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1991-06-01
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AutoChk - AUTOMATIC CHECK BOOK
Version 3.61
USER'S GUIDE
(c) COPYRIGHT June 1991, HENRY CHOW
USEFUL SOFTWARE ENTERPRISES
Released as Free Shareware Software
Users of this program need NOT submit a fee for the use of this
program. I am dedicating this program to all those who create
good, affordable software as Shareware. You are ENCOURAGED to
copy and distribute this program provided that
1. this program is not distributed in connection with any other
product,
2. no fee is charged, and
3. the program is not modified in any way.
*** Notice ***
This program is distributed "AS IS" without any warranty as to
its performance. You assume the entire risk as to the results
and performance of the program.
If you find any bugs or have any comments, you can contact me via
CompuServe Mail (Id: 74010,3002). Include details about any
bugs, and don't forget the version number. I will try to reply
as necessary.
****************************
*** Revisions at the end ***
****************************
Introduction/History
--------------------
This program has been developed as an aid to the common check
book update blues. I'm sure you have found yourself, from time
to time, frantically punching the keys on a calculator trying to
balance your check book. With this program, you can accomplish
that task effortlessly. At the touch of a key, the checks that
have cleared the bank will be totalled and displayed.
I tried to write AutoChk to be as flexible to the user as
possible. In fact, this program simulates the looks of your
check book, providing you with the ability to enter a check or
deposit anywhere in the book you desire (just like the check book
you might be using now. And if you are not using one, you
should). Of course, it makes more sense to start at the top and
go down, but you don't have to. You can also fill in any one
column or all the columns for each entry.
Originally I started to develop this program as a simple tool for
my own use. The difference between this program and other check
book programs is not so much in its functionality, but rather in
its appearance and its small size. I wanted my computer screen
to resemble my bank's check book. With this format, it is much
easier to glance at the screen and see my account right in front
of me, or to scroll through to find a certain entry. Autochk was
never intended to be a corporate financial machine; however, it
does serve as a simple and easy-to-use tool for the average
person.
As I got further into software development, a colleague of mine
suggested additional features that might warrant the effort of
typing in all those checks into a computer. Specifically, each
check can carry a KEY that places it in a certain category that
the user can specify. At tax time, you can print out checks that
fall in each category, along with the total.
During the development of Autochk, I received a statement from my
bank. I went over to my computer, look down the statement, and
checked off each entry that has cleared. At the end, I entered
the interest into Autochk and pressed one key. The total amount
of money that cleared the bank appeared, and I balanced my
checking account in no time! By keeping the check book up-to-
date, entering data into Autochk is no more difficult than
entering it into a check book, especially if you use your
computer with any regularity.
You are allowed 1000 lines in which you may enter you account.
Beyond that, you will have to start a new file. In my humble
opinion, keeping too much (i.e. more than 1000 entries) in one
file may be risking losing important data should the file become
corrupt.
Getting Started
---------------
Although I have not tested this program on every possible
combination of machines and DOS versions, Autochk should run on
any DOS 2.x+ IBM PC/XT/AT, PS/2 or compatible with a Monochrome
Adapter, Hercules Graphics Card, Color Graphics Adapter (CGA),
Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA), or Video Graphics Array (VGA).
Autochk needs less than 256K of available RAM.
Because video displays differ in characteristics, Autochk will
automatically adjust to the type you have on your system. You
will notice a somewhat slower screen update on the CGA compared
to either the monochrome, the EGA or the VGA.
The only file you need is AUTOCHK.EXE. And since you are reading
it, you should know that AUTOCHK.DOC is the corresponding
documentation. Also included in ACHKxxx.ZIP is a sample account
(SAMPLE.{$} and SAMPLE.{C}).
Autochk will create two file (with extensions .{$} and .{C}) for
each account you specify. The file with .{$} is the check book
itself. The latter stores the categories you define. These
files are written in binary form for faster access and can not be
TYPEd in DOS.
The syntax to start Autochk is:
AUTOCHK [ [d:][path]filename[.{$}] ]
Everything following AUTOCHK is optional. If you do not enter
anything else on the command line, Autochk will prompt you with a
listing of its data files in the default directory. From there,
you may change the default drive or path by selecting the
appropriate option ([D] or [P], respectively) listed at the
bottom of the screen. To load a particular file, press [L]. You
can start a new file by loading the entry number marked "<New
File>". [Esc] will exit Autochk.
As with older versions of Autochk, you may enter the data file
name directly from DOS, bypassing the startup menu. The drive
and path are optional. If you do not enter them, the default
directory will be used. You do not need to enter the extension
(.{$}); just realize that Autochk will add on the extension
automatically for you.
If the file you entered does not exist, a new one will be
created.
To save you the aggravation of not being able to save the check
book when you are done, Autochk make sure that your file is not
write-protected. And of course if you enter an illegal path,
Autochk will also let you know.
The data files require about 50K of disk space, and AutoChk will
check to see if you have enough room on the disk drive to store
any new files.
Editing Keys
------------
You may use the arrow keys to move the cursor from row to row or
column to column. When you reach the bottom of the screen, the
check book will scroll up (and vice versa at the top). Hitting
the [PgUp] or [PgDn] keys will scroll up or down one screen,
leaving the cursor on the same line. The [Home] key returns the
cursor to the top entry. Co