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- AutoTrac for Windows 1.40
- =========================
-
- Copyright (c) CR Software, 1995
- All Rights Reserved
-
- CR Software
- 591 Cypress Ave.
- San Jacinto, Ca. 92583
-
-
- _______
- ____|__ | (R)
- --| | |-------------------
- | ____|__ | Association of
- | | |_| Shareware
- |__| o | Professionals
- -----| | |---------------------
- |___|___| MEMBER
-
-
-
- The Association of Shareware Professionals, Shareware, AutoTrac
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
- and you!
- -------
-
- CR Software is a member of the Association of Shareware
- Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
- principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
- shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the
- member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can
- help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but
- does not provide technical support for members' products.
- Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road,
- Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe
- message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536."
-
- Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software
- before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue
- using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs
- differ on details -- some request registration while others
- require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With
- registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue
- using the software to an updated program with printed manual.
-
- Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software,
- and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific
- exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished
- programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are
- of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs
- and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of
- distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy
- and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a
- specific group. For example, some authors require written
- permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their
- Shareware.
-
- Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You
- should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook,
- whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes
- fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy.
- And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware
- has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the
- product, you don't pay for it.
-
-
- DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT
- ----------------------
-
- Users of AutoTrac must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
- "AutoTrac is supplied as is. The author disclaims all
- warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation,
- the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.
- The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or conse-
- quential, which may result from the use of AutoTrac."
-
- AutoTrac is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge
- to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your
- friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of
- another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to
- provide personal computer users with quality software without
- high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to
- continue to develop new products. If you find this program
- useful and find that you are using AutoTrac and continue to use
- AutoTrac after a thirty day trial period, you must make a reg-
- istration payment of $25.00 to CR Software. The $25.00
- registration fee will license one copy for use on any one
- computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like
- a book. An example is that this software may be used by any
- number of people and may be freely moved from one computer
- location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it
- being used at one location while it's being used at another.
- Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the
- same time.
-
- All users of AutoTrac must register and pay for their
- copies of AutoTrac within 30 days of first use or their license
- is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by con-
- tacting CR Software.
-
-
- Disk Vendors, CD-ROM Vendors, BBS Sysops - see the VENDOR.DOC
- file for more information.
-
- You are encouraged to pass a copy of AutoTrac along to your
- friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their
- copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users
- will receive a copy of the latest version of the AutoTrac
- system.
-
-
- Registration of AutoTrac additionally provides you with the
- following benefits:
- 1). The registered version of AutoTrac for Windows.
- 2). Both DOS and Windows versions of the MaintMinder utility
- program. (See Sections 7 and 8)
- 3). Telephone support for a minimum of 3 months. Phone number
- provided upon registration.
- 4). A printed copy of this manual.
- 5). Reduced price on future upgrade versions of AutoTrac.
-
-
-
-
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- =================
-
- 1.) Introduction to AutoTrac
- 1A). Installing AutoTrac
- 1B). Uninstalling AutoTrac
-
- 2.) File Operations
- 2.1 New Files
- 2.2 Opening AutoTrac Files
- 2.2.1 Switching between multiple AutoTrac files
- 2.3 Saving Files
- 2.4 Saving Files under a new name
- 2.5 Printing Files (Sending to Word Processors)
- 2.5.1 Selecting a Word Processor
- 2.5.2 Adding Word Processors
- 2.5.3 Choose Document Dialog Box
-
- 2.6 Exit AutoTrac.
-
- 3.) Editing Files
-
- 4.) Entering and Editing Expense Information
- 4.1 Editing the Expense File
-
- 5.) Entering and Editing Maintenance Information
- 5.1 Using Expenses and Maintenance together.
-
- 6.) Creating a Service History File
-
- 7.) MaintMinder for DOS.
-
- 8.) MaintMinder for Windows - Windows version of MaintMinder
- for DOS
-
- 9.) Registering AutoTrac / Contacting CR Software
-
-
-
-
- 1) Introduction
- ============
-
- Welcome to AutoTrac! AutoTrac is a powerful new program that
- allows you to track vehicle expense and maintenance information,
- and a complete service history for each vehicle you own. With
- AutoTrac you will be able to track expenses as personal or
- business expenses. You may work on several different files in
- the same session.
-
- AutoTrac allows you to transfer information to your favorite
- Windows word processor for final touches before printing.
- AutoTrac even allows you to transfer this information to a word
- processor having several documents open!.
- (See Section 2.5 through 2.5.3)
-
- The registered version of AutoTrac also comes with both a DOS and
- Windows version of MaintMinder, a program that allows you to see
- which vehicles have upcoming maintenance items due, without the
- need to run AutoTrac. (See Sections 7 and 8).
-
- AutoTrac uses enhanced dialog boxes and controls. These have
- been made possible with the following excellent programming
- tools:
- Borland Windows Custom Controls (BWCC) by Borland
- International;
-
- Please note that the file BWCC.DLL must be present either in
- the AutoTrac directory, in your PATH, or in the Windows\System
- directory for AutoTrac to properly operate.
-
-
- 1A) Installing AutoTrac
- -------------------
-
- You must install AutoTrac prior to being able to run the program.
-
- To install AutoTrac is simple!
- 1.) Start Windows 3.1. From the File menu, select Run, and
- type a:\install (or b:\install).
- 2.) Select the drive and directory where you want AutoTrac installed.
- The default suggested directory is "AutoTrac". However, you may
- change this if you like.
-
-
- 1B) Uninstalling AutoTrac
- ---------------------
-
- To uninstall AutoTrac simply remove the files from the AutoTrac direc-
- tory, and remove the AutoTrac directory. AutoTrac does NOT modify or
- add any files in your working Windows directory or subdirectories.
-
-
-
-
- 2) File Operations
- ===============
-
- 2.1) Creating a new AutoTrac File
- ----------------------------
-
- To begin a new AutoTrac file, choose File | New from the menu.
- This will display the Vehicle Information dialog box. Here you
- may enter any or all of the information requested. This is
- simply for your records. However, AutoTrac will use the Year,
- Make, and Model information, if provided, when displaying the
- Expenses and Maintenance Schedule dialogs boxes. If not, the
- file name will appear in these dialog boxes (See Section 4 for
- Expenses and Section 5 for Maintenance Schedule).
-
- Upon completing the desired information, choose the Ok button,
- or if you wish to cancel, choose the Cancel button. If you have
- entered any information, and choose Cancel, you will be asked
- if you wish to save the information. Choosing Yes or Ok will
- present the information you entered in the Vehicle Information
- Window.
-
- Once the Vehicle Information Window is open, the menu changes
- to allow selection of the Expense, Maintenance Schedule, and
- Send options. (See Section 2.5 for Send dialog Box).
-
-
- 2.2) Opening AutoTrac Files
- ----------------------
-
- AutoTrac files may be opened by choosing File | Open from the
- menu, or using the Shortcut Key F3, or the Open speed button
- from the button bar. (AutoTrac automatically displays the
- command of the button being pointed to, at the cursor location,
- as well as the status bar at the bottom of the Main Window).
-
- The File | Open command displays the Open File Dialog Box that
- allows you to select a file to open. (See following Section
- for Saving Files).
-
- By default, the Open File Dialog Box displays all files in the
- working directory with the default extension of ".alg". If you
- saved your file with a different extension, you will need to
- type in the correct filename in the entry field. For example
- "mycar.bob".
-
- Select Ok to open this file. If the file you attempt to open is
- not an AutoTrac file, you will receive the error message "Not
- an AutoTrac File!"
-
-
-
- AutoTrac can automatically open single or multiple files in a
- number of ways:
- 1) Starting AutoTrac with the files listed as command line
- arguments. For example, to start AutoTrac, and
- automatically open the files "mycar.alg" and "mytruck.alg",
- using the Windows File | Run menu command, type
- [pathname]AutoTrac.exe mycar.alg mytruck.alg. If the
- AutoTrac directory is in your PATH statement, you may start
- Windows, start AutoTrac and open files with the command :
- win AutoTrac mycar.alg mytruck.alg.
-
- 2) A much easier way is to start AutoTrac , then start Windows'
- File Manager. Select the AutoTrac file(s) you wish to open
- from File Manager, and simply drag and drop them into the
- AutoTrac Main Window, or the AutoTrac icon, if minimized..
-
- 3) An alternative approach is to use File | Associate from
- Windows File Manager, and associate files with the ".alg"
- extension with AutoTrac. Then, by simply selecting the file
- and pressing Enter or double-clicking with the mouse,
- AutoTrac will be started, and the file will be opened
- automatically. (See your Windows manual for details on
- associating files.)
-
-
- 2.2.1) Switching between multiple AutoTrac Files
- -----------------------------------------
-
- AutoTrac is a multiple document interface program that allows
- you to open and work with many files at once. The currently
- active vehicle is the vehicle displayed in the active Vehicle
- Information Window (with the title bar or icon highlighted).
- There are several methods to switch between multiple vehicles:
-
- 1. Press Ctrl-F6 to make different vehicles active in turn ;
- 2. Click with the mouse in the Vehicle Information Window of
- the vehicle you wish to work with ;
- 3. Choose the Window option from the menu. A list of the
- currenly open files is at the end of the drop down menu.
- Select the desired file.
-
-
-
- 2.3) Saving AutoTrac Files
- ---------------------
-
- To save a currently open file, choose File | Save from the menu,
- use the Shortcut Key F2, or click on the Save speed button from
- the button bar. (AutoTrac automatically displays the command of
- the button being pointed to, at the cursor location, as well as
- the status bar at the bottom of the Main Window).
-
- This saves the document in the active Vehicle Information Window
- to disk. If the document is unnamed (the title bar will display
- "Untitled.alg"), the Save File As Dialog Box is displayed so you
- can name the file, and choose where it is to be saved. The
- default extension is ".alg". This means that the file will
- automatically be saved with the ".alg" extension unless you
- specifically type a different extension. For example, if you
- enter "mycar" (without the quotation marks), your file will be
- saved as "mycar.alg". However, if you enter "mycar.mom" (without
- the quotation marks), your file will be saved under that name.
- (Please note, however, that the File Open dialog box automatically
- displays only files with the default extension - See Section 2.2.)
-
- Once a file has been saved, the title bar in the Vehicle
- Information Window will display the new filename.
-
-
- 2.4). Saving Files under a New Name
- -----------------------------
-
- If you wish to rename a file, or save a file under a new name,
- choose File | Save As from the menu. The File Save As dialog box
- is displayed. Follow the steps in the previous section for saving
- the file.
-
-
- 2.5). Printing Files (Sending to Word Processors)
- -------------------------------------------
-
- Because there are so many ways to present information about a
- vehicle, including expenses, maintenance schedules, etc. it was
- a deliberate design decision not to incorporate a printing option
- into AutoTrac. Instead, AutoTrac lets you select a Windows word
- processor to send the information to, allowing you complete
- freedom as to how to print the information.
-
- To send information to a word processor, choose File | Send from
- the File Menu, use the Shortcut Key F7, or click on the Send
- speed button from the button bar. (AutoTrac automatically
- displays the command of the button being pointed to, at the
- cursor location, as well as the status bar at the bottom of the
- Main Window).
-
- This will display the Send dialog box. Simply select the
- information that you desire to have placed in the word processor
- (See 2.5.1 - Selecting a Word Processor).
-
-
-
- When selecting expenses, AutoTrac offers you the option of
- sending all the expenses incurred for a vehicle, or selectively
- choosing expenses by year, month, and type (business, personal,
- or both). If you wish to send all expenses, choose the Send
- All option under the Expenses section. If you wish to selectively
- choose expenses, select the Choose button. This displays the
- Expense Options dialog box. Here you must enter the expense year
- desired. Select the month(s) from the Expense Month(s) section,
- and the type (business, personal, or both) from the Type section.
- Choose Ok to close the dialog box.
-
- If more than one instance of the selected word processor is
- running (i.e., two Notepads each with a different document), or
- if your word processor has multiple document capabilities and
- more than one document is loaded, AutoTrac will present you with
- the Choose Word Processor Document dialog box (See Section 2.5.2).
- Here you may select which document to send the information to,
- even in a multiple document word processor! Note: if the document
- you wish to send information to is part of a multiple document
- word processor, it does not have to be the active document.
- AutoTrac will still send the information to the correct document.
-
-
- 2.5.1) Selecting a Word Processor
- --------------------------
-
- AutoTrac places the two standard Windows word processors, Notepad
- and Write in the Send To drop-down box. Type Alt-S , or click on
- the down arrow to highlight this box.
- Use the up or down arrow keys to select which word processor to
- send the information to. If you wish to add another word
- processor of your choice to this list, see the next section
- (2.5.2 - Adding Word Processors)
-
- Important! The word processor you select must be currently
- running prior to sending information.
-
-
- 2.5.2) Adding Word Processors
- ----------------------
-
- To add an additional word processor to the list of word processors
- that appear in the Send To drop-down box, select the box by
- typing Alt-S, or clicking on the down arrow with the mouse. Be
- sure the displayed text is 'selected' i.e., is displayed in
- reverse video. Then type the name of your word processor as it
- appears in the title bar without the document name. For
- instance Notepad - (Untitled) is entered simply as Notepad;
- Write - Manual.wri is entered simply as Write, etc. The selected
- text will be replaced with the text you type in. Then simply
- choose OK to continue with sending the vehicle information.
-
- AutoTrac automatically saves the word processor you enter, and
- it will appear each time you run AutoTrac.
-
- Note: There is currently no option to remove a word processor
- from this list once it has been entered.
-
-
-
- 2.5.3) Choose Document Dialog Box
- --------------------------
-
- The Choose Document Dialog Box is displayed if you try to send
- information to a word processor, and either of the following is
- true:
-
- 1). More than one instance of that word processor is currently
- running.
- For example, there may be two Notepads running at the same
- time.
-
- 2). The Windows Word Processor you have added has multiple
- document capabilities, i.e., more than one document may be
- opened at the same time (some examples are Microsoft Word,
- Ami Pro, Microsoft Works, etc.), and you currently have more
- than one document open.
-
- The Choose Document dialog box will appear and ask you to choose
- which document to send the information to. Select the correct
- document (see examples below), and choose Ok.
-
- Examples:
- In the first case mentioned above, perhaps there are two
- Notepads currently running. One has a file open called
- "myfile.txt", the other is blank ( a new file - "Untitled").
- You have chosen to send the information to Notepad. AutoTrac
- needs to know which Notepad to send the information to. The
- Choose Document dialog box will have the title "Select
- Notepad Document" and will list both entries, "myfile.txt",
- and "untitled". Use the Up / Down arrow keys to select the
- one to send the information to and select Ok. AutoTrac will
- now send the information to the correct Notepad.
-
- In the second example, suppose you have chosen to send the
- information to Ami Pro. Ami Pro is running with 3 documents
- open: "one.sam", "two.sam", and "three.sam". The Choose
- Document dialog box will have the title "Select Ami Pro
- Document" and will list entries, "one.sam", "two.sam",
- and "three.sam". Use the Up / Down arrow keys to select the
- one to send the information to and select Ok. AutoTrac will
- now send the information to the correct document inside Ami
- Pro. Note: The document you choose does not have to be the
- active document. It may even be minimized as an icon.
- AutoTrac will still send the information to the correct
- document.
-
- The following Windows word processors have been tested with
- AutoTrac without problems:
- * Notepad
- * Write
- * Microsoft Word 1.0 and 2.0 and 6.0
- * Microsoft Works 2.0 and 3.0
- * Ami Pro 3.0
- * PFS: WindowWorks 2.0
-
-
-
- 2.6). Exit AutoTrac
- -------------
-
- To exit AutoTrac, choose File | Exit from the File Menu, use the
- Shortcut Key Alt-X, or click on the Exit speed button from the
- button bar. (AutoTrac automatically displays the command of the
- button being pointed to, at the cursor location, as well as the
- status bar at the bottom of the Main Window).
-
- If you currently have any unsaved documents, AutoTrac will
- highlight the Vehicle Information window, and will ask you if
- you wish to save the document. Select Yes to save, or No to
- continue.
-
- If you have run AutoTrac Help, it will automatically close when
- AutoTrac exits.
-
-
- 3) Editing Files
- =============
-
- AutoTrac maintains three separate files for each vehicle :
- 1) The vehicle information file (the information displayed in
- the Vehicle Information Window),
- 2) The expense file, and
- 3) The maintenance schedule file. To edit the expense and
- maintenance files, see Sections 4 and 5. The following
- describes how to edit the vehicle information file.
-
- To edit the vehicle information file, choose Edit | Vehicle
- Information from the menu, or if you have a mouse, right-click
- the mouse anywhere in the Vehicle Information Window. This will
- display the Vehicle Information Dialog Box, which will be filled
- with the current information from the Vehicle Information Window.
- Simply make the desired changes and choose Ok. The changes will
- immediately be reflected in the Vehicle Information Window.
- However, to make the changes permanent, you will need to save
- the file. AutoTrac will prompt you to save the file before you
- use the Expense or Maintenance Schedule, or before you attempt to
- close the Vehicle Information Window, or exit AutoTrac
- (See Section 2.3 - Saving Files ).
-
-
-
- 4) Entering and Editing Expense Information
- ========================================
-
- AutoTrac allows you to enter and edit Expense information for your
- vehicle.
-
- Choose Log | Expenses, or use the Shortcut Key Ctrl-L, or click
- on the Expense speed button from the button bar. (AutoTrac
- automatically displays the command of the button being pointed
- to, at the cursor location, as well as the status bar at the
- bottom of the Main Window). This displays the Expense dialog
- box. The year, make, and model of the vehicle, if present in the
- Vehicle Information Window, is presented as the title. If not,
- the file name is the title.
-
- Note: If you have not saved any changes to the file, you will be
- prompted to do so prior to being given access to the Expense
- dialog box.
-
- The fields in the Expense dialog box are shown below. Note that
- two fields (Date and Total Cost) must be filled in, while others
- contain optional information or default values.
-
- Date :
- ----
- This is NOT an optional field. A valid date must be entered.
- The current system date is presented as the default date. If this
- is not correct, enter the date the expense was incurred as
- either of the following formats:
- MM-DD-YY (01-27-94)
- MM/DD/YY (01/27/94)
- MM,DD,YY (01,27,94)
- Month DD,YY (January 27, 1994)
- Mon. DD,YY (Jan. 27, 94)
-
- Unit Cost:
- ---------
- This is an optional field
- Enter the cost-per-item amount. Examples are dollars per gallon
- of gasoline, price per quart of oil, etc.
-
- Total Cost:
- ----------
- This is NOT an optional field. A total cost must be entered.
- Enter the total cost of the expense.
-
- Description:
- -----------
- This is an optional field.
- Enter a description of the expense if desired
-
- Location:
- --------
- This is an optional field.
- Enter the location where the expense was incurred. Suggested
- ideas are: the store where an item was purchased; the service
- station where expense was incurred, etc.
-
-
-
- Mileage:
- -------
- This is an optional field.
- If desired, enter the vehicle mileage at the time of the expense.
- Note: If you will be adding the expense to the Service History
- File, you will be required to supply a mileage.
-
- Choose Expenses Box:
- -------------------
- Select the type of expense from the Choose Expense drop-down box.
- The default selection is "Gasoline". If the type of expense you
- need is not found, you may add a new expense type by selecting
- the Add New Category button. This will display the Add New Category
- dialog box.
- Simply type in the new expense category, choose OK, and the
- expense will be added to the Choose Expense box.
-
-
- Expense Type:
- ------------
- This is an optional field, the default being "Personal".
- Choose either the "Personal", or "Business" button depending on
- the type of expense. AutoTrac will keep track of your expenses
- as either Business or Personal. When the expenses are sent to a
- word processor, AutoTrac can send either type, or both, with
- separate totals and descriptions for each. (See Section 2.5)
-
- Add New Category:
- ----------------
- As mentioned above, selecting this button will display the Add
- New Category dialog box. Simply type in the new expense category
- you wish, and it will be added to the Choose Expense box.
-
- Total Expenses:
- --------------
- If no expense file exists for this vehicle, this button will be
- inactive, otherwise it will be active. Choosing Total Expenses
- will display the Total Expenses for this vehicle, displayed as
- Total Personal Expenses and Total Business Expenses, plus the
- combined total.
- Select OK to close this box.
-
- 4.1) Editing the expense file.
- ------------------------
-
- The following buttons allow you to edit the expenses for the vehicle:
-
- View Previous:
- -------------
- Selecting this button allows you to view and edit previous
- expenses. Once the first expense has been reached, this button
- will be dimmed.
-
- View Next:
- ---------
- Used in conjunction with View Previous, View Next allows you to
- view and edit the next expense.
-
-
-
- Done :
- ----
- If you are in the middle of viewing expenses, selecting Done
- Viewing will clear the dialog box and allow you to begin entering
- new expenses.
-
- Add to Service History:
- ----------------------
- This will add the applicable information to the vehicle's
- Service History File. The following information will be added:
- Date, Expense, and Mileage. The expense will appear as "Replace"
- when viewing the Service History File.(see Section 6 - Creating
- a Service History File)
-
-
- 5) Entering and Editing Maintenance Information
- ============================================
-
- To enter and edit Maintenance Information, choose
- Log | Maintenance Schedule from the menu, use the Shortcut Key
- Ctrl - M, or click on the Maintenance speed button from the
- button bar. (AutoTrac automatically displays the command of the
- button being pointed to, at the cursor location, as well as the
- status bar at the bottom of the Main Window).
-
- This displays the Maintenance Schedule dialog box. The year,
- make, and model of the vehicle, if present in the Vehicle
- Information Window, is presented as the title. If not, the file
- name is the title.
-
- Note: If you have not saved any changes to the file, you will be
- prompted to do so prior to being given access to the Maintenance
- Schedule dialog box.
-
- The fields in the Maintenance Schedule dialog box are shown below.
-
- An explanation of the fields and buttons is as follows:
-
- Miles Driven Per Month:
- ----------------------
- The default value of 1,000 is presented. Alter this if necessary
- for your vehicle. Use only whole numbers.
-
- Category Box:
- ------------
- Several Maintenance categories are presented in this drop-down
- box. The months / miles numbers give suggested values for the
- number of months or miles between scheduled maintenance. You may
- alter these default values by selecting the Modify button.
- Choose the category that described the maintenance performed on
- the vehicle. If a category is not listed, you may add a new one
- with the Add button.
-
- Inspect / Replace:
- -----------------
- This field indicates whether the maintenance is an inspection of
- the item, or a replacement. You may change this setting by
- selecting the Modify Button.
-
-
-
- Date Maintenance Last Performed:
- -------------------------------
- If no maintenance file is available for this vehicle, this field
- displays the system date as the default. You may change this date
- by selecting the Modify button ( see below). For information on
- how you may enter dates, see Date under Expense (See Section 4).
-
- Add:
- ---
- This displays the Add New Maintenance Category Dialog Box.
- Enter in the new category, the number of months and miles
- required between maintenance, whether the maintenance requires
- inspection or replacement of the item, and the date the
- maintenance was last performed. If you leave the date field
- blank, AutoTrac inserts the current system date. Choose OK to
- save this information.
- This new maintenance item will now be available for this vehicle
- only.
-
- Delete:
- ------
- This will delete the chosen maintenance item(s) from the list box.
- You will be prompted to confirm that the item(s) is (are) to be
- deleted. You may select more than one item to be deleted. To
- select continuous items: with the keyboard, hold down the Shift
- key, while using the Up / Down arrows to select. With the mouse,
- hold down the left mouse button, and drag the mouse to select.
- To select non-contiguous items: with the keyboard, highlight
- the first item, press Shift-F8, use the arrow keys to move to
- each remaining item you want to select, press the Spacebar to
- select each item, press Shift-F8 again. With the mouse, select
- the first item, press and hold down Ctrl while you select each
- remaining item. Release the Ctrl key.
-
- Modify:
- ------
- The Modify button brings up the Modify Dialog Box. Here you may
- change the default values for the number of months and / or miles
- between scheduled maintenance, whether you prefer the
- maintenance to be replacement or inspection of the item, or to
- change the date the maintenance was performed. You may select
- one, or several items to modify at once. (See above paragraph
- under "Delete" for steps to select several items ) When you
- select several items to modify, the Modify Dialog Box displays
- the selections as "First Item ... Last Item". The individual
- controls are set to the last item selected. Changing the
- values and selecting OK will change all the selected items to the
- new values.
-
- Upcoming:
- --------
- This will bring up a window displaying all the maintenance that
- will be due in the next 30 days, including any overdue items.
-
- Overdue:
- -------
- This will bring up a window displaying all the maintenance
- currently overdue for this vehicle (as of the current system
- date).
-
-
-
- Add to Service History:
- ----------------------
- This will add the appropriate information to the vehicle's
- Service History File (see Section 6 - Creating a Service History
- File)
-
-
- 5.1) Using Expenses and Maintenance together.
- ---------------------------------------
-
- There will be instances where an expense incurred is a result of
- maintenance due. For example, purchasing belts, oil, air filters,
- etc. might be required if you are performing the maintenance
- yourself. Or perhaps your mechanic has billed you for the
- scheduled maintenance. In such cases, you would enter the cost
- of the items, labor, etc. in the Expense box under the
- appropriate category (or categories), and would then update the
- 'Date Maintenance Last Performed' section in the Maintenance
- Schedule box. This way, you have an effective method for
- categorizing and tracking vehicle expenses, while keeping track
- of maintenance performed.
-
-
-
- 6) Creating a Service History File
- ===============================
-
- By creating a Service History file, you will be able to print
- out (via Sending the information to a Word Processor) all the
- service, maintenance, repairs, etc. that have been performed on
- your vehicle.
-
- The Service History File records the following information :
- The category of the service (i.e. Oil Change, New Tires, Tune-Up...
- The date the service was performed;
- The vehicle mileage when the service was performed;
- The action taken (Replacement of part(s), or Inspection ).
-
- Items may be added to the Service History file from three separate
- locations:
- The Expenses dialog box;
- The Add Maintenance Category dialog box (using the Add button in
- the Maintenance Schedule dialog box);
- The Modify Maintenance Category dialog box (using the Modify
- button in the Maintenance Schedule dialog box);
-
- From all three locations, simply choose the Add to Service
- History button in these dialog boxes. The appropriate information
- will be added to the Service History File. When the Service
- History File is viewed, or sent to a word processor, the items
- are listed by mileage, with the lowest mileage entries appearing
- first.
-
-
-
- Suggestions:
- When adding information to the Service History File using the
- Modify Maintenance Category dialog box and / or the Add
- Maintenance Category dialog box, if possible, add the
- information beginning with the oldest date, and working up to
- the most recent. Although this will not affect the way the History
- File is displayed, it will affect the date and mileage numbers
- displayed in the Maintenance Schedule dialog box, once you
- return. This, in turn, will cause the Upcoming and Overdue
- selections to incorrectly report that the maintenance is
- overdue, etc. when it may not be. Of course, you would only need
- to Modify these categories to reflect the most current date and
- mileage changes to correct this.
-
-
- 7) Maintminder DOS Utility Program
- ===============================
- (Available to registered users).
-
- Your AutoTrac directory contains the file Maintmdr.exe This is
- the Maintminder program. Maintminder is a DOS program that does
- the following:
-
- * Displays the Year, Make, Model, and License # of vehicles that
- have any maintenance items upcoming within 30 days of the current
- date, or maintenance that is currently overdue.
-
- * Prints individual maintenance items that are overdue or
- upcoming are to the file MAINTMDR.TXT in the AutoTrac
- directory. The items are listed by vehicle, with the Year,
- Make, Model, and License # as the heading for each vehicle.
- You may view this file using the commands "print maintmdr.txt",
- "more < maintmdr.txt", or use any DOS text editor. If you
- switch to Windows after running Maintminder, you can view
- the file using Notepad by double-clicking (or pressing Enter)
- on the file Maintmdr.txt from File Manager.
-
- A sample output from Maintminder is shown below:
-
- C:\AUTOTRAC > MAINTMDR
-
- Maintenance due within 30 days for 1990 Honda CIVIC EX 2ABC123
-
- Maintenance due within 30 days for 1995 MAZDA 123CBA
-
- C:\AUTOTRAC > _
-
- A sample printing to screen of a portion of MAINTMDR.TXT is
- shown below:
-
-
-
- Maintenance due within 30 days for 1990 Honda CIVIC EX 2ABC123
- Anti-Freeze Last Done : 10 - 18 - 1993
- Battery Last Done : 01 - 01 - 1994
- Belts and Hoses Last Done : 07 - 11 - 1993
- Brakes Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1993
- Breather Element Last Done : 01 - 11 - 1993
- Charging System Last Done : 01 - 11 - 1993
- Check Fluid Levels Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1993
- Cooling System Last Done : 01 - 01 - 1993
- Differential Fluid Last Done : 01 - 01 - 1992
- Engine Oil Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1993
- Exhaust System Last Done : 01 - 01 - 1993
- Fuel Filter Last Done : 01 - 01 - 1993
- Lights and Bulbs Last Done : 01 - 01 - 1992
- Lubricate Hinges Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1993
- Oil Filter Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1993
- Tire Pressure Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1994
- Wheel Alignment Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1994
- Wiper Blades Last Done : 11 - 11 - 1994
-
-
-
- 8) MaintMinder for Windows - Windows version of MaintMinder
- ========================================================
- (Available to registered users).
-
- MaintMinder for Windows is the Windows companion of MaintMinder
- for DOS. MaintMinder for Windows updates the file MAINTMDR.TXT
- and then displays the information seen above in Section 6.
-
- To run MaintMinder for Windows, simply double-click the
- MaintMinder for Windows icon, or select the icon and press Enter.
-
- To quit MaintMinder, choose File | Exit, or press Alt-F4.
-
-
- 9) Registering AutoTrac / Contacting CR Software
- =============================================
-
- To register Autotrac, print the file REGISTER.TXT. This is the
- registration form. Fill in the form, and send your check or
- money order for $25.00 (US funds) to:
-
- CR Software
- 591 Cypress Ave.
- San Jacinto, Ca. 92583
-
-
- Registration of AutoTrac provides you with the following benefits:
- 1). The registered version of AutoTrac for Windows.
- 2). Both DOS and Windows versions of the MaintMinder utility
- program. (See Sections 7 and 8)
- 3). Telephone support for a minimum of 3 months. Phone number
- provided upon registration.
- 4). A printed copy of this manual.
- 5). Reduced price on future upgrade versions of AutoTrac.
-
-
-
-
-
- Thank you for trying AutoTrac.
- CR Software
-
-
-