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1991-09-09
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205KB
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6,668 lines
CHECKBOOK ACCOUNTANT 2.0
A Checkbook Recording, Balancing, Budgeting, and Analyzing Program
for the Commodore Amiga personal computer
(Release Date: 7/ 4/91)
User's Manual
Copyright (c) 1990,1991 Jeffrey R. Almasol.
All Rights Reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Set-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.1 For Workbench Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.2 For CLI Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.3 For Checkbook Accountant 1.0 Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.4 Operating Under AmigaDOS Release 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.5 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3. Operating Checkbook Accountant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.1 Creating and Using Checkbooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.1.1 Creating a New Checkbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.1.2 Retrieving a Previously Saved Checkbook . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.1.3 Saving the current Checkbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.2 Entering Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.2.1 Adding Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2.2 Updating Transaction Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2.3 Deleting Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2.4 Voiding a Check Transaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2.5 Clearing Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2.6 Declaring a Transaction as Tax Deductible . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3 Budgeting Check Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.3.1 Defining the Budget List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.3.2 Distributing a Check Transaction to a Budget . . . . . . . . 11
3.4 Statement Reconciliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.5 Viewing Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.5.1 Viewing All Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.5.2 Viewing Selected Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.6 Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
i
3.6.1 Printing to the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.6.2 Printing to a Disk File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.6.3 Defining What to Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4. Mouse/Keyboard Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.1 Main Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.1.1 Project Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.1.1.1 New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.1.1.2 Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.1.1.3 Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.1.1.4 Save As . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.1.1.5 Reconcile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.1.1.6 Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.1.1.7 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.1.1.8 Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1.1.9 About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1.1.10 Quit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1.2 Edit Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.1.2.1 Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.1.2.2 Other Debits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.1.2.3 Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.1.2.4 Other Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.1.2.5 Batch Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.1.2.6 Duplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.1.2.7 Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.1.2.8 Quick Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.1.2.9 Quick Unclear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.1.2.10 Reoccurring Transac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.1.2.10.1 Group List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.1.2.10.2 Add Transac To Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.1.2.10.3 Add Group To Checkbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.1.2.11 Description List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.1.2.12 Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4.1.2.13 Replace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4.1.2.14 Previous Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4.1.2.15 Next Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
4.1.3 Budgets Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.1.3.1 Budget List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.1.3.2 Analysis Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.1.4 Settings Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4.1.4.1 View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.1.4.1.1 ALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.1.4.1.2 Select Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.1.4.2 Program Prefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
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4.1.5 On-screen display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.1.5.1 CHECKBOOK ACCOUNTANT 2.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.1.5.2 Show Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.1.5.3 Transaction List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.1.5.4 Balances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.1.5.4.1 RUNNING BALANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.1.5.4.2 CHECKBOOK BALANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.1.5.4.3 STATEMENT BALANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.1.5.5 Running Balance Tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.2 Help Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.3 Analysis Period Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.3.1 Analysis Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.3.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.3.1.2 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4.3.2 Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4.3.2.1 from (left input field) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4.3.2.2 to (right input field) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4.4 Budget Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4.4.1 Budget Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4.1.2 Add . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4.1.3 Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4.4.1.4 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4.4.2 List Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4.4.2.1 Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4.4.2.2 Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.4.2.3 Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.4.2.4 Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.4.3 Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.4.3.1 Budget Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.4.3.2 Expense Limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
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4.5 Budget Distribution Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.5.1 Distribution Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.5.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.5.1.2 Add . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.5.1.3 Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.5.1.4 Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.5.1.5 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.5.2 Input Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.5.2.1 Distributed amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.6 Description List Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.6.1 Description Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.6.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.6.1.2 Add . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.6.1.3 Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.6.1.4 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.6.2 List Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.6.2.1 Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.6.2.2 Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.6.2.3 Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.6.2.4 Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.6.3 Input Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.6.3.1 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.7 Information Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.7.1 Information Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.7.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4.7.1.2 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4.7.2 Use Default Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4.7.2.1 Description List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4.7.2.2 Budget List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
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4.7.3 Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.7.3.1 Account Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.7.3.2 Account Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.7.3.3 Account Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.7.3.4 Bank Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.7.3.5 Branch Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.7.3.6 Branch Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4.7.3.7 Starting Check Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4.7.3.8 Initial Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4.7.3.9 Opened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.7.3.10 Closed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.8 Print Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.8.1 Print Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.8.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
4.8.1.2 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
4.8.2 Selections Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
4.8.2.1 Print To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
4.8.2.1.1 Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
4.8.2.1.2 Disk File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
4.8.2.2 Checkbook Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
4.8.2.3 Initial Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
4.8.2.4 Checkbook Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
4.8.2.5 Statement Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
4.8.2.6 Viewable Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
4.8.2.7 Transaction Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
4.8.2.8 Reoccurring Transac Group List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
4.8.2.9 Reoccurring Transacs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
4.8.2.10 Budget List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
4.8.2.11 Budget Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
4.8.2.12 Description List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
4.9 Program Prefs Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4.9.1 Prefs Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4.9.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4.9.1.2 Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4.9.1.3 Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4.9.1.4 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
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4.9.2 Settings Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4.9.2.1 Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4.9.2.1.1 Batch Mode Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4.9.2.1.2 Sorted List Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
4.9.2.1.3 Transaction Count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
4.9.2.1.4 Initial Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
4.9.2.1.5 Running Balance Tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
4.9.2.2 Icon Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
4.9.2.2.1 Checkbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
4.9.2.2.2 Budget List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
4.9.2.2.3 Description List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
4.9.2.3 User Prefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
4.9.2.3.1 Workbench Pointer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
4.9.2.3.2 Workbench Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
4.9.2.4 Auto Desc List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
4.9.2.4.1 Add PAY / DESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
4.9.2.4.2 Add MEMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
4.9.2.5 TAX Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
4.9.2.5.1 Same As Last Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
4.9.2.5.2 Always TRUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
4.9.2.5.3 Always FALSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.9.3 Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.9.3.1 CA: Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.9.3.2 Default Description For -- Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.9.3.3 Default Description For -- Other Debits . . . . . . . . . 58
4.9.3.4 Default Description For -- Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.9.3.5 Default Description For -- Other Credits . . . . . . . . . 59
4.9.3.6 Default Description For -- Voided Checks . . . . . . . . . 59
4.10 Reconcile Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
4.11 Reoccurring Transaction Groups Requester . . . . . . . . . . . 59
4.11.1 Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
4.11.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
4.11.1.2 Add . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
4.11.1.3 Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.11.1.4 Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.11.1.5 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.11.2 Input Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.11.2.1 Group name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
vi
4.12 Reoccurring Transactions Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
4.12.1 Transaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
4.12.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
4.12.1.2 Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
4.12.1.3 Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
4.12.1.4 Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
4.12.1.5 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
4.13 Request/Notice Requesters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
4.14 Search Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
4.14.1 Search Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
4.14.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
4.14.1.2 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
4.14.2 Conditions Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
4.14.2.1 Use Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
4.14.2.2 Case Sensitive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
4.14.3 Description List Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.14.3.1 Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.14.4 Input Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.14.4.1 Search For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.15 Search & Replace Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.15.1 Search Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.15.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
4.15.1.2 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
4.15.2 Conditions Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
4.15.2.1 Use Wildcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
4.15.2.2 Case Sensitive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
4.15.2.3 Verify Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
4.15.2.4 Global Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
4.15.3 Description List Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
4.15.3.1 Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
4.15.4 Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
4.15.4.1 Search For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
4.15.4.2 Replace With . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
vii
4.16 Selected Budgets Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4.16.1 Budget Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4.16.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4.16.1.2 All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4.16.1.3 None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4.16.1.4 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4.17 Sort Criteria Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4.17.1 Sort Criteria Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4.17.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4.17.1.2 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4.17.2 Sort By Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4.17.2.1 Check Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4.17.2.2 Transaction Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
4.17.2.3 Cleared Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
4.18 Statistics Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
4.19 Transaction Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
4.19.1 Transaction Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
4.19.1.1 Add/Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
4.19.1.2 Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
4.19.1.3 Void . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
4.19.1.4 Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
4.19.1.5 Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
4.19.1.6 Previous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
4.19.1.7 Next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
4.19.1.8 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
4.19.2 Description List Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
4.19.2.1 Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
4.19.3 Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
4.19.3.1 CHECK# . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
4.19.3.2 DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
4.19.3.3 PAY / DESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
4.19.3.4 Amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4.19.3.5 MEMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4.19.3.6 CLEARED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
viii
4.20 View (Select Groups) Requester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4.20.1 View Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
4.20.1.1 Okay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
4.20.1.2 Cancel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
4.20.2 Select Groups Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
4.20.2.1 ALL TRANSACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
4.20.2.2 Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4.20.2.3 Other Debits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4.20.2.4 Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4.20.2.5 Other Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4.20.2.6 Voided Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4.20.2.7 Tax Deductibles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4.20.2.8 Cleared Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
4.20.2.9 Outstanding (Not Cleared) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
4.20.2.10 Selected Budgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
4.20.2.11 RANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
4.20.2.12 Grouping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
4.20.2.12.1 AND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
4.20.2.12.2 OR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
4.20.3 Order Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
4.20.3.1 Entered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
4.20.3.2 Sorted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
4.20.4 Input Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
4.20.4.1 from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
4.20.4.2 to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
5. Questions and Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
6. General Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
7. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
8. Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
ix
9. Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
1. Overview
Checkbook Accountant 2.0 is a checkbook recording, balancing, budgeting,
and analyzing program. Intended to be used as a companion to a
checkbook register (the record of transactions to and from a checking
account) and not as a replacement, this program offers a simple way of
balancing checkbooks, tracking bank transactions, and recording and
analyzing budgeted transactions.
Checkbook registers can be described as a record of transactions from a
bank account. The two basic types of transactions are credits and
debits. Checks are a specific type of debit, as are service charges and
transfers from a checking account to another account. Deposits and
transfers to a checking account are specific types of credits.
Checkbook Accountant handles the two basic types of transactions, but
makes special cases for checks and deposits. The check and deposit
descriptions are not different from those of debits and credits, but by
separating them into special cases selecting and defining them is much
easier.
2. Set-Up
2.1 For Workbench Users
To set-up the program:
1. Unarchive with the command:
lharc -x -m x CHKBKACCTNT2.0.LZH <destpath>
where, <destpath> is the path name of the final destination
directory. Be sure to properly define <destpath>. Consult the
archive utility's documentation if you need assistance.
Approximately 600K of free disk space is needed to properly
unarchive CHKBKACCTNT2.0.LZH.
2. Double-click on the CAinstall icon. Answer all the questions
posed to you. Be sure that you answer the questions correctly;
you will not be able to verify your answers.
3. Close and reopen the disk or drawer where the CAinstall icon
resides. This will update the icon files.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
The Checkbook Accountant 2.0 system is now ready to run. To start
Checkbook Accountant, double-click on the CA icon.
To start the program with a checkbook, budget, or description file
loaded upon startup, double click on a checkbook, budget, or
description file icon. A checkbook icon looks like the program's
icon but has the word "CHECKBOOK" written on it; budget files have
"BUDGET" and description files have "DESC".
Only one file will load during startup; using a shift-click
(multiple selection) method will not work.
2.2 For CLI Users
These instructions assume some familiarity with using the CLI
(Command Line Interface).
To set-up the program:
1. Unarchive with the command:
lharc -x -m x CHKBKACCTNT2.0.LZH <destpath>
where, <destpath> is the path name of the final destination
directory. Be sure to properly define <destpath>. Consult the
archive utility's documentation if you need assistance.
Approximately 600K of free disk space is needed to properly
unarchive CHKBKACCTNT2.0.LZH.
2. Execute the CAinstall script file with the command:
execute CAinstall
Answer all the questions posed to you. Be sure that you answer
the questions correctly; you will not be able to verify your
answers.
The Checkbook Accountant 2.0 system is now ready to run. To start
Checkbook Accountant, type:
CA
from the directory where CA resides.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
To start the program with a checkbook file loaded upon startup, use
the command:
CA -c <checkbook file>
where <checkbook file> is the name of the checkbook file. Be sure
to add the necessary directory path name if the file is not in the
current directory.
To start the program with a budget file loaded upon startup, use
the command:
CA -b <budget file>
where <budget file> is the name of the budget file. Add any
necessary directory path name for the reason stated above.
To start the program with a description file loaded upon startup,
use the command:
CA -d <description file>
where <description file> is the name of the description file. Add
any necessary directory path name for the reason stated above.
Only one file will load during startup; the program will ignore the
other command line arguments.
2.3 For Checkbook Accountant 1.0 Users
Many changes have be made to the program since the version 1.0
release; consult the CAchanges1.0-2.0 file for a listing of the new
features and bug fixes. None of these changes affect your existing
1.0 files, which means that they will load directly into version
2.0.
NOTE: To install Checkbook Accountant 2.0 properly, delete all
previous files (except your checkbook and budget files)
before executing the CAinstall script (or icon). You can
also remove the necessity of the CA: assignment (either from
the use of the CAassign icon or script, or from your
startup-sequence if you edited it to include a CA: assign
command) now that the location of the support files can be
defined from within the program.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
2.4 Operating Under AmigaDOS Release 2
Checkbook Accountant 2.0 was tested for Release 2 compatibility
on Amiga 3000 computers running Kickstart 36.143 / Workbench 34.20
and Kickstart 36.209 / Workbench 36.102. The program does not
implement any of Release 2's new features. The only change the
program makes when running under the new release is in generating
icons for checkbook, budget list, and description list files. If
requested to be created, the icon will be visually pleasing; the
program will switch colors 1 & 2 so that the icon will look the
same as on an AmigaDOS 1.3 machine using the same color scheme.
Some of the requesters will not have the duality of equivalent
mouse and keyboard operations. Specifically, those requesters with
input fields may not support all keyboard shortcuts (RIGHT-AMIGA
key sequences). In those cases, the alternate menu item or button
can be selected, or if information is currently being entered into
the input fields, the fields can be deactivated before issuing the
keyboard shortcut.
2.5 System Requirements
Checkbook Accountant 2.0 runs on Amiga 500/1000/2000/2500/3000
computers under AmigaDOS 1.3 or Release 2. The program requires a
minimum of 512K total free RAM to run, although larger checkbook
files might require more memory. The minimum disk space
requirements for a working installation are approximately 280K.
For CLI users, the program will run with the default stack size of
4,000 bytes.
3. Operating Checkbook Accountant
The following section describes the major operations available in
Checkbook Accountant 2.0, including the creation and use of checkbooks,
the entering, budgeting, viewing, and printing of transactions, and the
statement reconciliation process. Within the instructions are
parenthesized notices, such as "(section 4.1.1.1)", which point out the
location of more in-depth descriptions on the preceded topic.
3.1 Creating and Using Checkbooks
This section (3.1) outlines the steps in creating and using
Checkbook Accountant checkbook files.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
3.1.1 Creating a New Checkbook
To create a new checkbook:
1. Select the New function (from the Project Menu; section
4.1.1.1). The Information Requester (section 4.7) will
appear for you to enter the definition of the new checkbook.
2. Enter all the pertinent information into the input fields of
the Information Requester. Be sure that you enter the
Starting Check Number (section 4.7.3.7) and Initial Deposit
(section 4.7.3.8). To load the default Description List
(section 4.6) into the program after defining the checkbook,
select the Default Description List check box (or Description
List menu item; section 4.7.2.1). To load the default Budget
List (section 4.4.2.3), select the Default Budget List check
box (or Budget List menu item; section 4.7.2.2). You do not
need to load the default Description or List now; they can be
loaded explicitly from the Description List (section 4.6) or
Budget Requesters (section 4.4) at a later time.
3. Select the "Okay" button or menu item to confirm your
checkbook definition. The checkbook is now ready to record
transactions.
If you decide not to continue with the definition of a new
checkbook, select the "Cancel" button or menu item). The
program will discard the checkbook definition.
3.1.2 Retrieving a Previously Saved Checkbook
To retrieve (from disk) a previously saved checkbook file:
1. Select the Open function (from the Project Menu; section
4.1.1.2). The program will display its file requester for
you to select a file to retrieve (open).
2. Select the file to retrieve from the file requester. The
requester will display all files with a ".CAc" file name
extension (pattern). This is the suggested extension for
Checkbook Accountant checkbook files. Although you can
override the default extension, it is suggested that do not
alter it; the program will use the same extension (file name
pattern) every time the file requester appears.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in selecting a file name.
3. Select the "Open" button to retrieve the selected checkbook
file. After retrieving the checkbook (which may take some
time, depending on the number of transactions), the
Transaction List will display the checkbook's transactions.
The retrieval process is complete.
3.1.3 Saving the current Checkbook
To save (to disk) the current checkbook (currently viewed in the
Main Screen Transaction List; section 4.1.5.3):
1. Select either Save or Save As (both from the Project Menu;
sections 4.1.1.3 and 4.1.1.4). The Save function will store
the current checkbook's data under the current checkbook file
name. If the current checkbook has not been previously saved
(no file name attached to the checkbook), the file requester
will appear for the entry of a file name. The Save As
function will store the current checkbook under a selected
name, regardless of the current file name. An extension of
".CAc" will be appended to all checkbook files.
2. For the Save As function, enter the selected file name in the
File input field of the file requester and select the "Save"
button (this button has a "Save As" label if the checkbook
has not been previously saved). If the file currently exists
in the current directory, the program will ask to replace the
file on disk with the current checkbook data. Select "Okay"
to replace the file or "Cancel" to abort the Save/Save As
functions.
To save the checkbook with an icon (for selection from the
Workbench Screen), select the Icon Creation menu item labelled
"Checkbook" (from the Program Prefs Requester) and complete the
above steps.
3.2 Entering Transactions
This section (3.2) outlines the functions available to add, update,
delete, and define checkbook transactions.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
3.2.1 Adding Transactions
To add a transaction into the current checkbook:
1. Select the type of transaction to enter from the Main Screen
Edit Menu. The selected Transaction Requester will appear
for you to enter the transaction's information.
2. Once all the information is correct, select the "Add" button
or menu item to enter the current transaction into the
checkbook as the last entry.
If the added transaction is also a viewable transaction (section
4.20), the transaction will be viewable in the Main Screen
Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3); you might have to scroll the
List to view the added transaction. If the transaction is not a
viewable transaction, then it will not appear in the Transaction
List, although it is in the checkbook.
You can also add reoccurring transactions, as defined in the
Reoccurring Transaction Groups and Reoccurring Transactions
Requesters, by selecting "Add Group to Checkbook" from the Main
Screen's Edit Reoccurring Transac menu item. The Reoccurring
Transaction Groups Requester will appear for you to select the
group of transactions to add to the checkbook.
3.2.2 Updating Transaction Information
To update a transaction in the current checkbook:
1. Be sure that the transaction to update is viewable in the
Main Screen Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3). Select the
transaction by double-clicking on the Transaction List entry.
The Transaction Requester will appear with the selected
transaction's information filled into the input fields.
2. Edit the current transaction as desired. Checks have the
"Budget" button and menu item available for you to budget the
check's amount across several budget categories.
3. Once you suitably update all the information, select the
"Update" button or menu item to update the current
transaction. Its position in the checkbook will not change,
unless the Transaction List is currently sorted, in which
case it may move the transaction to a new position in the
List to preserve the sorted order.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
The update process is complete. The checkbook balance (section
4.1.5.4.2) will reflect all changes made to the transaction's
amount.
3.2.3 Deleting Transactions
To delete a transaction in the current checkbook:
1. Select a transaction exactly as described in step one of
Updating Transaction Information (section 3.2.2).
2. Select the "Delete" button or menu item to delete the
current transaction from the checkbook. The program will ask
to confirm the deletion. Select "Okay" to remove permanently
the transaction from the checkbook or "Cancel" to abort the
Delete function.
The deletion process is complete. The checkbook balance
(section 4.1.5.4.2) will reflect this change in the checkbook.
3.2.4 Voiding a Check Transaction
To void a check transaction in the current checkbook:
1. Select a transaction exactly as described in step one of
Updating Transaction Information (section 3.2.2).
2. Select the "Void" button or menu item to void the current
check transaction. The program will ask to confirm the
voiding function. Select "Okay" to void permanently the
check or "Cancel" to abort the Void function.
If you void a check, you cannot edit it, although you can
delete it.
The voiding process is complete. It is not removed from the
checkbook, but is marked (in the PAY input field) as
"** VOIDED **" (program's default) or as the Default Description
For Voided Checks (section 4.9.3.6). All other information about
the check (except for the check number) is removed. The program
defines a voided check is defined as outstanding (not cleared)
(section 4.19.1.3). The voided check may become unviewable in
the Transaction List if the Voided Checks (from the View (Select
Groups) Requester) is not selected.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
3.2.5 Clearing Transactions
To clear a transaction in the current checkbook from the
Transaction Requester:
1. Select a transaction exactly as described in step one of
Updating Transaction Information (section 3.2.2).
2. Enter the date the bank cleared (posted) the transaction.
This information should be on the monthly bank statements.
The cleared date must come after the transaction date.
To clear a transaction in the current checkbook from the
Main Screen:
1. Highlight the transaction entry in the Main Screen
Transaction List.
2. Select Quick Clear from the Main Screen Edit Menu (section
4.1.2.8). This procedure will enter the current system date
into the CLEARED input field (section 4.19.3.6), thereby
marking the transaction as cleared. This operation works
because the program only needs a valid date in the CLEARED
input field of any transaction to mark it as cleared.
The only restrictions on Quick Clear are that a
transaction must be highlighted and it must not be a voided
check (which cannot be edited).
3. Select the "Update" button or menu item to update the current
transaction.
The cleared transaction's entry will contain a 'C' under the 'C'
column of the Transaction List. This denotes a cleared
transaction.
3.2.6 Declaring a Transaction as Tax Deductible
To declare a transaction as tax deductible or used for tax
purposes:
1. Select a transaction exactly as described in step one of
Updating Transaction Information (section 3.2.2).
2. Select the TAX button or "Tax" menu item to mark the
transaction as tax deductible or used for tax purposes.
The meaning of this option depends on your needs.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
3. Select the "Update" button or menu item to update the current
transaction.
The transaction's entry will contain a 'T' under the 'T' column
of the Transaction List. This denotes a tax deductible
transaction.
A new transaction (not already entered in the checkbook) can be
defined as tax deductible by following step 2 above. Select
"Add" to add the transaction into the checkbook as tax
deductible.
3.3 Budgeting Check Transactions
This section (3.3) outlines the general procedure to budgeting
check transactions. Before budgeting can begin the current
checkbook must contain a Budget List (section 3.3.1). The Budget
List is a collection of expense categories (budgets) and their
respective expense limits.
3.3.1 Defining the Budget List
To define the current Budget List:
1. Select Budget List from the Main Screen Budget menu. This
will display the Budget Requester (section 4.4).
2. Enter budget descriptions individually with the Add function
(section 4.4.1.2) or as an entire list with the Load function
(section 4.4.2.1).
3. Highlight each budget in the Budget List to display its
expense limit and confirm the amount shown.
4. Select the "Okay" button or menu item to accept the current
Budget List as the current checkbook's Budget List.
If you want the current Budget List to become the default Budget
List (section 4.4.2.3), select the "Default" button or menu item
to save the current entries. The default Budget List
uses the name CAdefault.CAb and resides in the CA: defined
directory (section 4.9.3.1).
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
3.3.2 Distributing a Check Transaction to a Budget
To distribute a check transaction to a budget:
1. Select a check transaction exactly as described in step one
of Updating Transaction Information (section 3.2.2).
2. Select the "Budget" button or menu item to display the Budget
Distribution Requester (section 4.5). The amount of the
check will be the amount budgetable (shown as AMOUNT
BUDGETABLE), the amount of money available for distribution.
3. Select the "Add" button or menu item to display the Budget
Requester (a variation of it). The program allows up to 99
distributions per check transaction.
4. Select the budget to distribute a portion of the check's
amount to. Either double-click on the budget entry or
highlight the budget and select the "Okay" button or menu
item; both perform the same function. Be sure that the
selected budget has not already had an amount from this check
distributed to it.
5. The amount input field of the Budget Distribution Requester
will become active for you to enter a value. An amount
greater than the amount unbudgeted (shown as AMOUNT
UNBUDGETED) nor less than or equal to $0.00 is not allowed.
Once a valid amount has been entered, the budget
distribution will be entered into the list and the amount
unbudgeted adjusted.
These steps perform the budgeting of a check. Select the "Okay"
button or menu item to accept the current distributions
and return to the Transaction Requester. Select the "Update"
button or menu item to update the check in the checkbook.
Check transactions can also be budgeted at the time of definition
(new transactions) and not only after they have been entered into
the checkbook.
3.4 Statement Reconciliation
This section (3.4) outlines the procedure to reconcile your
checkbook to match the monthly bank statement. Specifically, the
bank statement's Statement Balance should be equal to the current
checkbook's STATEMENT BALANCE for the checkbook to be considered
reconciled (or balanced).
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
To reconcile your statement to your checkbook:
1. Select the "Reconcile" menu item (from the Project Menu) on the
Main Screen to display the Reconcile Requester. This requester
displays the conditions which must be present for the Reconcile
function to work properly. Specifically:
a. Enter all transactions which the monthly bank statement
lists as being cleared (the bank might used the word
"posted").
b. Enter all miscellaneous transactions, such as service
charges, direct deposits, interest payments, and automatic
payments.
c. Clear (sections 4.1.2.8 and 4.19.3.6) every transaction
which the statement shows as being cleared.
2. Select the "Okay" button (or press the Y key) to have the
program calculate the checkbook's statement balance (shown in
STATEMENT BALANCE on the Main Screen; section 4.1.5.4.3).
The amount shown in STATEMENT BALANCE should be the same as what
your bank statement shows as your current balance. If the amounts
are the same, then you have a balanced checkbook. If they are
different, try the following procedure which will print out a copy
of the cleared transactions:
1. Select View Select Groups from the Settings menu on the Main
Screen. This will display the View (Select Groups) Requester.
2. Select Cleared Transactions and RANGE with a suitable 'from'
date (keep the 'to' date input field blank so that the program
will print the transactions from the 'from' date to the
present). Select the "Okay" button or menu item to view the
selected transactions in the Main Screen Transaction List.
3. Select Print from the Project menu on the Main Screen. This
will display the Print Requester.
4. Select the desired destination of the print out (Printer or
Disk File). Consult the Printing (section 3.6) topic for more
assistance.
5. Select Viewable Transactions (section 4.8.2.6) and the "Okay"
button or menu item. The viewable transactions, defined to be
the cleared transactions, will be printed.
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6. Compare the print out to your checkbook register and bank
statement to determine the source of the discrepancy. Fix any
changes and repeat the Reconcile function.
If the checkbook is still not balanced and you have examined all
of your transactions, then the bank could have made an error.
Consult with your bank for further assistance. Remember to use the
flexible View and Print functions to track any problems before
resorting to your bank for help.
3.5 Viewing Transactions
This section (3.5) describes the transaction viewing capabilities
of the program. The Main Screen Transaction List can view all or
a select group of transactions from the current checkbook.
3.5.1 Viewing All Transactions
The easiest way to view all the transactions in the current
checkbook is select View All from the Main Screen Settings menu.
The Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3) will then display all the
transactions. Use the display controls (scroll bar and arrows)
to help you view these transactions.
3.5.2 Viewing Selected Transactions
To view a select group of transactions, whether it is checks only
or tax deductibles and deposits, select the View Select Groups
item from the Main Screen Settings menu. This will display the
View (Select Groups) Requester (section 4.20). Select the type
of transactions, the range of transactions (based on transaction
dates), the relationship among transaction types, and the listed
order of these transactions from this requester. Once you select
the "Okay" button or menu item, the Transaction List will reflect
your new view selections. Consult the View (Select Groups)
Requester for more information.
3.6 Printing
This section (3.6) describes the options available for printing
the current checkbook's transactions and information.
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To print information and data from the current checkbook:
1. Select Print from the Project Menu on the Main Screen. This
will display the Print Requester (section 4.8), from where you
can select the checkbook transactions and information to
output.
2. Select the "Okay" button or menu item to begin the printing.
To cancel the printing at any time, select the "Cancel" button
from the print window (titled "Printing..."). It might take
some time to terminate the printing due to the internal buffer
of most printers.
You can direct the output of the program to the attached printer
or to a disk file. The content of the output can also be
controlled.
3.6.1 Printing to the Printer
Select the Print To: Printer button (or menu item) to direct the
output to the attached printer. The program uses the assigned
PRT: device for output. Plain ASCII text is outputted.
3.6.2 Printing to a Disk File
Select the Print To: Disk File button (or menu item) to direct
the output to a selected disk file. A file requester will appear
for you to enter a file name.
3.6.3 Defining What to Print
Select the buttons (or menu items) which correspond to the
checkbook information to output. Consult the descriptions of the
Print Requester's print selections (sections 4.8.2.2 through
4.8.2.12) for more information.
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4. Mouse/Keyboard Interfaces
The following section describes the mouse and keyboard user interfaces
used in Checkbook Accountant. The structure of the descriptions follows
the exact menu structures used within the program. The sub-sections are
ordered as follows (along with the corresponding section number):
Interface Section Number
---------------------------------------- --------------
Main Screen 4.1
Help Screen 4.2
Analysis Period Requester 4.3
Budget Requester 4.4
Budget Distribution Requester 4.5
Description List Requester 4.6
Information Requester 4.7
Print Requester 4.8
Program Prefs Requester 4.9
Reconcile Requester 4.10
Reoccurring Transaction Groups Requester 4.11
Reoccurring Transactions Requester 4.12
Request/Notice Requesters 4.13
Search Requester 4.14
Search & Replace Requester 4.15
Selected Budgets Requester 4.16
Sort Criteria Requester 4.17
Statistics Requester 4.18
Transaction Requester 4.19
View (Select Groups) Requester 4.20
4.1 Main Screen
This area is the central interface used to control the main
functions in Checkbook Accountant. The following sections describe
the function available from the Main Screen. The end of this
section (4.1) contains a description of the areas within the Main
Screen.
4.1.1 Project Menu
All functions relating to manipulating checkbooks are located
within this menu.
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4.1.1.1 New
Define and record a new checkbook. If a checkbook is currently
being worked on, the program will ask if any changes made to
the checkbook should be saved before continuing with the
definition of a new checkbook. If no changes were made to the
current checkbook since the last time it was saved the program
will immediately ask for the new checkbook's information. The
default budget list, saved under the name "CAdefault.CAb" in
the CA: defined directory (section 4.9.3.1), can be loaded
immediately after the definition process.
Consult the Information Requester (sections 4.1.1.7 and 4.7)
and the Default function in the Budget Requester (section
4.4.2.3) for more information on defining, saving, loading, and
using a default budget list.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.1.2 Open
Retrieve from disk a previously saved checkbook and display it
as the current checkbook. If a checkbook is currently being
edited, the program will ask if any changes made to the current
checkbook should be saved before continuing with the loading of
the selected checkbook. If no changes were made to the current
checkbook since the last time it was saved the program will
immediately load the new checkbook. The file name of the new
checkbook is selected from the displayed file requester. Files
with an extension of ".CAc" (signifying a Checkbook Accountant
checkbook file) will be displayed.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in selecting a file.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA O
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.1.3 Save
Store to disk the current checkbook under its current file
name. If the checkbook has never been saved, the program will
ask for a file name to describe the current checkbook and save
the checkbook--its checkbook information, all the transactions,
and the current budget list. If the checkbook has been
previously saved, the program will ask if the checkbook on disk
should be replaced with the current checkbook version. The
file name to attach to the current checkbook is entered from
the displayed file requester. Checkbook files are saved with a
".CAc" extension (signifying a Checkbook Accountant checkbook
file).
An icon file will be created to accompany the checkbook file
if the Checkbook menu item under the Program Prefs Requester's
Icon Creation menu is selected.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in entering a file name.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA S
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.1.4 Save As
Store to disk the current checkbook under a new file name,
regardless of the current checkbook file name. The file name
to attach to the current checkbook is entered from the
displayed file requester. Checkbook files are saved with a
".CAc" extension (signifying a Checkbook Accountant checkbook
file).
An icon file will be created to accompany the checkbook file
if the Checkbook menu item under the Program Prefs Requester's
Icon Creation menu is selected.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in entering a file name.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA W
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.1.5 Reconcile
Perform the statement reconciliation process, or as it is
frequently described, checkbook balancing. The program will
display the Reconcile Requester, which describes the conditions
which must be present for the program to calculate properly
the statement balance. Specifically, all transactions which
the bank statement lists as being cleared (or posted, as
some bank statements describe) MUST be entered into the
checkbook and marked as cleared.
Consult the Quick Clear function on the Main Screen (section
4.1.2.8) and the CLEARED input field in the Transaction
Requester (section 4.19.3.6) for more information on clearing a
transaction.
Consult the Reconcile Requester (section 4.10) for more
information on the preconditions and the result of the
reconciliation process.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA R
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.1.6 Print
Output to the attached printer or selected disk file the
contents of the current checkbook. The Print Requester will
be displayed to define which contents to output.
Consult the Print Requester (section 4.8) for more information
on the selection and destination of checkbook data.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA P
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.1.7 Information
Display the current checkbook's information, as described in
the definition process (section 4.1.1.1).
Consult the Information Requester (section 4.7) for more
information on what is displayed.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA I
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.1.8 Statistics
Display various statistics about the current state of the
current checkbook. The Statistics Requester will be displayed
with all the statistics identified on it.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA T
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.1.9 About
Display the version number, copyright notice, and release
date of this copy of Checkbook Accountant, along with the
amount of available memory (chip RAM, fast RAM, and total
RAM) in the system.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA ?
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; CHECKBOOK ACCOUNTANT 2.0 Button
4.1.1.10 Quit
Terminate the current session of Checkbook Accountant and any
editing of the current checkbook. If the current checkbook or
current budget list (assuming no checkbook has been defined
yet) has been modified since the last time it was saved, the
program will ask if these changes should be saved before
terminating the program. The process of saving a checkbook
file is the same as saving a checkbook during an editing
session (sections 4.1.1.3 and 4.1.1.4).
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in entering a file name.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Q
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Close Gadget
4.1.2 Edit Menu
All functions relating to the manipulation of checkbook
transactions are located within this menu.
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4.1.2.1 Checks
Define a new check transaction to be entered into the
checkbook. The Transaction Requester, modified for check
entry, will be displayed. The check number used for this new
check will be one number greater than the last check number
used. For example, if the last check entered into the
checkbook were numbered 00100 (leading zeros are always
displayed), then the next check number available, 00101, will
be used. The description input field will contain the word
"CHECK", if the S:CAdefault.CAp file does not exist.
Otherwise, it will contain the description defined in the
Default Description For -- Checks input field (section
4.9.3.2) of the Program Prefs Requester. This description can
be edited.
Consult the Transaction Requester (section 4.19) for more
specific information on the functions available during the
editing process.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA C
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.2 Other Debits
Define a new debit transaction to be entered into the
checkbook. Other Debits should be used for debit transactions
which are not checks, such as service charges, ATM (Automated
Teller Machine) withdrawals, and fund transfers from the
checking account to another account. The description input
field will contain the word "DEBIT", if the S:CAdefault.CAp
file does not exist. Otherwise, it will contain the
description defined in the Default Description For --
Other Debits input field (section 4.9.3.3) of the Program Prefs
Requester. This description can be edited.
Consult the Transaction Requester (section 4.19) for more
specific information on the functions available during the
editing process.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA -
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.2.3 Deposits
Define a new deposit transaction to be entered into the
checkbook. The description input field will contain the word
"DEPOSIT", if the S:CAdefault.CAp file does not exist.
Otherwise, it will contain the description defined in the
Default Description For -- Deposits input field (section
4.9.3.4) of the Program Prefs Requester. This description can
be edited.
Consult the Transaction Requester (section 4.19) for more
specific information on the functions available during the
editing process.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.4 Other Credits
Define a new credit transaction to be entered into the
checkbook. Other Credits should be used for credit
transactions which are not deposits, such as fund transfers
from another account to this checking account and interest
payments. The description input field will contain the word
"CREDIT", if the S:CAdefault.CAp file does not exist.
Otherwise, it will contain the description defined in the
Default Description For -- Other Credits input field (section
4.9.3.5) of the Program Prefs Requester. This description can
be edited.
Consult the Transaction Requester (section 4.19) for more
specific information on the functions available during the
editing process.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA +
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.5 Batch Mode
Allow for continuous definitions of a certain transaction type.
For example, if the next 10 transactions to be entered into the
checkbook are all checks, toggle Batch Mode to its ON state and
select Checks from the Edit Menu. The Check Transaction
Requester will be displayed for you to define the first check
in the sequence. To add the current check and continue with
the definition of the next check, select "Add". The check is
entered into the checkbook and a new Check Transaction
Requester is automatically and immediately displayed.
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To stop entering transactions, select "Cancel". Be sure that
"Cancel" is not selected while editing the last transaction in
the batch sequence; doing so will lose the current
transaction's information. In other words, select "Cancel"
only on an undefined (empty) transaction.
Batch Mode has no effect on the transactions during the
update process.
Consult the Transaction Requester (section 4.19) for more
specific information on entering transactions in Batch Mode.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA ~
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.6 Duplicate
Allow for the duplication of a transaction. Highlight the
transaction to duplicate and select this function. A copy of
the highlighted transaction will be entered as the last entry
in the Transaction List.
Note that everything in the highlighted transaction is
duplicated, including the transaction date, amount, cleared
date, and budget distributions. Checks which are duplicated
will NOT use the same check number, but will use the next
available check number.
If the Transaction List is sorted, the duplicated transaction
may not necessarily be placed at the end of the List, but
rather in the proper order (according to the current sort
criteria).
The running and checkbook balances are updated to reflect this
change in the checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA "
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.2.7 Move
Allow for the transfer of a transaction from one part of the
Transaction List to another part. Highlight the transaction to
move, select this function, and select the entry in the
Transaction List where to move the transaction. The
transaction will be moved between the selected location and the
location before it. This means that a transaction cannot be
moved to the last entry in the Transaction List (only to the
second to the last entry). To move it to the end of the List,
select the last entry and move to above the just moved
transaction.
A transaction must be highlighted for this function to work.
While in the Move function, the regular pencil pointer will be
modified to the move pencil (two arrows are superimposed on the
pencil). Selecting another menu item while in the process of
moving a transaction will terminate the Move function (and move
pencil).
If the View (Select Groups) settings (section 4.20) do not
display all the current checkbook's transactions, moving one
transaction from one part of the List to another will move it
immediately before the destination entry (and not immediately
after the entry before the selected destination entry.
If the Transaction List is currently sorted, the Move function
will ignore the sort criteria, allowing you to place the
transaction anywhere in the List (although the checkbook is
still considered sorted).
The running balances are updated to reflect these changes in
the checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA M
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.8 Quick Clear
Allow for fast clearing (posting) of transactions from the
Main Screen. Instead of selecting a transaction from the
Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3) and entering a date in the
CLEARED input field (section 4.19.3.6) a transaction can be
cleared by highlighting the specific Transaction List entry and
selecting this function. The current system date is entered
into the CLEARED input field, replacing the previous date, and
the 'C' column of the transaction entry is marked with a 'C'
(section 4.1.5.3).
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The program only needs a valid date in the CLEARED input field
for a transaction to be marked as cleared. Using the system
date is a quick way of accomplishing this condition. Only use
this operation if the content of the CLEARED input field is not
very important for your purposes.
If the Transaction List is sorted by cleared date, Quick
Clear-ing a transaction may move it to the proper position in
the List.
Quick Clear will not operate on voided checks (section
4.19.1.3).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA /
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.9 Quick Unclear
Allow for fast unclearing (unposting) of transactions from the
Main Screen. Instead of selecting a transaction from the
Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3) and clearing the date in the
CLEARED input field (section 4.19.3.6) a transaction can be
uncleared by highlighting the specific Transaction List entry
and selecting this function. The current CLEARED date will be
erased and the 'C' column of the transaction entry is erased.
If the Transaction List is sorted by cleared date, Quick
Unclear-ing a transaction will may move it to the proper
position in the List.
Quick Unclear will not operate on voided checks (section
4.19.1.3).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA \
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.10 Reoccurring Transac
Allow for the manipulation of Reoccurring Transaction Groups.
4.1.2.10.1 Group List
Display the Reoccurring Transaction Group List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA U
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.2.10.2 Add Transac To Group
Add the currently highlighted transaction to a selected
Reoccurring Transaction Group. The Reoccurring Transaction
Groups Requester will be displayed for you to select a group.
Be sure to double-click on the group name, rather than
highlighting and selecting Okay, to choose the group. Once a
group has been chosen, the Reoccurring Transactions Requester
will display the chosen group's transactions, including the
just added transaction. The added transaction will always be
initially placed at the end of the list, but can be moved
later. Changes made to this transaction in the checkbook
will not correspond to changes in the group transaction; the
added transaction is a copy of the original.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA <
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.10.3 Add Group To Checkbook
Add all transactions in a selected Reoccurring Transaction
Group to the checkbook. The Reoccurring Transaction Groups
Requester will be displayed for you to select a group. Be
sure to double-click on the group name, rather than
highlighting and selecting Okay, to choose the group. Once a
group has been chosen, the transactions in the group will be
entered, in the order of their appearance, into the
checkbook. Depending on the current View settings, some of
the transactions might neither be viewable nor entered in the
defined ordered.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA >
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.11 Description List
Display the Description List Requester (section 4.6) for you to
edit the list of descriptions to be used in the definition of
transactions.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.2.12 Search
Display the Search Requester (section 4.14) for you to define
a transaction PAY / DESC description to search for.
Only those descriptions from transactions currently viewable in
the Transaction List will be searched.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA '
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.13 Replace
Display the Search & Replace Requester (section 4.15) for you
to define a transaction PAY / DESC description to search for
and a description to replace it with.
Only those descriptions from transactions currently viewable in
the Transaction List will be searched and replaced.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA ;
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.14 Previous Occurrence
Depending on which search function was last selected (Search or
Replace) this will perform that function, starting at the
current location in the Transaction List and searching
backward (through transactions listed before the current
position).
If no transaction is currently highlighted, this function will
start searching or replacing from either the last entry in the
Transaction List (if the number of viewable transactions is
less than or equal to 20) or the last viewable entry of the 20
currently viewable transactions (if the number of viewable
transactions is greater than 20).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA [
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.2.15 Next Occurrence
Depending on which search function was last selected (Search or
Replace) this will perform that function, starting at the
current location in the Transaction List and searching
forward (through transactions listed after the current
position).
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If no transaction is currently highlighted, this function will
start searching or replacing from the either the first entry in
the Transaction List (if the number of viewable transactions is
less than or equal to 20) or the first viewable entry of the 20
currently viewable transactions (if the number of viewable
transactions is greater than 20).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA ]
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.3 Budgets Menu
All functions relating to the budgeting of transactions and the
manipulation of budget lists are located within this menu.
4.1.3.1 Budget List
Display the Budget Requester for you to edit budget lists.
Budgets are used for distributing the amount of a check
transaction (sections 4.5 and 4.19.1.5) across several
categories (budgets). The expense limit (section 4.4.3.2)
for each budget is also defined in the Budget Requester.
Consult the Budget Requester (section 4.4) for more
information on the functions available for budgets.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA B
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.3.2 Analysis Period
Display the Analysis Period Requester which defines the
starting and ending dates of the analysis period. The
program uses this analysis period to determine which
check transactions to analyze for overbudget status.
Consult the Analysis Period Requester (section 4.3) for more
information on the functions available in and the input
requirements of this requester.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA .
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.4 Settings Menu
All functions relating to the manipulation of program settings
and transaction listings are located within this menu.
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4.1.4.1 View
All functions relating to the user-selectable viewing of
checkbook transactions are located within this sub-menu.
4.1.4.1.1 ALL
Display all the current checkbook's transactions in the Main
Screen Transaction List. This function is equivalent to
selecting the ALL TRANSACTIONS item in the View (Select
Groups) Requester.
Consult the View (Select Groups) Requester (section 4.20) for
more information on selecting items.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.4.1.2 Select Groups
Display the View (Select Groups) Requester to define the
type, range of dates, and grouping of transactions to display
in the Main Screen Transaction List.
Consult the View (Select Groups) Requester (section 4.20) for
more information on selecting items.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA G
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.1.4.2 Program Prefs
Display the Program Prefs Requester (section 4.9), from where
the Show, Icon Creation, User Prefs, and Auto Desc List
settings can be selected, the CA: directory defined, and
various default transaction parameters set.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Z
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
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4.1.5 On-screen display
The following section describes the components of the Main
Screen.
4.1.5.1 CHECKBOOK ACCOUNTANT 2.0
Located at the top-left side of the Main Screen, this button
(labelled "CHECKBOOK ACCOUNTANT 2.0") appears to be part of the
Main Screen. Pressing this button is equivalent to the Project
Menu Item "About..." and RIGHT-AMIGA ? keyboard sequence.
4.1.5.2 Show Areas
Located at the top-right side and bottom-right corner of the
Main Screen, these areas display the Program Prefs Requester's
Show indicators:
Batch Mode Indicator (section 4.9.2.1.1),
Sorted List Indicator (section 4.9.2.1.2),
Transaction Count (section 4.9.2.1.3),
Initial Deposit (section 4.9.2.1.4), and
Running Balance Tracker (section 4.9.2.1.5).
More information on the Running Balance Tracker can be found
in section 4.1.5.5.
4.1.5.3 Transaction List
Located in the middle and occupying most of the Main Screen,
this area contains the current checkbook's viewable
transactions (section 4.20), listed 20 consecutive transactions
at a time and separated by horizontal lines (for easier
reading across columns). The Transaction List is separated
into the columns:
NUMBER
the check number, for checks only;
DATE
the date of the transaction;
DESCRIPTION
for checks, the payee; for non-checks, a general
description;
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TCS
left column shows Tax Deductible status;
middle column shows Cleared status;
right column shows Credit or Debit indicator;
AMOUNT
the dollar value of the transaction;
with a vertical scroll bar and arrow buttons to control the
display of the Transaction List. Drag the scroll bar to scroll
(in large increments) the Transaction List. Depress the arrow
buttons to scroll (one entry at a time) the Transaction List.
These display controls have the keyboard equivalents:
UP = display the previous transaction;
DOWN = display the next transaction;
ALT-UP = display the previous 10 transactions;
ALT-DOWN = display the next 10 transactions;
SHIFT-UP = display the previous 20 transactions;
SHIFT-DOWN = display the next 20 transactions;
CTRL-UP = display the first 20 transactions;
CTRL-DOWN = display the last 20 transactions.
To select a transaction (for editing), either double-click on
its entry in the Transaction List or highlight the entry and
press the RETURN key. The transaction will become highlighted
and the Transaction Requester (section 4.19) will be displayed
with the selected transaction's information entered into the
input fields.
4.1.5.4 Balances
Located at the bottom-left side of the Main Screen, this area
displays three types of account balances. As a visual aid,
positive balances are displayed in BLACK text and negative
balances in RED (a negative sign is also displayed).
4.1.5.4.1 RUNNING BALANCE
This amount is the checking account's balance up to and
including the currently highlighted transaction. An amount
is only shown if a transaction is highlighted.
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4.1.5.4.2 CHECKBOOK BALANCE
This amount is the checking account's current balance, or
equivalently, the running balance after the last entered
transaction.
4.1.5.4.3 STATEMENT BALANCE
This amount is the checking account's balance as a result of
calculating the cleared (posted) transactions (section
4.19.3.6), which the Reconcile function (section 4.10)
produces.
4.1.5.5 Running Balance Tracker
Located at the bottom-right side of the Main Screen, this area
contains the Running Balance Tracker. It contains a graphical
bar chart representation of the running balances corresponding
to the 20 transactions currently viewable in the Transaction
List. As the Transaction List is scrolled, so too does the
Running Balance Tracker.
Each tick (line) of the bar is equivalent to $100.00. For
instance, a running balance between $0.01 and $100.00 will be
displayed as one tick (in BLACK). Negative running balances
are displayed in RED. The bar chart can accurately display
running balances between $-4,000.00 and $4,000.00. Amounts
beyond these limits will be displayed as though they were equal
to the limit amount (either $-4,000.00 or $4,000.00).
If a transaction is highlighted, an arrow will be displayed
either below the bar (pointing upward) for positive running
balances or above the bar (pointing downward) for negative
running balances.
4.2 Help Screen
Almost all the screens and requesters within the program (except
for the Request/Notice Requesters; section 4.13) supply on-line
help. To display these help screens, press the HELP key and wait
for the selected help screen to load from disk. You must have CA:
defined properly (section 4.9.3.1) and have the CAhelp sub-
directory within CA: for any of the help screens to be loaded.
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A Help Screen will be displayed, with the help text (BLACK text on
a WHITE background) in the center of the screen and display
controls (scroll bar and UP/DOWN buttons) to its right. Drag the
scroll bar to scroll (in large increments) the help text. Depress
the arrow buttons to scroll (one entry at a time) the help text.
These display controls have the keyboard equivalents:
UP = display the previous line of text;
DOWN = display the next line of text;
ALT-UP = display the previous 10 lines of text;
ALT-DOWN = display the next 10 lines of text;
SHIFT-UP = display the previous 20 lines of text;
SHIFT-DOWN = display the next 20 lines of text;
CTRL-UP = display the first 20 lines of text;
CTRL-DOWN = display the last 20 lines of text.
To exit the Help Screen, press the "Okay" button, the Y key, or the
RETURN key (any button surrounded by a thick black border can use
the RETURN key as an alternative keyboard selection).
Keyboard Selection: HELP
4.3 Analysis Period Requester
This requester defines the starting and ending dates of the
analysis period, the time frame the program uses in comparing the
defined expense limit (section 4.4.3.2) to the total actual
distributions (section 4.5.2.1) for each budget category.
4.3.1 Analysis Menu
This menu contains the requester controls, Okay and Cancel.
4.3.1.1 Okay
Accept the current analysis period and exit the Analysis
Period Requester.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.3.1.2 Cancel
Ignore the current date values, replace them with the previous
analysis period values, and exit the Analysis Period Requester.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.3.2 Input Fields
The Analysis Period input fields define the starting and ending
dates of the analysis period.
4.3.2.1 from (left input field)
The starting date of the analysis period. To use the earliest
dated transaction in the checkbook, keep this field blank.
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 1/1/0100 and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
4.3.2.2 to (right input field)
The ending date of the analysis period. To use the latest
dated transaction in the checkbook, keep this field blank.
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 'from date' and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
4.4 Budget Requester
This requester defines budget lists, a collection of expense
categories (budgets) and their respective expense limits. The
amount of a check transaction can be distributed to these budgets.
Drag the scroll bar to scroll (in large increments) the Budget
List. Depress the arrow buttons to scroll (one entry at a time)
the Budget List.
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These display controls have the keyboard equivalents:
UP = display the previous budget;
DOWN = display the next budget;
ALT-UP = display the previous 7 budgets;
ALT-DOWN = display the next 7 budgets;
SHIFT-UP = display the previous 15 budgets;
SHIFT-DOWN = display the next 15 budgets;
CTRL-UP = display the first 15 budgets;
CTRL-DOWN = display the last 15 budgets.
To select a budget, highlight its entry in the Budget List. The
selected budget will become highlighted and the expense limit
input field (section 4.4.3.2) will become active for you to edit
its amount.
4.4.1 Budget Menu
This menu contains the requester controls, Okay and Cancel, and
the Add and Delete budget functions.
The file name of the current budget list (if previously saved)
is displayed in the title bar of the Budget Requester. If the
budget list has not been previously saved (as a separate budget
list file) or is part of a previously saved checkbook file, the
title bar will show "Budget...".
4.4.1.1 Okay
Accept the current values as the Budget List for the current
checkbook.
Double-clicking on a Budget List entry is equivalent to
highlighting it and selecting "Okay".
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.4.1.2 Add
Activate the budget description (section 4.4.3.1) and expense
limit (section 4.4.3.2) input fields for you to define a new
budget category. Once an expense limit has been entered, the
budget will be entered into the Budget List in alphabetical
order. Duplicate and blank budget descriptions are not allowed
and will not be entered into the Budget List.
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Once a budget has been added to the list, its budget
description cannot be edited. Although you can delete it, then
add it again, any transaction which is distributed to this
budget will be undistributed.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.4.1.3 Delete
Remove the highlighted budget from the current Budget List. A
budget description must be highlighted for this function to
work.
If at least one transaction is distributed to this budget, the
program will ask if that transaction should be undistributed
from this budget before continuing with the deletion.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.4.1.4 Cancel
Terminate the current editing session of the Budget List.
Changes, such as those from the Load, Save, Add, Delete, and
Clear functions and from the modification of the expense limit,
made to the Budget List will be preserved, unlike other Cancel
functions which restore the previous values.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.4.2 List Menu
This menu contains the functions available to the Budget List as
a whole, such as Load, Save, Default, and Clear.
4.4.2.1 Load
Retrieve from disk a specified Budget List as the current
budget list. A file requester will be displayed for the
selection of the Budget List to retrieve. Files with an
extension of ".CAb" (signifying a Checkbook Accountant budget
file) will be displayed.
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If at least one transaction is distributed to any budget in the
current Budget List, the program will ask if those transactions
should be undistributed from their referenced budgets before
retrieving the new Budget List.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in selecting a file.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.4.2.2 Save
Store to disk the current Budget List under the selected
file name. A file requester will be displayed for the
selection of a file name. If the Budget List was previously
saved, its current file name will appear in the File input
field of the file requester. If the Budget List file currently
exists, the program will ask if the Budget List on disk should
be replaced with the current Budget List version. The current
Budget List will be saved with a ".CAb" extension (signifying
a Checkbook Accountant budget file).
An icon file will be created to accompany the budget file if
the Budget List menu item under the Program Prefs Requester's
Icon Creation menu is selected.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in selecting a file.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA S
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.4.2.3 Default
Save the current Budget List as the default Budget List.
This is the same default Budget List which can be loaded
immediately after the definition of a new checkbook (section
4.1.1.1). The Budget List is saved under the file name
"CAdefault.CAb" in the CA: defined directory (section 4.9.3.1).
Consult the Information Requester (section 4.7) for more
information on using a default budget list.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA F
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.4.2.4 Clear
Remove all the entries in the current Budget List. The file
name of the Budget List does not change.
If at least one transaction is distributed to any budget in the
current Budget List, the program will ask if those transactions
should be undistributed from their referenced budgets before
removing the entries in the Budget List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.4.3 Input Fields
The Budget Requester's input fields define the name and expense
limit for each budget category.
4.4.3.1 Budget Description
The label used to identify a budget category. Some examples
include, "Car", "Food", and "Insurance".
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 32).
4.4.3.2 Expense Limit
The expense limit for the current budget category. This amount
is compared with the total of all distributions (section 4.5)
to this budget within the current analysis period
(section 4.3). Although the total distributions from all the
checkbook's check transactions to any budget can be greater
than the expense limit, only those distributions from the
transactions falling within the current analysis period will be
compared. If the total expenses within the current analysis
period are greater than this expense limit, the indicator "OB"
(overbudget) will be placed between the budget entry and its
corresponding expense limit; nothing is shown if the total
expenses are equal to or less than the defined expense limit.
FORMAT: nnn,nnn.nn (commas not mandatory)
an amount between 0.00 and 999,999.99
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4.5 Budget Distribution Requester
This requester defines the itemized distribution of the current
check transaction's amount across several budget categories
(section 4.4). A maximum of 99 distinct budget distributions is
allowed for each check transaction.
Drag the scroll bar to scroll (in large increments) the Budget
Distribution List. Depress the arrow buttons to scroll (one entry
at a time) this List.
These display controls have the keyboard equivalents:
UP = display the previous distribution;
DOWN = display the next distribution;
ALT-UP = display the previous 5 distributions;
ALT-DOWN = display the next 5 distributions;
SHIFT-UP = display the previous 10 distributions;
SHIFT-DOWN = display the next 10 distributions;
CTRL-UP = display the first 10 distributions;
CTRL-DOWN = display the last 10 distributions.
4.5.1 Distribution Menu
This menu contains the requester controls, Okay and Cancel, as
well as the budget distribution list controls, Add, Delete, and
Clear.
4.5.1.1 Okay
Accept the current budget distributions for the current check
transaction.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.5.1.2 Add
Define a new budget distribution. A maximum of 99 budget
distributions can be defined for any check transaction. The
Budget Requester is displayed for you to select a budget
(section 4.4.1.1). Once a budget has been selected, the amount
input field of the Budget Distribution Requester will be
activated for you to enter the amount to distribute to this
selected budget.
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The amount budgetable (shown as the AMOUNT BUDGETABLE) is
equal to the payment amount of the check. The distributed
amount is limited to a minimum of $0.01 and a maximum of the
amount unbudgeted (shown as the AMOUNT UNBUDGETED); a
distribution of $0.00 or less is not allowed.
After a valid amount is entered, the distribution is entered
into the distribution list in alphabetical order. The amount
undistributed is updated.
If the entered amount causes the selected budget to become
overbudgeted--the total distributions to this budget during the
analysis period exceed the defined expense limit (section
4.4.3.2), the program will notify this fact.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.5.1.3 Delete
Remove the highlighted budget distribution from the current
distribution list. A distribution list entry must be
highlighted for this function to work. Once deleted, the
amount unbudgeted (shows as the AMOUNT UNBUDGETED) will be
updated.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.5.1.4 Clear
Remove all the budget distributions from the current
distribution list, effectively unbudgeting the current check
transaction. The amount unbudgeted (shown as the AMOUNT
UNBUDGETED) will be reset to the amount budgetable (shown as
the AMOUNT BUDGETABLE).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.5.1.5 Cancel
Terminate the current editing session of the budget
distribution list. Changes made to the list will be preserved,
unlike other Cancel functions which restore the previous
values.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.5.2 Input Field
The Budget Distribution Requester's input field contains the
amount distributed to each budget category.
4.5.2.1 Distributed amount
The dollar value to attach to the selected budget distribution.
For new distributions, the amount initially placed in this
input field is the amount unbudgeted. This assumes that the
new distribution will use all the remaining amount. Edit this
amount if it is not appropriate.
FORMAT: nnn,nnn.nn (commas not mandatory)
an amount between 0.01 and AMOUNT UNBUDGETED
4.6 Description List Requester
This requester displays the list of descriptions usable in the
Transaction Requester (section 4.19) for the PAY/DESC and MEMO
input fields.
Drag the scroll bar to scroll (in large increments) the Description
List. Depress the arrow buttons to scroll (one entry at a time)
this List.
These display controls have the keyboard equivalents:
UP = display the previous description;
DOWN = display the next description;
ALT-UP = display the previous 7 descriptions;
ALT-DOWN = display the next 7 descriptions;
SHIFT-UP = display the previous 15 descriptions;
SHIFT-DOWN = display the next 15 descriptions;
CTRL-UP = display the first 15 descriptions;
CTRL-DOWN = display the last 15 descriptions.
4.6.1 Description Menu
This menu contains the requester controls, Okay and Cancel, and
the Add and Delete description functions.
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The file name of the current description list (if previously
saved) is displayed in the title bar of the Description List
Requester. If the description list has not been previously
saved, the title bar will show "Description List...".
4.6.1.1 Okay
Accept the current values as the Description List for the
current checkbook.
Double-clicking on a Description List entry is equivalent to
highlighting it and selecting "Okay".
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.6.1.2 Add
Activate the description (section 4.6.3.1) input field for you
to define a new description. Once you press the RETURN
key, the description will be entered into the Description List
in alphabetical order. Duplicate and blank descriptions are
not allowed and will not be entered into the Description List.
Once a description has been added to the list, it cannot be
edited, although it can be deleted and added again.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.6.1.3 Delete
Remove the highlighted description from the current Description
List. A description must be highlighted for this function to
work.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.6.1.4 Cancel
Terminate the current editing session of the Description List.
Changes, such as those from the Load, Save, Add, Delete, and
Clear functions will be preserved, unlike other Cancel
functions which restore the previous values.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.6.2 List Menu
This menu contains the functions available to the Description
List as a whole, such as Load, Save, Default, and Clear.
4.6.2.1 Load
Retrieve from disk a specified Description List as the current
description list. A file requester will be displayed for the
selection of the Description List to retrieve. Files with an
extension of ".CAd" (signifying a Checkbook Accountant
description file) will be displayed.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in selecting a file.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.6.2.2 Save
Store to disk the current Description List under the selected
file name. A file requester will be displayed for the
selection of a file name. If the Description List was
previously saved, its current file name will appear in the File
input field of the file requester. If the Description List
file currently exists, the program will ask if the Description
List on disk should be replaced with the current Description
List version. The current Description List will be saved with
a ".CAd" extension (signifying a Checkbook Accountant
description file).
An icon file will be created to accompany the description file
if the Icon Creation Description List option in the Program
Prefs Requester is selected.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in selecting a file.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA S
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.6.2.3 Default
Save the current Description List as the default Description
List. This is the same default Description List which can be
loaded immediately after the definition of a new checkbook
(section 4.1.1.1). The Description List is saved under the
file name "CAdefault.CAd" in the CA: defined directory
(section 4.9.3.1).
Consult the Information Requester (section 4.7) for more
information on using a default budget list.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA F
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.6.2.4 Clear
Remove all the entries in the current Description List. The
file name of the Description List does not change.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.6.3 Input Field
The Description List Requester's input field defines the actual
descriptions in the List.
4.6.3.1 Description
The spelling of the description.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.7 Information Requester
This requester displays the definition of the current checkbook.
4.7.1 Information Menu
This menu contains the requester controls, Okay and Cancel.
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4.7.1.1 Okay
Accept the current checkbook definition.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.7.1.2 Cancel
Ignore any changes made to the checkbook definition and
restore the previous values.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.7.2 Use Default Menu
This menu contains the default Description List and Budget List
usage controls.
4.7.2.1 Description List
Toggle the option (YES or NO) to load the default Description
List (section 4.6.2.3) after defining a new checkbook (section
4.1.1.1). This function can only be selected during the
definition of a new checkbook and not during the display of the
Information Requester while editing a checkbook (the function
is unselectable).
If selected (YES), the default Description List is loaded as
the current Budget List immediately after selecting "Okay".
If unselected (NO), the default Description List is not loaded
and the current Description List is empty (no entries).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.7.2.2 Budget List
Toggle the option (YES or NO) to load the default Budget List
(section 4.4.2.3) after defining a new checkbook (section
4.1.1.1). This function can only be selected during the
definition of a new checkbook and not during the display of the
Information Requester while editing a checkbook (the function
is unselectable).
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If selected (YES), the default Budget List is loaded as the
current Budget List immediately after selecting "Okay".
If unselected (NO), the default Budget List is not loaded and
the current Budget List is empty (no entries).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA B
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.7.3 Input Fields
The Information Requester's input fields contain the actual
checkbook definition.
4.7.3.1 Account Type
The type description of the account being defined. For most
checking accounts, the word "Checking" can be entered into this
field. By keeping it blank the program can be used for savings
and other special types of bank accounts.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.7.3.2 Account Number
The bank issued account number.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.7.3.3 Account Holder
The bearer(s) of this account. This information appears on the
checks and bank statements.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.7.3.4 Bank Name
The name of the bank where this account was opened.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.7.3.5 Branch Name
The name of the bank branch office where this account was
opened.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
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4.7.3.6 Branch Number
The branch office's branch number.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.7.3.7 Starting Check Number
The first check number used in this account.
Although this value can be modified, the checkbook data may
not be correct if this check number is changed (after defining
the checkbook). Once a check has been entered, changing the
Information Requester's Starting Check Number will neither
change the first check's nor any other check's number. This
value is only used for the definition process.
FORMAT: nnnnn (leading zeros not necessary)
a number between 1 and 99999.
4.7.3.8 Initial Deposit
The amount deposited into the account upon opening the account.
Changes made to this value at any time automatically cause the
program to recalculate the checkbook balance (section
4.1.5.4.2) and running balances (section 4.1.5.4.1).
To record separate checkbook files (for the same account) as a
direct resemblance of the account's checkbook registers (the
small books where transactions are recorded), use this input
field to hold the balance forwarded from the previous register.
For the first checkbook register of an account, this field
would be the normal initial deposit amount.
FORMAT: nnn,nnn.nn (commas not mandatory)
an amount between -999,999.99 and 999,999.99
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4.7.3.9 Opened
The date this account was opened.
For multiple checkbook register files (section 4.7.3.8), this
input field would contain the date of the first transaction in
the new checkbook register.
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 1/1/0100 and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
4.7.3.10 Closed
The date this account was closed.
For multiple checkbook register files (section 4.7.3.8), this
input field would contain the date of the last transaction in
the current checkbook register.
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 'Opened' date and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
4.8 Print Requester
This requester selects the destination of the program's output and
the type of checkbook information to output.
4.8.1 Print Menu
This menu contains the requester's controls, Okay and Cancel.
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4.8.1.1 Okay
Accept the current print selections and immediately outputs
them to the chosen destination (section 4.8.2.1).
A requester will appear for you to cancel the current print
session. If the attached printer has an internal buffer,
cancelling the output might take some time. After the
selected information has been printed, the Print Requester will
become active for more print sessions.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.8.1.2 Cancel
Terminate the current print session.
Unlike other Cancel functions, this one will retain all changes
made to the print selections. This is helpful, because it
keeps the "Print To Disk File" file name, so you do not have to
select continually the same file name from the file requester
and reselect the print options.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.8.2 Selections Menu
This menu contains the output destination controls and checkbook
information and data selections.
4.8.2.1 Print To
This sub-menu (sections 4.8.2.1.1 and 4.8.2.1.2) contains the
output destination controls.
4.8.2.1.1 Printer
Direct the output to the attached printer. Specifically,
the output is sent to PRT: device.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA P
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
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4.8.2.1.2 Disk File
Direct the output to the selected disk file. A file
requester will be supplied for you to select the file name.
As long as a file name has been selected, it will be
displayed, even though output has been directed to the
printer.
Consult the file requester's documentation (included in the
archived Checkbook Accountant 2.0 package under the name
FR_User.DOC) for help in selecting a file.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
4.8.2.2 Checkbook Information
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of the checkbook information
items:
Account Type,
Account Number,
Account Holder,
Bank Name,
Branch Name, and
Branch Number,
as described in the Information Requester (sections 4.7.3.1
through 4.7.3.6).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA I
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.3 Initial Deposit
Toggles the output (YES or NO) of the checkbook's initial
deposit, as defined in the Information Requester
(section 4.7.3.8).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.4 Checkbook Balance
Toggles the output (YES or NO) of the current checkbook
balance.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA C
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.8.2.5 Statement Balance
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of the statement balance,
as defined by the last checkbook reconciliation
(section 4.10).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA T
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.6 Viewable Transactions
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of the viewable transactions--
those defined by the settings in the View (Select Groups)
Requester (section 4.20) and displayed in the Main Screen
Transaction List (4.1.5.3).
If the first viewable transaction is not the first checkbook
transaction, the balance forward (the balance before the first
viewable transaction) is also printed (immediately before the
viewable transactions are printed).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA V
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.7 Transaction Distributions
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of an itemized listing of each
check transaction's budget distribution list. This listing
is outputted between the description and memo lines of each
transaction. The amount unbudgeted (section 4.5), if not
equal to $0.00, is also listed.
If this selection is chosen, the Viewable Transactions
selection will also be chosen. Each transaction's
distribution list cannot be outputted without outputting the
transaction itself.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA R
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.8 Reoccurring Transac Group List
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of the Reoccurring Transaction
Group names.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA U
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.8.2.9 Reoccurring Transacs
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of the transactions within each
Reoccurring Transaction Group.
If this selection is chosen, the Reoccurring Transac Group List
selection will also be chosen. Each group's transactions
cannot be outputted without also outputting the group name.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA O
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.10 Budget List
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of the current Budget List used
by the current checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA B
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.11 Budget Summary
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of a summary of each budget's
expense limit amount (section 4.4.3.2) for the current analysis
period (section 4.3.2) and the actual expense total to the
whole checkbook, along with the number of distributions
referencing each budget. The analysis period is also printed.
If this selection is chosen, the Budget List selection will
also be chosen. A summary of each budget cannot be outputted
without outputting the budget description itself.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA S
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.8.2.12 Description List
Toggle the output (YES or NO) of the current Description List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.9 Program Prefs Requester
This requester defines the Show, Icon Creation, User Prefs, and
Auto Desc List settings, the CA: directory (from within the
program), the default PAY / DESC descriptions to be placed in the
various Transaction Requesters, and the initial status of the TAX
button and "Tax" menu item for newly created transactions. The
selected preference settings will not go into effect until "Okay"
is selected.
4.9.1 Prefs Menu
This menu contains the requester's controls, Okay and Cancel, and
the preference functions, Default and Clear.
4.9.1.1 Okay
Accept the defined program preferences. These settings will
not be saved as the default preferences unless the "Default"
option is selected.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.9.1.2 Default
Save the current Program Prefs settings as the default program
settings. The settings are saved under the file name
"CAdefault.CAp" in the S: defined directory.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA F
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.9.1.3 Clear
Initialize all Show, Icon Creation, User Prefs, and Auto Desc
List settings to their NO (no check mark) position, initialize
the TAX Status setting to "Same As Last Used," and erase the
entries in the CA: directory and Default Description For input
fields.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.9.1.4 Cancel
Terminate the definition of the program preferences and restore
the previous preference settings.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.9.2 Settings Menu
This menu contains the various preference settings.
4.9.2.1 Show
All functions relating to the user-selectable display of
checkbook information and indicators are located within this
sub-menu. These indicators will be displayed on the Main
Screen Show Area (section 4.1.5.2).
4.9.2.1.1 Batch Mode Indicator
Toggle the displays (SHOW or HIDE) of the Batch Mode status
(ON or OFF) indicator.
If selected (SHOW), a 'B' will appear at the left side of the
Main Screen Show Area (section 4.1.5.2) if Batch Mode is ON;
if Batch Mode is OFF, nothing will be shown.
If unselected (HIDE), nothing will be shown regardless of
the Batch Mode status.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA @
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.1.2 Sorted List Indicator
Toggle the display (SHOW or HIDE) of the Sorted List
Indicator.
If selected (SHOW), an 'S' will appear between the locations
of the Batch Mode Indicator (section 4.9.2.1.1) and the
Transaction Count (section 4.9.2.1.3) if the current
Transaction List is sorted in any way.
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If unselected (HIDE), nothing will be shown regardless of the
ordering of the Transaction List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA =
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.1.3 Transaction Count
Toggle the display (SHOW or HIDE) of the number of viewable
transactions in the Transaction List (defined by the current
View (Select Groups) settings; section 4.20) and the number
of total transactions in the current checkbook. The format
of the Transaction Count is: viewable / total.
If selected (SHOW), the transaction count will appear in the
middle of the Main Screen Show Area (section 4.1.5.2).
If unselected (HIDE), nothing will be shown.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA #
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.1.4 Initial Deposit
Toggle the display (SHOW or HIDE) of the current checkbook's
initial deposit, as defined in the Information Requester
(section 4.7.3.8).
If selected (SHOW), the initial deposit amount will appear
at the right side of the Main Screen Show Area, in-line with
the AMOUNT field of the Transaction List.
If unselected (HIDE), nothing will be shown.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA $
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.1.5 Running Balance Tracker
Toggle the display (SHOW or HIDE) of the Running Balance
Tracker, which graphically displays (in a bar chart format)
the running balances of the 20 transactions currently
viewable in the Transaction List.
If selected (SHOW), the Running Balance Tracker will appear
in the lower-right corner of the Main Screen. If a
transaction is highlighted, the corresponding running balance
bar will be indicated with an arrow.
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If unselected (HIDE), the Tracker area will be blank.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA T
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.2 Icon Creation
All functions relating to the creation of icon files are
located within this sub-menu.
4.9.2.2.1 Checkbook
Toggle the creation (CREATE or IGNORE) of an icon with each
saved checkbook file.
If selected (CREATE), a checkbook icon will accompany each
of the future checkbook files saved. The icon will be
similar to the Checkbook Accountant program icon, but will
have the word "CHECKBOOK" on it.
If unselected (IGNORE), each of the following checkbook files
will not have an accompanying icon.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA (
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.2.2 Budget List
Toggle the creation (CREATE or IGNORE) of an icon with each
saved budget list file.
If selected (CREATE), a budget icon will accompany each of
the future budget list files saved. The icon will be similar
to the Checkbook Accountant program icon, but will have the
word "BUDGET" on it.
If unselected (IGNORE), each of the following budget list
files will not have an accompanying icon.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA )
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.9.2.2.3 Description List
Toggle the creation (CREATE or IGNORE) of an icon with each
saved description list file.
If selected (CREATE), a description icon will accompany each
of the future description list files saved. The icon will be
similar to the Checkbook Accountant program icon, but will
have the word "DESC" on it.
If unselected (IGNORE), each of the following description
list files will not have an accompanying icon.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA _
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.3 User Prefs
All functions relating to the user-selection of the Workbench
Screen attributes are located within this sub-menu.
4.9.2.3.1 Workbench Pointer
Toggle the type (CA or WB) of pointer to use.
If selected (WB), the Checkbook Accountant pencil pointer
will be replaced with the current Workbench pointer.
If unselected (CA), the current Workbench pointer will be
replaced with the default Checkbook Accountant pencil
pointer.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA !
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.3.2 Workbench Colors
Toggle the screen colors (CA or WB) used in the program.
If selected (WB), the Checkbook Accountant Main Screen colors
will be replaced with the current Workbench Screen colors.
The program will try to analyze the current colors and use
the appropriate color scheme to preserve a 3-dimensional
look. However, the resulting colors might not make the
program look appealing.
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If unselected (CA), the current Workbench Screen colors will
be replaced with the default Checkbook Accountant Main Screen
colors.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA *
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.4 Auto Desc List
All options relating to automatically creating a custom
Description List during the loading of a checkbook file.
4.9.2.4.1 Add PAY / DESC
Add the PAY / DESC descriptions from the loaded checkbook to
the Description List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.4.2 Add MEMO
Add the MEMO descriptions from the loaded checkbook to the
Description List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA M
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.9.2.5 TAX Status
All available initial settings for the TAX status of newly
defined transactions.
4.9.2.5.1 Same As Last Used
The state of the TAX button in the current (new) transaction
will be the same as the last transaction.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
4.9.2.5.2 Always TRUE
The state of the TAX button (for new transactions only) will
always be TRUE (shown with a check mark).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA 1
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
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4.9.2.5.3 Always FALSE
The state of the TAX button (for new transactions only) will
always be FALSE (shown without a check mark).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA 0
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
4.9.3 Input Fields
The Program Prefs Requester's input fields contain the CA:
directory name and the default (initial) transaction PAY / DESC
descriptions.
4.9.3.1 CA: Directory
The directory name which the program should use to locate the
CAhelp directory and CAdefault.CAb and CAdefault.CAd files.
CA: is not actually assigned (with the AmigaDOS assign
command), but is used to describe the location of the Checkbook
Accountant support files. If this input field is blank, the
program will try to find these files in the current directory.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 128).
4.9.3.2 Default Description For -- Checks
Initial description to place in the PAY input field during the
definition of a new check transaction.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.9.3.3 Default Description For -- Other Debits
Initial description to place in the DESC input field during the
definition of a new other debit transaction.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.9.3.4 Default Description For -- Deposits
Initial description to place in the DESC input field during the
definition of a new deposit transaction.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
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4.9.3.5 Default Description For -- Other Credits
Initial description to place in the DESC input field during the
definition of a new other credit transaction.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.9.3.6 Default Description For -- Voided Checks
Initial description to place in the DESC input field during the
redefinition of a non-voided check as a voided check.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.10 Reconcile Requester
This requester displays the preconditions which must be present
in the current checkbook for the Reconcile function to produce the
appropriate results.
Select "Okay" to accept the preconditions of the Reconcile
function. After selecting "Okay", the program will calculate the
current checkbook's statement balance and display this amount in
the STATEMENT BALANCE box (section 4.1.5.4.3) on the Main Screen.
The program calculates the statement balance by adding all the
cleared transactions (sections 4.1.2.8 and 4.19.3.6).
Keyboard Selection: Y
Mouse Selection: Command Button
Select "Cancel" to terminate the Reconcile function, to fulfill
either the preconditions or select another function.
Keyboard Selection: N; RETURN
Mouse Selection: Command Button
4.11 Reoccurring Transaction Groups Requester
This requester defines the Reoccurring Transaction Group names.
Drag the scroll bar to scroll (in large increments) the Group List.
Depress the arrow buttons to scroll (one entry at a time) this
List.
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These display controls have the keyboard equivalents:
UP = display the previous group;
DOWN = display the next group;
ALT-UP = display the previous 2 groups;
ALT-DOWN = display the next 2 groups;
SHIFT-UP = display the previous 5 groups;
SHIFT-DOWN = display the next 5 groups;
CTRL-UP = display the first 5 groups;
CTRL-DOWN = display the last 5 groups.
4.11.1 Group
This menu contains the requester controls, Okay and Cancel, as
well as the group functions, Add, Delete, and Clear.
4.11.1.1 Okay
Accept the current Reoccurring Transaction Group List and exit
the requester. Unlike other Okay functions, this one is not
equivalent to double-clicking on a group entry to select a
group.
If you're adding a transaction to a group, you should double-
click on the group name to select it (and not highlight the
name and select Okay). Adding to a group in this way displays
the transactions within the selected group, including the just
added transaction.
If you're adding a group of reoccurring transactions to the
checkbook, you should highlight the group name and select
Okay. Double-clicking on the group name will display the
transactions within that group.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.11.1.2 Add
Activate the Group name (section 4.11.2.1) input field for you
to define a new Reoccurring Transaction Group name. Once you
press the RETURN key, the group name will be entered into the
Group List in alphabetical order. Duplicate and blank group
names are not allowed and will not be entered into the Group
List.
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Once a group name has been added to the list, it cannot be
edited, although it can be deleted and added again.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.11.1.3 Delete
Remove the highlighted group name from the current Reoccurring
Transaction Group List. The group, including all the
transactions within the group, will be removed. A group name
must be highlighted for this function to work.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.11.1.4 Clear
Remove all the entries in the current Reoccurring Transaction
Group List. All groups and all transactions within each group
will be removed.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.11.1.5 Cancel
Terminate the definition of Reoccurring Transaction Group
names. Unlike other Cancel functions, this one will retain
all changes made to the Group List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.11.2 Input Field
The Reoccurring Transaction Groups input field defines the group
name.
4.11.2.1 Group name
The description of the group. The transactions added to this
group will be included into the checkbook through the
selection of their Reoccurring Transaction Group name.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 40).
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4.12 Reoccurring Transactions Requester
This requester defines the contents and order of the transactions
in the current Reoccurring Transaction Group.
Drag the scroll bar to scroll (in large increments) the Group
Transactions List. Depress the arrow buttons to scroll (one entry
at a time) this List.
These display controls have the keyboard equivalents:
UP = display the previous transaction;
DOWN = display the next transaction;
ALT-UP = display the previous 5 transactions;
ALT-DOWN = display the next 5 transactions;
SHIFT-UP = display the previous 10 transactions;
SHIFT-DOWN = display the next 10 transactions;
CTRL-UP = display the first 10 transactions;
CTRL-DOWN = display the last 10 transactions.
4.12.1 Transaction
This menu contains the requester controls, Okay and Cancel, as
well as the group functions, Delete, Clear, and Move.
4.12.1.1 Okay
Accept the current transactions and their listed order within
the current Reoccurring Transactions List and exit the
requester. No double-click feature (as an alternative to
selecting Okay) is provided. Double-clicking on a transaction
allows you to edit the transaction, although you cannot budget
or delete it from the Transaction Requester. As is true with
the Main Screen Transaction List, you can alternatively edit
a transaction by highlighting it and pressing the RETURN key.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.12.1.2 Delete
Remove the highlighted transaction from the current group.
A transaction must be highlighted for this function to work.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.12.1.3 Clear
Remove all the transactions within the current group. The
group will still exist, although it will contain no entries.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.12.1.4 Move
Allow for the transfer of a transaction from one part of the
Reoccurring Transactions List to another part. Highlight the
transaction to move, select this function, and select the
entry in the List where to move the transaction. The
transaction will be moved between the selected location and
the location previous to it. This means that a transaction
cannot be moved to the last entry in the List (only to the
second to the last entry). To move it to the end of the List,
select the last entry and move to above the just moved
transaction.
A transaction must be highlighted for this function to work.
While in the Move function, the regular pencil pointer will be
modified to the move pencil (two arrows are superimposed on
the pencil). Selecting another menu item or command button
while in the process of moving a transaction will terminate
the Move function (and move pencil).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA M
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.12.1.5 Cancel
Terminate the editing of the Reoccurring Transactions List
for the current group. Unlike other Cancel functions, this
one will retain all changes made to the List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.13 Request/Notice Requesters
The Request Requester is a message by the program for permission to
continue with the requested function. A possibly undoable event
will result if the function continues, and the program is asking
for confirmation. Select "Okay" to continue with the function or
"Cancel" (or the RETURN key) to abort the function.
Keyboard Selection: Y (OKAY)
N; RETURN (Cancel)
Mouse Selection: Command Button "Okay"
Command Button "Cancel"
The Notice Requester is a notification by the program of the
existence of an improper or invalid situation. Select "Okay" (or
the RETURN key) to undo the last function (or in some cases return
to editing).
Keyboard Selection: Y; RETURN (Okay)
Mouse Selection: Command Button "Okay"
4.14 Search Requester
This requester defines the transaction PAY / DESC description to
search for. Any viewable transaction in the Transaction List which
matches the defined description will be highlighted.
4.14.1 Search Menu
This menu contains the requester's controls, Okay and Cancel.
4.14.1.1 Okay
Accept the defined search description and proceeds from the
current position in the Transaction List to locate the first
transaction which matches the description.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.14.1.2 Cancel
Terminate the definition of the search description and
restore the previous description and condition (Use
Wildcards).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.14.2 Conditions Menu
This menu contains the conditions by which to search the
Transaction List.
4.14.2.1 Use Wildcards
Toggle the use (YES or NO) of the wildcard characters, '?'
and '*', for pattern matching purposes.
If used (YES), the '?' character will match any single
character while the '*' will match zero or more successive
characters.
If not used (NO), the Search For description will be taken
verbatim, meaning that a transaction must match all characters
exactly. If the Case Sensitive option is selected, the
descriptions do not necessarily have to match verbatim,
although the spelling of both descriptions must match.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA W
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.14.2.2 Case Sensitive
Toggle the requirement (YES or NO) that for two descriptions
to match, they must both match in spelling and case.
If required (YES), the Search For description will only match
a transaction's PAY / DESC description if both are spelled
the same and the case of each letter is the same.
If not required (NO), the Search For description will match
any transaction PAY / DESC description that is spelled the
same.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA C
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.14.3 Description List Menu
This menu contains the functions available to manipulate the
current Description List.
4.14.3.1 Select
Display the Description List Requester for you to select a
phrase to be placed in the Search For input field. Wherever
the cursor is currently shown in the Search Requester, the
selected description will be placed in the Search For input
field, replacing the previous description.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.14.4 Input Field
The Search Requester's input field contains the transaction
description to be located.
4.14.4.1 Search For
The transaction PAY or DESC input field content to search for.
The search function is case-sensitive, which means that the
Search For description will only generate a match if it is
exactly the same as a transaction's description.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.15 Search & Replace Requester
This requester defines the transaction PAY / DESC description to
search for and the replacement description. Any viewable
transaction in the Transaction List which matches the defined
description will be highlighted and its description will be
replaced with the Replace With description.
4.15.1 Search Menu
This menu contains the requester's controls, Okay and Cancel.
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4.15.1.1 Okay
Accept the defined search and replace descriptions and
proceeds from the current position in the Transaction List to
locate the first transaction which matches the description and
replace its description.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.15.1.2 Cancel
Terminate the definition of the search and replace
descriptions and restore the previous descriptions and
conditions (Use Wildcards, Verify Replacement, and Global
Replacement).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.15.2 Conditions Menu
This menu contains the conditions by which to search the
Transaction List.
4.15.2.1 Use Wildcards
Toggle the use (YES or NO) of the wildcard characters, '?' and
'*', for pattern matching purposes.
If used (YES), the '?' character will match any single
character while the '*' will match zero or more successive
characters.
If not used (NO), the Search For description will be taken
verbatim, meaning that a transaction must match all characters
exactly. You would use this if the description contained
either or both of the wildcard characters. If the Case
Sensitive option is selected, the descriptions do not
necessarily have to match verbatim, although the spelling of
both descriptions must match.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA W
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.15.2.2 Case Sensitive
Toggle the requirement (YES or NO) that for two descriptions
to match, they must both match in spelling and case.
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If required (YES), the Search For description will only match
a transaction's PAY / DESC description if both are spelled
the same and the case of each letter is the same.
If not required (NO), the Search For description will match
any transaction PAY / DESC description that is spelled the
same.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA C
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.15.2.3 Verify Replacement
Toggle the verification (YES or NO) of each replacement of
the Search For description with the Replace With description.
This option toggles off (NO) the Global Replacement option.
If verify (YES), each match will produce a request verifying
if that the current transaction should be modified.
If no verify (NO), each match will be replaced with the
Replace With description without any user intervention. This
effectively replaces all matches fairly quickly.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA V
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.15.2.4 Global Replacement
Toggle the ability (YES or NO) of replacing all transactions
in the checkbook (and not just those currently viewable in the
Transaction List) whose PAY / DESC description matches the
Replace With description without verification from the user.
This option toggles off (NO) the Verify Replacement option.
If global (YES), each match in the entire checkbook will be
replaced, without prompting of the user, and the checkbook
entries that matched will be updated.
If not global (NO), only those transactions currently
viewable in the Transaction List will be analyzed for a
matching PAY / DESC description.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA G
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.15.3 Description List Menu
This menu contains the functions available to manipulate the
current Description List.
4.15.3.1 Select
Display the Description List Requester for you to select a
phrase to be placed in either the Search For or Replace With
input field. If the cursor is currently in the Search For
input field and this function is selected, the selected
description will be placed in the Search For input field,
replacing the previous description. If the cursor is
currently in the Replace With input field and this function is
selected, the selected description will be placed in the
Replace With input field. If the cursor is not shown at all,
the selected description will be placed in the Search For
input field.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.15.4 Input Fields
The Search & Replace Requester's input fields contain the
transaction description to be located and the description to
replace any matches with.
4.15.4.1 Search For
The transaction PAY or DESC input field content to search for.
The search function is case-sensitive, which means that the
Search For description will only generate a match if it is
exactly the same as a transaction's description.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.15.4.2 Replace With
The transaction PAY or DESC description to replace any matches
with.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
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4.16 Selected Budgets Requester
This requester defines the budgeted check transactions to view,
based on selecting the budget categories to which check
transactions can be distributed.
4.16.1 Budget Menu
This menu contains the requester's controls, Okay and Cancel,
and the entire list selection controls, All and None.
4.16.1.1 Okay
Accept the currently selected (shown in RED) budgets. The
check transactions budgeted (in whole or partially) to at
least one of these selected budgets will be viewable in the
Main Screen Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.16.1.2 All
Select (using RED text) all of the budgets in the current
Budget List. This effectively chooses all budgeted check
transactions for viewing.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.16.1.3 None
Unselect (using BLACK text) all the selected budgets
(previously shown in RED). This effectively ignores all
budgeted check transactions from viewing.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA O
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.16.1.4 Cancel
Terminate the selection of budgets. Unlike other Cancel
function, this one saves all changes made to the Budget
List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.17 Sort Criteria Requester
This requester selects the field by which the selected transactions
will be sorted. Only one of the three fields (sort criteria) may
be selected at a time, which means that the Transaction List can
only be sorted based on only one of the three fields. The sorted
order of the Transaction List is not permanent, but the sort
criteria (the field by which to sort the List) is saved in the
the checkbook file.
4.17.1 Sort Criteria Menu
This menu contains the requester's controls, Okay and Cancel.
4.17.1.1 Okay
Accept the currently selected field for the sorting process.
The selected transactions will be ordered (numerically-
increasing) based on the contents of the selected field.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.17.1.2 Cancel
Ignore any changes made to the Sort By List and restore the
previous sort criteria.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.17.2 Sort By Menu
This menu contains the selectable fields to sort by.
4.17.2.1 Check Number
Sort the Transaction List in increasing check number order.
Non-checks are grouped (according to entered order) at the
top of the List while the sorted checks are grouped at the
end.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA C
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
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4.17.2.2 Transaction Date
Sort the Transaction List in increasing transaction date
order. Transactions with the same date are grouped together
according to their entered order. Voided checks and other
transactions which have undefined transaction date are
grouped at the top of the List.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
4.17.2.3 Cleared Date
Sort the Transaction List in increasing cleared date order.
Transactions with the same cleared date are grouped together
according to their entered order. Voided checks and other
transactions which have undefined cleared date are grouped
at the top of the list.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Radio Button
4.18 Statistics Requester
This requester displays various statistics about the current state
of the current checkbook.
The top section of the requester has a spreadsheet-type
representation of the number of entries (shown as "Entries"), the
total amount ("Total Amt"), minimum amount ("Min Amt"), maximum
amount ("Max Amt"), and average amount ("Avg Amt") for the
different types of transactions. They are listed in a similar way
to the View (Select Groups) Requester's selections.
Row 1 (All Transactions):
This row shows the statistics for all transactions in the
checkbook. The "Total Amt" field's contents are interpreted
differently from the other types of transactions in that this
amount is not the total of all the transaction's amount, but the
their total balance. This amount plus the initial deposit
amount equals the current checkbook balance. The "Min", "Max",
and "Avg" amounts, however, treated the same as the other
rows (they represent the transaction amounts and not the
balances).
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Row 2 (Viewables Only):
This row shows the statistics for the viewable transactions
only (those selected in the View (Select Groups) Requester).
Just as in Row 1, the "Total Amt" column entry is actually the
total (running) balance, minus the initial deposit, of the
viewable transactions. The other columns are interpreted
normally.
Rows 3 to 11:
These rows show the statistics for the different types of
viewable transactions (and not all transactions) in the
checkbook. The "Total Amt" column entries are treated the same
as the other column entries, in that they represent the
transaction amounts (total, min, max, and average).
The middle section contains a few miscellaneous statistics, such
as the First Used and Next Available Check Number, the number of
Entries in the Budget and Description Lists.
The bottom section contains a few Budget List statistics, such as
the Most and Least Likely budget categories to become overbudgeted
in the future. The program ignores budgets already overbudgeted
and focuses on those that haven't reached overbudget levels. If
the Budget List produces no clear Most or Least Likely budget (more
than one are equally likely), then the first budget analyzed as
such will be displayed. The current Expense Limit ("Exp Limit")
and total (in analysis period) expenses ("Curr Amt") amounts are
also shown for each budget. If the Budget List contains no
entries, then this section will be blank.
Keyboard Selection: Y; RETURN
Mouse Selection: Command Button "Okay"
4.19 Transaction Requester
This requester displays the currently selected transaction's
information.
4.19.1 Transaction Menu
This menu contains the functions available to manipulate the
current transaction's characteristics.
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4.19.1.1 Add/Update
For new transactions (menu and button labelled "Add", this
function will add the current transaction into the checkbook
as the last transaction.
For previously entered transactions (menu and button labelled
"Update", this function will update the current transaction's
information to reflect the changes and recalculate the
checkbook balance accordingly.
If a transaction is, because of its characteristics, not a
viewable transaction (as defined in the View (Select Groups)
Requester; section 4.20), it will not be displayed in the
Main Screen Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3). Although it
is still in the checkbook, it is not currently viewable.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item;
Command Buttons "Add" or "Update"
4.19.1.2 Delete
Remove the current transaction from the checkbook. This
function can only be selected for previously entered
transactions (during the update process). The checkbook
balance (section 4.1.5.4.2) will be updated accordingly.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.19.1.3 Void
Cancel the usage of a check transaction. A voided check
cannot be further edited, although it can be deleted from the
checkbook. Voided checks are defined as being "outstanding"
(not cleared).
This function is irreversible (no way to un-void a check).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA V
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
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4.19.1.4 Tax
Toggle the labelling (YES or NO) of the current transaction
as either being tax deductible or used for tax purposes.
If selected (YES), the transaction entry in the Transaction
List (section 4.1.5.3) will contain a 'T' under the 'T' column
(which signifies a transaction as being tax deductible or used
for tax purposes).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA T
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.19.1.5 Budget
Allow the check transaction's amount to be distributed across
several (maximum of 99) budgets. The Budget Distribution
Requester (section 4.5) will be displayed for the definition
of this check's budget distribution list.
The number of budget distributions for the current transaction
is displayed in parentheses to the right of the "Budget"
button (between the "IN"/"OUT" designation and the PREV/NEXT
buttons).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA B
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.19.1.6 Previous
Move to the previous transaction in the Transaction List
(section 4.1.5.3) without having to exit the current
transaction and double-click on the previous entry in the
Transaction List. If the current transaction is the first
transaction in the Transaction List, then this function cannot
be selected. This function can only be selected for
previously entered transactions (during the update process).
If the current transaction has been modified, selecting this
function will not replace the old information with the new
information (except for changes made to the budget
distribution list). To save all changes, select the Update
function.
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If the Transaction Requester is not properly drawn (as can be
the case when using the Keyboard Selection), select the Main
Screen (which unselect the Transaction Requester), then
reselect the Transaction Requester. This procedure should
properly display the current transaction's information.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA <
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; UP ARROW Button
4.19.1.7 Next
Move to the next transaction in the Transaction List
(section 4.1.5.3) without having to exit the current
transaction and double-click on the next entry in the
Transaction List. If the current transaction is the last
transaction in the Transaction List, then this function cannot
be selected. This function can only be selected for
previously entered transactions (during the update process).
If the current transaction has been modified, selecting this
function will not replace the old information with the new
information (except for changes made to the budget
distribution list). To save all changes, select the Update
function.
If the Transaction Requester is not properly drawn (as can be
the case when using the Keyboard Selection), select the Main
Screen (which unselect the Transaction Requester), then
reselect the Transaction Requester. This procedure should
properly display the current transaction's information.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA >
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; DOWN ARROW Button
4.19.1.8 Cancel
Terminate the current editing session. If Batch Mode is ON
(section 4.1.2.5), selecting Cancel will exit Batch Mode
processing without changing the Batch Mode status.
For new transactions, this function does not enter the current
transaction into the checkbook.
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For previously entered transactions, this function ignores any
changes made during the current editing session (except those
made to the transaction's budget distribution list which are
preserved) and restores the previous information.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.19.2 Description List Menu
This menu contains the functions available to manipulate the
current Description List.
4.19.2.1 Select
Display the Description List Requester for you to select a
phrase to be placed in the current transaction's PAY/DESC or
MEMO input fields. If the cursor is currently in the PAY/DESC
input field and this function is selected, the selected
description will be placed in the PAY/DESC input field,
replacing the previous description. If the cursor is
currently in the MEMO input field and this function is
selected, the selected description will be placed in the MEMO
input field. If the cursor is in any other input field or not
shown at all, the selected description will be placed in the
PAY/DESC input field.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA L
Mouse Selection: Menu Item
4.19.3 Input Fields
The Transaction Requester's input fields contain the actual
transaction data.
4.19.3.1 CHECK#
The check number is entered here. This input field is only
shown for check transaction.
FORMAT: nnnnn
a number between 1 and 99999
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4.19.3.2 DATE
The date of the transaction is entered here. This date is
used to determine if this transaction is within View Range
(section 4.20.2.11) and within the analysis period (section
4.3.2).
If the current check transaction falls within the current
analysis period, the word "IN" is displayed next to the
"Budget" button. If the check falls outside the analysis
period, the word "OUT" is displayed in the same area.
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 1/1/0100 and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
4.19.3.3 PAY / DESC
The description of the transaction is entered here.
For check transactions (labelled as "PAY"), this field should
contain the payee (to whom the check is written). It is
initialized to "CHECK", if the S:CAdefault.CAp file does not
exist. Otherwise, the description defined in the Default
Description For -- Checks input field of the Program Prefs
Requester will be used.
For non-check transactions (labelled as "DESC"), this field
will contain the word "DEBIT" (for debits), "DEPOSIT" (for
deposits), and "CREDIT" (for credits), if the S:CAdefault.CAp
file does not exist. Otherwise, the descriptions defined in
the Default Description For input fields of the Program Prefs
Requester will be used. This initial description can be
edited.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
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4.19.3.4 Amount
The dollar value of the transaction is entered here.
For check transactions, this amount is equivalent to the
amount unbudgeted (section 4.5). If a budget distribution
list currently exists and this dollar amount is edited,
causing a discrepancy with the amount unbudgeted, the program
will notify this fact. This amount can be increased without
affecting the budget distributions, but can only be decreased
by the amount currently unbudgeted before a discrepancy will
occur.
FORMAT: nnn,nnn.nn (commas not mandatory)
an amount between 0.00 and 999,999.99
4.19.3.5 MEMO
Additional information about the current transaction is
entered here. This is what would normally be written in the
second line of a transaction entry in the checkbook register
and on the MEMO line of a check.
FORMAT: Any sequence of characters (maximum of 50).
4.19.3.6 CLEARED
The date the current transaction was cleared (posted) by the
bank. This information can be found on the bank statements.
Once a transaction contains a valid cleared date, it will be
defined as being cleared. The resulting transaction entry in
the Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3) will contain a 'C'
under the 'C' column (which signifies a transaction as being
cleared).
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 'DATE' date and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
4.20 View (Select Groups) Requester
This requester defines the type of transactions, the range of
transactions (defined by their transaction dates), and the
relationship between transaction types viewable in the Main Screen
Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3).
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4.20.1 View Menu
This menu contains the requester's controls, Okay and Cancel.
4.20.1.1 Okay
Accept the current View settings. The selected transactions
will appear in the Main Screen Transaction List (section
4.1.5.3).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA Y
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.20.1.2 Cancel
Ignore any changes, except those made to the Selected
Budgets (section 4.20.2.10), and restore the previous View
settings.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA N
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Command Button
4.20.2 Select Groups Menu
This menu contains the selections of the viewable transaction
types.
4.20.2.1 ALL TRANSACTIONS
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all transactions in the
current checkbook. Selecting this option alone is equivalent
to selecting View ALL from the Main Screen Settings Menu
(section 4.1.4.1.1).
This selection locks the AND/OR button (section 4.20.2.12) to
its OR state and unselects all other View selections.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA A
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.20.2.2 Checks
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all checks, even voided
checks, in the current checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA C
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.3 Other Debits
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all other debits in the
current checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA -
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.4 Deposits
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all deposits in the current
checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA D
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.5 Other Credits
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all other credits in the
current checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA +
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.6 Voided Checks
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all voided checks
(section 4.19.1.3) in the current checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA V
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.7 Tax Deductibles
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all tax deductible (or used
for tax purposes) transactions (section 4.19.1.4) in the
current checkbook.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA T
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.20.2.8 Cleared Transactions
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all cleared (posted)
transactions (section 4.19.3.6) in the current checkbook.
This will view all transactions not falling under the
Outstanding (Not Cleared) category (section 4.20.2.9).
Voided checks are defined as outstanding (not cleared).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA E
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.9 Outstanding (Not Cleared)
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all uncleared (unposted)
transactions (section 4.19.3.6) in the current checkbook.
This will view all transactions not falling under the Cleared
Transactions category (section 4.20.2.8).
Voided checks are defined as outstanding (not cleared).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA O
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.10 Selected Budgets
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of the transactions whose
budget distribution list (sections 4.5 and 4.19.1.5)
references at least one of the chosen budget categories.
The Selected Budgets Requester (section 4.16) is displayed for
the selection of budgets.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA B
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
4.20.2.11 RANGE
Toggle the display (YES or NO) of all the transactions whose
transaction date falls between the 'from' date (section
4.20.4.1) and the 'to' date (section 4.20.4.2).
This selection is not unselected if ALL TRANSACTIONS (section
4.20.2.1) is selected. Also, it will not unselect ALL
TRANSACTIONS as other View categories can.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA R
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Check Box
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4.20.2.12 Grouping
This sub-menu (sections 4.20.2.12.1 and 4.20.2.12.2) contains
the control of the relationship among transaction types.
4.20.2.12.1 AND
Toggle the selection (YES or NO) of AND relationships
among View categories. AND grouping requires a transaction
to belong to both categories A AND B (AND C AND ...). All
categories must be satisfied before a transaction will be
viewed in the Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3).
As long as ALL TRANSACTIONS (section 4.20.2.1) is selected,
this option cannot be toggled from the OR state.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA &
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; AND/OR Button
4.20.2.12.2 OR
Toggle the selection (YES or NO) of OR relationships among
View categories. OR grouping requires a transaction to
belong to either A OR B (OR C OR ...). At least one
category must be satisfied before a transaction will be
viewed in the Transaction List (section 4.1.5.3).
As long as ALL TRANSACTIONS (section 4.20.2.1) is selected,
this option cannot be toggled from the OR state.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA |
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; AND/OR Button
4.20.3 Order Menu
This menu contains the controls over the ordering of the
entries in the Transaction List.
4.20.3.1 Entered
Order the Transaction List entries in the order they were
entered into the checkbook (or later modified by the Move
function).
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA [
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Entered Order Radio Button
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4.20.3.2 Sorted
Order the Transaction List entries according to the contents
of the Check Number, Transaction Date, and/or Cleared Date.
The Sort Criteria Requester (section 4.16) appears for you to
select the fields by which the List should be ordered.
Keyboard Selection: RIGHT-AMIGA ]
Mouse Selection: Menu Item; Sorted Order Radio Button
4.20.4 Input Fields
The View (Select Groups) Requester's input fields contain the
definition of the Range of transactions (entered as transaction
dates) to view.
4.20.4.1 from
The starting date of the range of transactions to view. To
use the earliest dated transaction in the checkbook keep this
field blank.
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 1/1/0100 date and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
4.20.4.2 to
The ending date of the range of transactions to view. To use
the latest dated transaction in the checkbook keep this field
blank.
FORMAT: MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY
any date between 'from' date and 12/31/9999
(MM/DD/YY is equivalent to MM/DD/19YY)
SHORTCUTS: Enter 's' to use the current system date.
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5. Questions and Answers
This sections contains some questions and answers regarding the
operation of Checkbook Accountant.
a. Should all transactions from a checking account be in one file?
Not necessarily. Although you can place all of a checking account's
transactions into one file, it is suggested that you make a Checkbook
Accountant checkbook file (.CAc) for each checkbook register used for
a checking account. By doing it this way, you avoid the possibility
of losing all of your information at one time or not having enough
disk space available for a very large file, which could happen if
only one file was used. Having each checkbook file correspond to a
checkbook register also makes scrolling through the Transaction List
faster; for instance, you do not need to scroll through transactions
which are one or two years old.
b. Why can't I get any on-line help for any of the Transaction (checks,
deposits, etc.) Requesters?
On-line help is available in most requesters, including the
Transaction Requester, by pressing the HELP key on the keyboard.
The only precondition is that no input field can be active (the
cursor is visible in the input field) when pressing the HELP key.
c. How can I distribute a check transaction to more than five budgets?
In version 1.0, the maximum number of distributions was 5. In 2.0,
that limit has been increased to 99.
d. When I define the RANGE of transactions to View, how do I define the
first transaction in the checkbook when I do not know the specific
date?
To define the first transaction, keep the 'RANGE from' input field
blank. This signifies to the program to use all transactions in the
checkbook up to the date defined in the 'RANGE to' date. If the
'RANGE to' date is also left blank, then the range of transactions
will be all the checkbook's transactions.
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e. If I make a mistake entering the initial deposit amount, do I have to
create a checkbook from the beginning?
No. To change the initial deposit amount, select the Information
item from the Project Menu and edit the current amount. After
selecting "Okay", the program will recalculate all the balances
using the new initial deposit amount.
f. Am I restricted to the current budget list when I'm distributing my
check transactions?
You can alter the budget list as much as you want without affecting
the check transactions, unless you delete a budget from the list
which currently has a part of a transaction distributed to it.
If you try to delete a budget "in use," the program will ask for
confirmation before continuing with the deleting. If you approve of
the deletion, all check transaction distributions which previously
used this budget will be deleted.
g. Do I have to use the '/' character when I enter dates into input
fields?
No. The program's date input routines were designed to accept any
non-numerical character as the separator character. This means that
the date, April 15, 1991, can be entered any of the following ways:
04/15/1991 <- suggested format
04/15/91 <- defaults to the 20th century (year becomes 1991)
041591 <- using no separator
04 15 91 <- using a space character separator
4 15 91 <- removing unnecessary leading zeros
4.15.91 <- entered from the 10-key keypad
4%15*91 <- yes, even this works!
4.15 <- this works if the last entered date's year was
1991.
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h. I want to use my Workbench pointer within Checkbook Accountant,
instead of the supplied pencil pointer. I know I can select the menu
item which lets me use my pointer, but I hate selecting it every time
I use the program. Is there any way to always use my pointer?
Yes. A new feature in version 2.0 is the ability to save the
Program Prefs Requester's Show, Icon Creation, User Prefs, and Auto
Desc List settings as the program's default settings (in the file
"S:CAdefault.CAp"). Now, when the program is started, it will search
for this file. If the program can find it, the default settings
will be taken from this file. Otherwise, the program's default
settings will be used.
6. General Notes
Checkbook Accountant was designed to be functional using either the
mouse or keyboard. Not all features have this duality, but most do.
Another design consideration was to include as many useful and
timesaving features into one program. For instance, you can scroll
through any list (Transaction List, Budget List, Budget Distribution
List, Description List, Reoccurring Transaction Groups List, Reoccurring
Transactions List, Help Screens) by dragging the scroll bar, using the
up/down arrow buttons, or using the cursor keys on the keyboard (along
with the CTRL, SHIFT, or ALT keys).
The HELP key is available for on-line help almost everywhere in the
program (just be sure the cursor is not active in any input field when
pressing the HELP key). An easy way of deactivating the cursor (without
using the mouse) is to hold down the SHIFT key while pressing the RETURN
key (SHIFT-RETURN).
If an amount is undefined or is equal to $0.00, the amount's input field
will be blank (although the display of the amount will show "0.00").
This is done so that you do not have to clear the field to define an
amount.
When you are entering a date into any of the date input fields, you can
leave off the year (by only using the month and day). The program will
use the last entered date's year for the currently entered date. If no
date has been previously entered (such as when the program is started),
the previous year will be the current system date's year.
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Quite a few of version 1.0 users' requests have been incorporated into
version 2.0, as the text file "CAchanges1.0-2.0.txt" can show. Version
2.0 adds new features and "user-niceties," such as the ability to Sort,
Move, and Duplicate transactions, a more informative Budget Requester,
a larger capacity for budget distributions, easier date entry, and the
removal of the initial value (0.00) in undefined amount input fields.
I hope you find that these new features and niceties make working with
Checkbook Accountant much easier.
7. Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the following people, without whom Checkbook
Accountant 2.0 could not have been completed:
Khalid Aldoseri,
for his feature-packed and easy-to-implement file
requester.
My brother,
for his encouragement and for not shutting-up when
20 million program features were not enough.
The writers of the Amiga ROM Kernel Reference Manuals,
for who made me stay up fewer sleepless nights.
Mandayam Srinivas,
for his encouragement and interest in my program.
Dave Levin,
for his bug finding and suggestions:
-- Budget Requester simplification
-- system date availability in date input fields
-- clarity of Batch Mode operation in the documentation
Dave Gitchell,
for his curiosity in my file format :) and suggestions:
-- Outstanding (Not Cleared) option in the View Requester
-- PREV/NEXT functions in the Transaction Requesters
-- compression of the checkbook and budget files
-- Quick Clear function from the Main Screen
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James Wilson,
for his encouragement, GUI suggestions and conversations, and
valuable help during the testing process:
-- User Prefs: Workbench Pointer and Workbench Colors
-- Default Program Prefs
-- Uninitialized amount fields
-- Credit/Debit sign indicator
-- Default TAX Status
-- Display last entered transactions after loading a checkbook
Darren (DMG), Brian (B.J.), Chrispy (CHRIS.P), Caleb (ACG), and the
rest of the GEnie Pro/Am RTC participants,
for their valuable help and patience with my Intuition questions,
especially the string gadget/COMMSEQ bug.
Commodorland and Century Computer Systems
for the use of their machines during the testing process.
And to all the Amiga users who have tried out the program and/or
written me comments, thank you.
8. Support
This release (version 2.0) constitutes the last major upgrade to
Checkbook Accountant for quite awhile, although support for its users
will continue. I have spent many more months than I planned or expected
adding features into the program and I feel that Checkbook Accountant
should take a rest so that I can start a new program. I am designing it
right now. Whether it will be release or not is unknown. Stay tuned...
As always, if you find any bugs in this program, especially with it
working (or not) under Release 2 of the operating system, or you have
suggestions or comments, please send EMAIL (as detailed as possible) to
either of the following addresses:
GEnie: J.ALMASOL2
Portal: jraGRAPHICS
I cannot guarantee a quick reply or bug fix, but I'll do my best.
Please include your system configuration (model, amount of memory,
other peripherals) so that I can keep track of the systems on which
Checkbook Accountant is operational.
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Checkbook Accountant 2.0 User's Manual Release Date: 7/ 4/91
9. Trademarks
AmigaDOS 1.3, AmigaDOS Release 2, Kickstart, Workbench, A500, A1000,
A2000, A2500, and A3000 are all trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc.
.----------------------------------------------------------.
| The executable program, CA, and its support files are |
| released as freely distributable. You may upload this |
| package to other bulletin boards or include it on user |
| group disks, but no fees can be charged for the package's|
| transfer (other than media cost) nor can the individual |
| files be separated from the package or altered in any |
| way during distribution. |
`----------------------------------------------------------'
Checkbook Accountant 2.0
Copyright (c) 1990,1991 Jeffrey R. Almasol.
All Rights Reserved.
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