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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #1021)
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Information about “PC-BILLMASTER”
PC-BILL MASTER manages your checkbook for you. It was written because
the author needed a system that was easy to use, had a regular checkbook
register type display, and could handle recurring payments.
PC-BILL MASTER features:
~ Familiar easy-to-use register type display
~ Ability to enter items as posted (immediately balanced) or unposted
(totaled into an unposted balance)
~ Ability to merge multiple checkbooks
~ Easy bank statement balancing
~ Retrieval of items from all checkbooks on disk, with reports
displayed, filed, or printed
~ A search capability based on the contents of any field including a
partial string search
~ Up to 500 items per check register with an unlimited number of
registers
~ Up to 100 ledger account codes and titles.
BMASTER.DOC
PC-BILL MASTER USER'S GUIDE
Version 3.02
copyright 1989 by John Davis
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
INTRODUCTION
PC-BILL MASTER is, plain and simple, a system that manages your checkbook
for you. PC-BILL MASTER was written because the author wanted a system that
was easy to use, had a regular checkbook register type display and could
handle recurring payments. Many other public domain and shareware programs
were examined before development was begun, but none met the author's needs
exactly.
Some features of PC-BILL MASTER -
- Familiar easy to use register type display.
- Ability to enter items as posted (immediately effecting.
the balance) or unposted future items (totaled into
an unposted balance).
- Ability to merge multiple checkbooks, recurring payments can be
maintained in one checkbook as unposted items and merged into
the main checkbook when desired.
- Easy bank statement balancing.
- Reporting capability that allows retrieval of items from
current checkbook or all checkbooks on disk, reports displayed
on screen or sent to printer.
- Reports use a search capability that allows retrieval of
items based upon the contents of any field including a partial
string search; items retrieved are also totaled.
- Up to 500 items per check register with an unlimited
number of separate registers.
- Up to 100 ledger account codes and titles.
SHAREWARE
PC-BILL MASTER is being marketed under a unique scheme known as shareware.
This software is not public domain and is fully protected by all federal
copyright laws. You are encouraged to make copies of PC-BILL MASTER and
distribute them to anyone that you wish. The only stipulation for making
copies is that you do not charge for making copies (except for the cost of
copying and distribution) and you copy all files on the disk. If you found
PC-BILL MASTER to be usefull and plan to continue using it; it is to your
benefit that you register your copy. By registering your copy of PC-BILL
MASTER you let the author know that there is enough interest in the program to
make future enhancements and changes. In addition, as a registered user you
will be entitled to receive future versions for the cost of distribution
(currently $5.00).
To register your copy of PC-BILL MASTER, send $25.00 along with your name and
address to (a handy form has been supplied on the disk for your use) -
John Davis
1011 Brookgreen Dr.
Cary, N.C. 27511
CHANGES IN VERSION 3.02 OF PC-BILL MASTER (April 1989)
- The last item of the Utilities Menu now provides for the printing of all
account codes and titles on a printer as well as displaying on the
screen.
- All print routines now print 60 lines per page and then send a form feed
to the printer and reprint the page headings.
- A bug was fixed in the program which would not allow check numbers to be
changed.
CHANGES IN VERSION 3.01 OF PC-BILL MASTER (March 1989)
- A new display is now included which will present all 100 account codes
and titles. This display is accessed via the last item on the Utilities
Menu.
- Several "bugs" fixed including
- A blank type field is now changed to type "C".
- A blank posted field is now changed to "N".
- Non-posted items are now excluded when computing the statement
balance in the statement routine.
CHANGES IN VERSION 3.00 OF PC-BILL MASTER (February 1989)
- Streamlined menus and operation, only one program module is now needed -
BMASTER.EXE. The functions of the payments module have been incorporated
into the main module.
- Delete key will now delete any item; posted or unposted.
- Insert key gives option for adding at end or after current record.
- The Search function (function key 6) has been renamed Reports. Items can
be selected from current checkbook or all checkbooks on disk. Items
selected can either be displayed on screen or sent to printer (LPT1).
Alternatively, pressing the print key displays the print function also.
- Date and posted fields are automatically duplicated from previous entry.
- Changing check number to 0 on item entry, does not change the check
number that is duplicated for next entry. This is especially usefull for
entering service charges, teller machine transactions, etc.
- Checkbooks can now be merged. This is usefull for handling recurring
payments. One checkbook can contain all recurring payments for a month
as unposted items. At the beginning of each month, the amounts of the
items can be changed for that months bills. The payments checkbook can
then be merged to the end of the regular checkbook and the items posted
as they are paid.
- Checkbooks can now be selected from a menu rather than having to key the
name into a field.
- Pressing F10 saves the checkbook and exits you directly to DOS, rather
than the main menu.
FILES ON DISK
README - Any last minute changes to the documentation
BMASTER.DOC - This documentation
BMASTER.EXE - PC-BILL MASTER program module
REG.FRM - PC-BILL MASTE registration form
TO USE PC-BILL MASTER
1) Boot DOS,
2) Insert PC-BILL MASTER program disk into disk drive,
3) Type "BMASTER" and PC-BILL MASTER will begin execution.
Alternatively type "BMASTER /Q" to avoid the opening credits screen.
A NOTE ABOUT MENUS
A number of different menus appear within PC-BILL MASTER. When a menu
appears, to highlight a menu item, simply press the up or down arrow. To
select the highlighted menu item, press the enter key. To exit from the
menu, either select the last menu item or press the escape key.
PC-BILL MASTER MAIN MENU
After the program loads and displays a credit's screen you will be presented
with the main menu. From this menu you can load the default checkbook,
specify a checkbook to load, specify the default checkbook or exit PC-BILL
MASTER. It is important that you always exit PC-BILL MASTER
by using this option rather than simply turning off your machine, as
PC-BILL MASTER rewrites the configuration file while executing the last
option.
PC-BILL MASTER CHECKBOOK
The first option on the main menu is to access the default checkbook. If this
is the first time you have executed PC-BILL MASTER, an empty checkbook will be
created for you. At the top of the screen on the very first line will be
the account name and also the checkbook file name. On the next line the
current account balance will appear; as will the total of all unposted
items and the unposted balace (current account balance plus unposted items).
Next the bottom most portion of the register will appear, with the last
posted item in the checkbook being the last item on the screen. To scroll
through the register simply press the up and down arrow keys. As scrolling
takes place the current item appears highlighted. To scroll backwards and
forwards a screen within the register press pgup and pgdown. To go to the
beginning of the register press home and to go to the end of the register
press end.
PC-BILL MASTER actually uses two different types of displays. The initial
display is the previously mentioned register display. If you press the
escape key, the item display appears. The item display shows one item on
the screen at a time, but at a greater level of detail. Where certain
fields in the register display might have to be truncated, the item display
shows the entire field. In addition, the item display gives a list of
account codes and titles that are currently being used. The item
positioning keys mentioned previously (up and down arrows, pgup, pgdown,
home and end) work identically on the item display as they do on the
register display. To return back to the register display from the item
display simply press escape.
At the bottom of either display appears a list of function keys that
perform certain commands. Before describing the function keys however I
wish to describe the various fields associated with each item on the
screen.
FIELD DESCRIPTION
----- -----------
Date Contains the date of the item, when entering if you
press enter without keying anything the current
date is taken as the default. It is advised that dates be
entered as MM/DD/YY. That way you can do a search based
upon MM and retrieve an entire months records.
Type "C" for check, "D" for deposit.
Number Sequential check number for the item, when entering
if you press enter without keying anything the previous
number is incremented automatically by 1.
Payee Payee for the item.
Amount Amount of the item.
Memo Memo for the item.
Code Ledger account code from 00 to 99.
Code Title Appears to right of code on item display, does not
appear on the register display. When adding a new
item if the code has not been used before you will
be prompted to enter a new title if desired, titles
are optional though.
Flag Can be used for any reason needed, for example
a value of "T" could be used to flag tax deductions.
Posted "Y" means item is posted, while "N" means item is
unposted.
Clear "Y" means item has cleared bank, while " " means item
has not cleared.
Balance Account balance when item was posted, note - this is
not necessarily the current balance, it is only
the current balance at the point the item is posted.
It should be noted that regardless of which display is on the screen, the
above fields for each item will be present; except for code title which
appears only on the item display.
The following is a list of all function keys that perform certain commands
in PC-BILL MASTER. The function keys work identically from both item and
register displays.
FUNCTION KEY DESCRIPTION
------------ -----------
F1 Displays a help screen.
F2 Enter a new item. A blank item display will appear.
You should then key values followed by the enter key
for each field on the screen. By pressing enter
without keying a value within a field, the default
value for the field will be taken. During entry (or
changing) of an item, you can press the up and down arrows
to position you at a field. If the field already
has a value, the cursor will appear at the end of the
value. Press backspace to delete the field and reenter or
change the value as needed. To exit from entry (or change)
mode, press the escape key. The entry (or change)
menu will then appear. From this menu you can choose
to accept the entry as keyed, abort the entry or
to return to entry mode. You are also given the option of
adding the item to the end of the checkbook or inserting
the item after the current record.
F3 Change current item. You can change any field except
for three exceptions. First you can not change the
amount for a posted item. Also you can not change
the posted field itself. Nor can you change the
type field.
F4 Delete current item.
F5 Post current item. The current item can only
be posted if it is unposted. When posting occurs
the posted field is changed to "Y", the current
balance is changed to reflect the amount change,
the balance field on the item is updated and
the item is removed from the unposted items
total. In addition, if the posted item had a
blank date, the last keyed date is entered as the
item date and the check number is incremented
by one and entered as the item check number.
Note, once an item is posted it can
not be unposted. If you have made an error
you will have to add a new item reflecting
the correction amount.
F6 Print reports. Search can be performed on most
of the fields on the item display. The search is
of the "AND" type meaning that if you have
search values entered into two fields both searches
have to be true for the item to be selected. A partial
string search is allowed on all string type fields.
For example to select all items entered during the
month of November, simply key "11" in the date
field. Note, the up and down arrow keys will position
you at a field just like in enter and change mode.
Once you have entered the search criteria, press the
escape key and the search will begin. You will next be
prompted if the search is to be performed on the current
checkbook or all checkbooks on the disk. You will also be
prompted if the results are to be displayed on the screen
or sent to the printer. The PRINT key serves a similar
function except the output is only sent to the printer and
printing occurs for all items beginning at the current
record.
F7 Mark item as having cleared bank. This function key
is used when you balance your bank statement. By
positioning an item as the current item and pressing
this function key, the item will be marked as cleared.
A "Y" will appear in the cleared field on the screen.
A subsequent press of this function key will erase the
"Y". After you have marked all the items that have
cleared on your statement, press function key 8
to display the statement balance.
F8 Displays statement balance for use in bank
reconciliation. After you have marked all items as
cleared you should enter any bank charges that appear
on your bank statement. The charges should be entered
as posted and also be marked as having cleared the
bank. Function key 8 will then compute a statement
balance which should match the balance that
appears on your bank statement.
F9 Utilities menu. Will be explained below.
F10 Save checkbook and exit PC-BILL MASTER.
UTILITIES MENU
Function key 9 will display the utilities menu. The various menu
selections appear below.
MENU SELECTION DESCRIPTION
-------------- -----------
Registration Information Displays information on how to register your
copy of PC-BILL MASTER.
Merge Two Checkbooks Loads to the current checkbook all items from
another checkbook. This function is very
valuable for handling recurring payments.
Display Checkbook Menu Displays a checkbook menu that is similar to the
opening main menu. The current checkbook is
saved before any additional actions take place.
Set Screen Colors You can change colors for normal text,
highlighted text and the background. Your
color changes are automatically saved when
the configuration file is written to disk.
Change Account Name Allows you to change the account name of
the currently loaded checkbook. This does
not change the disk file name only the
name that appears at the top of the
register screen. To change the disk file
name use the DOS rename command. Note though
that all checkbook files must end with
a ".REG" suffix.
Change Accout Balance Allows you to change the current balance
of the currently loaded checkbook.
Zero Amounts Does just as it says, this is a very
powerful function and should be used
very carefully. I use it to zero the amounts in
my recurring payments checkbook at the beginning
of each month, before entering the amounts for
the new month.
Update Account Titles Allows you to update any of the
account titles. Use the up and down arrows
to position the account code desired. Then
either enter or change the title as
needed. Press escape to return to the menu.
Displays/Prints Titles This option allows the user to display on the
screen or print to the printer ALL account codes
and titles.
FINALLY
I hope you find PC-BILL MASTER to be as usefull to you as I have found it
to be myself. I would encourage you to register your copy of PC-BILL
MASTER. The main advantage to registering is that you will be notified when
future versions are available and have the opportunity to acquire future
versions for a small distribution charge (currently $5.00). If enough people
register version 3.02, additional versions will be forthcoming. Some
changes I have been thinking about include an interface to Lotus 1-2-3 and a
check writing function.
Finally I would like to bring to your attention a new shareware program that I
have developed. It is called "I FOUND IT". It is a database program written
specifically for the home and small business. You would have to look far and
wide to find an easier to use database program. It's appearance is very
similar to PC-BILL MASTER. It includes both table and record views of your
data, a powerfull search facility and reports in either record, labels or
tabular report format. Reports can be printed for all records in the file or
selected via a search criteria. Tabular reports include a facility for
printing totals if desired. The database is composed of 19 fields with each
field being of any length up to 70 characters. Fields can be given any field
names desired by the user. "I FOUND IT" is available now, with a registration
fee of $20.00. If you would like a copy, send me $20.00 along with your name
and address and I will send you a copy.
John Davis
1011 Brookgreen Dr.
Cary, N.C. 27511
STATEMENT OF WARRANTY AND LIABILITY
The author makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including
without limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a
particular purpose. The author shall not be liable for any damages, whether
direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from a failure of this
program to operate in the manner desired by the user. In addition, the
author shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may be
caused directly or indirectly by use of the program.
IN NO EVENT WILL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST
PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY
OTHER PARTY.
FILE1021.TXT
Disk No: 1021
Program Title: PC-BILL MASTER version 3.02
PC-SIG version: 1.5
PC-BILL MASTER is, plain and simple, a system that manages your
checkbook for you. PC-BILL MASTER was written because the author wanted
a system that was easy to use, had a regular checkbook register type
display and could handle recurring payments. Many other public domain
and shareware programs were examined before development was begun, but
none met the author's needs exactly.
Some features of PC-BILL MASTER
o Familiar easy to use register type display.
o Ability to enter items as posted (immediately effecting.
the balance) or unposted future items (totaled into
an unposted balance).
o Ability to merge multiple checkbooks, recurring payments can be
maintained in one checkbook as unposted items and merged into
the main checkbook when desired.
o Easy bank statement balancing.
o Reporting capability that allows retrieval of items from
current checkbook or all checkbooks on disk, reports displayed
on screen or sent to printer.
o Reports use a search capability that allows retrieval of
items based upon the contents of any field including a partial
string search; items retrieved are also totaled.
o Up to 500 items per check register with an unlimited
number of separate registers.
o Up to 100 ledger account codes and titles.
Usage: Checkbook Balancing
Special Requirements: None.
How to Start: Type GO (press enter).
Suggested Registration: $25.00
File Descriptions:
BMASTER DOC Program Documentation.
REG FRM Registration form.
BMASTER EXE Main program.
README Information file from the author.
PC-SIG
1030D E Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1987,88,89 PC-SIG, Inc.
GO.TXT
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ <<<< Disk #1021 PC-BILL MASTER >>>> ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ To copy the documentation on your printer, Type: ║
║ MANUAL (press enter) ║
║ ║
║ To start the program, type: BMASTER (press enter) ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #1021
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
BMASTER DOC 21499 1-01-80 12:34a
BMASTER EXE 106369 4-02-89 12:58a
FILE1021 TXT 1849 4-26-89 9:42a
GO BAT 38 1-18-88 1:38p
GO TXT 617 3-27-89 11:46a
MANUAL BAT 147 3-27-89 11:46a
README 956 1-01-80 12:32a
REG FRM 819 1-01-80 12:35a
8 file(s) 132294 bytes
26112 bytes free