Shareware Grab Bag/Shareware Grab Bag.iso/090/if40.arc/IF40.DOC

Text File | 1987-11-29 | 20.7 KB | 445 lines

                        I N - F I D E L I T Y

                            Version 4.0

                    Description and Instructions

                          December 1, 1987


GENERAL

     IN-FIDELITY is a program that uses your IBM PC or IBM compatible
to automate the process of obtaining information from "FAST", the
Fidelity Automated Services Telephone.  This service of Fidelity
Investments allows users of touch-tone telephones to obtain prices and
balances of their Fidelity mutual fund accounts.  If they have a USA
Brokerage account they may also obtain information about its status as
well as stock and option price quotations.

     FAST allows transfer of funds from one mutual fund to another or
from a prearranged bank account to a fund.  It will also allow the es-
tablishment of a new mutual fund account - all by touch tone tele-
phone.

     FAST is normally used by manually operating the touch tone
telephone according to instructions.  But the service requires that
you enter a long series of codes including command codes, fund
numbers, account numbers as well as security codes when obtaining
account balances and stock prices.  These can be difficult to remember
and laborious to enter.

     This program allows you to record all your account information,
stock and option symbols, and security codes through a full screen
editor.  Once this has been done you can make use of the FAST service
with a few simple keystrokes.  Furthermore, it provides a simple means
of maintaining records of your account balances, fund prices, fund
yields and stock prices.  It calculates the dollar value of your funds
and stocks from the number of shares and share prices.  It also
calculates the total value of your portfolio.

     The program is intuitive and easy to use with help shown along
the bottom of each screen.  IN-FIDELITY will beep at you if you try to
press an inappropriate key.

     No actual data is transferred by FAST.  The user listens to the
information from a computer actuated voice.  The user must listen and
make note of the information manually.

REQUIREMENTS

     To make use of this program you must have an IBM or compatible
computer running PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0 or later.  You must also have a
Hayes compatible modem.  The modem is used only to perform the dialing
and the transmission of coded tones.  The user listens to the voice
through the modem speaker or a telephone connected to the same line as
the modem.  The program will support monochrome or color monitors.  It
does not require graphics capability and can be customized for a
variety of modem setups.

     Naturally, to make full use of the service you should also have
one or more mutual fund accounts with Fidelity.  (Though it is
possible to obtain fund prices without an account.)  To use the
stock/option quote service you must have a Fidelity Brokerage Account
number and a security code.


SET UP

     There are five files required to run the program.  They are:

     IF4.COM             The main program
     IF4.NMS             The file of Fidelity fund names and numbers
     IF4.CNF             The configuration file
     MAIN.ACT            The file of accounts
     STOCKS.STK          The file of stock/option data

     MAIN.ACT, STOCKS.STK and IF4.CNF will be regenerated automa-
tically by the main program if they are found to be missing.  IF4.NMS
can be recreated with an ASCII file text editor or a word processor as
described below.  The files must all be contained on your default
drive, either floppy or hard disk.

     DOS is first loaded into the computer.  The program is started by
entering "IF4" (no quotation marks) with the program diskette in the
default drive or with the programs in the default directory of the
hard disk.  If the program is run from a floppy, do not remove it
until you exit the program.

     When you first run the program you should select F5 (Change
Setup) from the Main Menu.  You will be shown the current settings of
alterable parameters used by the program.  The Communications Port
parameter is particularly important since the program cannot function
properly if the modem is not attached to the assigned serial port.

CONFIGURATION

     The program comes configured for a color monitor.  If you want
the program run in monochrome select the "Mono" option by pressing "m"
when asked for the kind of monitor.

     The next parameter is the baudrate.  This refers to the rate at
which data is transferred from the computer to the modem and from the
modem to the telephone line.  Since IN-FIDELITY does not transmit
"data" this parameter is only of minor consequence.  Typically, you
should select 1200 baud if your modem has that capability.  There will
be a small speed difference between 300 and 1200 baud when the
computer transfers commands to the modem.  If your modem has a higher
speed such as 2400 baud you should still select 1200.  There will be
no perceptible loss in performance.  If your modem is only capable of
300 baud operation you should choose 300.

     The Phone Type parameter allows you to configure the program to
work with a pulse dialer telephone or a tone dialer.  This setting
only controls the way the program calls FAST.  After a connection is
made the codes used to request information are all sent by the tone
method.  This permits the program to be used by someone who does not
have a touch-tone telephone.

     INITIALIZATION STRING

     This is the set up string that your computer will send to the
modem when the program first starts.  The modem can be initialized in
many ways according to the contents of this string.  You should read
your modem manual to learn more about setting it up.  Only a few
commands are important to you.  The modem speaker can be set on or off
with this string.  M0 (M-zero) turns the modem speaker off and M1
turns it on.

     If you want the speaker turned off and prefer to use the tele-
phone as the listening device you may have to connect the telephone
directly to the telephone line rather than to the "phone" connection
on your modem since some modems disconnect this line after the modem
starts operation.  The direct connection can be made by using the
inexpensive "T" connector sold in many stores.  The telephone and the
phone line are connected together to the same jack on the modem.  If
your modem doesn't cut off the telephone after the connection is made
then the "T" is not necessary.  It is also unnecessary if you listen
through the modem speaker.

     Caution - If you use the pulse dialing method do not lift the
receiver of a parallel connected phone off the hook until the pulse
dialing is complete.  Pulse dialing will not work if a second phone
connected to the line is "off-hook".

    DIALING SPEED

     This parameter controls the length and spacing between dialing
tones.  THE SMALLER THE NUMBER THE FASTER IT DIALS.  It should be set
as fast as possible while still maintaining dependable operation.  The
setting will vary with your individual telephone exchange.  Try the
default setting of 70 milliseconds first.  You can then experiment
with faster or slower speeds.  The rule is: If it works, it's not too
fast.

     PHONE NUMBER

     This parameter is set for the FAST telephone number.  It can be
changed if, for some reason, the number is ever changed.  This
parameter can also be used to add a dialing sequence ahead of the
number.  Some commercial telephone installations, for instance,
require that an "8" or a "9" be dialed before the actual number in
order to have access to an outside line.  Your entry will be converted
to the necessary upper case, automatically.  You can use dashes,
hyphens, spaces and paren-thesis in the phone number.  They will be
ignored.

     A useful Hayes command is the "," (the comma).  It causes the
dialing to pause for two seconds.

     COMMUNICATION PORT

      Your modem may be connected either as COM1 or COM2.  If it is
the only serial device on the computer then it is likely connected as
COM1.  If you don't know, try COM1 first.  If the program gets stuck
and won't dial out try configuring for COM2.


     ACCOUNT FILE AND STOCK FILE NAMES

     You can select the active Account File and Stock File names.  The
program will let you have more than one Account or Stock File.  To
select one of several files enter its name here.  To create a new file
enter a new name here.  When you leave the setup mode the program will
tell you it can't find the file you selected and ask if you want to
create it.  Answer yes and a new empty file will be created.  You can
maintain eighty items in each file.  You can create as many new files
as you have room for on the disk.  You erase files from DOS using the
DOS ERASE command.  The default account and stock filenames are MAIN
and STOCKS.  The file extensions are automatically appended as ".ACT"
and ".STK".  Be sure to use only legal DOS filename characters.  Stick
with letters and numbers.  If you get into trouble with illegal file
names ERASE the configuration file IF4.CNF from DOS and start over.

    STOCK ACCOUNT NUMBER AND SECURITY CODES

     To use the stock/option quotation service you must have a valid
Fidelity Brokerage Services brokerage account and security code.
Enter them here.  This account number may differ from any USA account
number you may have entered into the Account Screen.


PROGRAM OPERATION

     Information on your accounts is obtained by selecting F1 from the
Main Menu.  You will then be shown the list of your accounts.  You
move among your accounts by using the UP and DOWN arrow keys as well
as the PageUp and PageDown keys if there are more than one page of
accounts.  To edit any entries on the selected account use the RIGHT
and LEFT arrow keys.

     If you are starting up for the first time there will be no
accounts listed.  To create an account press the INS key and a new
line will be added.  Using the left and right arrow keys move between
columns and enter the data describing your account.

     To edit an entry simply move the cursor to the item to be edited
using the arrow keys then type in the data.  Finish the entry by
pressing the ENTER key or one of the arrow keys.  You can make
corrections using the backspace key.  If you press ENTER when no new
data has been keyed-in the previous data will be restored.

     The fund number is normally a three digit code.  There is a
special entry that can be used in the fund number column.  Enter "USA"
in this field for your USA Account.  Enter your account number.  You
can now retrieve your USA Account balance.  You can use a letter in
the USA account number -  IN-FIDELITY will automatically dial the
corresponding digit.

     The Main Account file supplied with your copy of the program
contains dummy information for illustrative purposes.  You can delete
these accounts by repeated use of the DEL key.  Enter all your
Fidelity fund data by creating new accounts with the INS key and then
editing them.  You can sort accounts into any convenient order by
moving them with the F7 and F8 keys.

     The Value column will automatically recalculate as the product of
the Price and Shares.  If an amount is entered into the Value column,
the price will automatically be recalculated as the quotient of Value
and Shares.  Use a price of $1.00 when appropriate.  Whenever you
update the Price or Yield of a particular fund all funds with the same
Fund Number will be automatically updated.

RETRIEVING DATA FROM FAST

     Using the UP and DOWN arrow keys, point to the fund you would
like information on.  Press F1 to dial FAST.  You will see the dialing
activity on the upper left corner of you screen.  After making the
connection you will be told to proceed.  Press F2 for price informa-
tion or F3 for your account data.  You can update your prices and
balances by editing the screen as you hear them from FAST.  Complete
the editing process by pressing the ENTER key or by pressing one of
the arrow keys.  (To get an account balance you must have the correct
account number and security code combination.)  After selecting F3 you
may then use F4, F5, or F6 to obtain last purchase, last dividend and
last redemption.  You can move the cursor to a new line (anywhere on
the new line) while connected to FAST and obtain price and account
data for another fund by pressing F2 or F3.  You should not take too
long to do the editing since FAST will disconnect you if you wait more
than a few seconds between inquiries.

     To hang up press F9.  To quit this mode and return to the Main
Menu press F10.  When you quit, the disk files will be updated.

TRANSFERRING FUNDS

     In some cases, FAST will allow you to transfer funds from one
account to another.  The funds must have identical registration names.
You may also have set up your fund to permit direct-bank-transfer into
it.  This function can also be done using IN-FIDELITY.

     From the Main Menu select F2.  You will see your list of
accounts.  The procedure that follows will set up and verify the fund
transfer BEFORE you call FAST.  You will then dial FAST and send the
information.  You may cancel and restart the operation at any point by
pressing F9 either before or after dialing FAST.  You may exit the
operation at any time by pressing F10.

     You will first see a prompt that asks you to point to the fund
you want to transfer FROM and press F2.  Alternatively, you can elect
to press F5 to perform a bank-funds-transfer.  If you select F5 you
will then be asked to enter the number of dollars.  Just enter the
dollar figures - omit punctuation, dollar sign and cents.  If you are
transferring from an account you will be asked to enter the number of
shares or "00" for "all shares".  You will then be asked to point to
the fund you want to transfer TO.  Point, then press F2.  You can open
a new account by pressing F4 at this point.  If you chose that option
you will be asked for the fund number of the account you want to open.

     You will then be shown a summary of the transaction you have set
up and you will be asked to verify or cancel it.  If you verify it you
will then be asked to dial FAST.  Only at this point do you call FAST
by pressing F1.

     Dial FAST and wait for the voice to tell you to proceed.  Press
F3 and again wait for the voice to ask you for the fund you are
transferring TO.  Press F2 again.  Wait for the voice to ask you to
verify the transaction and either press F3 to verify it or F9 to
cancel it.  You are now done.

     The fund balances are not updated at this point.  You should do
this manually when you are satisfied that the transaction has been
executed properly.

     Transferring funds and opening new accounts will only work if all
Fidelity's requirements governing such transactions are met.

FUND LIST

     Selecting F4 from the Main Menu will show you a convenient list
of Fidelity's funds and their fund numbers.  The list is contained in
a simple text file called IF4.NMS.  The list can be updated by the
user with any text editor or word processor capable of generating text
files.  A text file is one which contains no embedded codes such as
those normally used by Wordstar or WordPerfect in their word process-
ing modes.  (Most word processors including the two just mentioned
have special modes for generating pure text files).

     If the file is lost or damaged or if you want to add new funds to
the list you may edit it yourself.  The rules are simple.  Each line
contains one fund or title.  Empty lines (just a carriage return) are
also permitted.  The format of the list supplied with the program uses
the first three positions for fund code follow by a space and then the
fund name.  Actually, any format is acceptable but the complete line
should not exceed 46 characters and should end in a carriage return.


STOCK/OPTION PRICES

     The Stock Screen is similar to the Accounts Screen and is
selected by pressing F# from the main menu.  INS and DEL are used in
the same way to add and delete items.  Similarly, the arrows, PgUp and
PgDn work in the same way.

     The second column designates whether the item is a stock or
option.  FAST is queried differently for each.  When entering an item
you can enter "Stk" for a stock or "Opt" for an option though "s" or
"o" will be enough.

     The third column is the symbol.  In the case of the stock it is
simply the symbol used by the stock exchange for that security.  For
an option FAST uses a special scheme.  The symbol is the stock symbol
followed by two letters designating the expiration month and strike
price.  Pressing F4 from the Stock Screen will bring up a special help
screen to show you the codes used.  You may embed spaces or dashes for
clarity.

     Note that the information supplied by Fidelity to describe these
codes may seem to be different.  FAST actually uses two digit numbers
to express the option codes but IN-FIDELITY uses their equivalent
letters.  You will see the correlation when the program dials out the
request.

     The third column is a 20-character-wide field for entry of the
name or description of the security.

     The fourth column is used to enter the number of shares that you
hold.  To get a correct valuation of an option holding multiply the
number of options by 100 (or another appropriate multiplier).

     The fifth column is a Reference Price.  This can be used by you
to note any price of interest such as the original purchase price, an
order price or a price that you want to sell at.

     The sixth column is the current price.  It is here that you enter
the prices that you retrieve from FAST.

     The next column is the Value.  You can not enter data here.  It
is calculated as the product of the Shares and Price columns.

     The last column is the date.  Again, you can not enter data into
this column.  It serves to show the date that this item was last
updated.  It is automatically updated whenever you change the entries
in the Shares or Price column.

     RETRIEVING STOCK AND OPTION PRICES

     With the UP and Down arrow keys simply point to the item you want
to retrieve data on.  Dial FAST by pressing F1.  When the voice asks
you begin, press F2.  This will send the account number and security
code that you entered from the Setup screen.  (If you haven't done the
Setup you must do so before retrieving prices.)  The voice will tell
you that the combination is accepted.  Point to the item and press F3.
You will then hear the information you requested.  Continue to point
to other items with the Up and Down arrow keys and retrieve the data
by pressing F3.  You can edit the price column while the retrieval is
going on.  IN-FIDELITY will take care of sending the *40* and *41*
codes as you switch between stocks and options.

PRINTING

     Printing is done from either the Account Screen or the Stock
Screen by pressing Alt-P (press P while holding down Alternate).  The
printer must be connected to a parallel port as LPT1.  The printing
procedure uses no unusual codes and should be compatible with most
commonly used printers.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

     Some users have indicated problems when the modem Carrier Detect
(CD, Switch 6 on Hayes) is not in its default position.  If you
experience a problem interfacing with your modem try flipping this
switch.


REVISIONS

     Revision 2 - Added the ability to configure the program for a
               pulse dialer telephone.

               Edited data is now accepted when an arrow key is
               pressed as well as ENTER.

               Modem initialization improved to work with other
               modem types.

     Revision 3 - Corrected a bug which caused premature hangup in
               Funds Transfer operation.

     Revision 4 - Added the stock and option retrieval features.
               Print function changed to Alt-P from the Account and
               Stock Screens.

SHAREWARE

     This program is being distributed as "Shareware".   You are free
to try it without obligation.  If you decide that it is useful and you
want to continue using it you are requested to send a registration fee
of $10.00 to:

               Les Penner
               25 Shadow Lane
               Great Neck, NY 11021

               [phone]

               Compuserve 75236,1572

     Registering will entitle you to support and information about
future updates.  Comments and suggestions are welcome.

     This program may be freely copied and distributed but each user
must send payment to the author.

     The author reserves all rights to commercial sales of this
program and its derivatives.