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|Cบ |5Feature Program|C บ             ^1 Check Tracker |C              บ |5Feature Program|C บ
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^Cby
^CRad Delaroderie

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

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

^C^1Program Requirements

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

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

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

^C^1Program Features

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

^C^1Starting Check Tracker

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

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

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

^C^1chxtrx john's normal

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

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


^C^1The Account Index Screen

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

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

^C^1Adding an Account

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

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

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

^C^1Modifying an Account

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

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

^C^1Deleting an Account

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

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

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

^C^1The Checking Account Screen

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

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

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

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

^C^1Adding a Transaction

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

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

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

    ^1Date:

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


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

    ^1Type:

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

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

    ^1Description:

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

    ^1Amount:

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

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


^C^1Modifying a Transaction

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

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

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


^C^1Deleting a Transaction

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

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


^C^1Voiding a Transaction

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

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

^C^1Clearing a Transaction

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

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

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

^C^1Printing the Checking Account

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


    * The whole account, or

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

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

^C^1Searching the Checking Account

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

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

^C^1Reconciling the Checking Account

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

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

^C^1Quitting Check Tracker

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

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

 ^1Outside BBD

    To run this program outside the ^1Big Blue Disk^0 menu, type: ^1CHXTRX^0.

 DISK FILES THIS PROGRAM USES:
^FCHXTRX.EXE
^FCHXTRX.HLP
^FCHXTRX.LST
