your Config.Sys file
to insure it contains an environment setting. If it does not, FCS will ask
you for permission to adjust it. Letting FCS adjust this settings is
recommended; however, if you wish to do this yourself, be certain that your
Config.Sys file contains the following statement: FILES=60
Your AUTOEXEC.BAT file should also contain an environment statement.
Please make sure it contains: SET CLIPPER=F:41
Be sure to reboot your computer. FCS will reboot automatically if you
allowed it to make these changes for you.
Starting FCS
From the subdirectory in which you installed FCS,
FCS <Enter>
The main menu screen will appear in a few seconds. If FCS had to
create any additional files, you will need to wait until this process
is complete.
If you want the dates to appear as "DD/MM/YYYY", start FCS with the
following parameter:
FCS FRENCH <Enter>
As you look across the top of the main menu screen, you will notice
several menu options: Family, Attendance, Reports, Tools, and Exit. Use
the left and right arrow keys to move from one main menu option to another.
If you press the right arrow key when the Exit Menu is highlighted, you
will "wrap-around" to the Family Menu selection. Some of these main menu
options have several other "sub-options" which can be selected by using the
up and down arrow keys; they "wrap-around" from bottom to top. These main
menu options represent the various areas or modules of FCS. In addition,
there are several sub-modules. The remainder of this manual is designed to
give you a detailed explanation of each of these modules. We begin at the
beginning.
The Family Menu (The core of FCS)
Under the "Family" menu, there are three options:
Family/Person/Contributions
Delete All Contributions
Delete Contributions By Date
Highlight the first option and press the <Enter> key.
You now see a three-part screen. The upper part contains information
pertinent to the entire family: address, city, state, etc. This same data
is displayed in the lower portion of the screen in a columnar format (a
helpful feature at times). The left and right arrow keys will scroll
through the different columns. The middle portion of the screen can
display three different "sets" of data. True to the name--"flexible"--you
can decide which of the three sets of data will be displayed.
1. Unless the program has been modified, the middle portion displays
important information about individuals who live at the address shown in
the upper portion. Specifically, you will see the name, the birthday,
the anniversary, and several other often needed items of information.
This is called the "persons" mode.
2. FCS includes a mini word processor that allows you to write notes about
each family or about individuals in the family. Although you can read
and edit a particular note any time, there may be occasions when you
wish to browse through all of your notes as you scroll from family to
family. The middle portion of the screen can be set to display the notes
you have written about the families in your database. This is the "notes"
mode.
3. Finally, the columns that appear in the lower portion of the screen can
be extended to encompass the middle portion of the screen. This is called
the "big browse" mode.
Notice the field name titles such as "Deacon" and "Birthday." These and
several others are user definable titles. This means you can change the
titles to words that are more appropriate for your denomination. You can
replace an unwanted title with "dots/periods" if you do not have a
replacement title. The Tools customize sub-options make changing titles
very easy. (See the Tools Menu discussion for more details.)
Across the bottom of the screen you will see a help line listing the
function keys that are available to you. This line is there as a reminder.
You can obtain a more detailed description of each function key's purpose
by pressing the <F1> key. As with most other screens, you can exit the
help function, by pressing <F10> or <Esc>.
Summary of Function Keys
<F1> Displays the "help" screen.
<F2> Allows addition of a new family or person to an existing family.
<F3> Edits the currently displayed family individual within the family.
<F4> Deletes the family and all individuals assigned to the family. To
delete only one person in the family, press <F3>, select "Person,"
and then select the individual you wish to delete. Notice that the
<F4> command option is available from this screen. <F5> Allows you to
create and edit notes. Although you can write notes about a particular
person, the notes are attached to the family, FCS stores what you have
written as a note about the entire household. Access to the notes
can be password protected. <F6> Finds any word, or any part of a word,
contained within the family area. If you enter a number, FCS will
assume that you are trying to find an individual's person/envelope
number. If you are using the "notes" mode, the search will include notes.
<F7> Allows you to send a "form letter" to the currently selected family
or to individuals within it. In addition, this is the gateway to adding
and editing form letters or "templates." This merger ability is an
extremely powerful feature of FCS.
<F8> Initiates various printing options. You can print a label or a
summary sheet of all the family information. This information can be sent
to the printer or to a file. (See the Printer Set-Up SubModule and Label
Set-Up Sub-Module discussions for more details.)
<F9> Allows you to choose from several index options. (An "index" is an
arrangement or sorting order.) You can arrange your database in five
different ways:
1. Alphabetically By Last Name
2. By Zip Code or Postal Order
3. With No Index (in the exact order as you entered them)
4. Displaying only those who appear on Mail List 1 (by last name)
5. Concealing all those who appear on Mail List 4 (by last name)
Note: If you use #4 or #5 and load new families, please remember
that the family data can "disappear" upon pressing F10.
The data has been saved but is hidden due to the mail list(s)
you assigned to the family. For example, if you are using
index #5 and assign mail list 4 to the family, the family
dissapears upon pressing F10.
<F10> Saves and exits
<Esc> Aborts and exits.
Summary of Miscellaneous Editing Keys
A working knowledge of several other keys may greatly enhance your
ability to "move around" within FCS.
<Del> Deletes the character on which the flashing cursor is resting.
<Ins> Toggles between insert and overwrite modes. In insert mode, the
cursor will appear as a flashing box. When is in overwrite mode, the cursor
will appear as an underline character ("_").
( ---> ) The right/left arrow keys move the cursor one space to the right
( <--- ) or left. T
< UpArr > The up arrow key moves the cursor to the previous data field or
to the previous family. If editing notes, it moves to the line above the
cursor, unless you are on the first line of the note.
< DnArr > The down arrow key moves the cursor to the next data field or to
the next family. If editing notes, it will move to the line below the
cursor unless you are on the last line of the note.
(Ctrl-> ) This key combination moves to the next word when editing data.
(Ctrl<- ) This key combination moves to the previous word when editing data.
<PgUp> Moves the browse portion of the screen up one page at a time. If
editing notes, it will scroll to the previous page of notes, if applicable.
<PgDn> Moves the browse portion of the screen down one page at a time.
If editing notes, it will scroll to the next page of notes, if applicable.
<Alt-F3> This key combination is used to set or "tag" a particular field
for repetitive editing. For example, suppose that six months after all your
data is entered, you decide to make some changes to the "Label Codes"
field. The <Alt-F3> key combination can be used to teach the cursor to
go directly to that particular field by pressing <Ctrl-F3>.
<Ctrl-F3> This key combination causes the screen to go into edit mode and
places the cursor in the field "tagged" by the <Alt-F3> command.
<Ctrl-T> This key combination deletes a word when editing data.
<Ctrl-Y> This key combination deletes the rest of a line from the cursor
position.
<Ctrl-B> This key combination reformats a note from the cursor to the end
of a paragraph.
Adding/Editing Family Information: <F2> and <F3>
As noted earlier, the upper portion of the family information screen
contains information applicable to all members of the family. Adding a new
family is quick and easy. (Take note that much of the information that
follows about adding data will provide a sound foundation for editing data
as well.)
To add a family, simply press the <F2> key. (The <F2> key is used
throughout FCS to add new data to the system. Similarly, the <F3> key is
used to edit data already entered.) When you press <F2>, FCS will ask you
if you want to add a "Family", "Person", or "Contribution." If you
highlight "Family" and press <Enter>, the cursor will move to the
"Label Name" field in the upper portion of the screen. Let's take a look
at each field in the family information area. If this is your first
encounter with FCS, you might wish to follow along on your computer.
The "Label Name" Field
Type in the name of the person just as you want it to appear on the
screen. Do not enter commas in the "Label Name" block. FCS will insert
a comma before storing the name in the database. Look at the following
examples.
Label Names Entered As: Will Be Stored As:
John and Betty Smith Smith, John and Betty
Freddy Freeman Freeman, Freddy
Ray E. Berry Jr. Berry, Ray E Jr
Larry P Quade MD Quade, Larry P MD
Dr Jerry Hyde Hyde, Jerry Dr
First Baptist Church First Baptist Church
Bethel Christian Fellowship Bethel Christian Fellowship
In most cases, FCS reverses the label name so that you can search
through your database by last names in alphabetical order. However, there
are times when you probably don't want the name reversed, e.g., the names
of churches. For this reason, FCS will not reverse the label name if it
ends with one of the following words: Alliance, Assembly, Baptist, Center,
Centre, Chapel, Christ, Church, Fellowship, God, Inc, Methodist,
Ministry, Ministries, Nazarene, Outreach, Parish, Presbyterian, and
Tabernacle. (If you do have a family whose last name is "Church" or
"Parish," you should place a period (".") at the end of their name.)
Additionally, FCS uses a special type of reversal when the last word in
the "Label Name" field is Sr, Jr, I, II, III, IV, Jr., Sr., MD, M.D.,
DMD, D.M.D., DDS., D.D.S., or DDS. Study the examples above to see how
they are stored.
The "Misc Info" Field
The "Misc Info" field should not be used for the mailing (delivery)
address under any circumstances. It can be used as an additional address
line or for information that would not fit in the "Label Name" field.
Normally, it will be printed on the address label.
There may be circumstances in which you want the information on the
screen, but you do not want it printed on the mailing label. If so,
simply place an asterisk ("*") anywhere in the "Misc Info" field. This
will cause FCS to ignore the line when printing mailing labels.
The "Delivery Address" Field
Use the "Delivery Address" field to enter the mailing address.
The "City" Field
If you installed the optional "City Look Up" disk, two files should
exist in your FCS subdirectory called City.Dat and City.Dax. If these two
files exist, FCS will automatically look up the city, state, and zip if
you enter a zip code in the city field. This information is then
automatically loaded into the applicable fields. If you do not have the
"City look up" option installed, you can have FCS insert the city, state,
and zip code data from the currently highlighted family by pressing <F2>.
This feature is only active if the "City Look Up" option has NOT been
installed.
The "ST" Field
The "ST" field will accept any valid state abbreviation. (If the state
and zip do not match, an error message will be displayed.) You can also
enter a country abbreviation in the "ST" field. For example, enter "ON"
in the "ST" field, and the words "Ontario Canada" will appear. The
following is a list of countries currently supported.
AG Argentina IS Israel SW Switzerland
AU Australia IT Italy TW Taiwan
BF Bahamas JA Japan TH Thailand
BH Bahrain KR South Korea TA Tunisia
BB Barbados KW Kuwait TU Turkey
BE Belgium LU Luxembourg AE United Arab Emirates
BD Bermuda MC Macao UK United Kingdom
BR Brazil MY Malaysia UY Uruguay
CN Canada NL Netherlands VE Venezuela
CH People Rep Of China NZ New Zealand AB Alberta Canada
CL Colombia NO Norway BC British Columbia Canada
CY Cyprus OM Oman MB Manitoba Canada
DK Denmark PN Panama NB New Brunswick Canada
EG Egypt PY Paraguay NS Nova Scotia Canada
EN England PO Portugal ON Ontario Canada
FI Finland QA Qatar PQ Quebec Canada
FR France SA Saudi Arabia SK Saskatchewan Canada
GE Germany SN Senegal PI Prince Edward Isl Canada
GR Greece SG Singapore NF Newfoundland Canada
HK Hong Kong ZA South Africa NT Northwest Terr Canada
IC Iceland ES Spain YT Yukon Territory Canada
EI Ireland SE Sweden
The "Zip/Postal" Field
The "Zip/Postal" field will accept characters or numbers, making FCS
useful in many countries. If you use the Zip+4 codes and have an Epson
or IBM compatible printer, FCS will print the appropriate postal bar
codes. (Currently, bar codes are not supported for laser printers.) If
your church does bulk mailings, be sure to use the Zip+4 codes and set FCS
to print the bar codes. It can save up to 20 percent on your mailing
costs and speed your mail as well. Check with your local post office for
details.
The "Carrier Rt" Field
Enter carrier routes if you do large bulk mailings or if you want to
group families by areas within your city. Again, check with your local
post office for information on bulk mailing. (Carrier routes are not
printed on the 3 across HP option from the Label Set-Up Sub-Option.)
The "Mail List" Fields
Mail lists 1-4 allow you to place your church families into logical
mailing groups. For example, you will probably want to use mail list 1
for your church newsletter. You may use mail list 2 for members only.
Because mail list 4 can be totally concealed, I strongly recommend that
you use it for individuals and institutions that you seldom need to
consider.
The "Salutation" Field
Enter an appropriate salutation without "Dear" or any other prefix. For
example, you could enter the following: John, Marsha, and Junior. This
field of data can be merged into your form letters created with the <F7>
option.
The "Home Phone" Field
The home phone can be entered with or without the area code. This is the
number that will be printed in the phone directory report.
The "2nd Phone" Field
This number will not be included in the phone directory report.
The "Pastor" Field (User Definable)
You can use this field to assign a pastor to a family by simply entering
the pastor's person/envelope number. If you enter a question mark ("?"),
a pop-up box will appear, listing all those who have been flagged as
pastors in the personal information area. This field title can be
changed to "Elder" or "Shepherd" or perhaps some other term. (See the
Tools Menu discussion for more details.)
The "Deacon" Field (User Definable)
This data field is like the "Pastor" field described above, except it
corresponds to those who have been flagged as deacons in the personal
information area. Again, you may change this title to anything that
suits your needs.
The "Pastor Visit" Field (User Definable)
Enter the last date the pastor contacted or visited in the home. Note
that if you change the title of the "Pastor" field, the "Pastor Visit"
field will be changed accordingly.
The "Deacon Visit" Field (User Definable)
Enter the last date the deacon contacted or visited in the home. Again,
if you changed the title of the "Deacon" field, the "Deacon Visit" field
will be changed accordingly.
The "Family Codes" Field
Family codes allow you to enter your own codes to categorize similar
households. Used wisely, this field will enable you to extract these
groups later for various reports. For example, you could use this field
to denote family types: "D" for divorced, "SM" for single mother, etc.
Similarly, you could use "CH" for churches. If you don't see a need for
this field, simply leave it blank.
Adding/Editing Personal Information: <F2> and <F3>
Before adding information about a person, you must first enter his or her
family information as described above. Normally, you will enter personal
information for each individual in the family. However, you probably won't
do this for churches and other institutions who are in your database for
mailing purposes only.
To enter a new person into the database, make sure his or her family
information is displayed in the upper portion of the screen, i.e., the
family information area. Press <F2>, highlight the word "Person," and
press <Enter>. This is the personal information area. The personal
information area will appear with the "Last Name" field already completed.
FCS will allow you to change the last name if you need to. If you wish to
exit the personal information area without going through all the fields,
simply press <F10>. Take note of the following keys and key combinations:
<Ctrl-F> Moves to the Next Word | <Ctrl-A> Moves to the Previous Word
<Ctrl-T> Deletes the Current Word | <Ctrl-Y> Deletes the Rest of the Line
<Home> Moves to Beg of the Line | <End> Moves to the End of the Line
There are five groups of data in the personal information area. To move
from one group to another, simply press the <Tab> key or the <Shift-Tab>
key combination. To display the next person in the family, press <PgDn>.
To display the previous person, press <PgUp>. To save and exit, press
<F10>. To delete a person, press <F4>.
The personal information area is your gateway to the Jobs Sub-Module.
This Sub-Module allows you to track an individual's talents, skills, and
interests, and their level of involvement in them. Larger churches will
find this an indispensable source of information. Smaller churches,
however, may not need such an elaborate scheme. If the Job Sub-Module is
not needed it can be turned off through the Tools Menu and you will see no
evidence of it. The jobs mode is ONLY active while editing personal
information. (See the Jobs Sub-Module discussion for more details.)
Now let's take a look at each field in the personal information area of
the personal information screen. Press <Tab> to move to the next group.
The "Last Name" Field
Be certain to enter the last name if it is different than the last name
used on the household label. When entering the data, do not use all
caps; enter "Smith" instead of "SMITH".
The "First Name" Field
Enter the person's given first name. If you don't enter data in this
field a warning message will be displayed as you exit this area.
The "Middle Name" Field
Enter the person's given middle (or maiden) name.
The "Goes By" Field
Enter the name by which the person is most often called, e.g., a
nickname. You will probably use this "goes by" name most of the time.
If you leave this field blank, FCS will automatical- ly enter the first
name when you save and exit this area by pressing <F10>.
The "Occupation" Field
Enter the person's place of employment or their profession. If this
person is a student, you can enter the name of the school they attend.
The "Person Codes" Field
Use this field for one-letter codes. For example, the letter "C" could
be used for all those who sing in the choir. Remember not to use a
letter more than once. Other than this, you can use your imagination to
track anything you wish.
The "Work Phone" Field
Enter the person's work phone if they have one. Again, you may enter
the number with or without the area code.
The "Male" Field (User Definable)
Remember to press the <Tab> key to select this next group of data.
Enter "Y" if the person is male, enter "N" if the person is female.
The "Single" Field (User Definable)
Enter "Y" if the person is single, enter "N" if the person is married.
The "Adult" Field (User Definable)
Enter "Y" if the person is an adult, enter "N" if the person is a minor.
The "Guardian" Field (User Definable)
Enter "Y" if the person is a guardian, enter "N" if the person is not.
"Guardian" was chosen instead of "parent" because it applies to
situations where the legally responsible adults are not the parents. If
you prefer the word "parent," you may change it through the Tools Menu.
The "Retired" Field (User Definable)
Enter "Y" if the person is retired, enter "N" if the person is not
retired.
The "Student" Field (User Definable)
Enter "Y" if the person is a student, enter "N" if the person is not
currently enrolled in school.
The "Baptized" Field (User Definable)
Remember to press the <Tab> key to select this next group of data. Enter
the person's baptism date.
The "Confirmed" Field (User Definable)
Enter the date on which the person was confirmed. If your church does
not "confirm," you may wish to change this field title to "First
Contact," and enter the date of the church's first contact with that
person.
The "Birthday" Field (User Definable)
Enter the person's date of birth. Because some people are reluctant to
disclose their year of birth, FCS allows you to enter this date without
the year.
The "Married" Field (User Definable)
Enter the person's wedding anniversary date.
The "Last Attn Ch" Field (User Definable)
Enter the date on which the person last attended church.
The "Last Attn SS" Field (User Definable)
Enter the date on which the person last attended Sunday School.
The "SS Class" Field (User Definable)
Enter the person's Sunday School class. Abbreviations are almost always
preferred over class names: "Y7" could stand for "Youth, 7th Grade." If
an individual is associated with more than one class, you should put a
comma between the two classes: Y7,A1. This is useful for situations
where the teacher of a children's class wants to remain on the roll of an
adult class. The following codes may offer some guidance:
Adult 01 M Youth 08 M Child 01 PreSch 01
Adult 02 M Youth 09 M Child 02 PreSch 02
Adult 10 F Youth 12 F Child 10 PreSch 11
In the above examples, the "M" stands for Male and the "F" stands for
female. Notice the class information goes from general to specific.
Using a format like this will allow more flexibility when you to need to
extract groups of data.
The "Church Status" Field (User Definable)
Remember to press the <Tab> key to select this next group of data. A
person's church status is represented by a one character abbreviation.
Five valid abbreviations appear while editing this group (MIFRP) and are
preset to represent: M=Active Member, I=Inactive Member, F=Former
Member, R=Regular Attender, and P=Prospect. You can change these
abbreviations and relationship titles through the Tools Menu Customize
Screen #2 option.
The "Church Status Date" Field
Enter the date of the most recent status change. For example, when a
prospect joins your church, you would change the status to "member" and
enter the date on which the change took place.
The "Sunday School Status" Field (User Definable)
This is similar to the "Church Status" field, however, FCS allows you to
define five different Sunday School status types and their corresponding
abbreviations.
The "Sunday School Status Date" Field
Enter the date of the most recent change in Sunday School status.
The "Person/Envelope Number" Field
Remember to press the <Tab> key to select this next group of data. When
loading a new person, a person/envelope number is automatically assigned.
FCS calculates this number by taking the highest person number and adding
one. You may change this number to any number as long as it is not being
used by another person. You may want to assign your own numbers according
to offering envelope number. Enter all numbers without preceding zeros.
The "Gives Separately" Field
Enter a "Y" if the person wants his or her contributions tracked
separately from other family members. Those with a "Y" in this field,
will receive a separate contribution statement at the end of the year.
Since most families give as a unit, this block is typically marked "N."
The "Directory Sequence" Field
Enter a number to determine the order in which individuals will appear
in the phone directory. Typically, you would enter a "1" for head of
household, "2" for spouse, "3" for oldest child, etc.
The "Teacher" Field (User Definable)
Enter a "Y" if the person currently serves as a teacher in your church.
The "Deacon" Field (User Definable)
Enter a "Y" if the person is currently serving as a deacon. This field
is linked to the "Family Deacon" field in the upper portion of the
screen. When you type a "?" in the "Family Deacon" field (in the family
information area), a pop-up box will appear, listing the names of all those
who have a "Y" in the "deacon" field. Thus, a deacon can be selected
simply by highlighting his or her name.
The "Pastor" Field (User Definable)
Enter a "Y" if the person is a pastor. This field is linked to the
"Family Pastor" field in the upper portion of the screen and works in
similar fashion to the "Deacon" and "Family Deacon" fields.
Deleting Families/Persons <F4>
Deleting an entire family (including all persons assigned to the family)
can be easily accomplished by pressing the <F4> key at the family
information screen. A warning message will be displayed to confirm this
action. Another warning message will appear, if contributions have been
given by this family. If this warning appears, you should print a
donations report for the family before removing them so they will have this
for tax purposes. A tag symbol will appear in the first column
(lower portion of screen) to indicate the family has been deleted. To
undelete the family, simply press the <F4> key again before you exit the
family information screen.
To delete only one person from a family, first get into the personal
edit screen for the person you want to delete. Press the <F4> key and a
delete message will appear. To undelete the person, press the <F4> key
again.
All deleted families and persons are purged when you exit the family
information screen and return to the main menu. Once they are purged, they
are permanently removed.
Adding/Editing Notes: <F5>
Notes are linked to families. This means that FCS keeps one note for
the entire family instead of a separate note for each person. If you wish
to browse through notes for many families, simply change the "Browse Screen
Type" to Notes through the Tools Menu. Then, FCS will display notes in the
middle portion of the screen instead of birthday, anniversary, etc.
Although the note pad may appear to be small, you can enter pages of
notes and scroll through them at any time using the <PgUp>, <PgDn>,
<DnArrow>, and <UpArrow> keys. Use (Ctrl<--) and (Ctrl-->) key
combinations to move from word to word. To reformat a paragraph after
deleting words, enter <Ctrl-B>.
The "Notes" field can be used as a filter when creating reports. FCS
gathers a list of all families who have certain key words in their note.
Notes can be password protected.
Searching for Data: Quick Searching and <F6>
Finding data in FCS is fast and simple. Normally, the fastest method in
finding a name is to simply type several letters of the last name which
will almost always highlight the family for whom you're looking. Each time
you type a letter, your search becomes more specific. FCS will accept up
to 15 characters for this quick search method. In certain cases, the <F6>
"Find" option may be more helpful. For example, if you wish to find a
particular person/envelope number, enter that number after pressing <F6>.
Alternatively, you can enter practically any word (e.g. a portion of an
address) and FCS will display the first match it finds. If you wish to
find another match, simply press <F6> again. If you are using the "notes"
mode, the search will include notes.
Merge Printing: <F7>
An extremely powerful feature of FCS is its ability to merge print. This
allows you to print form letters, post cards, name tags, etc., that have
been merged with information you've selected from the family or person data
areas. You can also do mass merge printing through the Reports Menu
option. (See the Merge Print Sub-Module discussion for more details.)
Printing Labels and Reports: <F8>
You can print a mailing label or a family report by pressing <F8>. If
you are using passwords, notes will not print on the family report unless
the user has access to notes. (See the Printer Set-Up Sub-Module for
details on printing a report and the Label Set-Up Sub-Module for details on
printing a label.) The following family report created by pressing <F8>.
Family Report
Family Data Printed on 06/01/1993
----------------------------------
| Jack and Mary Brown | Home Phone....307-632-9999
| Apt 5 | 2nd Phone....307-632-8888
| 123 Golf Course Lane | Mail Lists....1* 2 3* 4
| Cheyenne WY 82001-1234 | Label Codes...M
Pastor......Laws, Jim R ----------------> Last Visit...02/02/1993
Deacon......Fairweather, Cedric ----------------> Last Visit...03/23/1993
Salutation..Dear Jack and Mary
Note: I had a good visit with Mary and Jack today. CF Jun 12, 1993
Last Name...Brown Male........Yes Baptized.....10/23/1984
First.......Jack Single......No Confirmed....10/23/1984
Middle......E Adult.......Yes Birthday.....10/06/1955
Goes By.....Jack Guardian....No Anniversary..09/30/1977
Occupation..Farmer Retired.....No Last Attn Ch.03/19/1993
Misc Codes.. Student.....No Last Attn SS.03/19/1993
Work Phone..307-345-6789 Shut In.....No SS Class.....Y1, A3
Active Church Member: 10/20/1985. Directory Seq #:1
Active Sunday Sch Member: 10/20/1985.
Envelope # 69 Gives $ with family.
Last Name...Brown Male........No Baptized.....12/23/1983
First.......Mary Single......No Confirmed....12/23/1983
Middle......O Adult.......Yes Birthday.....04/29/1955
Goes By.....Mary Guardian....No Anniversary..09/30/1977
Occupation..Home Maker Retired.....No Last Attn Ch.03/19/1993
Misc Codes.. Student.....No Last Attn SS.03/19/1993
Work Phone.. - - Shut In.....No SS Class.....Y1, A3
Active Church Member: 10/20/1985. Directory Seq #:2
Active Sunday Sch Member: 10/20/1985.
Envelope # 70 Gives $ with family.
Selecting the Data Display Index: <F9>
An "index" may be thought of as an order, arrangement, or sequence.
FCS allows you to arrange your families by five different indexes.
1. Last Name . . . .This index will arrange every family in the database
alphabetically by last name. By typing a few letters
of the last name, you can quickly display a particular
family. This is called "quick-search."
2. Zip/Postal. . . .This index will arrange every family in the database
according to their zip code or postal order. By typing
a portion of the zip/postal code, you can quickly
search for a particular family or address.
3. No Index. . . . .This non-index will display every family in your
database in the order they were entered. No "quick-
search" is allowed in the "No Index" mode.
4. Those on List 1 .This index arranges families alphabetically by last
name, displaying only those flagged for mail list 1.
This allows you to work with a particular list (say,
the church newsletter) without having to skip over
those not on list 1. As with the "Last Name Index,"
you can "quick search" by typing just a few letters
of the last name.
5. Those not on List 4
This index arranges families alphabetically by last
name, displaying all families except those on mail list
4. This is probably the most useful index. It allows
you to conceal addresses that you normally don't want
to see from day-to-day.
As you can see, it is best to assign families that are actively involved
in the church to mail list 1. Conversely, assign those you rarely contact
to list 4.
Family/Person/CONTRIBUTIONS
The Family/Person/Contributions option also allows access to contribution
options. If you are using passwords, you can prevent unauthorized
individuals from gaining access to these options. (See the Tools Menu
discussion for more details.)
Before Entering Contributions/Pledges
There are several items to consider before you enter the first
contribution. Since FCS is extremely flexible, consider "teaching" the
program how you are currently handling contribution information.
Tracking Family Vs. Individual Contributors
There are two types of contributors. More commonly, a family will
contribute as a unit, i.e., husband and wife write one check or place
their contributions in one envelope. There is little need for them to
separate their gifts, because they normally complete a joint tax return.
However, there are families with individual members who wish to have their
contributions accounted for separately. FCS can handle both situations
quite well. Simply enter a "Y" in the "Gives Separately" field of that
individual's personal information area, and he or she will receive a
separate printed statement at the end of the year.
Teaching FCS About Your Stewardship Program
Before entering any contribution data, you need to inform FCS of two
things. First, does your church use a stewardship approach that involves
pledging? And second, do you wish to track the check numbers of the
contributions? Both of these items should be set through the Tools Menu
(Customize Screen #1) before you begin entering data. If you enter "N",
they will not appear on the screen. (See the Tools Menu discussion for
more details.)
Loading Account Titles
FCS can track up to 90 different accounts. The software simply numbers
the accounts, but you will want to name them. To do so, simply press
<F3> while in the Family/Person/Contributions Module, and highlight the
word "Accounts." After pressing <Enter>, you simply select a line, press
<Enter> again, then type an account name used by your church. For example,
most churches will want to use "General Fund" for the top line (FCS
account #1). When you're finished, press <Enter> to save it. You can
repeat the process to name additional accounts.
Entering Contributions/Pledges
Entering a contribution or pledge into FCS is quick and easy. Just
follow these steps:
1. Highlight the family that made the contribution. Usually, the fastest
way to do this is to type a few letters of the last name, however, you
may have to use the up or down arrow keys-- particularly if you have
several families with the same last name. Alternatively, you could use
the <F6> "Find" option, and enter the person/envelope number.
2. Press <F2>, and select "Contribution." If you have the pledge option
set on, FCS will ask you if this is a pledge or a contribution. If
individuals have been flagged as giving separately, FCS will need to know
which member of the family is making the contribution. A small box will
appear with your choices. Simply highlight your selection using the arrow
keys and press <Enter>.
3. Type the date of the contribution and press <Enter>. Incidently, once
you enter a date, FCS will maintain it throughout your entry session until
you change it.
4. Type the check number and press <Enter>. Again, if this option was set
off, it will not appear on your screen. Furthermore, if you are entering
a pledge, you will not be allowed to access the check number field.
5. Type contribution or pledge amount and press <Enter>. A pledge amount
is not actual income. Pledges are projected amounts that will be
eventually contributed to one or more accounts.
6. Select an account. If you enter a number at this point, FCS assumes
you know which account you want and immediately displays its assigned name.
If you leave it blank and press <Enter>, FCS assumes you don't know which
account number you need and displays a box, allowing you to select an
account name. (You can type the first letter of the account to find it
rapidly. Pressing the same letter again, will take you to the next account
beginning with that letter.) <Enter> selects the highlighted account.
When you have selected an account, you can enter a second contribution
if needed. In fact, you can enter up to four contributions. This allows
you to take John Doe's single, $200.00 check and put $100.00 in the
General Fund, $50.00 to the Mission Fund, and $50.00 to the Bus Ministry-
-just as he requested--without having to repeat the entire process three
times. Similarly, the same feature will allow you to receive several
pledges for several different accounts. (Note, however, that pledges and
contributions must be made in separate entries.)
7. When you press <Enter> without entering an amount, FCS knows you've
finished entering data for that contributor. It will total the amounts
and ask you to verify it.
Editing Contributions/Pledges
Editing a contribution or a pledge is similar to adding one. Again,
highlight the family, but this time press <F3> (for "edit") and select
"Contributions". All contributions received from that family, or from
individuals within the family, will appear in the upper right corner.
Highlight the contribution in question with the arrow keys. (If you're
seeking an individual who gives separately, you can type in the first
letter of the "Goes By" name.) When you have highlighted the correct
contribution, press <Enter>. You will first be asked if this was entered
correctly as a pledge or contribution. Then you can make changes to the
date, check number, amount, or account. Press <F10> to exit the edit area.
If you need to delete a contribution, follow the steps outlined above in
"Editing Contributions". When the contribution to be deleted has been
highlighted, simply press <F4>; "Delete" will appear in the "Check#"
column. The data will be removed when you exit and and return to the main
menu.
Printing Contribution/Pledge Reports
There are four different financial reports available through the FCS
Family/Person/Contributions Module. You can access these by pressing <F8>,
highlighting "Print Contributions," and pressing <Enter>. The first two
donation reports are designed to aid contributors in preparing their tax
returns. The other two account reports are for those that manage the
financial data (treasurer, secretary, etc.). Please examine the following
sample reports.
Donation Summary Report
06/07/1993
First Baptist Church of YourTown
1234 East YourStreet
YourTown, YourState 12345
(111) 111-1111
JOHN DOE
510 INTHEBUSH LN
CHEYENNE WY 82001-1234
Contributions from 01/01/1993 through 06/07/1993
General Fund 375.00
Easter Missions 10.00
Computer Fund 25.00
----------
----------> Total $ 410.00
Official Receipt For Income Tax Purposes: Serial #199306071
Treasurer/Financial Secretary ______________________________
Thanks for your support!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This report would have printed pledge information if Mr. Doe had made
any. This report prints the totals given to each account.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Donation Details Report
06/07/1993
First Baptist Church of YourTown
1234 East YourStreet
YourTown, YourState 12345
(111) 111-1111
JOHN DOE
510 INTHEBUSH LN
CHEYENNE WY 82001-1234
Contributions from 01/01/1993 through 06/07/1993
General Fund 01/31/1993 75.00
Easter Missions 01/31/1993 10.00
General Fund 03/07/1993 75.00
General Fund 03/28/1993 75.00
Computer Fund 04/18/1993 25.00
General Fund 04/25/1993 75.00
General Fund 05/30/1993 75.00
----------
----------------------> Total $ 410.00
Official Receipt For Income Tax Purposes: Serial #199306071
Treasurer/Financial Secretary ______________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This report lists every donation that John Doe made. Again, this report
would have printed pledge information if Mr. Doe had made any. The serial
number appearing on these reports consists of the year, month, day, and a
sequence number.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounts Summary
The Accounts Summary report will summarize income and pledges for any
period of time, totalling the amounts given to each account. An account
will not appear on the report if no contributions or pledges have been
received for it. If you set the period of time for one day (e.g., from
05/30/1993 to 05/30/1993), you can create a helpful receipt for the
treasurer or financial secretary.
## Account Title Income $$$ Pledged $$ Balance $$
1. General Fund 38505.97 0.00
3. Building Fund 1360.00 0.00
10. Book Consignment 76.33 0.00
11. Helping Hand 25.00 0.00
12. Easter Missions 249.00 0.00
13. Pentecost Missions 173.40 0.00
16. World Hunger 478.49 0.00
18. Computer Fund 300.00 0.00
19. Memorial Fund 155.00 0.00
21. Endowment Fund 327.16 0.00
---------- ---------- ----------
41650.35 0.00 0.00
Accounts Data printed 06/07/1993. Period 01/01/1993-06/07/1993
Accounts Details
The Accounts Details report lists every contribution or pledge that has
been made to every account within a specified time period. By the end of
the year, it can be quite lengthy.
Account Title Contributor(s) Date Amount $$
General Fund Adams, John 04/11/1993 25.00
Monroe, James 03/07/1993 75.00
Monroe, James 03/28/1993 75.00
Roosevelt, Teddy 01/31/1993 75.00
Etc.
Income $ 8,253.65
Building Fund Adams, John 02/07/1993 65.00
Eisenhower, Ike 01/17/1993 5.00
Monroe, James 01/31/1993 50.00
Etc.
Income $ 1,234.56
Book Consignm Jackson, Andrew 05/16/1993 12.95
Lincoln, Abe/Mary 05/16/1993 12.95
Madison, James/Doll 05/16/1993 12.95
Monroe, James 05/16/1993 16.99
Roosevelt, Frank 05/16/1993 16.99
Washington, George 05/16/1993 3.50
Income $ 76.33
World Hunger Garfield, James 01/10/1993 25.00
Income $ 25.00
Etc., for each account.
------------
Total: Pledged $ 0.00 Income $ 41650.35
Accounts Data printed 06/07/1993. Period 01/01/1993-06/07/1993
Deleting Contributions
In addition to using <F4> while editing, FCS offers you two other ways to
delete certain contributions from your database. Both of these options are
available from the Family Menu.
Deleting All Contributions
This is a quick way to remove all contributions loaded into FCS. Simply
follow the on-screen instructions. Use this option with extreme caution,
always making a backup beforehand. ALWAYS use this option before you are
ready to load actual data for the first time to ensure an empty database.
Delete Contributions By Date
Normally, you will print tax statements (reports) in January for all
contributors. After printing these reports, you will probably want to
remove the previous year's contributions and pledges. This option allows
you to remove the contributions that fall between certain dates. Again,
use this option with extreme caution and make a backup beforehand, storing
it in a safe place as a permanent record.
The Attendance Menu
The Attendance Menu provides access to FCS's Attendance Module. If you
highlight either the "Attendance By Name" option or the "Attendance By
Sunday School Class" option, you will immediately see the attendance screen.
Attendance records can be displayed graphically in the upper portion of
this screen (F3). If displayed, this chart has four rows, each having space
for 52 "ticks" ("■"). By using the Attendance Module, you can track
attendance for Church (worship), Sunday School, and two other activities
which are user definable. (These are preset to "Evening" and "Wednesday.")
Browsing through names is faster when the chart is not displayed (F3).
If you choose the "Attendance By Name" option from the Attendance Menu,
you will see that all those who have data entered in their personal
information areas are arranged alphabetically by last name. If you choose
the "Attendance By Sunday School Class" option, the individuals will be
grouped by Sunday School class, then alphabetically by last name. The
"Attendance By Sunday School Class" option displays only those persons who
have been assigned to a class in the personal information area.
Before Entering Attendance Data
There are a couple of items to consider before you begin entering
attendance data. Again, "teach" FCS the way you're currently doing things;
it can bend to accommodate almost any church setting.
Establishing Week 1
You will need to establish the beginning of your "church year" before
you enter attendance data. Most likely, this will be January 1. As you
examine the upper portion of the attendance screen, you will notice that
an asterisk ("*") denotes the current week of the year (first, second,
third, etc.). FCS automatically determines the current week of the year
from the system date.
If your church year doesn't begin on January 1, you will need to adjust
the "Weeks Offset" option through the Tools Menu (Customize Screen #1).
This way, if your year begins on July 1, FCS will know that Sunday, July
4, 1993 is actually the "first" week of your church year and will begin
tracking week 1 from that point. (See the Tools Menu discussion)
Using the Third and Fourth Rows for Visitation Tracking
The third and fourth rows display the attendance data for the two user
defined activities. But they can be used in another way that may be more
helpful to you. The third and fourth rows do not insert dates into the
family information area, however, they are "linked" to it. Through the
Tools Menu, you can establish a link between the third attendance row and
the "Last Deacon Visit" field and/or the fourth attendance row and the
"Last Pastor Visit" field. If you tell FCS you would like to do this, a
tick ("■") will be placed in the attendance row whenever you enter a date
in the corresponding visit field in the family information area.
Entering Attendance Data
The first thing you need to do is enter the date so FCS can the determine
the week to update. To do this press <F2>. This date will automatically
be inserted in the "Last Attn Ch" and "Last Attn SS" fields of the personal
information area when <F4> and <F5> are pressed respectively. If you press
<F2>, then <Ctrl-Y>, FCS will store empty dates to the "Last Attn Ch" and
"Last Attn SS" fields when <F4> and <F5> are pressed. After you have set
the date, simply press <F4>, <F5>, <F6>, or <F7> to mark a person as
present for Church, Sunday School, or the other two user defined events/
activities. If you accidently press <F4> or <F5>, press the same key again
to undo the error. Dates are not stored for the two user defined events.
<F4> Updates Church (worship) attendance
<F5> Updates Sunday School attendance
<F6> Updates the activity defined for the third row
<F7> Updates the activity defined for the fourth row
Finding a Name
In the "Attendance By Name" option, the names are arranged alphabetically
by last name. You can quickly find any person's attendance record by
typing a few letters of the last name.
In the "Attendance By Sunday School Class" option, the names are arranged
by Sunday School class and then alphabetically within each class. To find
a person's attendance record quickly, type a few letters of the class name.
What the Statistics Mean
In the upper right corner of the attendance screen you will notice a
percentage figure. This is an attendance percentage, and it is based on
the number of times a person has attended since their initial visit.
(This way, if a person begins attending half-way through the year, and
never misses a Sunday, they can still have 100 percent church attendance.)
Printing Attendance Data
By pressing <F8>, you can print a roster for each of the four
events/activities you are tracking. Since the Sunday School roster will
probably be printed most frequently, it is discussed below. However, most
of the same information applies to the other three activity rosters.
Sunday School Rosters
You can easily create a Sunday School roster for each class by pressing
<F8>. In fact, these roster sheets could readily replace the more costly
attendance books. The roster includes a graphic representation of each
student's attendance using an "X" instead of the screen tick ("■"). In
addition, FCS will print an underscore character ("_") under the current
week, so that a class registrar can mark each student present or absent.
Because these roster sheets are usually printed before Sunday (the first
day of the next week), FCS prints the blanks in next week's position. In
addition, each student's attendance statistic is printed, and those who
have been absent for three weeks or more are marked ("*") so that they
can be contacted. The Sunday School roster sheet includes spaces for
visitor information and class offering.
The Sunday School roster will only include those who have been assigned
to a Sunday School class in the personal information screen. (Other
rosters will include all those having data in their personal information
areas.) If you include an asterisk ("*") along with the Sunday School
Class assignment in the personal information area (e.g., "Y1*"), FCS will
not include that person in the roster. Furthermore, those with no class
assignment and those with an asterisk will not appear.
Class Roster
Class: 07 YOUTH Week 1 2 3 4 5
Name 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012 %%% 3
Barton, Jeff X X X X X _ 23 *
Beddy, Nelson XXXXXXX X XXXXXXXXXXX _ 83
Cord, Ty X X X XX X X X _ 36 *
Darcy, Marcy _ 0 *
Delano, Frank XXXXX XX X XXXXX X _ 64
Desktop, Ona XXX XX XX X X X _ 45
Perry, Barry _ 0 *
Ribero, Elizabeth XX XXXXXX XX _ 43 *
Ribonson, Liza X XX X XX X X XX XXXX _ 61
Ribonson, Jerry X XXX X XX X XXXX XXXX _ 70
Road, Rocky XX XXXXX XX XX XXXXX _ 73
Solloway, Bob _ 0 *
String, Pula XX X X X X _ 29 *
Trumble, Paul X X XXXX X XXXXX XX _ 61
VanHorn, Dave XX X X X _ 31 *
-----> Total Members Present: _____ Total Visitors: _____ Total $ ________
...............Visitors............... ...............Visitors..............
Name__________________________________ Name_________________________________
Addr__________________________________ Addr_________________________________
City_______________ ST____ ZIP________ City ______________ ST____ ZIP_______
Ph #______________ Note_______________ Ph #______________ Note______________
The Report Menu
The Report Menu allows access to the Reports Module--and to one of FCS's
most powerful features. A report is an ordered listing of specific items
of data. Reports created with FCS are called "FlexiLists." Each time you
request a group listing, you are creating a FlexiList.
The Reports Module is where you create labels, ready-made phone
directories, merged letters, etc., for everyone listed in your database
or just a particular group of people. When you highlight "FlexiList
Creations," and press <Enter>, you will see the FlexiList creation screen.
Creating a FlexiList
A quick glance at this screen reveals how the FlexiList report generator
allows you to choose the data that will appear in your report, how it will
be arranged, and the criteria for including people in the report--it's as
easy as 1-2-3. The report generator is powerful and flexible.
1. Type in the numbers of the items you wish to see in your report. Items
numbered 1-21 pertain to family information. Items numbered 22 and
greater apply to personal information. You can mix personal and family
information items, but you may get duplicate information in some cases.
2. Type in up to two numbers to tell FCS how to sort or arrange your data.
For most lists, you will want the data sorted alphabetically by last
name, then by their "goes by" name. To do this, simply type "22" in the
first square and "25" in the second square.
3. Type in the numbers of the items FCS should use as a "filter." These
items will be used as a criteria to determine who is to be included in
the report. For example, if you want to list all of those within a
specific zip code, type a "6" in the first filter square. Before creating
the list, FCS will ask you to enter all or part of the zip code you wish
to be used as a filtering criteria. If you enter "820" as your filter,
FCS will compare those numbers to every zip code in the database and create
a list of those who have "820" as the first part of their zip code.
When all the items are entered just the way you want them, simply press
the <PgDn> key.
After you press <PgDn>, FCS will ask you about the various filters you
have requested. For example, if you included item "50" ("Teacher"), the
program will ask you if teachers should be included or excluded. "Include"
would be the normal choice, but if you choose "exclude," FCS will generate
a list of everyone who is not a teacher.
If FCS uses the word "Match" when it asks for additional information,
then the data you have entered as a criteria can be anywhere within the
item you have selected as a filter. If the word "Match" doesn't appear,
FCS will begin its comparison with the left-most character and proceed to
the right. The following item numbers are of the "matching" variety: 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 20, 21, 26, 27, 42. Some examples may help.
If you filter on zip code and enter "200" as your search criteria, FCS
would find only those zip codes that begin with a "200" (e.g., 20053). It
would not find zip codes with a "200" in the middle (e.g., 82001). On the
other hand, if you filter on delivery address and enter "AVE" as your
search criteria, FCS would find delivery addresses such as "213 Parker
Ave," "510 E Church Avenue," and "896 Bravery Lane."
When you've answered the simple questions concerning your search
criteria, FCS will go to work and within seconds you will be looking at
your FlexiList creation (report). Pressing <Enter> at this point will
provide you access to several options including printing the Flexilist,
labels, merge printing, and several reports.
Report Output Options
The "FlexiList" Option
If you simply want a hard copy of the FlexiList pretty much as it appears
on the screen, highlight "FlexiList" and press <Enter>. FCS will
automatically adjust the print pitch to fit on the paper. For example,
if the list is 85 characters wide, FCS will print it in elite (12 Cpi)
pitch so that nothing will "wrap" to the next line. If the report doesn't
fit using 12 Cpi, FCS will switch to 17 Cpi. Reports wider than 130
characters will wrap unless you have a wide carriage printer.
The "Labels" Option
If you need mailing labels, highlight "Labels" and press <Enter>. If you
only need one label per family, do not include items with numbers above
21 in the list items. This will prevent duplicate labels. If you want
a mailing label for each person in the family, select at least one item
numbered above 21. For convenience, FCS will print a complete mailing
label (with name, city, state, zip, etc.) even if you didn't include
those items in the report.
The "Merge" Option
If you want to send a letter to several individuals and have it
personalized by inserting their name and address, select the "Merge"
option. (See the Merge Printing Sub-Module discussion for more details.)
The "Reports" Option
These are actually report forms. In other words, you create the
FlexiList, and FCS inserts those families or individuals into several
ready-made, specialized report forms: a jobs-talents report, a family
information report, a donation summary report, a donation details report,
and a phone directory report. If you need such a report form for a group
of individuals, highlight "Reports," press <Enter>, highlight the report
form you need, and press <Enter> again. When making a phone directory,
an asterisk ("*") will be placed in front of non-member names.
The "Browse" Option
This option allows you to scroll through the FlexiList on your screen by
using the arrow keys. If there is a particular individual that you don't
want included on the list, simply highlight the name and press <F4>.
Although the name won't disappear, a "Not Included" message will appear
reminding you that they have been removed. Pressing <F4> again will re-
include the name in your report if you made a mistake. Because of this
delete feature, you may want to browse your FlexiList first.
The "Exit" Option
When you highlight "Exit" and press <Enter>, you will return to the
FlexiList creation screen, and all of your item selections will still be
in place. So if your FlexiList doesn't come up the way you thought it
would, you can try again without having to repeat the entire process.
Pressing <Esc> returns you to the main menu without saving your current
settings.
The Tools Menu
The Tools menu provides access to several helpful utilities designed to
help you maintain and organize your data. Study carefully the following
discussion of each Tools Menu option.
The "Change Passwords" Option
FCS can store up to four passwords. These passwords restrict access to
contribution options, the notes you have written, and the passwords
themselves. Passwords can be up to seven characters long and are not case
sensitive. If you do not use passwords, FCS will never ask for one. But
if you do need them, FCS will ask you to enter a password when starting the
program. The user will only be given access to those items authorized by
his or her password. The password remains in effect until you exit FCS.
Note that password protection schemes are best regarded as "keeping
honest people honest." Experienced computer "hackers" will probably be
able to get at the data if they really want to.
The "Customize FCS Screen 1" Option
Now, take a look at the first customizing screen.
Part of the power of FCS is that it can bend to fit your particular
denomination's language. If your fellowship or denomination has "Elders,"
you can tell FCS to call them "elders" through the "Customize FCS Screen 1"
option. Be certain that you customize FCS to fit your needs; this will
greatly enhance its user-friendliness. Don't be intimidated by the options
screen. Step through each option one at a time, changing only what you
want to change. When you're finished, press <F10> to save your changes.
Let's examine the possibilities.
User Defined Titles
There are several fields of data that can be user defined. By default,
they are named "Male," "Single," "Adult," "Guardian," "Retired,"
"Student," "Shut In," "Teacher," "Deacon," "Pastor," "Baptized," and
"Confirmed." If you change them here, they will be correctly changed
throughout the entire system.
Custom Heading
This heading appears only when printing donation reports for
contributors. Since this may be one of the more "official" forms of
output, you should enter your church heading in this block. The heading
doesn't have to be centered as it will be left justified on the report.
Change Path/File Name When Creating Reports
By default, FCS will store all reports generated to a file in a
subdirectory called C:\FCS\Reports. If you want FCS to ask you for a
file name and directory path each time you generate a report as a file,
enter a "Y" in this field.
Report Path
By default, the report path is C:\FCS\Reports, but you may change it to
any path you wish. FCS will not allow you to leave this field until it
contains a valid DOS path.
Browse Screen Type
The Family Module can be displayed in three different formats. Choose
one that will be most helpful to you. For example, if you wish to review
your notes, select "N" for "Notes." If you desire, FCS can expand the
lower part of the screen (browse area) to include the middle portion of
the screen. This is called the "Big Browse" mode. By default, FCS is set
to "P" and displays often needed information on persons assigned to the
family. Experiment with each screen type to see which one is most useful.
Do People Pledge?
If your church uses a "pledge" type stewardship program, set this option
on. If "Y" (on), this will force FCS to inquire about pledges every time
you update your contributions. Since many churches only pledge at the
beginning of the year, they will probably want to turn this option on,
enter all their pledges, then turn it off. With "N" (off) FCS will still
handle the pledges properly. (Setting this option on slows the
contribution update process.)
Record Check Numbers
If you want to keep track of contributor check numbers, set this option
on with "Y". (Again, setting this option on slows the contribution update
process.) If not, turn it off with "N".
Use Jobs Module
If you type a "Y" in this field, FCS will automatically load the Jobs
Sub-Module. Many churches, particularly larger ones, will find this
sub-module quite helpful in tracking each person's abilities, talents, and
interests. The Jobs Sub-Module comes "loaded" with several job titles.
(See the Jobs Sub-Module discussion in this manual for more details.)
Label File Name
When printing mailing labels, the output is normally sent to a printer.
FCS supports LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, COM1, and COM2. If you need to send your
labels to a file, enter a file name in this field. The Labels Set-Up
Sub-Module will replace "COM2" with "FILE." Then if you select "FILE" as
your output, FCS will create one for you using the specified name.
Attendance Module Custom Options
There are several possible configurations for the attendance module. You
can use two of the rows to document pastor and deacon visits; you can
change the titles of the third and fourth activities (rows); and if your
church year doesn't begin on January 1, you can adjust FCS to fit your
calendar.
- Weeks Offset from January
If your church year begins on a date other than January 1, you will
need to indicate that to FCS. This is done by telling FCS how many weeks
it will take to get to January 1. For example, if your church year begins
October 1, enter a "13" in this field, because it takes 13 weeks to get to
January 1. If your church year begins in July, enter a "26" in this field.
- Use Row 3/4 For Visits
If you want to track deacon and pastor visits with the third and fourth
attendance rows, enter a "Y" in one or both of these blocks. If you answer
"N," you can use these two rows for any activity.
- Row 3/4 Titles
If you are tracking pastoral visits, this is where you would change
row three or four to something more descriptive: "Pstrl Visit." If you
aren't tracking visits at all, you may still want to change one or both
rows to suit your needs: "Bible Study," "Fam Night," etc.
The "Customize FCS Screen 2" Option
The second customizing screen allows you to define the titles and
corresponding abbreviations used to describe a person's relationship to the
church and Sunday School. While one denomination may use the word
"member," another group may use "communicant" or "participant." FCS allows
you to define the terms that will be used in the personal information area
of the family information screen. However, the default terms may be wholly
acceptable.
Abbr Church Relationship Abbr SS Relationship
M Active Church Member M Active Sunday School Member
I Inactive Church Member I Inactive Sunday School Member
F Former Church Member F Former Sunday School Member
R Regular Church Attender R Regular Sunday School Attender
P Church Prospect P Sunday School Prospect
You can only use an abbreviation once per group.
The "Import SDF Data" Option
Data is imported only when you are converting data from another church
software package such as Church Shareware Software (CSS version 3). The
conversion program will create four files ending with "SDF." These files
are then imported into FCS with this option. Please inquire about
converting your data from other church management software. The conversion
process normally takes only a few minutes. Detailed information is pro-
vided with each conversion program ordered.
The "Backup Data to Floppy Disk" Option
FCS's backup procedure is quick and easy. It provides a painless way to
safeguard all of your important data. All data files are compressed into
a single file called FCSData.Fex, then copied to the drive which you've
specified. A spare copy of the FCSData.Fex file is also left in the FCS
subdirectory. You will be prompted to provide an appropriate name for this
diskette.
I highly recommend using four backup disks--one for each week of the
month. Use these same for disks each month, always using the oldest dated
disk for the backup. I would also run the backup procedure immediately
after printing individual donation reports.
The "Restore Data From a Floppy" Option
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY AND BE CERTAIN YOU
UNDERSTAND IT. FCS will only operate from a hard drive. If you restore
data from a floppy disk, the data on that disk will overwrite the FCS data
on the hard drive. For this reason, you should do a backup just before
running the restore option just in case you need that data again. If you
don't do this that data is gone forever. (The restore option is especially
handy if you're using FCS on more than one computer.) It is wise to have
four different weekly backup disks clearly labeled by date. Use the oldest
dated disk for this backup.
The "Change Common/Other Printer Codes" Options
FCS readily supports Epson and IBM compatible printers--by far the most
commonly used. These two options will allow you to specify codes and
commands for other printers, particularly laser printers. When the printer
set-up screen appears, you can select these commands by highlighting
"Codes," pressing <Enter>, highlighting "Your Codes," and pressing <Enter>
again. Only users with a thorough knowledge of printer commands should
utilize these options. See the on-screen instructions for additional
details. By default, FCS loads commands for an HP Laserjet III.
The "Sort and Optimize Data" Option
This allows FCS to reorganize its data files for more efficient
processing. Use this option periodically (monthly).
The "Create Zip+4 Postal File" Option
This option is provided for those that do bulk mailings on a regular
basis and want to take advantage of the Zip+4 bar coded rate. You can
receive about two cents off each piece if you add the +4 to the zip codes
and print the postal bar code for the post office. This not only helps the
post office, but it speeds your mail through the system as well. Before
running this option, you should ascertain that your address information is
as accurate as possible. Normally, the post office will convert the 5
digit zips to the zip+4 format only once.
When you highlight this option and press <Enter>, FCS will create a file
named ZipPlus.Old that contains your mailing data. (You have the option of
excluding those assigned to mail list 4.) The file will be copied to a
floppy disk, and a letter will be created containing all of the information
required by the postal service (PS form 5603). When the disk returns, make
sure it contains the file named ZipPlus.New. You may need to rename the
file if the post office gave the file a different name. Without the
ZipPlus.New file, FCS cannot use the new data.
The"Import Zip+4 Postal File" Option
Important! Before you run this option you should do a backup. This
automatically updates your mailing data and adds the +4 to your zip codes.
All you have to do is insert the floppy disk returned from the post office
and execute this option. Scan through your data to be sure your zip codes
were modified properly.
Sub-Modules
FCS has four sub-modules, so called because they can appear while a user
is working within one of the main menu modules. Each sub-module has a
unique screen and list of options. What follows is a discussion of each of
these sub-modules.
The "Printer Set-Up" Sub-Module
All FCS output can be sent to a printer or to a file. The user controls
this output through a printer set-up sub-module. When you request that FCS
print a FlexiList, a family data sheet, a donation statement, etc., you
will be presented with the printer set-up screen.
One of the most common ways to invoke the printer set-up screen is by
pressing <F8> from the family information screen. When you choose to send
data to a file, FCS will display the same information to the screen as long
as the file is small (under 40K). If the file is larger than 40K, it will
not be displayed; however, it can still be loaded into your favorite word
processor for viewing and editing. Normally, file output will be sent to
the C:\FCS\Reports subdirectory, but you may change this if you wish
through the Tools Menu. The left and right arrow keys will allow you to
choose from several options.
The "Paper Size" Option
FCS has the two most commonly used paper sizes readily available.
However, a custom page layout is available for unusual situations. You
may find it helpful to use the "Custom Size" option when printing with a
laser printer. (Try setting the page width to 80, length to 60, left
margin to 10, top margin to 0, and bottom margin to 0.)
The "Eject Paper" Option
This option allows you to specify when FCS ejects a page: before
printing, after printing, before and after printing, or neither.
The "Printer Port" Option
FCS supports LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, COM1, and COM2. If you use two printers,
you can tell FCS which printer should receive output. For convenience,
FCS remembers the last printer port setting.
The "Codes" Option
FCS readily supports Epson and IBM compatible printers, including color
printers. Most printers emulate one or both of these standards. Check
your printer manual if you're not sure about your particular printer.
The "Output" Option
The output can be sent to the printer or to a file. If you select
"Make/Edit File" and the file is small (under 40K), it will also be
displayed to the screen.
The "Label Set-Up" Sub-Module
The label set-up screen appears whenever you tell FCS you want your
output in labels. It works similarly to the printer set-up sub-module
described above, but there are some different options.
The "Size of Labels" Option
FCS supports a wide variety of label sizes. The most commonly used
labels, 3 1/2 x 15/16 and 4 x 1 7/16, are readily available. If you need
another size, simply highlight the "Custom Size" sub-option and press
<Enter>. This is handy when printing directly to continuous form post
cards.
The "Labels Across" Option
I recommend using label sheets that are one or two across. If you
attempt to print more than two labels across on a regular carriage dot
matrix printer, the text will "wrap." You must have a wide carriage
printer to print three labels across. A special option is available for
printing three labels across on the HP Laserjet. Use Avery 5160 labels
if you wish to utilize this option on a laser printer. (Bar codes are
only supported on printers using IBM graphics codes.)
The "Port" Option
FCS supports LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, COM1, and COM2. If you want to send label
data to a file, you must specify the file name through the Tools Menu.
If you have entered a file name in the "Customize FCS Screen 1," "COM2"
will be replaced with the word "FILE" in the label set-up screen. If you
choose "File," the labels will be sent to the file which you specified.
Again, for convenience, FCS remembers the last printer port setting.
The "Name Printed" Option
FCS allows you to specify which name will appear on the mailing label.
Generally, you will use the "Label Name" sub-option, because most of your
mail is probably directed to everyone in the house. But sometimes you
may wish to direct the mail to a particular person. If so, you can
choose the "First Name" or "Goes By" name sub-option.
The "Bars/CR" Option
FCS will print postal bar codes or carrier routes or neither on your
labels. Bar codes and carrier routes can save you money and will help
speed your mail as well. By taking advantage of the Zip+4/Bar coded
rate, you can realize a savings of about two cents per piece per bulk
mailing. Bar codes can only be printed on printers supporting IBM
graphics.
The "Align" Option
Highlight the word "Align" by using the left and right arrow keys, then
press <Enter>. This allows you to check your settings before you begin
printing labels. If the alignment is off, adjust your settings, and try
again.
The "Merge Printing" Sub-Module
FCS can merge any of the data on the family information screen into
templates which you create. These templates are form letters with "blanks"
left in them. Since you can specify virtually any paper size and insert
database information anywhere you wish, the templates can also be used for
Rolodex cards and a host of other uses.
Creating a New Merge Template
To create a new merge template, enter the family information module.
Then, follow these steps.
1. Press <F7> to access the merge print menu.
2. Press <F2> to add a new merge template. Type in a descriptive
title for your template and press <Enter>.
3. Type your letter. By pressing <F1> and <F2>, you can access help
for inserting specific items of data and controlling your printer.
All codes must be enclosed between a less than ("<") and a greater
than (">") symbol. When you're finished, press <F10>.
---------------------------------------
A typical template might look like this:
---------------------------------------
<DATE>
Your Church Name
123 Main Street
Anytown, ST 12345-1234
<1>
<3>
<4->, <5> <6>
Dear <25->,
We were delighted to receive you into the membership of our
congregation this past Sunday. Unless it is inconvenient, I would like
to stop by to visit with you this Friday evening.
In Christ's Service,
Pastor Jones
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the dash ("-") added after two of the item numbers (<4-> & <25->).
The dash removes the "trailing" spaces. If no dash had been used after item
<25>, the salutation would have been printed "Dear Frank ," (note the
spaces between "Frank" and the comma). When this "Welcome New Member"
template is merged, it will appear like this:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 6, 1993
Your Church Name
123 Main Street
Anytown, ST 12345-1234
Frank Newbody
510 W Third Street
Anytown, ST 12345-2233
Dear Frank,
We were delighted to receive you into the membership of our
congregation this past Sunday. Unless it is inconvenient, I would like
to stop by to visit with you this Friday evening.
In Christ's Service,
Pastor Jones
Before the merged letter is actually printed, you will see the printer
set-up screen. Again, it will "remember" the settings for each
respective template. So once you set the printing sub-options for a
particular template, you won't have to remember these settings again.
(Since, you can print a single merge letter from the Family Module, I
advise you to do so before any mass printing to verify the output.)
The "Jobs" Sub-Module
The Jobs Sub-Module allows you to track the level of involvement for 150
distinct activities. Each person can be flagged as Active, Experienced, or
Interested for each "job." To access the Jobs Sub-Module, simply press
<F7> from any individual's personal information area. Once inside the Jobs
Sub-Module, you can locate a particular "job" by typing the first letter of
the word. Press the letter again to find the next job beginning with that
letter. Of course, you can also use the arrow keys to scroll through the
jobs. The Jobs Sub-Module can be helpful when workers are needed to fill
a vacancy in the church. You can turn off the Jobs Sub-Module option if
you desire.
Editing Job Titles: <F3>
Several job titles have been entered for you, but you can change any of
them and include some of your own. Simply highlight the job you want to
edit and press <F3>. When you are finished, press <Enter>.
Changing Job Status: <F4>, <F5>, <F6>, <F7>
Changing an individual's job status is quick and easy. Press <F5> to
flag the person as "Active," press <F6> to flag the person as
"Experienced," and press <F7> to flag the person as "Interested."
Pressing <F4> will clear the status for a particular job/activity. Notice
that the total number of persons flagged for a particular job is adjusted
each time you update an individual's status. (Leave the status blank if
the person isn't interested in a particular activity.)
Printing a Jobs-Talents Report: <F8>
Press <F8> to print a jobs-talents report for the individual. If you
want to print a job/talents sheet for a particular group of individuals,
use the "Reports" option after generating a FlexiList for the particular
group. Please examine the following sample report.
Jobs-Talents Report
Jobs and Talents Sheet Printed on 06/10/1993
Jack E Burnett
A=Active, E=Experienced, I=Interested
1 ---- Education ----- 51 ---- Child Care ---- 101 ....................
2 Teacher.............A 52 Nursery Worker......E 102 ....................
3 Substitute Teacher..E 53 Preschool Worker....E 103 ....................
4 Clerk............... 54 .................... 104 ....................
5 Director............ 55 .................... 105 ....................
6 Administration...... 56 .................... 106 ....................
7 Vacation Bible Sch..A 57 .................... 107 ....................
8 Library............. 58 .................... 108 ....................
9 .................... 59 .................... 109 ....................
10 .................... 60 ---- Youth Work ---- 110 ------ Groups ------
11 .................... 61 Evening Groups...... 111 Youth...............
12 .................... 62 Athletics........... 112 Single Adults.......A
13 .................... 63 Camping.............I 113 Married Couples.....
14 .................... 64 .................... 114 Men's Organizations.
15 ----- Music ------ 65 .................... 115 Women's Organizatio.E
16 Choir...............I 66 .................... 116 Senior Groups.......
17 Handbell Choir...... 67 .................... 117 ....................
18 Soloist............. 68 .................... 118 ....................
19 Pianist............. 69 .................... 119 ....................
20 Organist............ 70 .................... 120 ....................
21 String Instrument...A 71 .................... 121 ....................
22 Other Instrument.... 72 .................... 122 ....................
23 Sound Equipment..... 73 .................... 123 ....................
24 .................... 74 .................... 124 ....................
25 .................... 75 ---- Office Help---- 125 ------ Worship -----
26 .................... 76 Typing.............. 126 Usher...............
27 .................... 77 Mailing............. 127 Greeter.............
28 .................... 78 Telephoning......... 128 Reader..............
29 .................... 79 Computer Expert..... 129 Baptism Assistant...
30 ----- Outreach ----- 80 Word Processing..... 130 ....................
31 Visit Church Members 81 Newsletter Support.. 131 ....................
32 Visit Prospects..... 82 .................... 132 ....................
33 Visit Shadowiness... 83 .................... 133 ....................
34 Telephone Visitors.. 84 .................... 134 ....................
35 Evangelism.......... 85 .................... 135 ....................
36 Hospital Visitation. 86 .................... 136 ....................
37 Work with Seniors... 87 .................... 137 ....................
38 Drive Church Bus.... 88 .................... 138 ....................
39 Transportation...... 89 .................... 139 ....................
40 Assist Missions..... 90 --- Bldg/Grounds---- 140 ------ Special -----
41 Backyard Bible Grp.. 91 Carpentry........... 141 Provide Flowers.....A
42 Prison Ministry..... 92 Electrical.......... 142 Decorate............
43 .................... 93 Painting............ 143 Kitchen Help........
44 .................... 94 Plumbing............ 144 Sewing..............E
45 .................... 95 Lawn Care........... 145 Pastoral Help.......A
46 .................... 96 Snow Removal........ 146 Blood Donor.........A
47 .................... 97 .................... 147 ....................
48 .................... 98 .................... 148 ....................
49 .................... 99 .................... 149 ....................
50 .................... 100 ................... 150 ....................
Errors
FCS has been tested extensively. However, if you receive an error
message and the program aborts, important information will be saved in a
file named Error.Log in the FCS subdirectory. If you don't know why the
error occurred, contact me as soon as possible. If you call, please have
this Error.Log file accessible. If you wish to write instead, simply
include a copy of this file on a floppy along with an outline of what you
were doing at the time.
If you get an error message or the program is working abnormally, please
delete the index files using the following DOS command:
DEL C:\FCS\*.CMX
If the problem persists, contact me at (307) 632-3317 (MST).
Registration Information
You have permission to use the Flexible Church System for thirty days for
evaluation purposes. If you need more time, please call or write for an
extension. I hope you enjoy using the program and hope it makes your
ministry more effective. After all, making your ministry more effective is
one of the goals of this ministry. Your support is greatly appreciated.
To register, print a copy of the registration form at the FCS Exit menu.
I recommend donating one dollar per member. My recommended minimum is 50.00
dollars. You may want to simply take up a love offering. Please pray about
this matter, I am trusting God to guide you.
If you know others that might want to try this program, please feel free
to make copies of the disk.
I also have a budgeting program that is very helpful to the church
treasurer or financial secretary. Call or write if you would like to try
this program.
I plan on modifying FCS soon to make it run in "Protected mode" (386-486)
to significantly speed up the program.
If you call or write, I will send the latest version and a manual so you
can do a better evaluation.
Cedric Fairweather, 4318 Ocean Ave, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001-2021
(307) 632-3317