Big Blue Disk 52/bbd52.zip/CHXTRX.HLP

Text File | 1990-11-13 | 18KB | 431 lines

                C h e c k   T r a c k e r
                     Program  Manual

Check  Tracker  is  a  powerful and friendly program that
will  maintain  your  personal  checking account(s).  You
can  maintain  up to 100 different checking accounts at a
time, with up to 10,000 transactions per account!

Although  small  businesses,  clubs, etc. would find this
program  ideal,  the  focus  is  on the personal checking
account  user.   The checking account screen display even
looks  like  your personal checkbook register as you work
with   it.    All   calculations,   however--   including
reconciling--  are done for you automatically and without
errors!
                   Program Requirements

Check  Tracker  requires  a  Color Graphics Adaptor, 256k
RAM, and DOS 2.1 or greater to run.

Check  Tracker  can be run from a floppy disk system, but
memory   space  available  for  data  would  be  somewhat
limited.   A  floppy  disk  can  be  used  as a data disk
within a hard disk setup, but with the same limitations.

A  hard  disk  is  strongly  recommended  for its storage
potential  and  speed, and a printer (dot-matrix or laser
preferred,  but  not  required)  is needed, of course, to
take advantage of the printing options.

                     Program Features

Check  Tracker  now  supports  a mouse!  Also, a context-
sensitive  help  screen/scrollable  manual  and  a quick-
select  help  index  are  always  available  for  on-line
viewing or printing through the <F1> key.

The  <Esc>  key is always available to abort any process,
return you to a previous point, or quit the program.

A  sudden, unexpected power loss during program execution
causes  no loss of new data, because all file changes are
written  to  the  disk  immediately,  rather than waiting
until  the end of the program to update the files as many
other  programs  do.   Also,  data  files  are always re-
sorted  and  re-packed  on  the  spot  whenever  any file
record  is  changed  or  deleted.   All  sub-listing  and
indexing  is  done with dynamic-array pointers in memory,
so no temporary physical files clutter the disk.

A  "button"  at  the bottom of the screen often indicates
that  the  <Up Arrow>/<Down Arrow> keys are available for
various  cursor  functions.   Also  note that the <Home>,
<End>,  <PageUp>, <PageDown> and <SpaceBar> keys can also
be used to cursor quickly and intuitively.

Pop-up  windows  and "3-D" effect shadowed boxes are used
throughout the program in a visually appealing manner.

The  "point  &  shoot"  selection method is available for
most   program   choices.   Also,  Check  Tracker  always
remembers  your  previous  choices  and program path, and
offers  those same choices and paths in subsequent visits
to that portion of the program.

A   consistent  screen  format  is  used  throughout  the
program.   The  header,  or  top, box indicates where you
are  in  the program.  A "button" at the top right corner
of  the  screen  reminds  you  that  help is just an <F1>
touch  away.   The  bottom  of  the  screen  will contain
various  other buttons of information that always let you
know what your options are at any particular point.

User  input  boxes are word-processor capable, with arrow
cursoring,  insert/overtype/delete functions, etc.  Also,
user  input  boxes  are usually presented with a "default
entry"  already  typed  in,  based  on the program's best
guess  of  what you would probably want to enter.  If you
don't  like  the  default entry, simply start typing from
the  left-most position in the input box, and the default
entry  will  instantly  disappear at the first keystroke.
If  you  wish, however, you may edit the default entry so
long  as  you  begin  editing  at  any character position
other than the left-most position.

Check  Tracker  is also very friendly about date entries.
You  simply  enter  a month number, date number, and year
(optional),  separated  by  a  slash,  dash,  period,  or
comma.   If  you  don't enter a year, the current year is
assumed.   Check Tracker then restructures the entry into
a more readable form for you.

Finally,  a  special  and  very  friendly entry method is
used  for  entering  dollar  amounts:   You just type the
numbers,  and  Check  Tracker  manages  the  dollar sign,
commas,  and  decimal  place  for you!  The amount "fills
in"  from  right  to left, re-formatting as you enter the
numbers.   To enter $234.56, for example, you simply type
"23456"--   Check  Tracker  takes  care of the rest.  Use
the <BackSpace> key to correct amount entry errors.

                  Starting Check Tracker

To  start,  type "ChxTrx" at the DOS prompt and press the
<Enter>  key.  You first see the Title Page, and then the
Account   Index  Screen.   In  this  screen,  "3x5  card"
summaries  of  all  checking  accounts  in  the index are
displayed  one at a time.  Note that one of the fields on
every card is called the "DOS Password" field.

Check  Tracker has a special program start-up option that
allows  you  to  bypass  the  Account Index Screen and go
directly  to  any checking register you wish to see.  You
do  this  at  the DOS prompt by typing "ChxTrx", a space,
and  any  part  of  the "DOS Password" entry found on the
3x5  card  summary  of the register you're interested in.
See  the  below  example of how to take advantage of this
feature:

Let's  say  you  add  a  checking account to your account
index  and, in the "DOS Password" field, you type "JOHN's
normal  checking  account".   At  any later time when you
start the program, you can type, for instance,

                   chxtrx john's normal

at  the  DOS  prompt,  and  press the <Enter> key.  After
displaying  the  Title  Page,  Check  Tracker  internally
searches  the "DOS Password" field of all the accounts in
the  index  for  a  case-insensitive partial match on the
command  line  parameter  "john's normal".  If it finds a
match  (as  it  would  it  this example), it bypasses the
Account  Index  Screen  and goes directly to the register
of   that   particular   checking  account.   This  is  a
practical  and  convenient  time-saver  if you access one
particular checking account most of the time.

Note  that  the  above example implies that Check Tracker
will  find  a  match of partial phrases.  For example, it
would  have  also  found  a match in the above example if
you  had entered "john", or "ormal", or even "S NO" after
typing  "ChxTrx"  at  the  DOS  prompt.  Any command line
parameter  that matches any part of the password for that
checking   account,  in  upper  or  lower  case  (or  any
combination) will trigger a match.


                 The Account Index Screen

After  displaying  the Title Page, Check Tracker presents
the  Account  Index  Screen.  A basic information summary
of  each  account  is  displayed  one at a time on a "3x5
card"  as  you  scan  through  the index with your cursor
keys. From this point, you can:

<Enter>   Select the current 3x5 card summary to display
          that particular checking account register
  <Ins>   Add an account to the index
   <F4>   Modify the displayed account information
  <Del>   Remove the displayed account from the index
  <Esc>   Quit the program

                    Adding an Account

Choosing  this  option  allows  you  to  add  a  checking
account  to the Account Index.  Cursor through the fields
and  enter  the  information.  The only required entry is
the  "Name"  field,  because it is used to alphabetically
insert the new entry into the Account Index.

As  you  highlight  each  field,  a  "hint line" box will
display  a  brief explanation and/or suggestion(s) of the
information being sought.

When  you are finished and ready to accept the new entry,
just press the <F10> key.

                   Modifying an Account

You  may edit the basic information of any account at any
time.   Simply  display  the  account on the 3x5 card and
press  the <F4> key.  A screen format similar to the "Add
Account"  format  will  appear  with hint lines to assist
you  in  your  editing.   The  previous  field  data  are
available  as  default  entries  for quick and convenient
editing.  Press the <F10> key to accept the changes.

Note  again  that  the  input  boxes  are  word-processor
capable.   You  can  use the various cursor keys, and the
<Ins>/<Del>/<BackSpace>  keys  for  fully functional word
processing.

                   Deleting an Account

You  may  delete an account from the Account Index at any
time.   Display  the  account  on  the  3x5 card and then
press the <Del> key.

As  a  safeguard,  Check  Tracker will beep and a caution
box  will  pop  up  advising  you of the proposed action,
asking  you  to  confirm  your  wishes  by typing the "y"
key.   Upon confirmation, the account will be permanently
deleted from the Account Index.

If  you  change  your  mind, or inadvertently pressed the
<Del> key, just press the "n" key to abort the action.

               The Checking Account Screen

The  Checking Account Screen provides you with a "window"
through  which  you  can  browse and view the register of
that  checking  account's  transactions.   At this point,
you can:

  <Ins>   Add a transaction to the account
   <F4>   Modify the highlighted transaction
  <Del>   Delete the highlighted transaction
   <F6>   Void the highlighted transaction
  <Tab>   Clear/Unclear the highlighted transaction
   <F2>   Account Options (Print, Search, & Reconcile)
  <Esc>   Return to the Account Index

Note  that  the  Checking  Account  Screen  also displays
several  items  of  practical  information.   The current
balance  is  always displayed, no matter what part of the
register  you're  examining.   A "-- of --" indicator box
tells  you  how  many total transactions are currently in
this  account,  and  lets you know "where you are" within
the  transaction  list  when  you  are browsing through a
large register.

In  the  "Amount"  column, the amounts are color coded so
you can distinguish debit/credit entries at a glance.

                   Adding a Transaction

Pressing  the  <Ins>  key  pops  up  a "New Entry" box in
which  you  are  provided  fields  to enter the necessary
"New  entry"  data.   At any time during entry, the <Esc>
key will allow you to abort the new entry.

When  all of the "New Entry" fields have been filled, the
new  entry  is chronologically inserted into the checking
account  register.   If  necessary, intermediate balances
are instantly updated.

The   "New  Entry"  box  contains  the  following  fields
described below:

Date:

The  date  is  entered  first,  and Check Tracker is very
forgiving  as  to how you enter it.  For instance, if you
enter  "6,21"  it will know that you meant "06-21-90" and
the  entry  will be restructured for you (if you omit the
year  portion,  the  current  year is assumed).  The only
restriction  is  that you must enter a date that is equal
to  or  later  than  the  starting date for that checking
account.


Feel  free  to  experiment  with the date entry field and
discover how friendly and accommodating it is!

Type:

For  "Type  Entry",  you  are  presented  with a "point &
shoot"  box  of  choices.  "Ck #" is your first choice on
the  list,  and is meant to be used when you are entering
a  normal  check.  If you select this choice, you will be
presented  with  an  input  box  where  you can enter the
check number (up to four digits long).

The  other choices represent regular situations that most
people  encounter,  such  as "CASH" for a cash withdrawal
from  an  Automatic  Banking  Machine, "SERV" for monthly
service  charges,  etc.   If  you  select  any  of  these
choices, the entry is automatically typed in for you.

Description:

A  description  field  is provided for any description or
comment  you  want to make regarding the new entry.  If a
"ChxTrx.Lst"  text  file  is  found  at program start-up,
Check  Tracker  uses  it  by popping up a window with the
contents  of  "ChxTrx.Lst"  listed  as  choices  you  can
select  for  this  field.  The first choice in the window
is  always  a  blank line that you may select in case you
don't   want   to   use   any   of  the  listed  choices.
"ChxTrx.Lst"  is  a  plain  Ascii  text  file meant to be
custom-written  by  you,  and I strongly encourage you to
take  advantage  of its features.  Up to 15 entries of 37
characters each are allowed in the list.

Amount:

Here  you  can  enter  any  amount-- up to $100,000-- per
transaction.   As  mentioned  earlier, the user input box
for  amounts  is  very friendly:  Just enter the numbers,
and  Check Tracker handles all the related punctuation as
you  type.  Some amount must be entered; that is, a $0.00
entry won't be accepted for a transaction.

Upon  pressing  the  <Enter> key, Check Tracker processes
the  new  entry  and  returns you to the Checking Account
Screen  with  the  new  entry  highlighted,  all balances
adjusted, and all information boxes updated.


                 Modifying a Transaction

If  you  highlight  a transaction and press the <F4> key,
Check  Tracker presents you with a series of pop-up boxes
and  "point & shoot" choices to guide you in changing the
date, description, or amount of that transaction.

If  you change the date or the amount, the transaction is
re-sorted   chronologically   in   the  checking  account
register and/or the intermediate balances are adjusted.

Note  that  you cannot modify the first "Top of Register"
entry, nor any transactions that have been voided.


                  Deleting a Transaction

If  you  highlight a transaction and press the <Del> key,
Check  Tracker  will  beep  and a caution box will pop up
advising  you  of  the  proposed  action,  asking  you to
confirm   your  wishes  by  typing  the  "y"  key.   Upon
confirmation,   the   highlighted   transaction  will  be
permanently deleted from the checking account register.

If  you  change  your  mind, or inadvertently pressed the
<Del>  key,  just  press  the "n" key to abort the action
and  safely  return to the checking account register with
no harm done.


                  Voiding a Transaction

Check  Tracker  will  allow  you  to  VOID  a highlighted
transaction   without   deleting  it  from  the  checking
account  register.  If  you  press  the  <F6>  key, Check
Tracker  will  beep  and display a caution box asking you
to  confirm  your wishes.  If you type "y", "VOIDED" will
be  inserted  in the description field, the entry will be
"cleared"  (see  below),  the  amount will be zeroed, and
all intermediate balances will be adjusted as necessary.

Be   careful   with   this   feature--   Once  voided,  a
transaction  cannot be modified or uncleared; it can only
be deleted entirely from the checking account register.

                  Clearing a Transaction

You  can  use  the <Tab> key on a highlighted transaction
to  show  that  it  has cleared the bank.  When you press
the  <Tab>  key, a "*" symbol is added to the left of the
`Type'  data  as  a  visual indicator for you, and a flag
indicator   for   the   program.    The   highlight   bar
automatically advances one row to the next transaction.

Note  that the <Tab> key is a toggle switch, and can also
"unclear" a previously cleared transaction.

This  function  will not operate on the "Top of Register"
entry, nor on any transaction that has been voided.

              Printing the Checking Account

If  you  press  the  <F2>  key (Account Options) and then
select  "Print  the  Account", Check Tracker will present
you with a choice of printing:

     *  The whole account, or

     *  A sub-list of the account defined by
        beginning and ending transaction dates.

If  you  designate  dates  that  don't  exist  within the
checking  account, Check Tracker will print all inclusive
dates.

              Searching the Checking Account

If  you  press the <F2> key and then select this powerful
option,  Check  Tracker presents a series of pop-up boxes
that  guide  you  through a tangle of choices to define a
search  of your checking account.  You can compile a sub-
list  of  transactions based on a certain Date, a certain
Month/Year,  a  given  Year, the Type of transaction, the
Description,   or   any   Amount   entry.    Searches  by
Description are case-insensitive and may be partial.

Once  compiled,  the  sub-list  is  displayed  and may be
printed.   The  number of matching transactions and total
debit/credit  amounts of the sub-list are also displayed.

             Reconciling the Checking Account

When  you  receive  your monthly banking statement, press
the  <F2>  key  and  then select this feature.  A special
sub-list   of  uncleared  transactions will be displayed,
along with an "Adjusted Balance" box.

Go  through  the  sub-list  and  clear those transactions
(with  the  <Tab>  key) that your banking statement shows
as  cleared.  Note that when you clear a transaction, the
"Adjusted  Balance"  amount  changes appropriately.  When
you  are  finished,  the "Adjusted Balance" amount should
agree  with  the  current  balance  amount  on  your bank
statement.  Reconciling has never been easier!


                  Quitting Check Tracker




Choosing  the  <Esc>  key  from  the Account Index screen
will  pop up a box that asks you to confirm that you wish
to quit Check Tracker by pressing the "y" key.

If  you  change  your  mind, or inadvertently pressed the
<Esc>  key,  you  can  press the "n" key to return to the
Account Index.


    End of    C h e c k   T r a c k e r    Help Screen