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- Chekbook Quick Startup
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- With the CHEKBOOK.EXE, CBCONFIG.EXE, and CHEKBOOK.CFG files in the same
- directory or on the same floppy disk; run the CBCONFIG program to setup
- the configuration of accounts for both programs. You might want to
- change the account names somewhat to reflect the way your expenses are
- structured, the sample configuration files provided with this package
- reflect what was useful to me. Be sure to heed the warnings the
- CBCONFIG.EXE module gives as you consider changing "reserved" account
- names. The menu selections should be self explanatory, if in doubt try
- the function and you will see what it does.
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- When changing the color setup bear in mind that you must type in a color
- number at the prompt, hitting <ENTER> will input a value of zero and the
- color will be black so if you press <ENTER> for both the text color and
- background color you will get black on black and not be able to read the
- screen.
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- Starting the Chekbook Program
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- You can begin a new file at any time, but the data might be of most
- benefit to you at tax time if a complete accounting period is entered
- and available, so I recommend that you go back to Jan 1 of the current
- year and enter your checkbook transactions from that point on.
- Depending on how many check and deposit transactions you do in
- a year the capacity of the program may allow a whole year's data
- or could require you to run it on a quarterly basis. If you have less
- than 900 checks and deposit transactions annually there should be room
- for a full years data within the 900 transaction capacity of the
- program. Otherwise you will need to maintain a quarterly (3 months)
- data file.
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- To start off, after the accounts are "configured" with the CBCONFIG.EXE
- module type CHEKBOOK at the DOS prompt, input the system date at that
- prompt, and from the main menu select the "A> Entry" command. Input
- the date as 01-01 (Jan 1) and at the Item prompt enter the "#" symbol
- which will assign 1 as the Item number. For "name" type in "Balance
- Forward" and at the "account" prompt enter the "$" character. (Account
- code flagged "$" will add into checkbook balance but will not sum into
- a tabulation of "D" for deposits. Use "D" for subsequent deposits
- since the "$" is intended for initial balance forward entries only.)
- At the "subacct" prompt just press <ENTER> at this time, and at the
- "amount" prompt enter the dollar amount of the balance forward as of
- Jan 1st to two decimal places unless that balance forward is in whole
- dollars.
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- If you don't know what the Jan 1 checking account balance was either
- make the best educated guess you can or create this entry but with a
- zero dollar amount at this time anyway. You have to balance your
- checkbook to bank statements at some time and can then edit the
- computer initial balance forward to an adjusted figure that will cause
- the recalculated checkbook balance to agree with your next reconciled
- bank statement.
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- Now you can begin entering checks and deposits from your check stubs.
- The first check number will have to be entered manually at the item
- number prompt, from there entering "n" will assign the next check
- number in sequence. If skipping a "voided" check, enter the next valid
- number manually and the "n" function will pick up the sequence for the
- next check number. If you happen to be starting this process out with
- a brand new bank account use the "#" deposit transaction item number
- sequence until you recieve your preprinted checks. In this program
- it's not wise to have both check number and deposit transaction
- number sequences start with 1. Each item number has to be unique for
- the "D> Change" data function to work. Most new bank accounts begin
- the check number sequence with #101 as I remember.
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- Remember to make periodic saves (about every 10 entries and before each
- save do a file summary - "E> Summaries" command on the main menu and
- enter zero for the month) to insure against significant work loss in
- case of power failure. And at the end of the entry session be sure to
- save the data, the program will warn you ONCE ONLY if you attempt the
- exit the program without saving new data or data changes. When you have
- the first whole month's data entered try out the various LIST and
- SUMMARIES options and you will begin to see just how useful this package
- can be to you.
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- During each subsequent data entry session remember to load in the
- current data file before adding entries, otherwise the first save using
- the data filename will overwrite all your previous work.
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- CAUTION: BEFORE doing the end of accounting period procedure in the
- next paragraph BACKUP DATA FILES TO ANOTHER DISK OR
- DIRECTORY!!!
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- At the end of an annual (or quarterly) accounting period rename the
- MAINACCT.HOM to something else (I use CHECKS88.HOM, CHECKS89.HOM,
- CHECKS90.HOM or QTR1-90.HOM, QTR2-90.HOM etc) that can be accessed using
- the SPECIAL filename option on the load/save menus. Then you can start
- a new MAINACCT (or ALTACCT) file by making a balance forward entry as
- before and proceeding from that point.
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- Final note:
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- Good luck and BACKUP data files frequently. The greatest potential for
- losing data files will be from getting in a hurry with the end of
- accounting period "close old file" and "begin new file" procedures. Be
- careful the old file you've been working on is not overwritten with the
- new file before you've copied the old one to another disk.
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- Proper and wise backup practice will allow you to recover from this
- kind of disaster a lot easier.
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- If you operate a small business and like the approach this program
- takes to maintaining a personal\household checkbook, there is a
- similarly structured and easy to use business accounting package. It
- uses 2 versions of this program concept, one to record sales
- transactions coded by sales department with a feature to identify and
- report recievables too, and one to record and summarize expense data,
- maintain checkbook balance, and figure profit and loss. Priced at $35
- its an incredibly effective small business accounting package that not
- only tells you where your money went and how much (or little) is left,
- but also how much others owe you! And that with much the same ease of
- implementation and use as this checkbook program you are looking at
- now.
-
- To order, send payment to:
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- Bruce Foreman
- 2643 University
- San Angelo TX 76904
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