|Cษอออออออออออออออออหออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออหอออออออออออออออออป
|Cบ |5Feature Program|C บ               ^1 CC Tracker |C               บ |5Feature Program|C บ
|Cศอออออออออออออออออสออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออสอออออออออออออออออผ
^Cby
^CRad Delaroderie

    CC Tracker is a program designed to help you maintain personal registers of
 your various credit cards.  You can maintain up to 1,000 different credit card
 accounts, with up to 1,000 transactions per account!

    This program is ideal for computerizing your credit card registers.  Entry
 screen flexibility lets you enter your data quickly and accurately, and
 special search features let you create sub-lists almost instantly.  CC
 Tracker's strengths are that it's very friendly, convenient, and intuitive.

^CProgram Requirements

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

    CC Tracker can be run from a floppy disk system, but with very limited
 space available for data; or a floppy disk can be used as a data disk within a
 hard disk setup (with nearly the same limitations).  A hard disk is strongly
 recommended, however, for full use of the program's storage potential and
 speed, and a printer (dot-matrix or laser preferred, but not required) is
 needed, of course, to utilize the program's printing functions.

^CProgram Features

    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 return you to a previous point, abort
 any process, or quit the program.

    A sudden, unexpected power loss--caused by, say, a thunderstorm-- during
 program execution causes no loss of new data, because CC Tracker physically
 writes any and all file changes to the disk immediately, rather than wait
 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, 3-D effect shadowed "windows" are used throughout the program in a
 visually appealing manner.

    The "point & shoot" selection method is available for most program choices.
 The program always remembers your previous choices, and offers those same
 choices as a default path during 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.

    CC 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, CC Tracker assumes the current
 year.  CC Tracker then restructures the entry into a more readable form for
 you.

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

^CStarting the Program

    To start, type "CCTrax" at the DOS prompt and press the <Enter> key.  CC
 Tracker first displays the Title Page, and then presents the Account Index
 Screen.  In this screen, "3x5 cards" of all accounts in the index are
 displayed one at a time.  One of the fields on every card is called the "DOS
 Password" field.

    CC Tracker has a special start-up option that allows you to bypass the
 Account Index Screen and go directly to any register you wish to see.  You do
 this by typing "CCTrax", a space, any part of the "DOS Password" entry found
 on the 3x5 card of the register you wish to see, and then the <Enter> key.
 See the below example of how to take advantage of this feature:

    Let's say you add a VISA card account to your index and, in the "DOS
 Password" field, you type "My usual VISA account".  At any later time when you
 start the CC Tracker program, you can enter, for instance,

^Ccctrax usual visa

 at the DOS prompt, and press the <Enter> key.  After displaying the Title
 Page, CC 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 "usual visa".  If it finds a match (as it would it this example),
 CC Tracker bypasses the Account Index Screen and goes directly to the register
 of that particular VISA account.  This is a practical and convenient time-
 saver if you access one particular account most of the time.

    Note that the above example implies that CC 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 "my", or "visa account", or even "sa ac" after
 typing "CCTrax" at the DOS prompt.  Any command line parameter that matches
 any part of the password for that account, in upper or lower case (or any
 combination) will trigger a match.


^CThe Account Index Screen

    After displaying the Title Page, CC Tracker presents the Account Index
 Screen.  The accounts are 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 displayed account
            to access the account's register
      <Ins> Add an account to the index
       <F4> Edit the displayed account information
      <Del> Remove the displayed account from the index
      <Esc> Quit the program


^CAdding an Account to the Index

    Choosing this option allows you to add an account to the Account Index.
 Cursor through the fields and enter the information.  The only required entry
 is "Type Card", because that field 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 suggestions of the information being sought.

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

^CEditing an Existing 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.

^CDeleting an Existing 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, CC 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.

^CThe Account Register Screen

    Pressing the <Enter> key on a displayed 3x5 card in the Account Index
 screen selects that account for data display, and you are presented with a
 register of that account's transactions.  At this point, you can:

    <Ins> Add a transaction to the account
     <F4> Edit the highlighted transaction
    <Del> Delete the highlighted transaction
     <F2> Print the account
     <F6> Search the account
    <Esc> Return to the Account Index


^CAdding a Transaction to the Account Register

    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.

    Upon completion, the new entry is chronologically inserted into the account
 register.  If necessary, intermediate balances are instantly updated.

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


 Date:

    The date is entered first, and CC Tracker is very forgiving as to how you
 enter it.  For instance, if you enter "6,21" CC Tracker will know that you
 wanted "06-21-91" to be used and will make that entry for you.

 Type:

    For "Type Entry", you are presented with a "point & shoot" box of choices.
 "PURC", representing "purchase", is your first choice on the list, and will
 probably be your most often used selection.

 Description:

    A description field is provided for any description or comment you wish to
 make regarding the new entry.  Used wisely, this field can be used to
 associatively index otherwise unrelated entries when using the "Search"
 features of this program.  For example, if you make a point of including the
 phrase "Rx" in your description of all medical purchases on that account, you
 can later get an sub-listing consisting exclusively of all transactions that
 have "Rx" in the description field.  Select the section titled "Searching the
 Account Register" in the Help Screen Index for more details.

 Amount:

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

    Upon pressing the <Enter> key, CC Tracker automatically processes the new
 entry and returns you to the Account Register Screen with the new information
 included.

^CEditing a Highlighted Transaction

    If you highlight a transaction and press the <F4> key, CC 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, the transaction is re-inserted chronologically in
 the register and the intermediate balances are updated.

    If you change the amount, intermediate balances are updated from the point
 of change to the end of the register.

^CDeleting the Highlighted Transaction

    If you highlight a transaction and press the <Del> key, CC 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 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 account register with
 no harm done.


^CPrinting the Account Register

    Pressing the <F2> key will present you with pop-up "point & shoot" boxes
 that assist you in choosing the available printing options.  You can choose to
 print:

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

    Make sure that your printer is on-line and ready to print.  To reduce code
 size and increase program speed, CC Tracker is not embedded with any error-
 checking code.  If the printer is off-line, CC Tracker may freeze.

^CSearching the Account Register

    When this powerful option is selected with the <F6> key, CC Tracker
 presents a series of pop-up boxes that guide you through a tangle of choices
 to define a search of your account register.  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.

^CQuitting CC 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 CC 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.

^COutside BBD

    To run CC Tracker outside the ^1Big Blue Disk^0 menu, type ^1CCTRAX^0.

 Disk files this program uses:
^FCCTRAX.EXE
^FCCTRAX.HLP
