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Information about “EXCHEQUER”
This checkbook program is designed primarily for home users and small
businesses wishing to automate and simplify the process of paying their
bills.
EXCHEQUER avoids the complexities of most small accounting
programs, yet provides many features which support small business
accounting. It also offers powerful and flexible reporting
capabilities. Any part of the check register can be printed in
chronological order, sorted by category, or sorted by payee. You can
list all transactions in a single category or to/from a single party.
EXCHEQUER even prints an income statement, and any report can be sent to
a printer, the screen, or a file.
Features:
~ Pay all of your regular monthly bills with one keystroke per check
~ Looks and works just like a regular checkbook register
~ Works with virtually all types of continuous-feed checks
~ Supports an unlimited number of accounts
~ Store up to 4000 transactions
~ Assign each transaction to one of 255 user-defined categories.
Reporting functions allow the user to sort the check register by
category, making tax preparation a breeze!
~ Offers 10 different report types which facilitate record keeping and
expense analysis
~ Handle transaction amounts up to $99,999.99 and register balances up
to $999,999.99 or down to -$99,999.99. The maximum expenditures or
deposits to any single category can be up to $999,999.99.
EXAMPLES.DOC
EXCHEQUER EXAMPLES
This file provides a number of step-by-step examples for performing
some of Exchequer's most basic operations. In all of these examples,
we assume that you are starting from the Register Screen and that you
are using the SAMPLE files provided with Exchequer. (Exchequer will
automatically load these files upon startup until you change the
program default values). If the Register Screen is not displayed,
press ESC repeatedly until you hear a beep, then press F6 to move to
this screen.
1. PRINTING A CHECK
There are actually two ways to print checks with Exchequer. You can
print checks one at a time or you can print a batch of checks all at
once.
a) PRINTING A SINGLE CHECK
To print a single check to Pacific Bell for $35.00, follow
these step-by-step instructions:
1) Press F5 to go to the Check Screen.
2) Press Ctrl-U to clear all of the markers in the far left
column and tell Exchequer that you want to print a single
check.
3) Press the down arrow key repeatedly until "Pacific Bell..." is
highlighted. Press <Space> to tag this check, then press F10.
4) If a "Insert PAPER in printer" message appears, press F10.
5) Type "35.00" to enter the amount in the highlighted data
field, then press F10. The check will be printed, all of the
information will be stored in the register, and the check form
on the screen will be cleared. In addition, Exchequer will
automatically advance the check number.
6) Press ESC to return to the Checks Screen.
b) PRINTING A BATCH OF CHECKS
To print a batch of checks all at once, follow these step-by-step
instructions:
1) Press F5 to go to the Check Screen.
2) Select the checks you want to print by using the arrow keys to
highlight a specific check, then press the space bar to "tag"
it. Pressing the space bar repeatedly "toggles" the marker in
the far left column on and off. If this indicator is shown,
the check is selected and will be printed. If the marker is
not shown, the check is not selected and will not be printed.
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3) When you are satisfied with your selections, press F10 for
print. A data entry screen which looks very similar to a
regular check will appear on your screen. This check will
display the information for the first check which you "tagged"
for printing in step 2.
4) If the amount on the check selected is $0.00, you will hear a
beep and a message will appear on the command line to enter
the amount of the check.
5) You can now enter or correct any of the information shown on
the check prior to printing it. Use the Up, Down, Tab, Shift-
Tab, Ctrl-Left, Ctrl-Right keys or Return to move around to
the different fields in the check. (See Sections C.6 for how
to enter data).
6) When all of the information is correct, press F10 to print the
check. The check will be printed, all of the information will
be stored in the register, and the check form will show the
information for the next check in the batch. In addition,
Exchequer will automatically advance the check number.
If you decide that you don't want to print a specific check,
press F7 to skip that check when it appears on the screen. It
will not be entered in the register. Exchequer will display
the information for the next check to be printed.
You can cancel printing the remaining checks in this batch at
any time by pressing ESC.
7) When all of the checks you selected have been printed,
Exchequer will display an empty check form so you can enter and
print additional checks.
Press ESC to return to the Checks Screen. When you return to
the Checks Screen, notice that the batch markers have been
cleared for all checks which you printed.
2. FINDING A TRANSACTION IN THE CHECK REGISTER
Exchequer provides an easy way to find a specific transaction in the
check register. We'll give two examples. In the first, we'll find a
check with the check number "1130". In the second, we'll find the
last check we wrote to "Pacific Bell".
To find the check numbered 1130:
1) Press Ctrl-Home to go to the top of the register.
2) Press Ctrl-F. A Find box will appear in place of the
highlight bar in the register.
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3) Press Ctrl-Left (or Shift-Tab) twice to move to the check
number field.
4) Type "1130" and press the Down Arrow to search down from the
current position in the register. Exchequer will find the
check and display that section of the register.
To find the last check written to Pacific Bell:
1) Press Ctrl-End to go to the bottom of the register.
2) Press Ctrl-F to display the Find box.
3) Type "Pacific Bell" and press the Up Arrow to search up from
the current position. Exchequer will find the last check
written to Pacific Bell and display that section of the
register.
4. ADDING A TRANSACTION TO THE REGISTER
Although Exchequer automatically stores all checks which you print
from the Memorized Checks screen, you may want to enter other
transactions such as checks written on your regular checkbook, ATM
deposits, etc. To add a transaction to the register, do the
following:
1) Press F9 for Add. The Register screen will be replaced by a
blank data entry screen which looks very similar to a regular
check.
2) Enter the information about the transaction in the appropriate
data fields. Use the Up and Down arrows, Tab, Shift-Tab,
Ctrl-Left, Ctrl-Right or Return to move around to the
different check fields. (See Sections C.6 on entering data).
3) When all of the information is correct, press F9 to Save the
transaction. All of the information will be stored in the
register and the check form will be cleared.
4) If you wish to add more transactions, return to step 2. If
not, press ESC to return to the Register Screen.
5. MEMORIZING A CHECK
One of the major advantages of using Exchequer to pay your bills is
that you can memorize all of the data for checks which you write
routinely. To memorize a check (or withdrawal or deposit), do the
following:
1) Press F5 to go to the Memorized Checks screen.
2) Press F9 to Add a Memorized Check. A data entry screen will
appear.
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3) You can now enter the payee's name, address, the amount of the
check (if you know it), and the category to which you want to
assign this check. Use the Up and Down arrow, Tab, Shift-Tab,
Ctrl-Left, Ctrl-Right or Return to move around to the
different fields in the check. (See Section C.6 on entering
data). You can leave any of this information blank and fill
it in later when you actually print the check.
4) When all of the information is correct, press F9 to save the
check. The check will be memorized and the check form will be
cleared so you can memorize another check.
5) Press ESC to return to the Checks Screen.
6. ADDING A BUDGET/EXPENSE CATEGORY
Follow these steps to add a budget/expense category to the list of
categories:
1) Press F4 to move to the Categories Screen.
2) Press F9 to Add a category. A blank line will appear at the
bottom of the list.
3) Enter the category number from 1 to 99 (e.g. "91") and press
Return.
4) Enter the category description (e.g. "Entertainment") and
press Return.
5) Choose a category type by pressing <Space>, then press Return.
6) Enter a budget amount (e.g. $225) and press Return.
7) Enter a budget period (e.g. Month) by pressing <Space> until
the period you want is displayed, then press Return.
5) When all of the data is correct, press F9 to Save this
category. If you want to add more categories, return to
Step 3. If not, press ESC to return to the Categories Screen.
7. BALANCING YOUR CHECKBOOK
(To try this example, you either need to create your own account and
use your own bank statement or just make up data as you move through
the example.)
Exchequer greatly simplifies the task of balancing your checkbook.
To use Exchequer's Balance Checkbook function, do the following
(steps 2 and 3 should be familiar from balancing your checkbook
manually):
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1) Review your conventional checkbook to make sure you have
entered all transactions into Exchequer's register. (See
Section C.6.b).
2) Review your bank statement to identify any other deposits or
withdrawals which should be entered into Exchequer's
register. Enter all of these transactions into Exchequer.
3) Using your bank statement, mark all transactions in
Exchequer's register which have cleared the bank. To do this,
use the arrow keys (and PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-Home,
Ctrl-End) to highlight the transaction, then press the space
bar. A checkmark will appear in the "?" column. Pressing the
space bar repeatedly will "toggle" the cleared indicator on
and off. The marker indicates that this transaction has been
cleared by the bank.
4) When you have accurately marked all cleared transactions,
press F3 to display the Accounts Options menu.
5) Press Return to select "Balance/Reconcile Account".
6) Enter the ending balance listed on your bank statement and
press Return.
7) Exchequer will calculate and show you the following data:
* Number of uncleared checks
* Dollar amount of uncleared checks
* Number of uncleared deposits
* Dollar amount of uncleared deposits
* Check Register Balance
* Adjusted Check Register Balance
* Difference
If the difference is equal to zero, your checking account is
balanced. Press ESC to return to the Register Screen (and pat
yourself on the back!)
If the difference is not equal to zero, your account does not
balance. Look for errors as you normally do when your account
does not balance.
8) Press ESC to return to the Register Screen.
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8. PRINTING THE CHECK REGISTER
To print out the entire check register file, do the following:
1) Verify that the paper is inserted properly into the printer.
2) Press F10 to display the Report Options Menu.
3) Press either F10 or Return.
4) If an "Insert PAPER into printer" message appears, press F10
to proceed with printing. (This message only appears if you
have printed some checks first).
5) Move to the top of the Register by pressing Ctrl-Home, then
press Return to select it as the start of the report range.
6) Move to the bottom of the Register by pressing Ctrl-End, then
press Return to select it as the end of the report range.
7) Press F10 or Return to print the Report.
8) When the report is finished, press ESC to return to the
Register Screen.
9. PRINTING THE LIST OF MEMORIZED TRANSACTIONS
The Memorized Checks screen does not display all of the information
which is stored for each memorized check. Although you can see this
information by pressing F8 (Modify) from the Checks Screen, you may
also want a complete printout of this data. To obtain such a list,
do the following:
1) Insert paper into your printer.
2) Press F10 to display the Report Options menu.
3) Press the down arrow repeatedly until the "List of Memorized
Checks" option is highlighted, then press F10.
4) If an "Insert PAPER into printer" message appears, press F10
to proceed with printing. (This message only appears if you
have printed some checks first).
5) Press F10 or Return to print the Report.
6) When finished, press ESC to return to the Register Screen.
10. PRINTING THE LIST OF CATEGORIES
Perform the following steps to print a complete list of the
budget/expense categories you are currently using.
1) Insert paper into your printer.
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2) Press F10 to display the Report Options menu.
3) Press the down arrow until the "List of Categories" option is
highlighted, then press F10.
4) If an "Insert PAPER into printer" message appears, press F10
to proceed with printing. (This message only appears if you
have printed some checks first).
5) Press F10 or Return to print the Report.
6) When the report is finished, press ESC to return to the
Register Screen.
11. OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT
Although a sample account is included with the Exchequer distribution
diskette, you will undoubtedly want to open a new account. Let's
assume you will name this account "MYCHECKS" and will create new
files for both categories and memorized checks. Let's also assume
you will continue to use the "MOORE" check layout data file.
1) Press F3 to display the Account Options menu.
2) Press the Down Arrow repeatedly until the "Open New Account"
option is highlighted and press Return. A data entry box will
appear in the middle of your screen.
3) Enter the name of the account (i.e. "MYCHECKS") and press
Return.
4) Enter the account number (i.e. 132345-32345) and press
Return.
5) Enter a description of the account (i.e. "MYCHECKS") and press
Return.
6) Enter the name of the file which will contain the list of
categories for this account (i.e. "MYCHECKS") and press
Return.
7) Enter the name of the file which will contain the list of
memorized checks for this account (i.e. "MYCHECKS") and press
Return.
8) Enter the name of the file which will contain the check layout
data (i.e. "MOORE").
9) If you want, you can modify the remaining values at this time.
10) Press F9 to open the account. Exchequer will first save the
current account files, then create the new account files and
switch to the new account.
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12. SWITCHING ACCOUNTS
In many cases, you will maintain more than one account with
Exchequer. To switch accounts:
1) Press F3 to display the Account Options menu.
2) Press the down arrow until the "Load Existing Account" option
is highlighted and press Return.
3) Enter the name of the drive/directory containing the new
account (e.g. "C:\CHECKS") and press Return. This directory
must already exist.
4) Enter the name of the account you want to load (e.g.
"MYCHECKS") and press Return.
5) Press F9 to switch to the new account. Exchequer will save
all of the current data files before switching to the new
account.
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XC.DOC
EXCHEQUER
Version 2.2
USER'S MANUAL
Left Coast Software
P.O. Box 160601
Cupertino, CA 95016-0601
(408) 996-3130
April 11, 1990
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990 Left Coast Software.
All rights reserved.
SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT
Exchequer is distributed as a shareware program. It is NOT a public
domain program! However, we encourage you to copy the program for
trial purposes. The program and all associated files can be freely
copied and shared to allow others to try Exchequer. You may upload
this program and all associated files to any bulletin board system
(BBS) or on-line computer service. You may not charge more than $10
to distribute Exchequer in any form.
If you try Exchequer and decide to use it, you must register your
copy. If you do not register your copy, you are not authorized to
use the program beyond an initial evaluation period of thirty (30)
days.
By registering, Left Coast Software grants you a license to use the
copyrighted computer program Exchequer on a single computer, subject
to the terms and conditions of this license. You agree not to (a)
modify, disassemble, or decompile the program or (b) use this program
on more than one terminal of a network, on a multi-user computer, on
a time-sharing system, on a service bureau, or on any other system on
which the program could be used (other than for trial purposes) by
more than one person at a time.
The registration fee for Exchequer is $15. When you register, you
will receive the most recent version of the program and will be
placed on our mailing list to receive information on future upgrades
to the program. To register for Exchequer, send your checks to:
LEFT COAST SOFTWARE
P.O. BOX 160601
CUPERTINO, CA 95016-0601
(408) 996-3130
Users located outside the U.S. please send international money orders
denominated in U.S. dollars. You may also register or order by
phone. We accept VISA and MasterCard. A registration/order form is
included at the end of this manual.
THE PROGRAM ON THIS DISKETTE IS PROVIDED "AS IS". LEFT COAST
SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO
THE PROGRAM OR ITS PERFORMANCE OR QUALITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT WILL LEFT COAST SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA,
RESULTING FROM THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM.
EXCHEQUER USER'S MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. INTRODUCTION...............................................1
FEATURES..............................................1
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS...................................2
FILES ON THIS DISKETTE................................2
ABOUT CHECKS..........................................3
ABOUT THIS MANUAL.....................................3
HOW TO BEGIN..........................................4
B. QUICK START................................................5
OVERVIEW..............................................5
THE REGISTER SCREEN...................................5
THE MEMORIZED CHECKS SCREEN...........................6
THE CATEGORIES SCREEN.................................6
THE SETUP AND ACCOUNTS MENU...........................6
DATA ENTRY HINTS......................................6
C. USING EXCHEQUER............................................8
C.1 MEMORY MANAGEMENT.....................................9
C.2 STARTING EXCHEQUER...................................10
C.3 MOVING AROUND THE SCREEN.............................11
C.4 THE FUNCTION KEYS....................................11
C.5 COMMAND MENUS........................................13
C.6 ENTERING DATA........................................14
C.6.a ENTERING DATES................................14
C.6.b ENTERING DOLLAR AMOUNTS.......................15
C.6.c ENTERING TEXT.................................15
C.6.d ENTERING CATEGORIES...........................16
C.7 REGISTER SCREEN......................................16
C.7.a FINDING A TRANSACTION.........................18
C.7.b ADD TRANSACTION...............................19
C.7.c SPLITTING A TRANSACTION.......................21
C.7.d MODIFYING A TRANSACTION.......................23
C.7.e DELETING A TRANSACTION........................25
C.8 CHECKS SCREEN........................................25
C.8.a ADDING A MEMORIZED CHECK......................27
C.8.b MODIFYING A MEMORIZED CHECK...................28
C.8.c DELETING A MEMORIZED CHECK....................30
C.9 CATEGORY SCREEN......................................30
C.9.a ADDING A CATEGORY.............................33
C.9.b MODIFYING A CATEGORY..........................33
C.9.c DELETING A CATEGORY...........................34
C.10 PRINTING A CHECK(S)..................................34
C.10.a PRINTING A BATCH OF CHECKS....................36
C.10.b PRINTING A SINGLE CHECK.......................37
C.10.c QUICK ENTRY...................................37
C.11 REPORTS..............................................37
1. Check Register...................................39
2. Sorted by Category...............................39
3. Sorted by Payee..................................39
4. Single Category..................................39
5. Single Payee.....................................39
6. Uncleared Checks.................................40
7. Category Totals..................................40
8. Income/Expense...................................40
9. List of Memorized Checks.........................41
10. List of Categories...............................41
C.12 SETUP OPTIONS MENU...................................41
C.12.a PRINT TEST CHECK.............................41
C.12.b SET DRIVE/DIRECTORY..........................41
C.12.c SET TODAY'S DATC.............................41
C.12.d SET STARTING CHECK NUMBER....................42
C.12.e MODIFY PROGRAM DEFAULTS......................42
C.12.f MODIFY CHECK LAYOUT..........................43
C.13 ACCOUNT OPTIONS MENU.................................45
C.13.a BALANCE/RECONCILE ACCOUNT....................45
C.13.b LOAD EXISTING ACCOUNT........................46
C.13.c BACKUP ACCOUNT FILES.........................46
C.13.d OPEN NEW ACCOUNT.............................46
C.13.e MODIFY ACCOUNT DATA..........................50
C.13.f ROLL ACCOUNT FORWARD.........................51
D. OTHER USES FOR EXCHEQUER..................................53
CUSTOMER SERVICE..........................................54
OTHER LEFT COAST PROGRAMS.................................55
REGISTRATION/ORDER FORM...................................57
EXCHEQUER USER'S MANUAL
A. INTRODUCTION
Exchequer is an easy-to-use check writing and checkbook management
program for IBM PC-compatible computers. It is designed primarily
for home users and small businesses wishing to automate and simplify
the process of paying their bills.
Although Exchequer avoids the complexities of most small accounting
programs, it also provides many features which support small business
accounting. It provides powerful yet flexible reporting
capabilities. Any part of the check register can be printed in
chronological order, sorted by category, or sorted by payee. You can
list all transactions in a single category or to/from a single party.
Exchequer even prints an income statement and any report can be sent
to a printer, the screen or a file.
FEATURES
Exchequer provides the following features and functions:
* Exchequer can pay all of your regular monthly bills with just
one keystroke per check.
* Exchequer's check register looks and works just like a regular
checkbook register.
* Exchequer makes balancing your checkbook easy by automatically
totalling all uncleared checks and deposits.
* Exchequer works with virtually all types of continuous-feed
checks. The user has complete control over the check layout.
* Exchequer supports an unlimited number of accounts.
* Exchequer's check register can store up to 4000 transactions. An
archive function saves the oldest transactions to a separate file
(e.g. at year's end), thus making room for more transactions.
* Exchequer can memorize up to 255 predefined transactions
(checks, withdrawals, deposits, service charges, etc.) These
transactions can be easily recalled and used when paying bills.
* Exchequer can assign each transaction to one of 255 user-defined
categories. Reporting functions allow the user to sort the check
register by category, making tax preparation a breeze!
* Exchequer offers 10 different report types which facilitate record
keeping and expense analysis.
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* Exchequer can handle transaction amounts up to $99,999.99 and
register balances up to $999,999.99 or down to -$99,999.99. The
maximum expenditures or deposits to any single category can be up
to $999,999.99.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Exchequer will run on any IBM PC, XT, AT or PS/2 compatible computer
running MS-DOS or PC-DOS Version 2.0 or higher. It works with any
graphics adapter. Exchequer requires approximately 230 K of
available memory (after installation of any memory-resident
programs). Exchequer can be operated quite easily with just one
floppy-disk drive. The program will work with any printer which
handles continuous-feed checks.
FILES ON THIS DISK
Exchequer comes with files for a sample checking account so you can
immediately see how Exchequer works. The diskette containing
Exchequer contains the following twelve files:
FILE DESCRIPTION
---- -----------
XC.EXE Exchequer program
XC.CFG Program configuration file
SAMPLE.CFG Configuration file for SAMPLE account
SAMPLE.REG Sample check register file
SAMPLE.CHK Sample memorized transactions
SAMPLE.CAT Sample list of categories
SAMPLE.SPL Sample split transactions
MOORE.DAT Sample check layout data file
XC.DOC This manual
GO.BAT Batch file which gives instructions for printing
documentation and starting the program
PRINTDOC.BAT Batch file which prints the documentation
DISCOUNT Information on how to get discounts from selected
check suppliers.
The diskette may also include the file CHANGES.!!! which contains
last minute information about updates to the program and the file
CHANGES.BAT which will print the CHANGES.!!! file. Furthermore, if
you received Exchequer on a 3-1/2 inch disk, the disk will contain
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the file EXAMPLES.DOC. This file contains step-by-step examples of
how to perform basic functions with Exchequer. This file is printed
automatically when you run PRINTDOC.
To avoid accidental erasure, you should not run Exchequer from the
distribution diskette. We strongly encourage you to make at least
two backup copies of Exchequer before you first use the program, then
use one of these copies to actually run Exchequer.
ABOUT CHECKS
Exchequer works with virtually any continuous-feed check which has an
actual width of 8-1/2 inches (i.e. standard business size checks).
It may also work with personal size checks with a width less than
8-1/2 inches. You checks can be almost any length, although checks
shorter than 3-1/2 inches may not have enough room for all of the
information which Exchequer can print on a check. Exchequer works
with both top- and bottom-stub checks as well as checks with no stub.
Most continuous-feed checks also come with multiple parts (i.e.
carbon copies). Business users may need three- or four-part checks
while two-part checks should be sufficient for personal use. It is a
good idea to keep a copy of all checks in a safe place just to have a
permanent record.
Continuous-feed checks are available from your bank and numerous
other business form suppliers and check printers. Left Coast does
not sell checks for use with Exchequer. However, we have negotiated
agreements with several reputable check vendors to provide our
customers with checks at reduced prices. Typically, these prices are
10 to 20 percent less than regular prices. To obtain these
discounts, you must provide a specific vendor number to the check
supplier when ordering your checks.
The text file DISCOUNT on the distribution disk contains the latest
information on the check suppliers who are participating in Left
Coast's discount check program, the discounts each is offering, and
instruction on how to obtain the discount. Please read this file
carefully. In some cases, the discounts apply to a wide variety of
office supplies and not just to checks.
Exchequer is specifically designed to print checks for use with
window envelopes, thus eliminating the need to address envelopes.
These envelopes are available from your check supplier and are well
worth the extra expense.
ABOUT THIS MANUAL
This manual is designed to give a complete explanation of Exchequer
to the relatively inexperienced computer user. Since Exchequer is
specifically designed to avoid the complexities of other computerized
accounting systems, no prior knowledge of accounting is assumed or
needed. Experience with writing checks and balancing a checkbook is
assumed, however.
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All users should start by reading Quick Start (Section B). This
provides a quick overview of Exchequer along with the essential
information needed to get Exchequer running in the shortest possible
time. Since Exchequer's user interface is designed to be
user-friendly and self-explanatory, experienced users may find that
this section and the first few parts of Using Exchequer (Section C)
are all they need to read. Even inexperienced users may want to just
play with the program to become familiar with it.
Using Exchequer (Section C) gives a detailed description of all
Exchequer functions. Users who wish to understand all of Exchequer's
unique features should read this section in its entirety. Others can
use it as a reference to find solutions to specific problems.
In particular, we draw your attention to Section C.7.c, Splitting a
Transaction, which contains important information which applies to
most aspects of Exchequer's operation. It is not complicated, but it
is important.
If you received Exchequer on a 3-1/2 inch disk, the distribution disk
also contains the file EXAMPLES.DOC. This file provides complete
step-by-step descriptions of how to perform most of the necessary
checkbook functions (e.g. writing a check, balancing your account,
etc.) with Exchequer.
HOW TO BEGIN
"Fine", you say, "forget the manual, the examples and the sample
files. I've copied all the files and am ready to go. How do I
actually start to do some useful work with Exchequer?" It's simple:
1. Run Exchequer by typing "XC" and pressing Return.
2. Open a new account by using the Open New Account selection from
the Accounts Menu (F3). Be sure to make the appropriate
selections for your checks.
3. Enter your beginning balance by pressing F9 (Add). Tell
Exchequer that this is a deposit (assuming it's a positive
balance) by pressing 'D'. Move to the amount field of the check
form and enter the amount. Move to the payee field and enter
"BEGINNING BALANCE". Enter this in the register by pressing F9
again. Press ESC to return to the register.
3. If you want this account to load every time Exchequer starts,
tell Exchequer by using the Modify Program Defaults selection
from the Setup Menu (F2).
4. Insert your checks in the printer, select Modify Check Layout
from the Setup Menu and set the location of all the fields.
5. Now you're ready to start printing checks. Press F5 (Checks),
then F10 (Print) and away you go!
4
B. QUICK START
The best way to learn Exchequer is to just play with it. THERE IS
VIRTUALLY NOTHING YOU CAN DO FROM WITHIN EXCHEQUER TO DAMAGE THE
PROGRAM, THE SAMPLE DATA FILES, YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR ANY OTHER
PROGRAM OR DATA FILES. Go ahead, experiment! Computers can be fun.
OVERVIEW
Exchequer uses four main data files and three main screens which act
as "windows" into these data files. The Register Screen displays the
contents of the check register file (e.g. the "SAMPLE.REG" file on
the distribution diskette) and the split file ("SAMPLE.SPL"). The
Memorized Checks Screen shows the contents of the file ("SAMPLE.CHK")
which holds memorized checks (and deposits or withdrawals). The
Categories Screen displays a list of budget/expense categories which
is contained in the category file ("SAMPLE.CAT").
To start Exchequer, move to the directory or disk containing
Exchequer and enter "XC" at the DOS prompt. The program
automatically loads the default account (the "SAMPLE.*" files on the
original diskette) and displays the sample check register.
Exchequer always displays a command line at the bottom of the screen
which indicates the active function keys and their purpose. In
addition, Up, Down, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-End are
usually active and can be used to move around the screen.
The ten function keys are used to activate most of Exchequer's
functions. Most of these keys have equivalent Control-key
combinations. (See Section C for a complete listing).
The ESC key is used to cancel functions and to "back up" in the
program. Pressing the ESC key repeatedly will always get you to one
of the three main display screens. You cannot hurt anything by
pressing ESC. You cannot exit from the program by pressing ESC.
Exchequer has an autosave feature which will save any of the three
main data files after you make at least 10 changes to it. You can
change the number of changes between autosaves using the Setup menu.
To save all data files at any time, press Ctrl-F9 (Add/Save).
Pressing F1 (Quit) saves all data files, exits Exchequer and returns
to DOS. If you want to quit without saving the data files, press
Ctrl-F1 (Quit).
THE REGISTER SCREEN
You can add transactions to the register by pressing F9 (Add/Save).
Press F7 (Delete) to delete the highlighted transaction. To modify
existing transactions, press F8 (Modify). While modifying
transactions, use the PgUp, PgDn, Ctrl-Home, and Ctrl-End keys to
move through the check register and see various transactions.
5
To find a specific transaction in the Register, press Ctrl-F. Enter
the data you wish to match, then press the up or down arrow to find
the first match in that direction. To repeat the search with the
same data, press Ctrl-PgUp to search towards the top of the register
or Ctrl-PgDn to search towards the bottom.
Pressing the space bar <Space> toggles the cleared marker for
the highlighted transaction on and off. This indicates that the
transaction has been cleared by the bank.
If you press F10 (Print), you will see a list of report options. To
print a report, highlight it using the arrow keys, then press F10
(Print) or Return.
THE MEMORIZED CHECKS SCREEN
Pressing F5 (Checks) displays a list of memorized checks, withdrawals
and deposits. You can delete, modify, or add memorized checks by
pressing F7 (Delete), F8 (Modify), or F9 (Add/Save) respectively.
While modifying a memorized check, use the PgUp, PgDn, Ctrl-Home, and
Ctrl-End keys to move through the list of memorized checks.
Pressing the space bar while a memorized check is highlighted "tags"
or "untags" that check for printing. Ctrl-T tags all of the checks
for payment while Ctrl-U untags all of the checks. To print several
checks from this list, tag them, then press F10 (Print).
To print a single check from this list, press Ctrl-U to untag all of
the checks, then highlight that check, press <space> to tag it and
press F10 (Print).
THE CATEGORIES SCREEN
You can display a list of budget/expense categories by pressing F4
(Categories). Pressing F7 (Delete), F8 (Modify) and F9 (Add/Save)
will delete, modify or add categories on this list. Pressing F10
(Print) displays the report options menu.
THE SETUP AND ACCOUNTS MENU
The function keys F2 (Setup) and F3 (Account) call up the Setup
Options menu and Account Options menu, respectively. The Setup menu
allows you to change the account which is automatically loaded at
startup, change the print format for your check, etc. The Accounts
menu lets you balance your account, open new accounts, change
accounts, backup your account, etc.
DATA ENTRY HINTS
When entering data, the Backspace key can be used to delete the
character or number to the left of the cursor; the Delete key will
delete the character above the cursor. Ctrl-Backspace will delete
the entire entry.
6
Enter dates by typing in the date in the format shown on the screen
(e.g. "10/26/87"). Pressing "/" advances from the month field to the
date field, then to the year field. You can use the Backspace key to
delete numbers within the active field. Dates can also be entered by
using the "+" and "-" keys to increment or decrement the date.
On data fields which have a limited number of allowed responses (e.g.
"YES/NO"), hitting the space bar will cycle through those selections.
When you need to enter a category number, pressing F4 will show the
Screen. You can add, delete or modify the categories at
this time. If you want to select a specific category from this list,
highlight it by using the arrow keys, then press Return. The category
number will automatically be entered in the appropriate data field.
7
C. USING EXCHEQUER
Exchequer uses three main display screens -- Register, Memorized
Checks and Categories -- which act as "windows" into separate data
files. You can move to any of these screens from any other screen by
pressing F4 (Categories), F5 (Checks), or F6 (Register).
The Register Screen displays the contents of the check register file
which holds data on all individual transactions for the account (e.g.
checks, deposits, ATM withdrawals, etc). All register files have an
extension of ".REG". Each register file also has a secondary file
which contains information about split transactions; these files have
an extension of ".SPL". Exchequer comes with a sample register and
split file named "SAMPLE.REG" and "SAMPLE.SPL" respectively. The
layout of the Register Screen is explained in detail in Section C.7,
which also describes how to add, delete and modify transactions in
the register.
Exchequer also maintains a list of memorized checks, deposits, or
withdrawals in the "memorized checks" file. This file contains the
name of the payee, address, amount, etc. for any transaction which
you have memorized and want to print or enter on a regular basis.
For example, you can memorize the information needed to write a check
for your mortgage each month, then print that check with just a few
keystrokes. All checks files have an extension of "*.CHK".
Exchequer comes with a sample checks file named "SAMPLE.CHK".
(Please note that the information on these sample transactions is for
demonstration purposes only.) Section C.8 explains the layout of the
Checks Screen, along with how to add, delete and modify memorized
transactions.
The third major type of data file has the extension "*.CAT" and
contains a list of budget or expense categories. Exchequer comes
with a sample list of categories in a file named "SAMPLE.CAT". Since
everyone's accounting needs vary, you will probably want to develop
your own list of categories. The layout and operation of the
Categories Screen is described in Section C.9.
Exchequer has an "autosave" feature to help prevent accidental loss
of data. After you perform an operation on any of the three main
data files, Exchequer will automatically save the file if you have
made at least 10 changes to it since it was last saved. You can
change this number with the Setup Options menu. This ensures that
you will not lose significant amounts of data during a power outage
or similar crisis. To save all four data files at any time, press
Ctrl-F9 (Add/Save). As further protection against losing data, you
should backup your data files frequently using the Account Options
menu.
Pressing F1 (Quit) saves all data files, exits Exchequer and returns
to DOS. If you want to quit without saving the data files, press
Ctrl-F1 (Abort). (You can also halt execution of the program at
virtually any time by pressing Ctrl-Break. This is not recommended
except in an emergency).
8
Exchequer also maintains an account configuration file with an
extension of "*.CFG" for each account. For example, the SAMPLE
account has a file with the name "SAMPLE.CFG". This configuration
file contains data about which categories and checks files to use
with the account. (If this file is accidentally destroyed, it can be
re-created simply by using the "Open New Account" from the Account
Options menu. See Section C.13).
C.1 MEMORY MANAGEMENT
Although Exchequer can handle a maximum of 4000 transactions, 255
memorized checks and 255 categories, the actual number of
transactions, checks and categories you can use will depend upon how
much memory is in your computer. Each time you add one of these
items, you use up some memory. In addition, splitting a transaction
uses additional memory beyond what is required for a regular
transaction. The memory requirements for each item is shown below.
ITEM BYTES MAXIMUM NUMBER MAXIMUM MEMORY USAGE
---- ----- -------------- --------------------
Transaction 85 4,000 340,000
Splits 232 4,000 928,000
Category 48 255 12,240
Checks 415 255 106,080
Since DOS is limited to a total of 640 Kbytes of memory and Exchequer
itself uses about 200 Kbytes, you cannot use the maximum number of
all items at once. The table below shows some representative
combinations of items for various amounts of total free memory.
Note that even with a full complement of 640 K in your computer, not
all of this will be available to Exchequer since the operating system
uses some memory.
AVAILABLE MEMORY (KBYTES)
ITEM 300 400 400 500 600
---- --- --- --- --- ---
Transaction 600 1000 1500 2000 2500
Splits 135 250 200 420 400
Category 100 150 100 200 255
Checks 50 100 50 150 200
If you run out of memory will using Exchequer, the program will warn
you of this fact and you will not be able to print any more checks
nor add any more transactions, categories or memorized checks. You
9
can find out how much memory you have available, expressed as a
number of transactions, by pressing Alt-M.
If you find yourself running out of memory, there are four things you
can do. First, remove any memory resident programs such as Sidekick,
print spoolers, or disk caches that you are using prior to starting
Exchequer. Second, delete all unnecessary memorized checks; each
check takes up the room of five transactions. Third, don't split
transactions unless absolutely necessary; each split takes up as much
memory as three transactions. Fourth, use the Roll Account Forward
option from the Accounts Menu to store some of your transactions in a
separate account. You will almost certainly want to do this at the
end of each year.
If you try to load an account without enough memory, Exchequer will
tell you that you are out of memory and will not load the data files.
Finally, the size of the files you can work with may also be limited
if you are working from a 360 K floppy disk. If you have a lot of
memory in your computer and add a lot of items, there may not be room
to store all of the files on one floppy disk. However, Exchequer
checks if there is enough room to save each file prior to saving it
and provides you with an opportunity to insert a fresh disk with
enough space.
C.2 STARTING EXCHEQUER
To start Exchequer, move to the directory or disk containing
Exchequer and type "XC" at the DOS prompt. You can also start
Exchequer from any directory or drive if your PATH includes the
directory(s) which contains the Exchequer program (XC.EXE) and
configuration files (XC.CFG). If you do this, the configuration file
MUST include the name of the directory containing the default account
files. However, this directory does not have to be on your PATH.
Refer to your DOS manual for more information on the PATH statement.
When Exchequer starts, it displays a title screen and a shareware
information screen, then loads the files for the default checking
account (e.g. the SAMPLE account). Once these are loaded, the
Register Screen will appear. To avoid the shareware screen, start
Exchequer by typing "XC Q".
When Exchequer first starts, it determines which video adapter you
are using and sets appropriate screen colors. On some adapter/
monitor combinations (e.g. composite monochrome monitors with CGA
adapters), these colors may not display properly and the screen will
be illegible. If this happens, start Exchequer by typing "XC BW" to
force it to use black and white. (Note: you can enter multiple
parameters, e.g. "XC BW Q" is perfectly acceptable).
When it starts, Exchequer also retrieves the number of the last check
which was written on this account. If you do not change this number
when you are printing checks, Exchequer will automatically start
numbering checks at the next number.
10
Finally, Exchequer retrieves the current date from your computer if
the date has been set from within MS-DOS (refer to the DOS manual for
how to set the date). In any case, Exchequer allows you to change
the date as necessary when you actually print checks or add
transactions.
C.3 MOVING AROUND THE SCREEN
Exchequer displays 20 lines of information at a time in the Register
Screen, the Memorized Checks Screen and the Category Screen. One of
these lines is always highlighted; this is the selected item. Many
of Exchequer's functions are performed by highlighting an item to
select it, then pressing an appropriate function key.
You can move around the screens to see or select different items by
using the four arrow keys along with the PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-
Home and Ctrl-End keys. The following table lists the action of each
of these keys in the Register, Memorized Checks and Categories
screens:
Down Arrow Moves down one line.
Up Arrow Moves up one line.
PgUp Moves up 20 lines.
PgDn Moves down 20 lines.
Home Moves to the top of the current screen.
End Moves to the bottom of the current screen.
Ctrl-Home Moves to the first item (i.e. the top) in the file.
Ctrl-End Moves to the last item (i.e. the bottom) in the file.
C.4 THE FUNCTION KEYS
Exchequer uses the ten function keys (F1 through F10) which are
found at the left hand side or across the top of your keyboard to
activate virtually all of its functions. Most of the function keys
have equivalent Ctrl-key combinations. A Ctrl-key combination
such as "Ctrl-F" is entered by holding down the key marked "Ctrl"
then pressing "f" or "F". (It does not matter whether you type an
upper or lower case letter when using a Control-key combination).
Exchequer always uses the bottom line of the screen to display a
Command Menu/Message line. This command line serves two purposes:
1. Identify which function keys are active at the time.
2. Display messages, warnings, and prompts.
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Each of the function keys is dedicated to a specific type of function
as listed below. However, not all of these function keys are active
at all times.
EQUIVALENT
KEY FUNCTION CTRL KEY ACTION
--- -------- ---------- ------
F1 Quit Ctrl-Q Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS. All
data files are saved first. You must
confirm that you want to exit.
F2 Setup N/A Displays the Setup Options menu which
lists various options for setting
program defaults, changing a check
format, etc.
F3 Accounts N/A Displays the Account Options menu which
allows the user to open a new account,
switch to another account, etc.
F4 Categories Ctrl-B Switches to the Category Screen.
(Budget)
F5 Checks Ctrl-C Switches to the Checks Screen.
F6 Register Ctrl-R Switches to the Register Screen.
F7 Delete Ctrl-D Deletes a memorized check, a register
transaction or a category, depending
upon when it is pressed.
F8 Modify Ctrl-E Modifies a memorized check, a register
(Edit) transaction, or a category, depending
upon when it is pressed.
F9 Add/Save Ctrl-A Adds and/or saves a memorized check, a
Ctrl-S register entry, or a category,
depending upon when it is pressed.
F10 Reports/Print Ctrl-P Either prints a check or displays the
Report Options menu, depending upon when
it is pressed.
The action of some of the function keys -- F7 (Delete), F8 (Modify),
F9 (Add/Save) and F10 (Print) -- depends upon when they are pressed.
In general, their function should be clear from the context in which
they are used. Complete descriptions of their workings under various
circumstances are given in the section of this manual which describes
that part of the program.
In addition to the function keys, there are several Ctrl-key and Alt-
key combinations which are active throughout the program. (Alt-key
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combinations are similar to Control-Key except you hold down the Alt
key while pressing the second key).
KEY FUNCTION ACTION
--- -------- ------
Ctrl-F1 Abort Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS. None of the
data files are saved. You will be asked to
confirm that you want to quit.
Ctrl-F9 Save Saves all of the data files.
Ctrl-F Find Searches for a specific transaction, memorized
check or category.
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last find towards the top of the
file.
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last find towards the bottom of the
file.
Alt-S Split In the Register or Checks Screens, pressing Alt-S
displays split transactions. During data entry,
Alt-S is used to split a transaction or edit an
existing split transaction.
Alt-M Memory Displays the amount of available memory. See
Section C.1 for more details.
Alt-B Beeps Toggles error and warning beeps on and off.
The ESC key is used throughout Exchequer to cancel functions, remove
data entry screens and eliminate menus. Pressing ESC repeatedly will
always return to one of the three main display screens. You cannot
hurt anything and you cannot exit Exchequer by pressing ESC.
C.5 COMMAND MENUS
Three of the function keys -- F2 (Setup), F3 (Accounts), F10 (Print)
-- call up "point-and-shoot" menus in the middle of the screen which
list several functions. One of the functions is always highlighted;
this is the selected function. To execute a function, highlight that
function, then press Return. Some of the options can also be
selected by pressing an appropriate function key. The command line
will indicate these choices. The following four keys can be used to
select specific options:
Up Arrow Moves the highlight bar up one option in the menu.
Down Arrow Moves the highlight bar down one line in the menu.
Home Moves the highlight bar to the first menu option.
End Moves the highlight bar to the last menu option.
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C.6 ENTERING DATA
Whenever you need to enter data into Exchequer, a data entry form or
box will appear. Pressing ESC will cancel the function and remove
the data entry box or form.
The most common data entry form is similar to a normal check and is
used throughout the program to enter data for a specific transaction
(check, withdrawal or deposit). Whenever this form appears, a title
will also appear at the top of the screen to indicate what function
is being used.
In all data entry forms or boxes, the highlighted data entry "field"
is active and ready to accept new data. You can move to the various
fields by using the following keys:
Ctrl-Right Advances to the next data entry field.
Down Arrow
Tab
Return
Ctrl-Left Advances to the previous data entry field.
Up Arrow
Shift-Tab
If you move to a field which already contains correct information,
simply move on to the next field. You do not need to re-enter the
information every time a field is highlighted.
When you have entered the appropriate data, you can tell Exchequer
that you are finished with that field by pressing any of the cursor
movement keys discussed above or any of the active function keys.
Exchequer will use the information as it is currently displayed.
Some data entry fields require you to select from a limited number of
choices (e.g. "YES/NO"). When a fields of this type is highlighted,
pressing the space bar will cycle through the options. You can also
choose an option by pressing the first letter of that option (e.g.
"y" for YES). Make a final selection by pressing Return, an arrow key,
or one of the active function keys.
C.6.a ENTERING DATES
Dates can be entered directly by typing them in the format in which
Exchequer displays them and then pressing Return. For example, you
could type "10/26/87" and hit Return.
When entering dates, the date which Exchequer displays at any given
time can be entered by pressing Return. For example, if Exchequer
displays "7/8/88" and you type "8/1", then Exchequer will display
"8/1/88". You can enter this date by pressing Return. There is no
need to enter the year if it is unchanged.
14
Entering dates is actually a three part process. You first enter the
month, then the day, then the year. Pressing "/" advances from one
part of the date to the other. The cursor indicates which part of
the date you are entering. You can delete numbers within each part
by pressing the backspace key. Once you have advanced to the next
part of the date, however, you can no longer edit the preceding
parts. You must first leave the date field and then return to it.
Dates can also be entered by using the "+" and "-" keys on your
keyboard. Pressing "+" will advance the date one day while pressing
"-" will decrement the date. Holding down either key will continue
to advance the date in that direction.
C.6.b ENTERING DOLLAR AMOUNTS
Dollar amounts can be typed directly into Exchequer. Enter the
dollar amount, then press "." and enter the cents amount. If you are
entering an even dollar amount (e.g. "$30.00"), you do not need to
enter the decimal point and the cents. The program automatically
displays the amount in the correct format; you do not need to enter
commas or a dollar sign. (In fact, the program will beep if you try
to do this).
When entering dollar amounts, the cursor shows the current location
within the data field. You can edit dollar amounts by using the
Backspace key to delete the number above the cursor. Ctrl-Backspace
clears the field and sets the amount to $0.00.
You can also use the "+" and "-" keys to enter dollar amounts.
Pressing "+" increments the amount by one cent; "-" decrements the
amount by one cent. To change the amount rapidly, simply hold down
the appropriate key.
In general, you cannot enter existing dollar amounts. When you
highlight a dollar field and type a new amount, Exchequer replaces
the existing amount with the new amount. However, if you highlight
an existing amount and immediatley press "+" or "-", you can then
enter the number using the Backspace key.
C.6.c ENTERING TEXT
Words and combinations of words for payee names, addresses and memos
are simply typed into the program as you would type them on a
typewriter. You can use the left and right arrow keys to move the
cursor within the text field. Pressing the Backspace key will delete
the character to the left of the cursor; the Delete key deletes the
character over the cursor. Ctrl-Backspace will delete the entire
entry.
When you highlight an existing text field, the cursor will be placed
at the end of the current entry and you can edit the current entry
using the keys discussed in the preceding paragraph.
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C.6.d ENTERING CATEGORIES
Many of the data entry screens allow you to enter a Category number.
There are two ways to enter these category numbers. The first is to
enter the number directly. As with dollar fields, Backspace deletes
the number above the cursor location and Ctrl-Backspace deletes the
entire field. You can also use the "+" and "-" keys to increment and
decrement the category number.
You can also enter a category number by selecting it from your list
of categories. If you press F4 (Categories) at any time in the data
entry form, the Categories Screen will be displayed. When the
Categories Screen is displayed, you can add, delete and modify
categories as you would normally.
If you highlight a specific category and press Return, you will
return to the data entry screen, and that category number will be
entered in the Category data field. If you press ESC while the
Categories Screen is displayed, you will be returned to the data
entry screen but no category number will be entered.
C.7 REGISTER SCREEN
The Register Screen is Exchequer's primary display and provides a
"window" into the register data file. By using the arrow keys along
with the PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-End keys, you can
move around and see all of the transactions currently recorded in the
account. You see the Register Screen when you first start up
Exchequer. From either the Category Screen or the Check Screen,
pressing F6 will move you to the Register Screen. To reach this
screen from any other point in the program, press the ESC key until
you hear a beep, then press F6.
The Register Screen is very similar to the layout of a standard
checkbook register. On the top line are the headings for each of the
columns. From left to right, these are:
* Check Number
* Date
* Payee
* ? (This is used to mark transactions that have been
cleared by the bank).
* Checks (and Withdrawals)
* Deposits
* Balance
Below the headings are shown 20 transactions in the check register.
One of the transactions on the screen is always highlighted. This is
the active (or selected) transaction. Whenever you load an account
(or first start the program), Exchequer shows you the most recent 20
transactions. You can see other transactions by using the Up arrow,
Down arrow, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-End keys.
16
At the left end of the second line from the bottom, the name of the
account which is currently open is shown. The CURRENT balance of the
Exchequer account is shown at the right end of this line. In the
middle of this line is a field marked "MEMO:" This area displays a
30-character long memo which is stored with the selected transaction.
As you move around the register, you will notice that this area of
the display constantly changes.
If a transaction has been assigned to a budget category, this
category is shown just to the left of the memo field. If you see a
"<S>" in this location, it indicates that this particular transaction
is split, i.e. allocated to more than one category. To see the
details of the split, press Alt-S.
At the bottom of the screen is the command menu showing the active
function keys. In addition, several other keys are active and will
activate specific Exchequer functions. All of the active keys and
their functions, as described below. (The Ctrl-key equivalents
are given in parentheses).
F1 (Ctrl-Q) Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS. Any changes to
files are saved first.
Ctrl-F1 Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS without saving the
data files.
F2 Displays the Setup Options menu (see Section C.12)
F3 Displays the Account Options menu (see Section C.13)
F4 (Ctrl-B) Moves to the Categories screen.
F5 (Ctrl-C) Moves to the Checks screen.
F6 Not active since the Register screen is already
displayed.
F7 (Ctrl-D) Deletes a transaction from the check register. See
Section C.7.e.
F8 (Ctrl-E) Modifies a transaction in the check register. See
Section C.7.f.
F9 (Ctrl-A) Adds a transaction to the check register. See
(Ctrl-S) Section C.7.b.
Ctrl-F9 Saves the four main data files.
F10 (Ctrl-P) Displays the Report Options menu. See Section
C.11.
Ctrl-F Finds a transaction. See Section C.7.a.
17
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last find towards the top of the register.
See Section C.7.a.
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last find towards the bottom of the
register. See Section C.7.a.
Alt-S Displays detailed information on split transactions.
Split transactions are indicated by a "<S>" located
just to the right of the memo field at the bottom of
the Register Screen.
Alt-M Displays the amount of remaining memory.
Space Marks/unmarks a transaction as cleared. Pressing the
space bar repeatedly "toggles" the marked indicator in
the "?" column on and off. A small beep alerts you
whenever you change the status of this indicator.
C.7.a FINDING A TRANSACTION
Exchequer offers a convenient way to find virtually any transaction
in the check register. Pressing Ctrl-F activates a Find function which
allows you to specify exactly which transaction you want to find.
When you press Ctrl-F, a small box will appear in place of the
highlighted transaction. You simply enter the data (check number,
date, payee, check amount or deposit amount) that you want to match,
then press either the Up Arrow (to find the first match going toward
the top of the register) or the Down Arrow (to find the first match
going toward the bottom of the register).
Exchequer will search through the register, find the first
transaction which matches the data you have entered, and display that
transaction on the screen. For example, if you want to find check
number 1103, enter "1103" in the first field and press the Up or Down
Arrow. If you want to find a check you wrote to John Smith, type
"John Smith" in the third column and press the Up or Down Arrow.
If you enter data in more than one field, Exchequer will try to
match all of the fields. Thus, you can search for a check to John
Smith dated 8/8/87 by entering "John Smith" in the payee column and
"8/8/87" in the date column.
When searching for a date, Exchequer will find the transaction which
is closest to the search date if there is not an exact match.
Specifically, Exchequer will find the first transaction which occurs
on or before the search date when searching toward the top of the
register. It will find the first transaction which occurs on or
after the search date when searching toward the bottom.
The find function is case insensitive. For example, entering "john
smith" would find any transactions involving "John Smith", "JOHN
SMITH", "john Smith", etc. Likewise, Exchequer will find any
transaction where the first part of the transaction payee matches the
18
data you entered. For example, entering "MA" will match transactions
involving "Mary Johnson","Maryland Credit Union","Matchbox
Industries","Mats Unlimited", etc. while "MAR" would match "Mary
Johnson" and "Maryland Credit Union" but not "Glomar Explorer".
If you enter an amount in either the check or deposit column,
Exchequer will find the first transaction which matches either of these
fields. For example, if you enter "$300" in the check column (with a
$0.00 in the deposit column), Exchequer will find the first
transaction which is either (a) a check/withdrawal in the amount of
$300.00 or (b) a deposit in the amount of $0.00.
The following keys are active when using the Find function:
Ctrl-Right Advances to the next data entry field.
Tab
Return
Ctrl-Left Advances to the prior data entry field.
Shift-Tab
F7 Clears the data which Exchequer will try to find.
Up Arrow Executes the search toward the top of the register
(i.e. the earliest entry).
Down Arrow Executes the search toward the bottom of the register
(i.e. the most recent entries).
ESC Cancels the Find function and returns to the Register
Screen.
You can repeat the last search you performed at any time by pressing
Ctrl-PgUp (to search towards the top of the register) or Ctrl-PgDn
(to search towards the bottom). This allows you to find multiple
checks to the same payee very quickly. You can also use the Find
function when selecting part of the register for printing (Section
C.11) or to archive an account (Section C.13).
Exchequer also provides a way to rapidly find checks in the register
with consecutive check numbers. First, find the first check in the
sequence using the Find function. To find the next highest check
number, simply press the "+" key. To find the next lowest check
number, press the "-" key. This is similar to pressing Ctrl-PgDn and
Ctrl-PgUp except that Exchequer will automatically increment or
decrement the check number. This feature is especially useful while
balancing your checkbook since it allows you to find consecutive
checks and mark them as cleared.
C.7.b ADD TRANSACTION
Although Exchequer automatically records all of the data for checks
which it prints, you must manually enter other transactions such as
checks written on your regular checkbook, ATM withdrawals, etc. You
19
add a transaction by pressing F9 whenever the Register Screen is
displayed. A blank check form will be displayed. This form is used
for withdrawals and deposits as well as checks. You specify the type
of transaction in the first data field.
Enter all of the data for the new entry, then press F9 to Save the
transaction to the register. Exchequer saves all transactions in
chronological order. Transactions occurring on the same day are
sorted by check number. After the data is saved, the check form will
be cleared and you can add another transaction.
Once you have saved a transaction, you cannot modify it while using
the Add Transaction function. You must first return to the Register
Screen by pressing ESC, then press F8 to modify.
In many cases, the transactions you want to add to the register will
be stored in the list of memorized checks. Exchequer offers a
convenient way for retrieving memorized transactions and adding them
to the register. Just enter the first few letters of the payee name,
then press Ctrl-F (Find). Exchequer will search from the top of the
check list and display the first memorized transaction which matches
the data you entered. For example, if you enter "ba", then press
Ctrl-F with the SAMPLE files, Exchequer will display the information
for a Bank of America service charge.
You can repeat the search and search toward the bottom of the check
list by pressing Ctrl-PgDn. To search toward the top of the list,
press Ctrl-PgUp. This allows you to easily review and retrieve
memorized checks with a minimum of data entry. For example, you can
just enter the letter 'P' and quickly review all memorized checks to
payees starting with 'P'.
This search function is case insensitive; it does not matter if you
enter lower- or upper-case letters. Likewise, it is length
insensitive; Exchequer will display any check which matches the data
you have entered.
You can review the transactions you have just entered without
returning to the Register Screen. Use the PgUp, PgDn, Ctrl-Home and
Ctrl-End keys to move through these new transactions. To continue
adding transactions, press F7 to clear the display first.
Exchequer stores the most recent 100 transactions from the current
session in memory. It stores both new transactions and those which
have been modified. It does not store deleted transactions.
Pressing F9 at any time will add another transaction (using the data
currently displayed on the screen) to the register. Thus, it is easy
to enter several similar transactions. Enter the first transaction
and press F9 to save it, then press PgUp to re-display it. Change
the data which is different, then press F9 again to save this new
transaction to the register.
20
(This ability to enter similar transactions may cause some confusion.
As you are reviewing recently entered transactions, Exchequer
displays the current check number and date, not the check number and
date which goes with that transaction.)
In addition to the keys discussed in Entering Data (Section C.6), the
following keys are active while adding a transaction:
F4 Displays the Categories Screen.
F7 Erases the transaction which is currently displayed.
F9 Saves a new transaction to the register.
Alt-S Splits the transaction (see Section C.7.c)
PgUp Displays the previous transaction which has been added
during this session.
PgDn Displays the next transaction which has been added
during this session.
Ctrl-Home Displays the first transaction which was added to the
register during this session.
Ctrl-End Moves to the last transaction which was added
during this session.
Ctrl-F Finds the first memorized check which matches the data
entered in the payee field.
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last search toward the top of the list of
memorized transactions.
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last search toward the bottom of the list
of memorized transactions.
ESC Cancels the Add Transaction function and returns to
the Register Screen.
C.7.c SPLITTING A TRANSACTION
[The information in this section applies to most aspects of
Exchequer's operation. In particular, it is relevant to adding and
modifying register transactions, adding and modifying memorized
checks, and printing checks.]
There are many occasions when you will want to assign a specific
transaction to more than one category. A prime example is when you
pay your credit card bill. Part of the bill might be for vacation
expenses and another for home repairs. And some of it you might not
want to allocate to any category at all.
21
Although you could write separate checks for each of these
categories, a simpler method is to "split" the transaction. To
understand this better, you might want to examine the SAMPLE files
which come with Exchequer. In the Register, transactions which are
split will display "<S>" at the bottom of the screen just to the
right of the Memo field. When you have highlighted a split
transaction, press Alt-S to see the Split Display.
This display shows ten separate lines of information. For each part
of the split, you see a category number, a brief description (15
characters maximum), whether that part of the transaction is a
deposit, withdrawal or check, and the amount for that item.
Although you can display split information in the Register, you
cannot enter or modify data here. You can only do that when you are
working with the check data entry form. For example, press F9 then
Alt-S to add split information for a new transaction. As you are
adding information, you can move around the split by using the arrow
keys, <Return>, PgUp, PgDn, Home and End. PgUp and PgDn will move
you to the top and bottom of the current column. Home moves to the
top left corner and End moves to the bottom right corner. Pressing
<Return> advances the cursor to the next column; when you reach the
end of a row, it will advance the cursor to the first column of the
next row.
You can select categories from the Category Screen by pressing F4.
The new category number is entered on the current row. You can clear
the entire split and start over by pressing F7. When you are done
entering data, press ESC to return to the check form. Note that
Exchequer does not save any of the data you have entered or modified
until you press F9 (or F10 if you are printing checks). In this
respect, the Split Display acts just like an extension of the check
form.
When you enter data for a split transaction, Exchequer tries to help
you as much as it can by acting as a smart adding machine. If you
enter $0.00 as the amount for a transaction then split the
transaction, Exchequer will automatically add all of your entries as
you make them. It will also determine what type of transaction
(deposit, withdrawal, check) this transaction should be. When you
return to the check form by pressing ESC, Exchequer will enter the
amount of the split on the check and set the type.
However, if you enter a non-zero amount on the check form before
pressing Alt-S, Exchequer acts a little differently. In this case,
it tries to keep the total amount constant by adjusting the last item
in the split. This is especially useful when you don't want to
allocate an entire transaction to various categories.
If you want to use all ten lines for the split, just go ahead and
enter the information. If the tenth line does not use 0 as the
category number, Exchequer will revert to its "adding machine mode"
and calculate the revised total. Finally, you can always override
Exchequer and put it in adding machine mode by pressing Ctrl-A.
22
This may seem quite complicated but hopefully it will be pretty clear
if you experiment a little. In most situations, Exchequer does
exactly what you want it to do naturally.
Also, don't be confused by the need to enter a type (withdrawal, etc.)
for each line of the split. The ability to specify a type provides a
lot of power and flexibility. For example, it allows you to write
paychecks with payroll deductions or to track the deductions from
your own paycheck. Rather than get into a long-winded discussion of
accounting techniques, we refer you to the examples in the SAMPLE
files.
If you don't know what type to enter for a specific item in a slit,
just remember that if money goes into the account, it's a deposit,
and everything else is a check or withdrawal. For purposes of
splitting a transaction, there is no difference between a check and a
withdrawal.
To reiterate, the following keys are functional while you are
entering a split transaction:
Ctrl-A Invokes "adding machine mode" and adds all of the split
items to determine the net amount of the transaction.
F4 Displays the Categories Screen.
F7 Clears all of the split information.
ESC Removes the split display and returns to the check form.
F9 Again, none of the data is saved until you press F9 or
F10 (depending upon the context).
A final note about split transactions. If you have created a split
and then modify the amount or type of the main transaction, Exchequer
will not let you save that transaction (or print a check) until you
correct the discrepancy. As you can imagine, having discrepancies
between the main transaction and the split could lead to serious
problems in tracking expenses.
C.7.d MODIFYING A TRANSACTION
If you want to modify an existing transaction in the check register
(e.g. to correct a dollar amount), highlight the transaction with the
arrow keys, then press F8. This transaction will be displayed on a
check form which allows you to change any of the data. When you are
satisfied with the changes, press F9 to save them.
Exchequer saves all transactions in chronological order. If you
change the date on a transaction, Exchequer will relocate the
transaction to its proper place in the register.
You can review and modify other transactions without returning to the
Register Screen by using the PgUp, PgDn, Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-End keys
23
to move through the register. Each transaction will be displayed in
turn and you can modify any or all of the data. If you want to save
the changes, you MUST press F9 before leaving a specific transaction.
If you have not saved the changes before pressing a key that will
leave the current transaction, Exchequer will ask you if you want to
save the changes first. Note, however, that if you exit the program
directly while modifying a transaction by pressing F1 or Ctrl-F1, you
will not be asked if you want to save your changes. (This will be
changed in the next version).
You can also use the Find function while modifying a transaction.
Highlight the item you want to search for (i.e. Date, Checknumber,
Payee or Amount) and enter the search key (e.g. "ACME Plumbing"),
then press Ctrl-F. Exchequer will search from the current location
in the register toward the top of the register for the first match.
You can repeat the search by pressing Ctrl-PgUp (to search up) or
Ctrl-PgDn (to search down). When searching for an amount, you must
specify the correct transaction type before the search. You cannot
search on multiple fields (e.g. search for a check to "ACME Plumbing"
that was written on "1/10/88") while modifying transactions.
In addition to the keys discussed in Entering Data (Section C.6), the
following keys are active while modifying a transaction:
F4 Displays the Categories Screen.
F7 Deletes the transaction which is currently displayed.
Pressing F7 at this point works exactly like pressing
F7 in the Register Screen. See Section C.7.d.
F9 Saves all changes to the transaction which is
displayed to the register. The transaction is stored
exactly as displayed.
Alt-S Displays split information (if the transaction is
already split) or splits the transaction (if it is
not).
Ctrl-F Finds a transaction.
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last find towards the top of the register.
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last find towards the bottom of the
register.
PgUp Displays the preceding transaction in the register.
PgDn Displays the following transaction in the register.
Ctrl-Home Displays the first transaction in the register.
Ctrl-End Displays the last transaction in the register.
24
ESC Cancels the Modify Transaction function and returns to
the Register Screen.
C.7.e DELETING A TRANSACTION
Individual transactions in the check register can be deleted by
highlighting the transaction you want to delete and pressing F7. BE
CAREFUL! Once a transaction has been deleted, there is no way to
recover it directly. However, you may be able to recover the deleted
data if you keep up-to-date backups of your data files.
To prevent accidental erasure of important data, Exchequer asks you
to confirm that you want to delete this item. If you do, press F7
(or Ctrl-D) to proceed with the deletion. Otherwise, press ESC.
C.8 CHECKS SCREEN
The Checks Screen displays a list of memorized transactions (in
alphabetical order) which have been stored by the user. For example,
you could store all of the data to pay your mortgage (payee, amount,
address, etc) as a single item in this list. Each month, you could
then write a check to the bank by pressing a single key. Whenever
you load an account (or first start the program), Exchequer loads
the associated list of memorized checks.
You can move to the Register Screen from either the Checks Screen or
Categories Screen by pressing F5. To reach this screen from any
other point in the program, press the ESC key until you hear a beep,
then press F5.
Although it is called the Checks Screen, this list can also contain
information on withdrawals such as bank service charges and deposits
such as automatic payroll deposits. This manual often refers to such
memorized transactions as checks. Whether we mean a memorized
transaction or the piece of paper you give to your grocer should be
clear from the context.
All printing of checks is done using the Checks Screen. The Checks
Screen can also used to "print" memorized withdrawals and deposits.
Exchequer will enter these transactions in the register just like a
check but will not actually print anything on the printer.
The Checks Screen has five columns:
* Batch (the little triangle indicates that this "check" is
currently selected for "printing").
* Payee (for deposits, the payee column lists the party from whom
you received the deposit).
* Category number. If a memorized check is split, this column will
display "<S>". You can see detailed information on the split by
pressing Alt-S.
25
* Memo
* Amount (an amount of $0.00 indicates that the amount changes every
month. The actual amount is entered at the time you print the
check).
Below these headings are shown 20 memorized checks (or other
transactions). One of the checks is always highlighted; this is the
active (or selected) transaction. You can see other checks by using
the Up Arrow, Down Arrow, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-
End keys on the keyboard.
The far left column of the Checks Screen displays a small marker
which indicates whether that check has been "tagged" for printing.
When you memorize a transaction, you specify whether you want to pay
this bill on a monthly basis. When it first loads the list of
memorized transactions, Exchequer recalls this data and indicates
which checks will be printed. You can "untag" all of these checks by
pressing Ctrl-U.
The name of the account which is currently open is shown at the left
end of the second line from the bottom. The CURRENT balance of the
account is shown at the right end of this line.
In the middle of this line is a field marked "TYPE:" As you move
around the screen, you will notice that this area of the display
constantly changes. This area displays the type of the currently
highlighted transaction. There are three transaction types: (1)
Check (2) Withdrawal or (3) Deposit. The only difference between a
check and a withdrawal is that Exchequer will not print a
withdrawal. Thus, your mortgage payment should be a check while the
monthly service charge on your account should be a withdrawal.
At the bottom of the screen is the command menu which shows the
active function keys. In addition, several other keys are active and
will activate specific Exchequer functions as described below.
(Ctrl-key equivalents are given in parentheses).
F1 (Ctrl-Q) Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS. Any changes to
files are saved first.
Ctrl-F1 Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS without saving
files first.
F2 Displays the Setup Options menu (see Section C.12)
F3 Moves to the Register Screen and displays the
Account Options menu (see Section C.13)
F4 (Ctrl-B) Moves to the Categories screen.
F5 (Ctrl-C) Not active since the Checks Screen is already
displayed.
26
F6 (Ctrl-R) Moves to the Register Screen.
F7 (Ctrl-D) Deletes a memorized check from the list. See Section
C.8.c.
F8 (Ctrl-E) Modifies a memorized check. See Section C.8.b.
F9 (Ctrl-S) Adds (memorizes) a check. See Section C.8.a.
(Ctrl-A)
Ctrl-F9 Saves the four main data files.
F10 (Ctrl-P) Prints a check(s). See Section C.10.
Space Tags/untags a memorized check for printing. Pressing
the space bar repeatedly "toggles" the tagged marker
in the far left column on and off. When this marker
is displayed, the check is tagged for printing.
Ctrl-T Tags all of the memorized checks for printing.
Ctrl-U Untags all of the memorized checks for printing.
Ctrl-F Finds a memorized check.
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last find towards the top of the list of
checks.
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last find towards the bottom of the
list of checks.
Alt-S Displays detailed information on split transactions.
Split transactions are indicated by a "<S>" located
in the category column.
Alt-M Displays the amount of remaining memory.
The Find function for the Checks Screen works just like the Find
function for the Register Screen (See Section C.7.a). The only
difference is that you can just search for the name of a payee rather
than date, check number, etc.
C.8.a ADDING A MEMORIZED CHECK
Pressing F9 whenever the Checks Screen is displayed allows you to
memorize another transaction and add it to the list of memorized
checks. When you press F9, a blank check form will be displayed.
Enter all of the data for the new transaction on this form, then
press F9 again to Save the check. After this transaction is
memorized, the check form will be cleared and you can memorize
another transaction.
At the top of the form, you will see the word "Check" highlighted.
This field identifies the type of the transaction you are memorizing.
27
(Although these are called checks, they can also be deposits/credits
or withdrawals/ charges which don't involve paper checks). If you
press the space bar repeatedly, Exchequer will cycle through these
three options. Or you can press the first letter of the type you
want to select. Press Return to select the appropriate type.
Although some payments are always the same (e.g. a fixed rate
mortgage), other payments differ from month to month. If you know the
amount of a check, enter it in the amount data field. If not, simply
store the check with an amount of $0.00 (you do not need to actually
enter this amount since it is the default value). Every time you
print this check, Exchequer will prompt you for the actual amount.
You can specify whether you want to print this check on a monthly
basis. To do this, highlight the "BATCH?" data field on the check
form and press the space bar until "YES" appears. By doing this, you
tell Exchequer that you want the check tagged for printing every time
it starts. (Don't worry, you can easily untag it if you don't want
to actually print it).
You can leave any of the information on this check form blank when
you memorize a transaction. Exchequer always allows you to fill it
in or change it later when you actually print the check.
In addition to the keys discussed in the Entering Data section
(Section C.6), the following keys are active while memorizing a
check:
F4 Displays the Categories Screen.
F7 Clears the transaction which is currently displayed.
F9 Saves a new memorized check to the list of memorized checks.
The transaction is stored exactly as displayed.
Alt-S Splits the memorized check.
ESC Cancels the Add Check function and returns to the Checks
Screen.
C.8.b MODIFYING A MEMORIZED CHECK
If you want to modify an existing memorized check (e.g. to change an
address), highlight the transaction with the arrow keys, then press
F8. This memorized transaction will be displayed in a check format
which allows you to change any of the data. When you are satisfied
with the changes, press F9 to save them.
You can review and modify other memorized transactions without
returning to the Checks Screen by using the PgUp, PgDn, Ctrl-Home and
Ctrl-End keys to move through the list. Each memorized check will be
displayed in turn; you can modify any or all of the data. If you want
to save the changes, you MUST press F9 before leaving a specific
transaction.
28
If you have not saved the changes before pressing a key that will
leave the current check, will ask you if you want to save the changes
first. Note, however, that if you exit the program directly while
modifying a transaction by pressing F1 or Ctrl-F1, you will not be
asked if you want to save your changes. (This will be changed in the
next version).
You can also find specific memorized transactions by using the Find
function. Just enter the first few letters of the payee name, then
press Ctrl-F (Find). Exchequer will search from the top of the check
list and display the first transaction which matches the data you
entered.
You can repeat the search and search toward the bottom of the check
list by pressing Ctrl-PgDn. To search toward the top of the list,
press Ctrl-PgUp. This allows you to easily review and retrieve
memorized checks with a minimum of data entry. For example, you can
just enter the letter 'P' and quickly review all memorized checks
to payees starting with 'P'.
This search function is case insensitive; it does not matter if you
enter lower- or upper-case letters. Likewise, it is length
insensitive; Exchequer will display any check which matches the data
you have entered.
In addition to the keys described in Entering Data (Section C.6), the
following keys are active:
F4 Displays the Categories Screen.
F7 Deletes the memorized transaction which is currently
displayed. Pressing F7 at this point works exactly like
pressing F7 from the Checks Screen. See Section C.8.c.
F9 Saves all of the changes to the memorized check which is
displayed to the check file.
Alt-S Displays the split information (if the transaction is
already split) or splits the transaction (if it is not).
PgUp Displays the preceding memorized check.
PgDn Displays the next memorized check.
Ctrl-Home Displays the first memorized check.
Ctrl-End Displays the last memorized check.
Ctrl-F Finds the first memorized check which matches the data
entered in the payee field.
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last search toward the top of the list of
memorized transactions.
29
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last search toward the bottom of the list of
memorized transactions.
ESC Cancels the Modify Check function and returns to the
Checks Screen.
C.8.c DELETING A MEMORIZED CHECK
You can delete a memorized transaction by highlighting it with the
arrow keys, then pressing F7 (Delete). Once a memorized transaction
has been deleted, there is no way to recover it directly. If you
keep up-to-date backups of your data files, however, you may be able
to recover the deleted data.
To prevent accidental erasure of important data, Exchequer asks you
to confirm that you want to delete this item. If you do, press F9 to
Save the deletion. Otherwise, press ESC. To repeat:
F9 Saves (confirms) the deletion.
ESC Cancels the Delete Check function.
C.9 CATEGORY SCREEN
The Category Screen displays a list of user-defined expense/budget
categories. By assigning your checks and other transactions to
specific categories, you can track expenses in that category.
Exchequer provides several reporting functions for this purpose.
From either the Register Screen or the Check Screen, pressing F4 will
move you to the Category Screen. To reach this screen from any other
point in the program, press the ESC key until you hear a beep, then
press F4.
If you see "F4 Categories" on the bottom command line of a data entry
field (e.g. while printing a check), you can also access the Category
Screen by pressing F4. This allows you to review your categories and
select the appropriate one for any transaction. You can return to
the data entry form by pressing either ESC or Return. If you press
Return, the category which is currently highlighted will be entered
into the data entry form. If you press ESC, no changes are made to
the data entry form.
There are six columns in the Category Screen:
* NUMBER
Exchequer allows you to define up to 255 different categories.
Category numbers can be any number between 1 and 999. The
default category number 0 is automatically assigned to any
transaction which is not explicitly assigned a different
category number.
30
If you try to assign a transaction to a category which does
not exist, Exchequer will warn you of this fact. However, it
will still allow you to use that number (on the assumption
that you know what you're doing). However, these transactions
will not be included in the Sorted By Category Reports.
* DESCRIPTION
This is simply a 35 character description of the category
(e.g. "Automobile Repair".
* TYPE (INCOME, EXPENSE, TRANSFER)
The Category Type determines how Exchequer treats the category
for reporting purposes. THE TYPE HAS NO IMPACT UPON HOW YOU
ENTER TRANSACTIONS OR ASSIGN TRANSACTIONS TO CATEGORIES. You
can make deposits or withdrawals to any type of category. For
example, a check you write to a customer for some returned
merchandise could be assigned to a "Sales" Income category.
The "Sales" category would then give you net sales rather than
gross sales. If you receive a rebate on a purchase, you could
enter this as a deposit to a "Supplies" Expense category.
The Expense and Income types are straightforward. Most
personal users will probably use just these two types.
The Transfer type is designed for business that need to track
income separately from cashflow. It is used for transactions
which do not affect net income. For example, a bank loan is
an example of a transfer. Although you receive money, it is
not included as income for accounting or tax purposes.
If you use Transfer categories, Exchequer will list these
categories below the Expense and Income categories on the
Income/Expense Report. The report uses the Transfer data to
calculate net cashflow for the account separately from net
income. Transfers are arbitrarily treated as expenses.
* BUDGET
* PERIOD (WEEK, MONTH, QUARTER, YEAR)
* TOTAL
Exchequer allows you to enter a budget for each category.
First, you enter a budget figure, then you enter the period
for the budget (e.g. Week, Month, Quarter, Year). The maximum
allowable budget is $99,999.99. Exchequer calculates the
total annual budget in the far right column; you cannot enter
this number directly. The maximum allowable annual budget is
thus $99,999.99 x 52 (per week) or $5,199,999.48. However,
Exchequer supports total withdrawals or deposits of only
$999,999.99 in a single category.
31
Exchequer allows you to use either set of budgets for
reporting purposes (specifically, in the Category Totals and
Income/Expense Reports). You make this selection using the
Modify Account Data option on the Accounts Menu. If you want
to evaluate your budget performance for the year, use the
Total Budget. If you want to do a comparison for a specific
month or quarter, use the Partial Budget. When you print the
report, be sure to select a report range which corresponds to
your budget period (i.e. a month or a quarter). Also, you
must be consistent in selecting your budget periods if you
want to do partial-year reports.
This screen shows 20 categories at a time. One of the categories is
always highlighted. This is the active (or selected) category. You
can see and select other categories by using the Up arrow, Down
arrow, PgUp, PgDn, Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-End keys on the keyboard.
At the bottom of the screen is the command menu. This shows the
function keys which are currently active. In addition, several other
keys are active and will initiate specific Exchequer functions. All
of the active keys and their functions are described below.
(Ctrl-key equivalents are given in parentheses).
F1 (Ctrl-Q) Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS. Any changes
to files are saved first.
Ctrl-F1 Exits Exchequer and returns to DOS without saving
files first.
F2 Displays the Setup Options menu (see Section C.12)
F3 Moves to the Register Screen and displays the
Account Options menu (see Section C.13)
F4 (Ctrl-B) Not active because the Categories Screen is
already displayed.
F5 (Ctrl-C) Switches to the Checks screen.
F6 (Ctrl-R) Switches to the Register Screen.
F7 (Ctrl-D) Deletes a category. See Section C.9.c.
F8 (Ctrl-E) Modifies a category. See Section C.9.b.
F9 (Ctrl-A) Adds a category. See Section C.9.a.
(Ctrl-S)
Ctrl-F9 Saves the three main data files.
F10 (Ctrl-P) Displays the Report Options menu. See Section C.11.
Return When the Category Screen is called from a data entry
form, pressing Return selects the currently
32
highlighted category, returns to the data form, and
enters the selected category in the category field.
ESC When the Category Screen is called from a data form,
pressing ESC returns to the data entry form without
selecting a category. Otherwise, pressing ESC has
no effect.
Ctrl-F Finds a category.
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last find towards the top of the list of
categories.
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last find towards the bottom of the list
of categories.
Alt-M Displays the amount of available memory.
The Find function for Categories works just like the Find function
for the Register. The only difference is that you can search for a
category number and/or description rather than date, check number,
etc.
C.9.a ADDING A CATEGORY
To add a new budget/expense category, press F9 (Add/Save). A new
line will appear at the bottom of the list of categories. Enter the
new category number and a description of the category. Press F9
again to save this new category. Exchequer will insert the category
in the proper location and clear the bottom line so you can add more
categories. Press ESC to cancel and display the existing categories.
If you try to add a category number which is already used, Exchequer
will ask you if you want to insert this number. If you insert a new
number, Exchequer will automatically renumber the smallest possible
block of categories to make room for the new number. It will also
renumber the categories on all register transactions and all
memorized checks as needed.
The following keys are active:
F7 Clears both the new category number and its description.
F9 Saves the new category to the list.
ESC Cancels the Add Category function and re-displays the list of
existing categories.
C.9.b MODIFYING A CATEGORY
To modify a category, highlight it using the arrow keys, then press
F8 (Modify). You can then modify the existing data or enter new
data. To save these changes, press F9 (Add/Save). Pressing ESC will
cancel the changes and return you to the Category Screen.
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If you try to change the category number to a number which is already
used, Exchequer will show an error message and refuse to do this.
(If you truly need to do this, you can insert a new category at the
desired location, delete it to make room, then change the number on
the existing category).
If you modify a category number, Exchequer will automatically update
the register and list of memorized checks to reflect the change.
F7 Clears both the category number and its description.
F9 Saves the modifications to the list.
ESC Cancels the Modify Category function and re-displays the list
of existing categories.
C.9.c DELETING A CATEGORY
Individual categories can be deleted by highlighting them with the
arrow keys, then pressing F7 (Delete). BE CAREFUL! Deleting a
category can affect all of your data files and there is no way to
directly recover from an accidental erasure. However, you may be
able to recover if you keep up-to-date copies of your data files.
To prevent accidental deletions, Exchequer will ask you to confirm
(save) each deletion. If you want to delete the category, press F9
to save (confirm) the changes. If not, press ESC.
If you try to delete a category which is used anywhere in either the
register or the list of memorized checks, Exchequer will warn you of
this fact and ask you if you want to proceed. If you do, then press
F9 to Save (confirm) the deletion. Otherwise, press ESC. If you go
ahead and delete this category, Exchequer will search through the
register and the list of memorized checks and change the category
number to 0 wherever the deleted category was used.
F9 Saves (confirms) deletion.
ESC Cancels the Delete Category function and re-displays list
of existing Categories.
C.10 PRINTING A CHECK(S)
You can print checks either in batch mode or one-by-one by pressing
F10 (Print) while the Checks Screen is displayed. You can also
"print" withdrawals and deposits by pressing F10. Exchequer treats
them just like checks, except that it doesn't actually print a check.
It does, however, enter them into the register. When you press F10,
the Checks Screen is replaced with a data entry form that displays
the information for the first check which is tagged.
You do not have to specify if you want to be in batch mode.
Exchequer automatically goes into batch mode whenever any of the
34
memorized transactions on the Checks Screen is "tagged". If you want
to print just one memorized check, you must still tag it before
pressing F10.
A specific check is tagged and untagged for printing by pressing the
space bar while the check is highlighted in the Checks Screen. When
a transaction is tagged, a small marker appears in the far left
column. Pressing Ctrl-T will tag all of the checks for printing
while Ctrl-U will untag all checks and allow you to print checks
one-by-one.
If you print a check with an amount of $0.00, Exchequer will print a
blank check made out to the designated payee. This is useful if you
know you are going to need a specific check (e.g. to a grocery store)
but won't know the amount until later. Don't forget to go back and
modify this transaction in the register once you know the amount!
Before you first print checks, Exchequer will remind you to insert
your checks into the printer and properly align them. If you wish to
test your alignment prior to printing, choose the Print Test Check
function from the Setup Options menu (See Section C.12) or press
Alt-T.
You can review other checks which you have printed (as well as any
other transactions which you have added to the register during this
session) without moving to the Register Screen. Use the PgUp, PgDn,
Ctrl-Home and Ctrl-End keys to move through a list of these new
transactions and display them on the check form. It is not possible
to modify any of these transactions while printing a check. You must
first go to the Register Screen, then press F8 (Modify).
However, pressing F10 at any time will print another check using the
data currently displayed on the screen. It is therefore easy to
print similar checks to the same person. Print the first check, then
press PgUp to re-display it. Change the data which should be
different, then press F10 again to print this new check. Press F7 to
clear the check form at any time.
The following keys are active while printing checks:
F4 Displays the Categories Screen.
F7 In batch mode, skips the current check. Otherwise
clears all data and displays a blank check form.
F9 In batch mode, saves any changes to the memorized check.
Otherwise, adds the transaction to the check list.
F10 Prints the check.
Alt-S Splits the transaction.
PgUp Displays the preceding check which was printed during
this session.
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PgDn Displays the next check which was printed during this
session.
Ctrl-Home Displays the first check which was printed during this
session.
Ctrl-End Displays the last check which was printed during this
session.
Ctrl-F Finds the first memorized check which matches the data
entered in the payee field.
Ctrl-PgUp Repeats the last search toward the top of the check list.
Ctrl-PgDn Repeats the last search toward the bottom of the list.
Alt-T Prints a test check.
ESC Cancels the Print Check function and returns to the
Checks Screen.
Don't forget to sign your checks before you mail them !!!
C.10.a PRINTING A BATCH OF CHECKS
If you have tagged any of the checks before pressing F10, Exchequer
will automatically display the information for the first tagged check
when you press F10. If the amount of the check you are printing is
$0.00, Exchequer will prompt you for the actual amount by beeping and
moving the cursor to the amount data field.
While a specific check is displayed, you can modify any of the data
prior to printing and recording. If you want to permanently save
these changes, press F9 to save the changes. Until and unless you
press F9, none of these changes are saved. You can also make
permanent modifications to a memorized check by pressing F8 (Modify)
while the Check Screen is displayed.
When all of the data is correct, press F10 again to print. Exchequer
will print the check and add the transaction to the register. In
addition, it will clear the batch indicator on the Checks Screen.
Then it will display the information for the next check.
If you decide that you do not want to print this check at this time,
press F7 to skip the check. If you decide to cancel this batch of
checks, press ESC to return to the Checks Screen. Note that
Exchequer only clears the batch indicator on a check when the check is
actually printed. If you skip a check or cancel the batch before it
is complete, the checks not printed will still be tagged for payment.
When Exchequer finishes printing a batch of checks, it clears the
check form and allows you to print checks one-by-one (see following
section).
36
C.10.b PRINTING A SINGLE CHECK
If none of the memorized checks is tagged for printing when you press
F10 (Print), Exchequer allows you to print checks one-by-one. When
you press F10, a blank check form is shown.
You can now enter the data for the new check. When all of the data
is correct, press F10 again to print. Exchequer will print the check
and add the transaction to the register (but not to the memorized
check list). When it is done printing, Exchequer will display the
blank check form again. You can then enter and print a new check if
you wish.
If you are working with a new check and decide that you want to
memorize it, press F9 (Add/Save) to save the information to the list
of memorized checks. Exchequer will assume that you do not want to
print this check every month. If you do, you can modify the data
using the Modify Check function (F8 from the Checks Screen).
C.10.c QUICK ENTRY
Exchequer offers a convenient way for retrieving memorized
transactions while you are printing checks. Just enter the first few
letters of the payee name, then press Ctrl-F (Find). Exchequer will
search from the top of the check list and display the first memorized
transaction which matches the data you entered. For example, if you
enter "ba", then press Ctrl-F with the SAMPLE files, Exchequer will
display the information for a Bank of America service charge.
You can repeat the search and search toward the bottom of the check
list by pressing Ctrl-PgDn. To search toward the top of the list,
press Ctrl-PgUp. This allows you to easily review and retrieve
memorized checks with a minimum of data entry. For example, you can
just enter the letter 'P' and quickly review all memorized checks to
payees starting with 'P'.
This search function is case insensitive; it does not matter if you
enter lower- or upper-case letters. Likewise, it is length
insensitive; Exchequer will display any check which matches the data
you have entered.
C.11 REPORTS
The Report menu provides access to Exchequer's 10 reports. Press F10
(Reports) from the Register Screen or Categories Screen to access the
Report Options menu.
Reports can be sent to the printer, the screen or to an ASCII file.
Choose the report's destination by using the left and right arrow
keys to select the destination at the bottom of the Reports menu.
If you display a report on the screen, you can start and stop the
display by pressing the <Space> key. You cannot move up and down
37
through the report when it is displayed on the screen; once the data
has scrolled off the top of the screen, it is lost. Press the ESC
key to cancel the report.
If you send a report to a file, you will be asked to enter the name
for the file. Enter any legal DOS file/pathname. Exchequer erases
any existing files with this name and does not check to see if this
file exists prior to sending the report, so be careful. Each report
must be sent to a separate file; you cannot append a report to an
existing file.
To select a report for printing, highlight the desired report using
the up and down arrows or the Home and End keys, then press either
F10 or Return to print that report. If you use the same printer for
printing both checks and reports, Exchequer will remind you to insert
regular paper into the printer before printing a report.
You can cancel a report while it is printing by pressing ESC.
Exchequer will ask you to confirm that you want to cancel the report.
For the first eight reports (which involve the check register), you
must select a range to be included in the report. This provides
great flexibility in reporting. For example, you can list all
transactions for a given month, find out how much money you spent on
groceries during February, etc. If you want to print the entire
register or sort all of your transactions by category, simply select
the entire register as your report range.
Once you have selected a print range, Exchequer assumes you want to
use this range for all subsequent reports. The first and last
transactions in the current print range are used as the starting
points when you select a range for the next report. If you want to
use the same range, simply press <Return> to accept these points.
You can also select a new range if you wish. The current range is
reset when you leave the Reports menu.
If you select one of these reports, the Reports menu will disappear.
Using the arrow keys, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-Home, Ctrl-End or
Ctrl-F (Find), move the highlight bar to one end of the range you
want to print (it doesn't matter whether it is the first or last
transaction in the range). Press Return to select this transaction
and mark it as the start of the range. (This transaction will be
included in the report). If you make a mistake, press ESC to backup
and re-select part of the register.
Use the arrow keys, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, Ctrl-Home, Ctrl-End or
Ctrl-F (Find) to select the other end of the section. The section
you have selected will be highlighted at all times. When you are
satisfied with your selection, press Return to print the report. You
will have one more chance to confirm that you want to proceed with
this report.
38
You can also control the format and content of reports by setting
certain values in the Account Configuration file. For example, you
can choose whether you want to print the memo and split information
for each transaction. You can also choose to double space reports
which may make them easier to read. This is not true double spacing;
instead, a blank line is inserted after an entire transaction (up to
12 lines) is listed.
Use Modify Account Data from the Accounts Menu to make these choices
(See Section C.13.3). The first eight reports involve the check
register. Each of the ten reports is described below:
1. Check Register
This report lists the selected range of the check register in
chronological order. It also calculates and displays the total
withdrawals and deposits within the report range.
2. Sorted by Category
This report lists the selected range of the register sorted by
category number. Deposits and withdrawals from each category are
sub-totalled. The net withdrawal or deposit for the category is
also calculated and displayed. Note that if you use split
transactions, this report will display split information even if
you have chosen not to print split information using the Accounts
Menu.
3. Sorted by Payee
This report shows the selected range of the register sorted
alphabetically by payee name. Deposits and withdrawals for each
payee are sub-totalled. The net withdrawal or deposit for the
category is also calculated and displayed. Be forewarned --
printing the entire register sorted by payee can be a VERY
lengthy process.
4. Single Category
This option allows you to list all of the transactions found
within the report range which are assigned to a single category.
The format is identical to the Sorted by Category Report.
When this option is selected, a data entry box will appear below
the Report Options menu. Enter the number of the category you
wish to print or press F4 to see the Categories screen and select
a category. When you are ready to print, press F10 or Return.
5. Single Payee
This option allows you to list all of the transactions to/from a
single party (payee). The format is identical to the Sorted by
Payee Report. When this option is select, a data entry box will
39
appear below the Report Options menu. Enter the name of the
payee you wish to print.
Exchequer ignores the difference between upper and lowercase
letters as it searches for matches to the payee name you entered.
If you enter "maryland auto club", Exchequer will print
transactions to "Maryland Auto Club", "maryland auto club",
"maRYLanD auTo CLUb", etc.
Unlike the Find function, however, Exchequer is length-sensitive
and will not include partial matches. For example, if you enter
"Maryland" as the payee to match, Exchequer will NOT print
transactions to "Maryland Auto Club", "Maryland AAA", etc.
When you are ready to print, press F10 or Return.
6. Uncleared Checks
This report is identical to the Check Register Report, except
only transactions which have not been marked as cleared are
listed.
7. Category Totals
This report lists the total withdrawals and deposits as well as
the net total for each category within the report range. If you
wish, the budget and the difference between budget and actual for
each category will also be listed. Only categories which have
non-zero amounts or non-zero budgets are listed. You can use the
Modify Account Data function to select whether to show the
budgets and also to select which budgets (total or partial) to
show. See the Categories Section for more details on partial and
total budgets.
8. Income/Expense
This report generates an income statement for this account. The
categories are organized by type (income, expense, transfer) and
the total amounts in each category are listed. Total income,
total expenses, net income, total transfers and net cashflow are
also calculated. See the Categories Section (Section C.9) for
more information on how to use income, expense and transfer
categories.
Note that this report is not a true income statement as your
accountant would produce. Exchequer is not designed to directly
handle accrual accounting techniques nor is it designed to
handled non-cash transactions such as depreciation expenses.
However, this report can closely approximate a true income
statement for many small business. And if your need to handle
accrual or non-cash items is minimal, you may be able to simulate
them using "dummy" categories or accounts. Ask your accountant
for professional guidance if needed.
40
9. List of Memorized Checks
This option prints a complete list of all memorized checks.
10. List of Categories
This option prints a complete list of all budget/expense
categories.
C.12 SETUP OPTIONS MENU
The Setup Options Menu can be accessed at any time from the Checks,
Register, or Categories screens by pressing F2. This menu allows the
user to set various default values for Exchequer.
To select one of the following six options, highlight that option
with the Up and Down arrows, Home and End keys, then press Return.
Press ESC to remove the Setup Options Menu and return to the normal
display.
C.12.a PRINT TEST CHECK
When this option is selected, Exchequer will print a test check to
verify that your checks are properly aligned in the printer. Be sure
to insert the checks into the printer before selecting this option.
C.12.b SET DRIVE/DIRECTORY
When Exchequer starts, it reads the program configuration file
(XC.CFG) to determine the drive/directory where the data files are
located. You can change this default drive/directory selection with
the Modify Program Defaults option (Section C.12.e).
When you select this option, a data entry box will appear below the
menu. Enter the name of the new drive/directory (a maximum of 35
characters) and press Return. This drive/directory will be used
until you change it again.
If you have work which has not been saved, Exchequer will ask you if
you want to save it to the current drive/directory before it changes
the drive/directory. If you save the data files after changing the
current directory, they will be saved in the new directory. (The new
drive/directory must already exist. See your DOS manual for
instructions on how to create a directory.)
C.12.c SET TODAY'S DATE
Exchequer automatically retrieves the current date from the computer
if it has been set with DOS. (Refer to your DOS manual for how to
set the date). This option is used to change the current date.
Exchequer uses the current date when it prints checks and when it
prints reports. You can also change the date to be used on any
individual check or transaction at the time you print or enter it.
41
When you select this option, a small data entry box will appear
beneath the menu. Enter the date that you want Exchequer to use on
your checks and reports. When you have entered the correct date,
press Return to accept it or press ESC to cancel and return to the
Setup Options menu. Remember that you can use the "+" and "-" keys
to change the date.
C.12.d SET STARTING CHECK NUMBER
This option allows the user to set the check number for the first
check which Exchequer will print. A small data entry box will appear
beneath the menu. When you have entered the correct number, press
Return. Press ESC to cancel and return to the Setup Options menu.
Remember that you can use the "+" and "-" keys to change the number.
Exchequer will automatically increment the check number each time it
prints. The check number can be changed any time you print a check.
Exchequer will automatically increment this new check number until it
is changed again.
C.12.e MODIFY PROGRAM DEFAULTS
When first started, Exchequer reads the program configuration file
("XC.CFG") to five four default values. You can change these default
settings by selecting this option.
1) Default account name
This is the name (a maximum of 8 characters) of the account
which is automatically loaded whenever Exchequer is started.
This default is set to "SAMPLE" when you receive Exchequer.
2) Default drive/directory
This is the name of the disk drive and/or directory where the
default data files are stored. Exchequer will use this
drive/directory as the current drive until and unless you
change it using the Set Drive/Directory option. Drive/
directory names can be up to 35 characters long. Examples of
valid drive/directory names: "A:", "C:\CHECKS", "C:\XC". The
default directory must already exist.
This default is not set when you receive Exchequer.
Exchequer will thus search only in the current drive/directory
for the data files. You must enter a valid drive/directory
name if you want to start Exchequer from any directory using
the DOS PATH statement.
The Exchequer program file (XC.EXE) does not have to be stored
in the same drive/directory as the data files. However, the
Exchequer configuration file (XC.CFG) must either be in the
same drive/directory as the program (XC.EXE) or on your PATH.
42
3) Changes between autosave?
Exchequer automatically saves the data files after a certain
number of changes have been made to them. This prevents the
loss of significant amounts of data during a power outage or
other malfunction. You can use this option to set the number
of changes between "autosaves". The larger the number, the
longer you can use Exchequer before it saves a file.
The default value is ten; the maximum allowable number is 999.
Although you cannot turn the autosave feature off in
Exchequer, setting the number to a very high number will
effectively eliminate this function.
Remember: Using F1 (Quit) to exit Exchequer always saves the
data files before returning to DOS. Also, pressing Ctrl-F9
(Save) at almost any point in the program saves all three main
data files.
4) Printer for reports:
5) Printer for checks:
This option allows you to specify where you want to send your
reports and checks. Pressing the <SPACE> bar will cycle
through the available options -- LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, PRN, COM1,
COM2, COM3, AUX. Although Exchequer can print to any of these
devices, it cannot set their parameters. See your DOS manual
for information on how to do this (e.g. the Mode command).
C.12.f MODIFY CHECK LAYOUT
Exchequer can be customized to work with virtually any type of
continuous-feed check. The Modify Check Layout function provides a
highly visual and interactive method for changing the layout of the
check.
Most continuous feed checks have a separate stub which Exchequer can
use to print certain information. The most common type of check is a
bottom-stub check with an actual dimension of 8-1/2 inches wide by
3-1/2 inches long. Exchequer can also be configured to work with
top-stub checks and checks with no stubs. You make this choice by
modifying the account data. It will also work with checks which are
shorter than 3-1/2 inches.
Exchequer is not designed to work with checks narrower than 8-1/2
inches wide. You may be able to use such checks by manually
selecting a printer mode which prints 132 characters on a line such
as the compressed mode on Epson FX-series printers. However, Left
Coast Software does not provide support for this type of check.
Exchequer is specifically designed to print checks for use with
window envelopes. You have complete control over the location of the
payee name (which is normally used as the first line in the address)
plus three additional address lines. If you cannot use the payee
43
name as the first line of the address on your particular check, you
can type the payee name on the first address line.
Exchequer prints up to 10 separate pieces of information on each
check that it prints. These are:
o Check Number
o Date
o Amount (in numerals)
o Amount (in words)
o Payee
o Address (3 separate lines)
o Memo
o Split
Although most checks come with pre-printed check numbers, Exchequer
also prints the check number so you can verify that your check numbers
and the numbers on the checks themselves correspond.
The memo field can be used for many purposes. Some people use it to
make notes to themselves; others use it to provide information to the
payee (i.e. listing the invoice number or your credit card account
number). Your intended purpose will dictate where you should locate
this field. You can also control whether the memo field is printed
at all by modifying the account configuration file.
The Split information field lists the individual items comprising the
split. The 15-character description and the amount is printed for
all non-zero amounts. In addition, the date, the check number, and
the total amount of the check are printed at the bottom. This last
line is printed even if the check itself is not split. YOU MUST HAVE
A CHECK WITH A STUB TO PRINT THE SPLIT INFORMATION. You can also
control whether the split information is printed at all by modifying
the account configuration file.
When you select the Modify Check Layout function, a check layout
screen will appear which displays the main body of the check. This
screen shows the actual location of each data field. When you start,
the date field will be highlighted. The location of this field on
the check can be changed by using the arrow keys to move it around
the screen. When you are satisfied with its location, press Return
to move to the next field.
Although the location of most of the data is restricted to the main
body of the check, you can locate the memo field on either the body
of the check or on the stub. You can also locate the split
information on either part of the check (although it will not print
unless you have a stub).
To move either of these fields onto the stub (or back onto the check
itself), simply move it below the bottom of the check (or the top of
the stub). The stub will be displayed and you can locate the data
wherever you want.
44
If the checks you are using do not have a separate stub, simply move
both the memo and the split fields up until it appears on the main
part of the check. Don't worry -- the split information will not
print if you do not have a stub. You must also use the Modify
Account Data option on the Accounts menu to tell Exchequer that your
checks do not have a stub (See Section C.13.3).
When locating the split information, remember that the layout screen
only shows the top left corner of the split information. When
printed, this data can require up to 12 lines to print. BE CAREFUL
NOT TO OVERLAP THE SPLIT INFORMATION AND MEMO DATA FIELDS!
You can change the length of the check by pressing PgUp or PgDn. You
must be working with the main body of the check; this does not work
when you are working with the stub portion of the check.
Pressing F10 (Print) will print a sample check on the printer which
you can use to verify and adjust the check layout. When you are
satisfied with the entire check layout, press F9 (Add/Save) to save
this information to the check layout data file (e.g. MOORE.DAT on the
original distribution diskette). You create this data file whenever
you open an account (See Section C.13.b) or modify the account data
(See Section C.13.e).
Pressing ESC cancels this function and returns to the Setup menu.
If you layout a check with overlapping data fields, the printing
results are unpredictable. (Most of the time, the printer will print
one check, then keep feeding checks through the printer).
C.13 ACCOUNT OPTIONS MENU
The Account Options Menu provides the user access to several
account-related functions. It can be activated from the Register,
Checks or Categories Screens by pressing F3. If either the Checks or
Categories Screen is displayed, Exchequer will first move you to the
Register Screen before displaying this menu.
To select one of the following six options, highlight that option
with the up and down arrows, home and end, then press Return. Press
ESC to remove the Account Options Menu and return to the Register
Screen.
C.13.a BALANCE/RECONCILE ACCOUNT
One of Exchequer's biggest time-saving features is the Balance
Account function. If you are using Exchequer to maintain the master
record of your account, there are three steps you must follow before
selecting this function.
1. Enter all new transactions from your regular checkbook into
Exchequer using the Add Transaction function (F9 from the Register
Screen).
45
2. Enter all additional transactions from you checking account
statement (e.g. bank service charges) by using the Add Transaction
Function.
3. Review the bank statement and mark all transactions in the
Register which have cleared the bank by pressing the space bar
when that transaction is highlighted.
After completing these steps, you can select this option and a new
display screen will appear. Enter the ending balance shown on your
bank statement and press Return. Exchequer will search through the
check register for all uncleared checks and deposits and calculate
the following:
* Number of uncleared checks
* Dollar amount of uncleared checks
* Number of uncleared deposits
* Dollar amount of uncleared deposits
* Check Register Balance
* Adjusted Check Register Balance (equals Check Register Balance
plus uncleared checks minus uncleared deposits )
* Difference ( equals Ending Balance on Bank Statement minus
Adjusted Check Register Balance)
The adjusted balance calculated by Exchequer should equal your bank
statement balance, so the Difference should be $0.00. If this is not
the case, return to the Register by pressing ESC and search for
transactions which have been improperly marked (or not marked) as
cleared. Also, search for additional transactions which you have not
entered or have entered incorrectly into the register.
If you are not using Exchequer as the master record for your account,
Exchequer can still help balance your account by totalling the
uncleared transactions in the register. When you receive your
statement, mark the cleared transactions (wherever they were entered)
in your checkbook or in Exchequer's register. Use the Balance
Account function to determine how many of Exchequer's transactions
have not been cleared.
C.13.b LOAD EXISTING ACCOUNT
Select this option to load another existing account. A two-line data
entry box will appear beneath the menu. Enter the drive/directory
which contains the data files for the new account and the name of the
new account. The drive/directory which you specify here becomes the
new current directory. Press F9 to load. Press ESC to cancel and
return to the Account Options Menu.
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When you switch accounts, Exchequer will save all of your current
data files (if they have been changed), then load the data files for
the new account. If Exchequer cannot load the specified file for any
reason, you will not be able to work with the new account. "NONAME"
will appear as the account name at the bottom of the screen.
C.13.c BACKUP ACCOUNT FILES
This function is used to copy all of the data files for a specific
account for backup purposes. We strongly encourage you to make a
backup every time you use Exchequer. This will help prevent against
accidental loss of data. (We also recommend that you print out, at a
minimum, all new transactions every time you use Exchequer).
When this function is selected, a two-line data entry box will appear
below the menu. Enter the name of the drive/directory where you want
the backups stored and the name of the backup (e.g. "BACKUP"). The
drive/directory you enter does NOT become the current directory. The
name of the backup must be different from the account name.
Press F9 to Save the account files to the backup files. Press ESC to
cancel and return to the Account Options menu.
After backing up an account, there will be five new files on your
disk (e.g. "BACKUP.CFG", "BACKUP.REG", "BACKUP.CHK", "BACKUP.CAT",
and "BACKUP.DAT"). In essence, you have created a new account which
is identical to the original. Therefore, you can access the backup
files simply by switching to this backup account.
If the backup files already exist, Exchequer will ask you if you want
to replace these files. If you want to keep separate backups for
separate dates, give the backup files unique names!
We also recommend that you make additional archive copies of all
account files (and the backup files created by Exchequer) on floppy
disks or tape cartridge and keep them in a safe place.
C.13.c OPEN NEW ACCOUNT
Selecting this option opens a new account. When you open an account,
Exchequer creates a new account configuration file which contains
information about the account. When this option is selected, a data
entry screen appears which allows you to enter the following
information:
1) Account Name
This is the name of the account (a maximum of 8 characters).
Enter the filename only without an extension. Enter the file
name only without an extension; Exchequer will automatically
add the extension ".CFG" to the account configuration file and
the extension ".REG" to the register file.
47
2) Account Number
If you want you can enter the account number on this line.
3) Account Description
This is an optional description of the account (a maximum of
35 characters).
4) Category Filename
This is the name of the file which contains the list of
categories you want to use with this account. Enter the file
name only without an extension; Exchequer will automatically
add an extension of ".CAT". You can use an existing file of
categories with any new account. Simply enter the name of the
file you want to use.
5) Checks Filename
The name of the file which contains the memorized checks you
want to use with this account. Enter the file name only
without an extension; Exchequer will automatically add an
extension of ".CHK". You can use an existing file of
memorized checks with any new account. Simply enter the name
of the file you want to use.
6) Check Layout Data
The file which contains the check layout data. Enter the file
name only without an extension; Exchequer will automatically
add the extension ".DAT". You do not need to specify a check
layout file. If you do not, Exchequer will use its default
values for printing checks.
7) Print Memo on Checks?
If you want to print the memo field on your checks, select YES
on this line. The default is YES.
8) Print Splits on Checks?
If you want to print information on split transactions on your
checks, select YES. Exchequer will not print this information
unless you tell it that you are using checks with stubs (see
next item). The default is YES.
9) Do checks have a stub?
If your checks have a top or bottom stub, select YES. The
default is YES.
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10) Top or bottom stub?
If your checks have a stub, you must also tell Exchequer
whether it is a top or bottom stub. The default is bottom
stub. If your checks do not have a stub, you can ignore this
selection.
11) Print memo line on reports?
Most of the report options (see Section C.11) print numerous
entries from the check register. If this default value is set
to YES, Exchequer will print the check number, date, payee and
amount on one line and then will print the memo and category
number on a second line just below that. If this value is set
to NO, Exchequer will not print the memo and category number
line.
12) Print Splits on Reports?
If this selection is set to YES, Exchequer will print all of
the information about split transactions in its reports.
Specifically, it will print the description, category number
and amount of all non-zero items below the transaction itself.
Note that if you set this setting to NO, Exchequer will still
print the split information if you select the Sorted By
Category Report.
13) Use Budgets on Reports?
Use this setting to choose whether you want to include the
budget for each category as well as the difference between
budget and actual expenditures/deposits on the Category Totals
and the Income/Expense Reports.
14) Use Total or Partial Budgets?
If you choose to use budgets (see 13), you can also choose
whether you want to use the total budget or the partial budget
(i.e. $2000 per month). This allows you to do partial-year
reports. For example, if all of your budgets are on a monthly
basis, you could produce a monthly Income/Expense Report by
choosing the appropriate report, then selecting all
transactions for that month. However, you must be consistent;
if you mix budget periods, the budget figures in your reports
will not be accurate.
15) Double Space Reports?
You can choose to double space most of the reports. This is
not true double spacing. Instead, Exchequer will print a
blank line after each transaction listing (which could be as
long as 12 lines).
49
If you do not specify a filename for the Checks, Categories or Check
Layout File, Exchequer will automatically use the Account name for
these files.
When all of the information is correct, press F9 to open the new
account. Exchequer will save the data files for the account which is
currently loaded and create the new data files immediately. The new
files are created in the current drive/directory. (Exchequer
determines if there are any files with these names. If so,
Exchequer uses these files rather than creating new files).
Press ESC to cancel this function and return to the Account Options
menu.
If you want Exchequer to automatically load this account whenever it
starts, you will need to change the program defaults by selecting the
Modify Program Defaults from the Setup Options menu. See Section
C.12.e.
C.13.e MODIFY ACCOUNT DATA
This option allows you to modify the account configuration file you
created when you opened a new account. The data entry screen which
appears is identical to the one you used to open the account. (See
Section C.13.b). The impact of changing any of the five items in the
account configuration file is described below:
1) Account Name
Exchequer will first save the register to the current
register data file, then create a copy of this file with the
new name. Any future changes will be saved to the new data
file.
2) Account Description
Changing the account description has no impact on any file
except the account configuration file.
3) Checks Filename
4) Category Filename
5) Check Layout Data
If you change the name of the checks file, the categories
file, or the check layout file, Exchequer will search for an
existing file (in the current directory only) with this name.
If it does not exist, Exchequer will create a new file with
this name. If it does exist, Exchequer will use this file
whenever you load this account. You must use the Load
Existing Account option (See Section C.13.c) if you want to
start using this new file immediately.
(Although Exchequer allows you to specify a new category or
checks file for an existing account, doing so can have
50
DISASTROUS results since this will almost certainly destroy
the correlation between the category numbers on the three
files. BE VERY CAREFUL if you change the names of these two
files).
When you are satisfied with the account information, press F9 to Save
it to the account configuration file. Press ESC to cancel this
function and return to the Account Options menu.
C.13.f ROLL ACCOUNT FORWARD
Exchequer can handle up to 4000 transactions in its check register.
This should be more than sufficient to handle an entire year's worth
of work for most Exchequer users. At some time (typically at the
start of the year) you will want to roll the account forward to make
room for more transactions. When you do this, Exchequer stores all
of the old transactions in a separate archive (as opposed to a
backup) file, calculates a new beginning balance for the account, and
inserts an entry showing that beginning balance in your account.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING THIS FUNCTION SINCE IT IS IRREVERSIBLE!
MAKE SEVERAL BACKUP COPIES OF YOUR ACCOUNT FILES BEFORE ROLLING AN
ACCOUNT FORWARD. IF YOU ARE NOT CERTAIN YOU WANT TO ROLL THE ACCOUNT
FORWARD, STOP IMMEDIATELY!
When you select this option, you will be asked to enter the
drive/directory where you want the files stored and the name of the
archive file. When you are ready to proceed, press F9 (Add/Save).
Exchequer will then display the register and ask you to mark the end
of the section you want to save in the archive file. Use the arrow
keys, Home, End, Ctrl-Home, Ctrl-End or Ctrl-F (Find) to make your
selection, then press Return to proceed. All transactions which are
highlighted will eventually be stored in the archive file. At this
point, you will be given another chance to confirm that you actually
want to archive this account.
Exchequer will first save the current data files, then write all of
the old transactions to the archive file. These transactions are
then deleted from the current register and the updated register file
is saved again. The first entry in the updated register will be
labelled "BEGINNING BALANCE" and will show the balance as of that
date. Exchequer also creates copies of the account configuration,
checks, category and check layout files. This allows you to make a
permanent record of these files as of this date.
The archive file which is created with this process can be viewed,
modified, and printed just like any other account. To do this,
select the Load Existing Account option (Section C.13.c). YOU SHOULD
MAKE BACKUP COPIES OF THIS ARCHIVE FILE IMMEDIATELY either from
within Exchequer or with DOS.
If all checks in the archive file have been marked as cleared, the
cleared marker on the beginning balance entry will be set on. If
there are some transactions in the archive file which have not been
51
cleared, this marker will be off. As with the other transactions,
you can toggle this marker on and off by pressing the space bar.
The Balance Account function will not produce accurate results until
all transactions in the old file are cleared. Balancing your account
will be easier if you wait until all of the transactions that you
want to write to the archive file are cleared before you archive
them.
52
D. OTHER USES FOR EXCHEQUER
Although Exchequer is designed primarily as a check writing/
checkbook management program, you can use it for a wide variety of
simple accounting tasks. Some potential applications include:
* Savings Accounts
Although you will not be writing checks on a savings account,
Exchequer's other functions can be used just as they would be
with a checking account.
* Credit Card Accounts
Use Exchequer to manage your credit card accounts by opening a
separate account for each credit card. Simply enter each charge
(including interest charges) on your credit card as a deposit and
all payments as checks. The balance shown in Exchequer's Register
will be the amount you owe on your credit card.
An advantage to using Exchequer for this purpose is that you can
assign each charge to a category which is useful for identifying
your tax-related expenditures when preparing your tax return.
* Payments to a Doctor
Exchequer is also useful for tracking payments to a doctor. The
method for doing this is essentially identical to tracking a
credit card account. Open a separate account for each doctor and
enter all bills as deposits and all payments to the doctor as
withdrawals. The final balance shown on Exchequer's Register is
the amount you owe the doctor at the current time.
By assigning bills and payments to separate categories, you can
easily track medical expenses for each member of your family. You
can also track insurance payments this way.
(Hint: Mark each doctor's bill as "cleared" in Exchequer's
Register when you or your doctor receives the corresponding
payment from your insurance company or when it is fully paid.
You'll be able to tell at a glance the status of each bill).
* Accounts Receivable
If you run a small business, you can use Exchequer to track
accounts payable as described in the preceding section. You can
also use it to track your accounts receivable. Treat each invoice
as a check (which allows you to enter invoice numbers as check
numbers) and enter the customer and/or a description of the
invoice as the payee. The amount you are owed will be shown as a
negative balance. By assigning each customer a unique category
number, you can use just one account to track all of your Accounts
Receivable. Use the Print Sorted By Category (or Print Sorted By
Payee) from the Reports Menu to get an up-to-date status report.
53
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Left Coast provides free technical support for Exchequer. If you
require technical support, please call us at (408) 996-3130 between
9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Pacific time (12:00 Noon to 8:00 P.M. Eastern
time). You may also write us at:
Left Coast Software
P.O. Box 160601
Cupertino, CA 95016-0601
You may also send us a message on CompuServe (71160,756). It may
take us a several days to respond to CompuServe messages.
You may obtain the most recent version of the program from
CompuServe or GEnie. New versions are uploaded to these services
almost immediately after their release.
We thank you for supporting Exchequer. If you have suggestions for
how to improve the program, please write us. We love hearing from
our customers.
54
OTHER LEFT COAST PROGRAMS
Left Coast Software also sells two other shareware programs for the
PC -- PC-Areacode and Mandelbrot Magic. To order any Left Coast
product, call (408) 996-3130 or use the order form on the next page.
We accept VISA and MasterCard.
PC-AREACODE (Version 2.1)
PC-Areacode is a useful utility program which can find the areacode
for virtually any city in the U.S. and Canada in less than two
seconds on a 4.77 Mhz PC and a floppy drive. It contains almost
18,000 city names in its built-in database. You can either browse
through the cities in its database or type in the name of a city you
want to locate. You can even type in an areacode and PC-Areacode
will tell you what state it serves. PC-Areacode can run as either a
standalone program or as a memory-resident utility.
PC-Areacode runs on any IBM PC, XT, AT or PS/2 compatible computer
running DOS 2.0 or higher. The registration fee for PC-Areacode is
just $15.00.
MANDELBROT MAGIC (Version 3.1)
Fractal geometry has been used in the past to create images and
models of many differing subjects. From three-dimensional pictures
of landscapes in movies to an accurate cross section of the heart,
fractals are at the leading edge of research in many fields.
Mandelbrot Magic generates stunning color displays ("slides") of the
Mandelbrot Set and Julia Sets, a famous group of fractals. The
Mandelbrot Set has been called "the most complicated object in
mathematics." Fractal geometry is a complicated mathematical field,
but Mandelbrot Magic is easy to use and will create spectacular
slides with a few simple inputs.
With Mandelbrot Magic, you can create a new slide or load and view an
existing slide from disk. The program runs on virtually any color
graphics adapter and supports four different color modes from CGA
(320 x 200 x 4 colors) to VGA (640 x 480 x 16 colors), depending on
which adapter you use. Although the program offers three automatic
coloring algorithms, the user has complete control over the color of
any pixel as well as the color palette. Several different pre-
programmed palettes are also provided. The program also features
different "animation" techniques which make the features in the slide
appear to move.
One of the unique things about fractals is that they reveal more and
more detail the closer you get and the small-scale details are
similar to the large-scale details. With Mandelbrot Magic, you can
graphically select any part of the slide to magnify. You can "zoom"
in on various features of the fractal and reveal more detail. You
55
can also create slideshows consisting of a sequence of up to 20
existing slides.
Generating a slide is an intensive computational task and can take
from three to sixteen hours. However, the program supports the use
of an 8087 math coprocessor which will cut generation times by a
factor of 3 to 5. You can also stop work on a slide then resume
generation at a later time. In addition, registered users receive a
copy of BackMAGIC, a memory resident program that can generate slides
in the background while you run other programs!
The documentation includes a list of suggested parameters for
interesting slides and a list of suggested readings for those who
want to explore the theoretical foundations of fractals in greater
detail.
Mandelbrot Magic runs on any IBM PC, XT, AT or PS/2 compatible
computer running DOS 2.0 or higher. It requires a CGA, MCGA, EGA or
VGA video adapter (EGA or VGA recommended). Mandelbrot Magic
requires at least 200 K, 350 K and 430 K of free memory for a CGA,
EGA and VGA equipped system, respectively. An 8087, 80287 or 80387
math co-processor is recommended but not required.
The registration fee for Mandelbrot Magic Version 3.1 is just $15.00.
56
ORDER/REGISTRATION FORM
If you want to register for Exchequer, simply order the appropriate
number of copies of the program. You may also order/register by phone
by calling (408) 996-3130.
Ship to: Bill to (if different):
_________________________ ___________________________
_________________________ ___________________________
_________________________ ___________________________
_________________________ ___________________________
Payment Method (please circle one): VISA MC Check COD
Credit Card Number:_________________ Expiration Date: _______
Name on card (if different): ____________________________________
Signature (if using credit card): _______________________________
PLEASE SHIP ME THE FOLLOWING:
_____ copies of Exchequer at $15.00 = ____________________
_____ copies of PC-Areacode at $15.00 = ____________________
_____ copies of Mandelbrot Magic at $15.00 = ____________________
(includes BackMAGIC)
California Residents Add Sales Tax = ____________________________
Shipping/Handling (per order) 3.00
TOTAL: ____________________________
Send form to:
Left Coast Software
P.O. Box 160601
Cupertino, CA 95016-0601
57
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #1786
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
CHANGES !!! 10514 4-11-90 4:22p
CHANGES BAT 430 4-11-90 4:22p
DISCOUNT 16451 4-11-90 4:22p
EXAMPLES DOC 17502 4-11-90 4:22p
GO BAT 527 4-11-90 4:22p
MOORE DAT 110 4-11-90 4:22p
PRINTDOC BAT 1076 4-11-90 4:22p
SAMPLE CAT 3072 4-11-90 4:22p
SAMPLE CFG 193 4-11-90 4:22p
SAMPLE CHK 10816 4-11-90 4:22p
SAMPLE REG 5440 4-11-90 4:22p
SAMPLE SPL 4872 4-11-90 4:22p
XC CFG 87 4-11-90 4:22p
XC DOC 158728 4-11-90 4:22p
XC EXE 122192 4-11-90 4:22p
15 file(s) 352010 bytes
0 bytes free