ftp.barnyard.co.uk/2015.02.ftp.barnyard.co.uk.tar/ftp.barnyard.co.uk/cpm/walnut-creek-CDROM/CPM/DATABASE/CPMTAX.ARK/CPMTAX.MAN

Text File | 1989-01-17 | 23KB | 505 lines

CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

                    CPMTAX ABBREVIATED MANUAL
     Copyright SWComputing 1984, 1988 - all rights reserved

This  manual is an abbreviated version of the one  supplied  with
the  commercial  versions of this system.  The  manual  furnished
with the commercial package is laser printed with subject  matter
annotations which are missing in this copy.

CPMTAX uses the Wordstar (TM) commands for movement.

To  invoke  CPMTAX,  be sure the  program  CPMTAX.COM  (CP/M)
is on the logged drive and type:

        CPMTAX<ENTER>.

The  main  menu should appear which displays all  the  forms  and
other utility programs you may select.

Occasionally  you may find yourself in a field or two beyond  the
first  field  of  a form when initially loading  or  moving  from
screen to screen. To move back simply press the appropriate <MOVE
LEFT> key(s).

When you have finished a session, from the main menu type:

Z<ENTER>
1<ENTER>

to quit. This assures that all the data is saved properly. Do not
end a session any other way.  You may end a session any time you
are at the main menu and resume it at another time if you wish.

SELECTING FORMS

Forms are selected by entering the letter or number preceding
them (A...Z) followed by <ENTER> (When we use the term "forms",
we mean either the tax schedules, tax forms or system forms).

In  the  center of the menu, near the bottom,  is  a field
marked "Select Form".  This is where you select the forms you
wish to  use.  "Select Form" is almost always set to a default
value of "X". To select a form, type the letter or number
opposite the form you wish to use and press <ENTER>. For example,
typing:

   A<ENTER>

selects "Basic Information", a system form. Forms are arranged in
the sequence in which they should be selected starting with
"Basic Information".  You do not have to select any forms except
the ones you need, but you should always follow the sequence
shown to assure data is transferred among the forms correctly.

CPMTAX.MAN                                                   12-23-88

The next entry is "Select Copy" which is loaded with a default
value of 1. This is the value you will normally use unless you
have the taxpreparer's version and you have cloned more copies of
a form.

If  you  make an incorrect entry, you may use the cursor movement
keys and the field editing keys identified in figure 1.1 to enter
corrections. If you select an invalid form character or a copy
number that is out of range, and edit message will advise you
that this is an invalid selection and you will be repositioned at
the field in error. If you find yourself in a form you did not
wish to select, enter the command "/Q" and you will exit quickly
to the main menu without saving the form.

You will note that Form 1040 page 2 appears multiple times.  The
first time you select it, will compute your basic Federal tax
liability.  If you need to use other forms following this
selection to adjust your tax liability, then you should select
it, in its appropriate sequence again.  If you do not select any
forms after the first time you have selected the Form 1040 page
2, then you are finished.

If you elect to revise a form you have previously completed, you
may do so at any time. However, you should invoke and save all
forms you have subsequently used to be sure data has been
transferred correctly again.

Most tax forms consist of 40 to 50 lines.  These will not all fit
on a single screen.  In fact, each screen holds a maximum of 20
lines.  Therefore, some tax forms may be comprised of two or more
screens.

You may use the <PAGE UP> and <PAGE DN> keys (See Figure 1.1) to
move through the forms quickly. You cannot move above the first
screen. If you try to move past the last screen, you will see the
message: "Print, Save, Both or Neither:". This is the only place
that you can print and/or save a form. In addition, if there are
any values in the current form that need to be transferred to
other forms, the values will be transferred when this message is
displayed.

We still haven't discussed how to enter data onto a form, but
this will be covered in the section on working with the screens.

LEAVING FORMS

To leave a form, proceed through the form until the message
"P)rint, S)ave, B)oth, N)either" appears on the message line.
This means you have completed the form and all data on it has
been updated. You are not finished until this message appears
signifying that all of the commands have been executed to update
and transfer any data.

CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

Type one of the letters P, S, B, or N. The system will not accept
any other selections.  If you select P or B, be sure your printer
is turned on, paper is loaded and the paper is positioned at the
top of the page. For more information, see the other sections on
printing the forms and check your Annual Supplement.

If you select S or B the file will be saved and you will be
returned to the menu.  If you are using the batch print option
with the Taxpreparer's version and want to batch print at the end
of the session, always use the S option to exit each individual
form.    If you select N  the form will wrap around and you will
be placed at the beginning of the form.

Each form screen is composed of two sections. The first twenty
lines are the data section. This section is separated from the
data/status section by a dashed line.  The status line is
immediately below the dashed line.  Its parts are identified in
Figure 2.2. The line immediately below it is the message line.
The Status and Message lines are explained in the subsequent
section.

The data section contains the tax form.  While the general layout
is prescribed by the IRS regulations governing the submission of
substitute forms, there is some variance in layout of this
portion caused by the limitation of screens and most printers to
80 characters per line.

Some of the fields have asterisks before the row number.
Asterisks identify a field that is automatically updated from
another form. With the exception of the form 1040,  the system
will not allow you to make an entry to these fields.

At the bottom of each page is the status line. The first field of
the status line tells you the current position of the cursor. The
position is identified by a letter followed by a number. The
second field of the status line tells you the type of field the
cursor is is currently positioned at.  The possibilities are:

   Text - You may enter any character on the keyboard (except
control characters). The field will automatically be left
justified when you move to another field .

   Numeric - You must enter either a number comprised of the
digits 0-9, a decimal point or a minus sign.  Do not include
spaces, dollar signs, commas or percent signs.  The field
automatically will be rounded to the nearest integer value and
right justified when you type <ENTER> (except for rare cases when
decimal values are displayed).  If a "VALUE ERROR" message is
displayed, a character other than those allowed may have been
entered.  The field will be set to the default value "0".  You
should move back to the field and enter it correctly.


CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

   Logical - Logical fields are responses to questions.  The two
permissible responses are "Y" for yes and "N" for no (lower case
letters are also accepted).  The letter should be followed by
<ENTER>.  This will be completed automatically as "Yes" or "No"
respectively.

The third field identifies the direction the cursor will move
when you type <ENTER>. The default value is "Right". Because the
information on some forms dictates a downward movement, the
direction may change to "Down". Each form changes the direction
automatically for you.

The fourth field, "For Cmd List, Type /", is a reminder  to type
a "/" as the prefix for the major commands.  The commands will
then be listed on the message line. (See the section "Major
Commands".) The last field shows the status of the adjustment
switch used with the Form 1040, pages 1 and 2. It will display
either "(Adjust: OFF)" or "(Adjust: ON)".  This switch is toggled
with the command:

/A<ENTER>.

- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
E19       Text    Right     For Cmd List, Type /          (Adjust:OFF)
                        This is the message line

                     Figure 2.1   The Status & Message Line

The message line is blank most of the time, but it is activated
when the system needs to tell you something or when you enter a
command.

To enter a command, type a "/". (See the section "Major
commands). The slash is used to alert the system that you are
about to enter a command. The list of possible commands you can
select is displayed on the message line.
Messages are also displayed  when the system needs to inform you
about something, this is where "P)rint, S)ave, B)oth, N)either"
is displayed.

Messages are frequently followed by "Type any char" or "Type
<ENTER>, so they will remain displayed for your convenience.
Typing any character or <ENTER>  respectively, clears the
message.

MAJOR COMMANDS

Major commands are preceded by a slash "/".  Since this symbol is
not normally used in entering text and is not permissible in
entering numeric or logical data fields, it is used to advise the
system that the next symbol is the abbreviation of a command.
Each command is of the form:


CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

MAJOR COMMANDS ARE NOT COVERED IN THE FREEWARE VERSION OF THE
SYSTEM SINCE THEY ARE DESCRIBED IN ONLINE HELP BY ENTERING "?".

The  cursor  normally moves from field to field pausing  only  at
fields  where  data  can  be  entered.   The  only  exception  is
occasionally to permit you to view data before moving to the next
screen   or  printing/saving  the  form.   In  these  cases,   an
appropriate message will be displayed on the  message line,  such
as  "P)rint,  S)ave, B)oth, N)either" or  "Review  screen  before
continuing, type any character".

ENTERING DATA

To  enter data in any field simply begin typing.  As soon as  you
type  the first character, a horizontal line will extend  to  the
maximum  permissible length of the field.  This does two  things:
it  indicates  that you are in the middle of entering data  in  a
field  and it shows you how big the field can be.  When you  have
finished  making an entry, type <ENTER> and the cursor will  move
automatically to the next field. When you exit from a field,  the
underlining to the right of your entries will be cleared and  the
field  aligned  to the left or right depending upon the  type  of
field.

If  you have already made an entry in a field and your cursor  is
simply  paused  on  it (no  underlining  extended),  simply  type
<ENTER>  to  move  to the next field unless you wish  to  make  a
change.

If you get a value error message, a "0" (zero) will be entered in
the field and you will be moved to the next field.  You will have
to use the appropriate <MOVE LEFT> key for your computer to  move
back and correct it.

THE LINE EDITOR

From time to time when entering data you may make a mistake.   To
correct  it,  simply  backspace and it will  be  erased.  If  you
backspace  until all characters disappear, the cursor  will  quit
moving.   If you wish to leave the field, type <ENTER> .  On  the
other  hand,  there is more power available to you to  assist  in
editing the field.  To move quickly to the first character of the
field  type  the  <HOME>  character  (See  Figure  1.1  for  more
information  on  these characters).  To move to the  end  of  the
field,  type the <END> character.  You will be moved to the  last
character  position  in  the  field. If you  wish  to  erase  the
character under the cursor, use the <DELETE> key.  If you wish to
erase  the  character  to  the  left  of  the  cursor,  use   the
<BACKSPACE> key.  For short right and left movements you may  use
the  <MOVE  RIGHT>  or <MOVE LEFT> keys.  If you  cannot  type  a
character,  the  line is at its maximum length. Type  <ENTER>  to
continue.


CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

The  normal  mode  of  moving on  the  screen  has  already  been
mentioned.   When  you  have entered data in  a  field  and  type
<ENTER> the cursor will move to the right and/or down to the next
field  where an entry can be made.  This can be  repeated  moving
from screen to screen until the "P)rint, S)ave, B)oth,  N)either"
message is displayed.

FORM MOVEMENT COMMANDS

There  are,  however, other movement commands that  can  be  used
whenever  you are not in the middle of a line entry (there is  no
underline  extension).  You may use the <MOVE RIGHT> key to  move
exactly  as you would with <ENTER>.  You may use the <MOVE  LEFT>
key  to  backtrack in a leftward and/or upward  direction.   This
includes  moving back to an earlier screen if you reach  the  top
field  where data can be entered on the current one.  You  cannot
move  to  a field above the topmost one in the form.   The  <MOVE
LEFT> key is useful for correcting mistakes if you have moved  to
another field.

There  are  also  two  movement keys that  should  be  used  with
caution.   These are the <MOVE UP>  and <MOVE DOWN>  keys.   They
should only be used to move in large columns on forms if you have
no  more  entries to make.  An excellent example  is  Schedule  B
where there is space to enter about fifteen different sources  of
interest  or  dividends.  If you have one or  two  sources,  then
rather than move backward and forward through all the fields, you
can  use the <MOVE DOWN> key to get to the last row  quickly.  If
you  move  beyond,  the last row where you  can  make  an  entry,
surprising  things  can happen. Movement is always  in  the  same
column.  Therefore, if you move beyond a row where a valid  entry
can be made, the system moves to the next row in the same column.
You may even find that you have moved back to the place where you
just  came from. For this reason, we recommend that you  not  use
this  feature until you are thoroughly familiar with the  system.
You  won't  do any harm by using it, but you may get lost  for  a
while.

GETTING HELP

There  are two kinds of help available to you when you  are
working with the forms.  The first is obtained by typing:

? <ENTER>

The question mark invokes a general help menu. An index of topics
is  displayed and you select a topic by typing enough  characters
to  uniquely identify it. If you find yourself back in  the  form
without displaying help, you may have made a typographical error.
Simply  repeat  the  process, it is very fast. You  will  find  a
number  of  topics  at  the end of the help  menu  of  the  form:
_FIT<character>1.  The  "_"  signifies  a  form  and  <character>
corresponds to the form selection character on the main menu. The

CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

help  provided is the same help you get when you type  "/H"  from
within  a form. If you want help about a form, you may  note  its
menu  selection character and simply type _FIT<character> to  see
it.

The second kind of help is obtained by typing:

/H <ENTER>

This  provides  information concerning the form you  are  working
with  at the time.  We do not attempt to provide tax advice,  but
tell  you about specific conditions you should be aware  of  that
relate  to  the computations.  We recommend that  you  read  this
section every time you select a new form. Help also describes the
edits embedded in each form.

THE WORKSHEET

CPMTAX  has a built-in worksheet that can be used with any  form.
It is invoked with the command:

/W<ENTER>

The  worksheet  is  associated with the  specific  form  you  are
developing and the form name is on the first line.  The worksheet
will  be printed automatically whenever you give the  command  to
print  its  associated  form  if you have  entered  data  in  the
worksheet or if it is a pre-formatted worksheet.

There are two types of worksheets: free form and formatted.  Free
form  worksheets  are  intended  for you  to  develop  notes  and
computations  that you may want to keep for your own use  as  you
complete  the  tax forms.  Depending upon your version,  you  may
have one or more pre-formatted worksheets.

Worksheets have a limited set of commands.  Like the forms, these
are  preceded by the symbol /.  The commands are "/C",  "/S"  and
"/Q". "/C" invokes the calculator from the worksheet,   "/S"(ave)
and "/Q"uit". "X" invokes the calculator from the worksheet,  "S"
saves  the  value being pointed to back to the calling  form,  if
both  are numeric fields,  and "Q" exits the form without  saving
anything.

The worksheet consists of 20 lines formed into 4 columns, 2  Text
& Value pairs.  When you invoke it, you will be positioned at the
first text column.  The text columns are over 30 columns wide and
are intended for text.  You can place values there if you do  not
need  to transfer them back to the form. The same line editor  is
used  to enter information as is used in the forms and  it  obeys
the same commands and rules.

The  Value columns of the worksheet are intended for numbers  and
are initially set to the value zero (0). Like the form, you  will

CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

get  a  "Value Error" message if you attempt to enter  text  into
this  column. The only reason to differentiate the columns is  to
enable you to transfer information between the forms,  worksheets
and calculator.

If  the cursor is pointing to a value in the worksheet  when  you
invoke the calculator ("/C<ENTER>"), that value will be loaded as
the  initial value used by the calculator (See next section).  If
you elect to save the value of the calculator when you exit  from
it  (by  using  the "S", SAVE key) and are pointing  to  a  value
column,  then  that value will be transferred  to  the  worksheet
automatically.  Finally, if you were pointing to a numeric  field
in  the form when you invoked the worksheet and a value field  in
the   worksheet,  then  if  you  elect  to  "save  to  the   form
(/S<ENTER>)", the worksheet value will be transferred back to the
form automatically.

THE CALCULATOR

A  simple four function calculator is always available  for  your
use.  You may invoke it from either a form or worksheet by typing
the command:

/C<ENTER>

In  addition to the normal arithmetic operators, there  are  four
special keys, "C", "N", "S" and "Q". Simply type these letters on
the  keyboard to invoke the command - Do not precede them with  a
"/" since this is the division operator.

"C" clears both the accumulated value and the current Entry.

"N"  changes the sign of the number in the accumulator
"S"  transfers the value in the accumulator at the time you  exit
the calculator and places it in the form or worksheet if you were
pointing to a numeric field when you invoked the calculator.  (Be
sure to to type "=" before saving a value)

"Q"  quits  the calculator and returns to the form  or  worksheet
without saving any values.

PRINTING AND SAVING

Printing is normally done when you reach the bottom of each form.
A  prompt  message  will be  displayed,  "P)rint,  S)ave,  B)oth,
N)either".   If you select "Print", the form will be printed  and
you  will be returned to the top of the form.  The form will  not
be  saved. "Save" writes the form to disk and returns you to  the
main  menu. "Both" prints the form, saves it to disk and  returns
you  to the main menu. "neither" simply moves you to the  top  of
the form.


CPMTAX MANUAL                                                   12-23-88

The  IRS requires that a line be printed on substitute forms,  so
you will be asked if you wish to underline. The answer should  be
yes unless your printer does not print this character correctly.

If  an  entry  has  been made on the worksheet  of  a  form,  the
worksheet will be printed automatically when you print the form.

The form 1040 may be printed as any of the other forms  discussed
in the preceding section. However, the IRS requires that the Form
1040 be printed on their forms or an accurate facsimile of  their
forms. DO NOT SUBMIT THE WORKING COPY FORMAT TO THE IRS!

PRINTING TO THE FORM 1040

The  instructions to print to the Form 1040 are embedded in  each
page  of the form. Just before reaching the bottom of  the  form,
you  will  be  queried whether you want to  print  in  Form  1040
format.  Proceed in the following manner:

1. Obtain copies of the OFFICIAL FORM 1040.  This is the one  you
may obtain from the post office or any IRS office.

2.  Tear  off two pages of continuous form paper and  fasten  the
appropriate  page of the Form 1040 about 1-1/2 inch from the  top
of  the  form. We use stapes, but we recommend tape.   Align  the
right  hand side of the form with the right hand perforated  edge
of the pinfeed paper.

3.  Feed the pinfeed paper into the printer and align  the  first
line  below the solid line at the top of the form as  closely  as
you  can with your estimate of where the print head  will  print.
(The reason for the the 1-1/2 inch header on the pinfeed paper is
to  permit you to feed it under the paper guide  before  aligning
the form).

4. Turn the printer on and answer "Y" in response to the question
about printing the form.

5.  The printer will print an "X" on the right hand side  of  the
page.  On  page 1 this should be just to the right  of  "OMB  No.
1545-0074".  On page 2 this should be just to the right  of  line
32. The printer does not move to the next line, but returnes  the
print head to the left side of the printer. The system will  then
ask if this is OK?  If it is not, make small adjustments and type
"N"  for  no  until  it is aligned. Once  you  have  it  properly
aligned,  type  "Y" for yes and the printer will then  print  the
entire page you have selected.

As we stated, the reason for the header is to enable you to place
the  paper under the paper guide before printing. The  reason  to
use two pages of paper is that most printers turn themeselves off
when they run out of paper and the second page of continuous form
paper  guarantees  this won't happen before the  entire  page  is
printed.


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