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Text File | 1987-04-27 | 14KB | 420 lines

                     Financial Operating System  (FOS)
                                 Ver. 2.4

                     Duane Brummel  471 Hillcrest La.
                          Brooklyn, Wis.  53521
                       Copyright (c) 1985 1986 1987




         This program will maintain all your financial records whether
    they are checking accounts, savings accounts, CD's, Stocks, Bank
    Notes, Cash expenditures or just about any other transaction.
    Many reports are available to inform you of your current 'net
    worth' and to aid you in controlling your liquid assets.

         If you find this program useful, a small contribution of $10.00
    will be appreciated.  You will then be on the mailing list and will
    be notified of any changes or enhancements to this program.




    DISCLAIMER

         The author makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied,
    including without limitation, any warranties of merchantability
    and/or fitness for a particular purpose.  The author shall not be
    liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or
    consequential arising from a failure of this program to operate
    in  the manner desired by the user.  In no event will the author
    be liable to you for any damages, including any lost profits,
    lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising
    out of your use or inability to use the program, or for any claim
    by any other party.





    GENERAL INFORMATION

         Minimum hardware configuration required is 96k storage, one
    disk drive and a 80 Col. display either color or mono.  A printer
    is optional.  FOS is designed to run with any version of DOS and
    BASICA.

         The FOS package consist of the following files:

              FOS.DOC       This document.
              FOS.BAS       The main FOS program.
              FOS2.BAS      Another section of the FOS program
                            containing file maintenance and data
                            analysis routines.
              EXP-CODE.FOS  This will be created the first time you
                            run FOS and contains expense code data.











         FOS is initially set up so that FOS and it's data files must
    be located on drive A.  If a different disk drive is desired for
    your data files you only have to make two small changes.  In line
    65 in the FOS program and line 25 in the FOS2 program change the
    DRIVE$="A" statement to DRIVE$="X" to match your system requirements.
    Example:  Start BASICA by entering BASICA at the DOS prompt.
    Next load FOS by entering LOAD"FOS".  Now enter LIST 65 to list
    program line number 65.  You should see: 65 DRIVE$="A".  Now
    change the "A" to the drive you want to use.  Next you must save
    your changed program so that your change is permanent.  Enter:
    SAVE"FOS".  That completes the modification to the FOS.BAS program.
    Next, you have to modify line 25 in the FOS2.BAS program using
    the same procedure.



         If you are using a PC-Jr., you will NOT want the key-pad
    to be automatically put into Num. lock mode.  To prevent this
    automatic switch to Num. mode, you must change line 40 in the
    main FOS program.  Insert REM followed by a space right after the
    line number 40.  This will change the entire line to a comment
    instead of an executable line of code.

         To enter Social Security numbers and/or any other data you
    would like displayed from the '0' option on the main FOS menu, you
    must change program lines.  Load FOS, but do not RUN it.  Enter
    LIST 12000- and you will see existing data that you should change
    to suit your needs.  Then SAVE "FOS" and your ready to go.

         To keep FOS handy for quick and frequent use, you could copy
    the FOS programs 'FOS.BAS' ,'FOS2.BAS', and EXP-CODE.FOS plus any
    data files already in use, onto the diskette you normally keep
    installed in drive A.

         The keyboard will automatically be put in Numeric Keypad mode
    and Upper Case, for convenience, when FOS is started.




    SPECIAL KEYS

    F1   (Abort or Exit key)

         Any time you want to stop what you are presently doing and
    return to the current menu, you can use this key.  For
    example, in the Checking account program when you are entering
    checks, the program is in an 'enter-data' loop always looking
    for another entry.  The proper way to exit this 'enter'
    mode is to use the F1 key.

         Most transactions require several fields of data.  Lets
    suppose that you notice that a field you entered earlier was
    in error.  Use the F1 key to cancel that entire entry and
    re-enter the correct data.











         Also, if a menu is displayed on the screen, pressing F1 at
    this time will take you to the next higher level menu.

         Most of the time that the F1 key is used will be when FOS is
    waiting for a keyboard entry.  At these times, it will be
    necessary to press 'enter' after the F1 key.


    F2   (End)

         This key will close all files, and return you to BASIC.


    F9   (Stop Printer)

         When printing data, this key can be used to temporarily stop
    the printer.


    F10  (Continue Printing)

         Printer operation that was halted using the F9 key can be
    restarted by using this key.




    ENTERING A DATE:

         Any time FOS requests a DATE to be entered, you have three
    options:

         1) Just press 'enter' and FOS will use the date that was
    entered when you powered on the PC.  This 'default' date is always
    displayed in the lower right corner of the screen.

         2) Press 4 digits for the MMDD and then 'enter' and FOS will
    use that and the 'default' year.

         3) Press 6 digits for the MMDDYY and 'enter'.




    INITIALIZING FILES:

         All files must be initialized using the INITIALIZE function
    before they can be used by FOS.  During initialization, you will
    be asked what the maximum number of records will be in that
    particular file.  Don't be afraid to 'underestimate' for several
    reasons:  1) The larger the file, the more search time is required
    in some cases.  2). The larger the file, the more disk space is
    required that may never be used, and  3) It is very  easy to
    increase the size of any file whenever the need arises.












         Let's say you were entering transactions in a Checking
    account and this particular file became full.  You would be
    informed by FOS that the file is full.  You could now select the
    ENLARGER function listed under UTILITIES to increase the size of
    that file.


         Here are some typical file sizes:
    Outstanding checks.. 70 (Or about one months quantity.)
    Canceled checks.....400 (About six months, then later expand.)
    Special accounts.....10
    Cash expenditures...150

         The two types of files that contain an ever increasing number
    of transactions, Canceled Checks, and Cash Expenditures,
    would normally be increased in size to accommodate at least
    one year.




    SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

         These are designed to store the last 20 transactions in a
    first in / first out arrangement.  So when entering the 21st
    transaction, the 1st one will be rolled out... etc.  If you have a
    need to keep Savings records over a greater length of time, use
    the 'Print Screen' option to list the contents of the file before
    the oldest data is lost.  A facility has been incorporated
    to make it easy to add interest payments to the Accounts.




    CHECKING ACCOUNTS

         DEBIT ENTRIES:

         This function is selected whenever money is withdrawn from an
    account, whether by an Automated Teller Machine or by writing
    a check.  The first data requested is the ITEM#.  If this is
    a check, enter the check number. (Must be between 200 and
    32767).  If it is a Teller Machine transaction, you will not
    have a ITEM# to enter.  In this case, press 'enter' and FOS
    will assign a number to that transaction.  These automatic numbers
    will be in the range of 2 thru 199 and can only be assigned by
    FOS.

         Another item asked for is the expense code or category.  Just
    select one of the 36 expense codes that are displayed.  If the
    code you want is not displayed, just hit the ENTER key and the
    second group of up to 36 additional expense codes will be
    displayed.  (When you start FOS for the first time, a set of
    default codes will be set up but you are free to change or add
    to this list any time you want.)










         To charge several expense categories all paid for by a single
    check (Master Card monthly bill etc.), enter the check number
    as usual but immediately follow the number with a '+'.  Example:
    for check No. 1234, just enter: '1234+'.  When listing files, a
    lower case 'n' or 'y' will appear under the TAX Col. if it is part
    of a split check.


        You will also be asked if the transaction could possible be a
    tax deductible.  If so, it will be flagged so it can be listed
    with other tax related items to assist at tax time.  Any response
    other than a 'Y' including just 'enter' assumes it is not tax
    related.




         CREDIT ENTRIES

    When making deposits to a checking account, you have the ability
    to use your own transaction numbers or to let FOS assign them for
    you.  You can also enter a description for your deposit or let FOS
    automatically enter "DEPOSIT" for you.




         BALANCE CHECKBOOK

    All you have to do here is to enter the check numbers of the
    checks that the bank has cleared on your statement.  For deposits,
    or Teller Machine transactions, that have cleared, enter the
    automatic number that FOS originally assigned to that transaction
    when it was entered.  You can display the Outstanding Checks File
    to determine these numbers.  These items will now be removed from
    the Outstanding Checks File and placed into the Canceled Checks
    File for future reference.  After the last Item# has been entered,
    FOS will arrive at a figure that should equal the amount indicated
    as your balance on your BANK STATEMENT and will be carried forward
    in the current checks file under the entry called PREVIOUS BALANCE.
    The whole procedure should only take a few minutes.

         To save time and reduce unnecessary book-work, you might
    consider one of the following:

         1)  Eliminate recording entries in you hard-copy bank
    checkbook.

         2)  Reduce the quantity of data that you enter in your
    hard-copy bank checkbook.  For example it is no longer
    necessary to maintain a running balance.  FOS does it for
    you.















         DISPLAY/SEARCH CANCELED CHECK FILE

         This facility can be used to search for specific items
    in the canceled check file.
    Once an item has been located, it can be deleted or the
    next item displayed that matches the search criteria.

         When doing a search on the DESCRIPTION field, upper or
    lower case characters can be used as the program converts
    all strings to upper case before attempting a match.  Matches will
    occur on partial entries.  Ex: If you enter 'Cas', you will
    receive a match on all items that have a description field
    starting with the letters 'cas'.




    CASH EXPENDITURES

         This file can be use to track any or all outlays of cash.


    SPECIAL ACCOUNTS

         You can keep records of your stock holdings, CD's, bonds,
    bank notes, or just about any asset or liability in this
    file.  Just enter the data requested.


    BACK-UPS

         As with any other important disk.  it is recommended that a
    multiple backup procedure be implemented.  Normal DOS functions
    can be used to achieve this.


    FOS VER 2.3 ENHANCEMENTS

         New facility added to checking accounts to allow the printout
    of all items in the cancelled check file that match a specified
    expense code.  Also, all of the expense codes can be displayed
    as a prompt for entering a code for searches.



    QUICK START UP PROCEDURE

    1.  Get BASICA running and load "FOS"

    2.  If you intend to use a drive other that A, make the necessary
        change to the FOS.BAS and FOS2.BAS programs per above
        instructions.














    3.  Run FOS and select option 9 from the main menu.  This will load
        in section 2 of the FOS program (FOS2.BAS).  Select INITIALIZE
        (Option 1) and initialize the Checking Account #1 Current Checks
        and Cancelled Checks files.

    4.  Leave FOS program section 2 by entering option 9 on the main
        menu.

    5.  Now, from the main fos menu, enter option 2 and go to checking
        account #1 main menu.  Here enter various checks, deposits, etc
        and become familiar with how FOS runs.  Try the balance option
        and then check out the various search capabilities in the
        cancelled checks file.  Remember, to return to a previous screen
        or to cancel a current operation just hit the F1 key. (If the
        computer was waiting for a keyboard entry, you must hit the
        ENTER key also.)  Once you have satisfied yourself that the
        program does work and you have tested various factions, you
        can erase all this 'test' data by going back to step 3 and
        re-initialize the two checking account #1 files.