Problem: finding that missing 14 cents in your checkbook (or at least that was MY problem, and why I made...)
Solution: Balancer is a simple checkbook balancing program. Just sit down for a couple minutes once a week and type in your recent transactions from your checkbook. Balancer will show you the correct totals, allowing you to catch mathematical errors made in the checkbook. You can type in a check number, date, and description in addition to a debit or credit.
Notes:
• you can enter a debit OR a credit, but not both. entering a value in one will remove the value in the other. For entries needing a debit and a credit, make two entries instead.
• dates are shortcutted. if you had "03/15/99" in the previous entry, you can type "17" and tab to the next field and Balancer will change it to "03/17/99". Entering "04/02" will be changed to "04/02/99". To enter a date earlier than the previous entry, you will need to type the entire date. Balancer is also Y2K compliant. ;-)
• To reconcile your bank statement, just go down your statement and find the entry in Balancer. Click on the box near the right of the line, and that entry will be added into the total on the far right column, which is your "bank balace". (how much the bank thinks you have)
• if you find you made a mistake in your checkbook, such as finding a missing entry when reconciling your bank statement, you can insert a record at the necessary location. Just move the cursor to the line to insert before, and click Insert.
• if you see red numbers, Balancer is warning you they have gone below zero - generally a bad thing for your checking account balance to do!
• the first time, you may wish to enter your entire checkbook, which may go back several months. After keying it all in, (wish I could help you here, this takes a little while to do!) you will want to balance all your bank statements against it. I recommend clicking Save after each bank statement has been reconciled and the bank total confirmed as correct. This way, if you get things a little confused while hunting down some error, you can click Revert to take the entire display back to where it was when you finished the previous bank statement, and start fresh.
• Balancer stores the checkbook data in a file called Checkbook Data File, in the same folder as the program. You can copy this file to floppy or somewhere else anytime you want to make a backup. This program should be run from a writeable disk. Running it from CD or other non-writable media will give you error messages saying it cannot write the data file. If you get these error messags, just copy the compiled application to an unlocked disk and run it from there.
• Delete and Top Entry are not yet implemented, sorry. Working on it...
This program was made with REALbasic, and tested to compile well under all 2.0 developer's releases. If you have any problems, feel free to email me and I'll do what I can to help you.
This program is public domain. You may use it in any way you wish, without restrictions or limitations. User assumes all responsibility for the results of running this program. Handle with care, shake well before using.
