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- April 3, 1992 v2.52
- C h e X
- Copyright (c) Rich Young, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
-
- CheX is an easy to use checkbook program for your IBM PC or compatible
- computer. It helps in balancing and can be used for credit cards, savings
- accounts, and other types of debit / credit bookkeeping.
-
- To START a new checkbook type "CheX" or "CheX <filename>" and press
- <Return>. Respond with a "Y" or "y" to create a new checkbook. Enter the
- date and the existing balance prior to your first non-posted entry. Then
- enter the rest of your entries that have not cleared the bank.
-
- Use <F2> to sort the items that appear on the screen. This keeps items in
- date order. Use <F7> to print your checkbook, and press <Escape> or <F10>
- to exit the program.
-
- Feel free to copy and distribute this program fully intact with this
- document. By using this program you accept full liability; there is no
- warranty stated nor implied. Please don't let this program result in an
- overdraft on your part due to an oversight on my part.
-
-
- . T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
-
- Screen Screen
- I. Control Keys....... 3.01 IX. Format Check Options.... 24.15
- II. Function Keys...... 4.13 X. Graph & Total........... 27.18
- III. Fields............. 9.14 XI. Password Options........ 31.16
- IV. Balancing......... 13.09 XII. CHEX.INI Options........ 34.02
- V. Startup Options... 15.18 XIII. Importing Data.......... 34.17
- VI. Custom Options.... 17.17 XIV. Errors.................. 39.03
- VII. Print and Audit... 21.14 XV. Backing Up.............. 39.18
- VIII. Check Printing.... 23.09 XVI. Program Information..... 40.18
-
-
- I. C O N T R O L K E Y S:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- | Ctrl-PgUp - Top of checkbook. | Right Arrow - Next character. |
- | Ctrl-PgDn - Bottom of checkbook.| Left Arrow - Prior character. |
- | Page Up - Up one screen. | Up Arrow - Up one line. |
- | Page Down - Down one screen. | Down Arrow - Down one line. |
- | Backspace - Back one space. | Home - Start of field. |
- | Escape - Exit. | End - End of field. |
- | Return - Next column. | Shift Tab - Prior column. |
- | Tab - " " | ^Left Arrow - " " |
- | ^Right Arrow - " " | Insert - Insert mode toggle. |
- | | Delete - "Eat" a character. |
- | | |
- | Alt-C - Copy item. Ctrl-K | Ctrl-Home - Top of screen. |
- | Alt-I - Insert line. Ctrl-N | Ctrl-End - Bottom of screen. |
- | Alt-D - Blank item. Ctrl-Y | Alt-P - Print check hot key.|
- | Alt-A - Auto copy. F6-A | Alt-D Alt-D - Delete item. |
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- While entering numeric fields, the alphanumeric keyboard will emulate a
- ten key in the following manner:
-
- ----------- ------------
- \ 7 8 9 \ \ 7 8 9 \
- \ U I O \ same as \ 4 5 6 \
- \ J K L \ \ 1 2 3 \
- \ M . \ \ 0 . \
- ---------- ------------
-
-
- II. F U N C T I O N K E Y S:
-
- F1 - HELP. Displays this document, "CHEX.DOC". Available at any prompt.
- Press <F4> or "F" to search for a specific subject or string. Press
- <F5> or "N" to find the next occurrence of the string. You may
- modify this document to fit your needs. I use the QEdit editor with
- a right margin of 76. Maximum number of lines is 800.
-
- F2 - SORT items in date order that appear on the screen. For larger
- sorts use <F6-S>.
-
- [F3] - UNDO any changes made to the item the cursor is currently on. The
- old item will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. Press "Y"
- to confirm. Undo limit is 40 items. Undo information is cleared
- when you go to a different checkbook, <F9>, or by deleting an item,
- <Alt-D> <Alt-D>.
-
- [F4] - FIND an alpha string. Starts at end and works back to the beginning
- of the book. FIND is not case sensitive. Use "|" for vertical
- lines. When a string is found you will have the following options:
-
- (E)nd find - return to checkbook.
- (G)raph - graph all occurrences. (see section X.)
- (M)ove to item - moves the cursor to the actual item.
- (N)ext item - search for next occurrence of string.
- (P)rint & next - print an item, display next occurrence, and print
- a total when done.
-
- [F5] - FIND NEXT occurrence of an alpha string. Used after F4, FIND.
-
- [F6] - UTILITY functions:
-
- (A)utoCopy - copy entries from the last month that has items with
- an asterisk or a colon at the beginning or at the end
- of the NOTE field. Items with a colon will have a
- zero dollar amount after the copy. The destination
- is the next month unless CHEX.INI file (see section
- XII) contains AutoCopyDate=yes, then the items are
- copied using the current date.
-
- This can be used for automatic or repetitive entries
- and can also be activated by pressing Alt-A.
-
- (B)alance - balance bank statement. (see section IV.)
- (I)mport - import a comma delimited, ASCII, or CheX file. (see
- section XIII, Importing Data)
- (L)ock - locks the checkbook so that posted items cannot be
- altered. Exiting the checkbook will do the same
- thing.
- (P)ost - move the cursor to the first non-posted item.
- (S)ort all - sort the last #### items in the checkbook in date
- order.
- (U)nlock - unlocks the checkbook for modifying posted items.
-
- [F7] - PRINT functions:
-
- (C)heck - print an individual check. Alt-P (section VIII.)
- (D)isk - print to disk. File suffix = .PRT (section VII.)
- (E)xport - create a comma delimited export file for Lotus,
- dBase or to import back into CheX. (section XIII.)
- (A)ll fields, file suffix = .PRN
- (N)umeric fields only, file suffix = .PNN
- (F)eedback - Display/print optional CheX FEEDBACK form.
- (G)raph - graph or display totals by month, by year,
- or by category. (see section X.)
- (P)rint - print checkbook to printer. (see section VII.)
- (T)ypewriter - use your printer as a typewriter.
-
- [F8] - OPTIONS settings:
-
- (C)ustom options - setup and color options. (see section VI.)
- (F)ormat check - custom check print formats. (section IX.)
- (P)assword options - passwords and encryption. (see section XI.)
-
- [F9] - OPEN NEXT checkbook:
-
- When CheX is started with a checkbook name, a menu of available
- checkbooks will be displayed. Use the tab or up/down arrow keys to
- highlight the desired checkbook and press <return> to select the
- book. By pressing F2 the directory display toggle's between name
- order and descending date order. New checkbooks can be entered at
- the command line.
-
- If CheX is used with checkbook numbers, the next sequential
- checkbook will be displayed. i.e. CHEXBK01.CHX, CHEXBK02.CHX
-
- F10 - EXIT directly to DOS. Clears the screen.
-
- ESCAPE - EXIT current checkbook or exit function.
-
-
- III. F I E L D S:
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- | TITLE | DESCRIPTION |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | P | POSTING CODE. Used by balancing to indicate items that have |
- | | cleared the bank. If an item appears on your statement, |
- | | enter the first letter of the month that the statement is |
- | | dated. These items will be highlighted. You also may |
- | | highlight non-posted items by entering an asterisk. |
- | | Valid entries are; J, f, M, a, Y, u, L, g, S, o, N, d, x or * |
- | | Y, U, L, and G are for May, June, July, and August. |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Date | DATE WRITTEN. Default is today or date last entered. May be |
- | | entered as DD, MMDD, MMDDYY, MM/DD, or MM/DD/YY. This is |
- | | CheX's primary sort key. Valid entries: 1/1/00 - 12/31/99. |
- | | The date can be changed to an international format, DD/MM/YY, |
- | | by pressing <F8> option "C" and changing #12 to a "Y". |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Ck# A/_ | CHECK NUMBER. Default is last number entered plus one if the |
- | | check is not future dated. Entering a zero will turn off |
- | | automatic check numbering. "Ck#A" in the heading indicates |
- | | automatic check numbering is on, "Ck#_" indicates that it |
- | | is off. Note: CheX print will display a warning message if a |
- | | check number is out of sequence. (max = 4 chrs) |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Debit | CHECK DOLLAR AMOUNT. (max = 99,999.99) |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Credit | DEPOSIT DOLLAR AMOUNT. (max = 99,999.99) |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | To: | ITEM DESCRIPTION. The person the check is written to or the |
- | | source of the deposit. (max = 20 characters) |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Note | NOTES. (max = 12 characters) |
- | | a. On item # 1, the note is used as a checkbook title on |
- | | numbered checkbooks. i.e. CHEXBK01, CHEXBK02, etc. |
- | | b. Can be used to continue an item description. |
- | | c. "-" or "=" in the first position prevents CheX from |
- | | printing the note field on checks. i.e. personal notes |
- | | d. "=" in the first position is an audit figure for the |
- | | running balance. |
- | | e. "*" in the first or last position flags the item as an |
- | | automatic entry. See section II, function key F6-A. |
- | | f. ":" in the first or last position flags the item as an |
- | | automatic entry using a zero dollar amount. See F6-A. |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Cat | ITEM CATEGORY. The first letter is converted to upper-case |
- | | and may be graphed by pressing F7 - "G" option "C". It is |
- | | preferable to use unique characters. (max = 3 characters) |
- | | The following list is what I use; feel free to change it. |
- | | |
- | | Asc - association Gro - groceries Ren - rent |
- | | Aut - auto Hom - home Sav - savings |
- | | BC - bank card Ins - insurance Tax - taxes |
- | | Cas - cash Job - job Ut - utilities |
- | | Com - computers Ln - loan Vac - vacation |
- | | Dre - dress Md - medical Wrk - Work |
- | | Exp - expenses Pay - income Yrd - Yard |
- | | Fun - fun/friend |
- | | |
- | | Note: CheX totals 88 category codes. Extra categories are |
- | | totaled together. See section "X. Graph & Total". |
- |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
- | Balance | RUNNING BALANCE. Computed. (-999,999.99 thru 9,999,999.99) |
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- IV. B A L A N C I N G: F6-B
-
- To balance your bank statement, press <F6> and option "P". This will move
- the cursor to column "P" on the first non-posted item. The item will be
- highlighted. If the item appears on your bank statement, enter the first
- letter of the month you are posting. (Letters Y, u, L, and g may be used
- for May, Jun, Jul, and Aug.) The system will then move the cursor down to
- the next entry. Use the down arrow key to skip entries that do not appear
- on your statement. (I alternate between upper and lower case letters to
- help differentiate months.)
-
- Once all the posted items are marked, press <F6> and option "B". The
- system will prompt you for the ending statement balance. Enter the amount
- and press <Return>. The difference displayed should be zero, otherwise you
- have entered an item incorrectly or have marked/not marked an item in
- error. To change an item that is marked as posted, you must "unlock" the
- checkbook by pressing <F6> and option "U".
-
- In the event your checkbook is out of balance, CheX may locate a possible
- error. Please validate the suggestion prior to taking any action. CheX
- limits the search to a single "current item", so CheX will not always find
- an item posted in error. Also, multiple errors will not be found.
-
- If CheX is unable to locate an error, it will tell you if your checkbook is
- too high or too low. Use the following to know what to look for.
-
- If your checkbook is too high, check the following:
-
- 1. Debits that require posting.
- 2. Posted credits that should not be posted.
- 3. Posted debits that the amount entered is too low.
- 4. Posted credits that the amount entered is too high.
- 5. Entered statement balance is too low.
- 6. Running balance errors. (see section "XIV. ERRORS").
-
- If your checkbook is too low, check the following:
-
- 1. Posted debits that should not be posted.
- 2. Credits that require posting.
- 3. Posted debits that the amount entered is too high.
- 4. Posted credits that the amount entered is too low.
- 5. Entered statement balance is too high.
- 6. Running balance errors. (see section "XIV. ERRORS").
-
-
- V. S T A R T U P O P T I O N S
-
- Start CheX from DOS by typing in CHEX. As an option parameters may be
- entered. The CHEX command format follows:
-
- CHEX [drive:][path][checkbook name, number, or global] [/P] [password]
-
- DRIVE: Disk drive where the checkbook files are located.
-
- PATH DOS path where the checkbook files are located.
-
- CHECKBOOK:
-
- NAME Any valid DOS filename. The default file name suffix is
- ".CHX". Checkbook files may be renamed at any time.
-
- NUMBER Any number from 1 to 99. The number is used to create a
- file name of CHEXBK##.CHX. ## being the number entered on
- the DOS prompt. Pressing <F9> within CheX goes to the
- next checkbook file number. When this option is used CheX
- will add the ".CHX" suffix to old CHEXBK## files.
-
- GLOBAL Any valid DOS global wild card. Default is "*.CHX".
-
- /P Required the first time a checkbook password is entered.
-
- PASSWORD Only used when a checkbook is password protected. To
- password protect a checkbook, see section "XI. Password
- Options"
-
- Examples: CHEX CHEX BANKACCT
- CHEX 11 CHEX *
- CHEX *.CHX /P CHEX BANKACCT password
-
-
- VI. C U S T O M O P T I O N S: F8-C
-
- Options are stored by checkbook. You may use different options in each
- checkbook. Enter value to change and press <Return>. Use <Escape> to
- exit. A prompt will appear confirming your desire to save changes. Press
- "Y" to use the changes that you made.
-
-
- 1-5 Color codes - Use codes 0 through 255. Codes 128 through 255
- blink. To the right of the selected color the
- highlighted version of the color is represented.
- Use the right arrow key to update this value.
-
- 6. Test disk & printer - (0, 1, 2, 3) Disk and printer test. 0 = Perform
- no tests. 1 = Test if there is enough disk
- space. This option will make CheX startup
- slower. 2 = Test if the printer is ready.
- 3 = Perform both tests.
-
- 7. Use ESC to exit CheX- (Y or N) Pressing ESC will exit the CheX
- program. Turning this option off will make F10
- and ALT-F10 the only means of exiting the CheX
- program.
-
- 8. Form feed line # - Number of lines to do a printer page break,
- 0=off. There are 66 lines to a normal page.
-
- 9. Auto exit # minutes - If a key is not pressed after ### minutes, CheX
- will clear the screen, save all updates and exit
- your checkbook for safekeeping. This option can
- be turned off by entering zero. When turned off,
- CheX will require less resources in a multi-
- tasking environment such as Windows.
-
- 10. Save # minutes/chgs - Number of elapsed minutes or the number of
- changes between automatic full saves. A full
- save also occurs prior to any print operation
- that could hang the system.
-
- 11. Auto read # of items- (0 to 255) Number of items to be automatically
- read into memory. Auto Read works between key
- strokes. Use 255 to set to maximum items. The
- number to the right is the number of items that
- will presently fit in memory. Maximum is 6138.
- This does not affect CheX's checkbook maximum of
- 9,999 items. Note: When Auto Read is turned on
- the help file, CHEX.DOC, is also automatically
- read into memory.
-
- 12. International dates - (Y or N) If turned on, dates are entered and
- displayed in DD/MM/YY format.
-
- 13. Check print LPT: - (1, 2 or 3) Selects printer port that checks are
- printed on. This does not affect checkbook
- printing. (See section XII, CHEX.INI options.)
-
- 14. Assumed decimal - (Y or N) If turned on, a decimal point will be
- assumed on dollar fields unless a decimal point
- is entered.
-
- 15. Sound duration - (0 to 9) Zero turns sound off.
-
- 16. Size of cursor - Use <Page Up> and <Page Down> to change. Cursor
- size format is TTBB, where TT is the top scan
- line and BB is the bottom scan line. A cursor
- size of "3 6" is reset to a normal cursor when
- you exit CheX.
-
-
- VII. P R I N T and A U D I T: F7-D / F7-P
-
- <F7> is used to print a check or your checkbook. For check printing see
- section "VIII. CHECK PRINTING:" below. Checkbook printing is to paper or
- to disk. The format is similar to what appears on the screen.
-
- During the print process the running balance, audit entries, check sequence
- numbers, and item sort order is validated. Errors are indicated with a ">"
- on the printout and by a message at the end of the run.
-
- If the running balance is in error, the computed balance is inserted in the
- "To:" column of the item in error. This error indicates loss of data and
- should be reconciled. Data loss can be caused by turning the machine off
- while the checkbook is being saved.
-
- Audit entries are notes you insert that confirm the running balance. This
- is done by typing a "=" in the first position of the note field. Then the
- system will insert the current running balance for that item. If the
- running balance ever changes, the print process would flag the entry as an
- error.
-
- Sequence warning messages indicate that a check number was entered
- incorrectly or used out of sequence. I suggest that you try to use your
- checks in sequence so that the print process can help validate the
- integrity of your checkbook.
-
- Item sort sequence errors could indicate a date entered in error or that
- your entries are not sorted. This is just a warning and may not require
- any action.
-
-
- VIII. C H E C K P R I N T I N G: F7-C
-
- To print a check, move the cursor to the check you want printed. Press
- <F7> and option "C". Align your check to the date line and press <Return>.
- The check will be printed using the formatting information stored by
- checkbook.
-
- To help the alignment process, you may press "-", ".", or "_". These will
- be printed on the check document. Pressing the left and right arrow will
- move the carriage back and forth on some printers. This should not affect
- where the next print field will be printed.
-
- As an option you can press ALT-P as a print check hot key. This will print
- the check the cursor is on without pausing for alignment.
-
- If the name of the person you are writing the check to is longer than the
- "To:" field, you may continue their name in the note column. To do this,
- type over the vertical line between the "To:" column and the "Note" column.
- Check print will then print the note field as part of the name.
-
- Check formatting information may be changed by pressing <F8> option "F".
- For more information see section "IX. Format Check".
-
-
- IX. F O R M A T C H E C K F8-F
-
- If you plan to use the check printing feature, you may need to change the
- standard print format. Press <F8> and option "F" to change the standard
- print format.
-
- These options are stored by checkbook. You may use a different format for
- each checkbook. Enter value to change and press <Return>. Use <Escape> to
- exit. A prompt will appear confirming your desire to save changes. Press
- "Y" to use the changes that you made.
-
-
- 1 - 15 Enter formatting information for each field you want printed.
- Fifteen fields may be defined.
-
- Line feeds - Number of line feeds prior to printing the field.
- Note: Most printers use 6 line feeds to the inch.
-
- Micro line feeds - Since some checks are not typewriter spaced, you
- may need to do partial line feeds. Only use this
- if you know how to make your printer do micro line
- feeds. Use option #16 below to define the proper
- escape sequence for your printer. Note: Epson
- uses 12 micro feeds to a standard line feed.
-
- Spaces - Number of spaces to print prior to printing the
- field. Most printers use 10 or 12 spaces to the
- inch. CheX's default format uses 12 spaces to the
- inch.
-
- Field Code - Alpha codes "a" through "z" and "0" through "8".
- Used to define which field to print. These codes
- are defined on the right side of the Format Check
- window.
-
- Field codes 1, 2, and 3 send CHEX.ADx files. These
- files can be used for return addresses, logos, or
- graphic signatures. For laser printers, rename
- .PCL files to CHEX.ADx file name.
-
- 16 Escape sequence for micro feeds - The escape sequence your printer
- requires to do micro line feeds. The sequence
- needs to be followed with the commands to return
- the printer to a normal print mode. Each
- character is a decimal number from 0 to 255. Each
- character is separated with a "/". You may
- override this field with the CheckPrintMicro field
- in the CHEX.INI file. See CHEXINI.DOC file for
- options.
-
- Note: Check printing does NOT require the purchase of continuous forms.
- Most letter quality printers and some dot matrix will print checks
- on your existing checks. This makes it possible to print the
- envelope too. I used a SilverReed EXP 400 daisy wheel printer for
- check printing.
-
-
- X. G R A P H & T O T A L: F7-G
-
- GRAPH TYPE:
- (B)AR GRAPH - total debits, total credits, and average balance by month.
- (C)ATEGORY - plotting of net dollar amounts by category code.
- (N)UMBERS - display of actual values used by the above graphs.
-
- GRAPH CALCULATION: (BY MONTH or BY CATEGORY)
- (A)CTUALS - monthly totals of debits & credits.
- (S)UM TOTAL - cumulative totals.
- (T)HREE MONTH WEIGHTED AVERAGE - graph smoothing technique.
- (D)ETAIL - detail plotting of each item.
-
- BAR GRAPHS:
-
- Totals are by month. Each month graphed is indicated on the bottom of the
- screen. Up to sixty months can be displayed.
-
- Scaling is based on the highest value and the zoom factor. Press "+" or
- "-" to change zoom. Years are represented by different colors on the month
- line. Both total debits (checks) and total credits (deposits) are graphed
- together until one exceeds the other. Up arrows represent amounts that
- exceed the scaling.
-
- A single "B" is the average daily balance. Minus signs, "-", represent
- negative balances. Down arrows represent negative balances that run off
- the scale. The graph will not be accurate if the checkbook is not in date
- order.
-
- The far left margin displays the graph type. The far right margin contains
- the checkbook title, today's date and time. The checkbook title is the
- checkbook file name or, on number checkbooks, it is the note field of the
- first item .
-
- Three month weighted average is a graph smoothing technique. Each month is
- represented by taking the current month times three, the prior month times
- two and the month before that times one. Then the sum is divided by six.
-
- On color monitors, debits are graphed using the checkbook's heading color.
- The rest of the graph uses the detail line color.
-
- You also may graph selected items using the "F4 FIND" command.
-
-
- CATEGORY:
-
- By pressing "C", graphing is by category net dollar amount, category being
- the first character in the "CAT" field. Lower case letters indicate that
- more than one category was plotted. "@" represents extra or blank
- categories. By pressing the letter "B", the graph is returned to the
- standard bar chart format.
-
- By pressing "N", the numbers that make up the graph are displayed. On the
- right side of the screen the category percentage and six month average is
- displayed. Press down arrow key, the page down key, or the end key to
- display additional categories. A maximum of 88 categories are displayed.
-
-
- NUMBERS:
-
- For each graph, the actual values that are being plotted may be displayed.
- This is done by pressing the letter "N" at any graph prompt. Since this
- information will not fit on a single screen, the arrow keys are used to
- scroll through the results. In addition to the plotted values, computed
- totals/averages are displayed.
-
- If the computed number is larger than space available, the number is
- displayed in whole dollars or the display of the number is suppressed.
-
-
- XI. P A S S W O R D O P T I O N S: F8-P
-
- Passwords are optional. You may use different password options for each
- checkbook book. Enter desired fields and press <Return>. Use <Escape> to
- exit. A prompt will appear confirming your desire to save changes. Press
- "Y" to use the changes that you made.
-
- The first time you add password options, CheX needs to be started with the
- "/P" option; CHEX [filename or ##] /P. Once a checkbook is password
- protected, the password may be entered as the LAST parameter on the command
- line; CHEX [filename or ##] [/P] PASSWORD. When you create a new
- checkbook, password options will be turned off.
-
-
- 1. Primary password - Primary password for your checkbook. By entering
- a password you must REMEMBER one of your
- passwords. Enter a blank in each field to turn
- passwords off.
- Verification - Reenter the above entry for verification.
-
- Backup password - A second password in case you forget the first
- one. Both passwords should be entered each time
- you make changes. Both work the same.
- Verification - Reenter the above entry for verification.
-
- 2. Encrypt checkbook - (Y or N) By turning this option on, casual
- browsing of your checkbook file is discouraged.
- Since this option will only take affect for new
- information stored, you will want to update every
- item in your checkbook. An easy way to do this is
- to change the dollar amount of the first item in
- your checkbook. Then change it back to the
- correct amount. Be sure to perform the same
- operation after turning this option off.
-
- WARNING: Use the above options with caution. You could lose valuable
- information by forgetting your password or by damaging an encrypted
- checkbook file. Also note that the above routines are not very secure.
-
-
- XII. C H E X . I N I O P T I O N S:
-
- CHEX.INI is a file you create where advanced options are stored.
- Documentation and examples for this file are stored in CHEXINI.DOC.
- Available options follow:
-
- 1. Report printer LPT port number. Default is LPT1:
- 2. Special printer commands and initialization strings.
- 3. Number of checks on a page definition. i.e. Laser printers
- 4. Snow suppression option for CGA monitors.
- 5. Data entry option to not clear fields when the first key is pressed.
- 6. Option to default directory displays to name order.
- 7. Option to make AutoCopy, ALT-A, copy to the current date.
-
-
- XIII. I M P O R T I N G D A T A F6-I
-
- Importing data is to read a data file into a checkbook. This can be used
- to combine checkbooks, bring information from another program into CheX, or
- provides a method of editing CheX information using a standard editor.
-
- The import function can write over existing information and should be used
- with care. Three file types are supported: comma delimited, ASCII flat
- file, or CheX checkbook file.
-
- CREATING IMPORT FILES:
-
- Comma delimited file format can be created with a standard database package
- or by CheX. To create a comma delimited file in CheX, press <F7>, the
- letter "E" for export, and the letter "A" for all fields. CheX will prompt
- you for the starting and ending item number. The file created will have a
- file type of "PRN".
-
- Other software packages use different terminologies when referring to comma
- delimited files. Some of these follow:
-
- dBase - Use APPEND FROM <filename> TYPE DELIMITED to import.
- Use PRINT <filename> TYPE DELIMITED to export.
- EXCEL - Refer to the documentation on Comma Separated Values, (.CSV).
- 123 - Use (F)ile (I)mport (N)umbers to import.
-
- To create an ASCII flat file press <F7> and the letter "D" for disk file.
- CheX will prompt you for the starting and ending item number. The file
- will be created with a file type of "PRT". When the file is imported into
- CheX, the headings will be bypassed base on the following criteria: all
- records that start with either a dash, a formfeed, or a capital "P".
-
- IMPORTING DATA:
-
- To import a file press <F6> and the letter "I" for import. CheX will
- display the current directory and all the files that have a file type of
- "PRN". Select or enter a file. CheX reads the first record of the file to
- determine the file type. This determination is based on the following
- hierarchy:
-
- .CHX - The first four records have special CheX information.
- .PRN - The first record has at least six comma delimited fields.
- .PNN - The first record has at least four comma delimited fields.
- .PRT - The first record has at least 70 characters.
-
- CheX will prompt you on which record the import should start on. If the
- import is going to overlay existing information, CheX will request
- confirmation.
-
- IMPORT ERRORS:
-
- Each field is edited during the import function unless the input source is
- a CheX checkbook file. If an error is encountered and existing information
- is being overlaid, the import function will stop.
-
- If the import is into a new checkbook or was started at the end of an
- existing book, CheX will ask if you wish to continue. If you continue, any
- errors will be recorded in the note field. To see which records had
- errors, press <F4> and search for ERR|. Use <F5> to continue the search.
- To see the actual error, edit or view the import input file.
-
- Possible errors:
-
- DATE ERR - Date field was not a valid date. MM/DD/YY or MMDDYY
- Current date is used instead. *
- POSTCODE ERR - Invalid posting code. J,F,M,A,Y,U,L,G,S,O,N,D, x or *. *
- OVERFLOW ERR - Amount field made the running balance exceed CheX field
- limit. (-999,999.99 thru 9,999,999.99) *
- * See section "III. Fields" for more field information.
- NULL ERR - Record read contained no data.
- Fld.CountERR - Field count error. The numbers of fields on a delimited
- record was different than the first record in the file.
- ShortRec ERR - The ASCII import record length was less than 70
- characters long.
-
-
- XIV. E R R O R S:
-
- To exit the program press <Escape> or <F10>. In the event that power is
- lost or the system hangs prior to exiting, the checkbook could have serious
- errors. Errors in the running balance will be flagged during the checkbook
- printing process, <F7>. The running balance may be corrected by reentering
- a dollar amount above the running balance error. See section "VII. PRINT
- and AUDIT" above.
-
- With the import or sort function it is possible to make the running balance
- exceed it's field limit. In this situation the running balance will
- display "OVERFL.OW". Use the delete function, ALT-D, to remove the items
- that cause the balance to overflow.
-
-
- XV. B A C K I N G U P
-
- To back up your checkbook, use the DOS copy command. If you made changes
- to the CHEX.INI file you may want to back up that file too. Samples
- follow:
-
- COPY *.CHX A:
- COPY CHEX.INI A:
-
- Though it is possible to separate each year into different files, it is
- better to keep the data in a single file. Reasons for this follow:
-
- - There are fewer files to keep track of.
- - If the data is damaged, it is more likely to be noticed.
- - Less files to convert if a new CheX program requires conversion.
- - Posting across years/files is complicated.
-
-
- XVI. P R O G R A M I N F O R M A T I O N:
-
- CheX will run in 350K but runs better in 450K or more. With more memory
- more items can be kept in memory. This minimizes disk access but has no
- effect on the size of your checkbook. A checkbook file may contain up to
- 9,999 items. CheX does not use extended or expanded memory. The CheX.EXE
- file is compressed using LZEXE.
-
-
- CheX's FILES:
-
- README. - Short description on how to get started. May be deleted.
- CHEX.EXE - Checkbook program: Date 4-3-1992 Size 84,203 B179:109C
- CHEX.DOC - This document. Used as a help screen. May be deleted.
- CHEX.FB - CheX FEEDBACK registration form. Please return.
- CHEX.AD1 - Your name and address for envelope print. May be deleted.
- CHEXINI.DOC - CHEX.INI options file documentation. May be deleted.
- CHEX.PIF - Used for running under MS Windows 3.0. May be deleted.
- CHEX.UPT - Updates or changes to the CheX program. May be deleted.
- CHEX252.ZIP - Library file containing all of the above. May be deleted.
-
- CHEXBK##.CHX - Checkbook. Created by CheX. ## = book number 01 thru 99.
- filename.CHX - Checkbook file. "filename" is user defined.
- filename.PNN - Export file that contains numeric fields only. F7-E
- filename.PRN - Export file for transferring to Lotus or dBase. F7-E
- filename.PRT - Created by CheX on print to disk. May be deleted. F7-D
- filename.OLD - Old copy of checkbook print. Temporary. Save this if you
- get a disk error while printing your checkbook to disk.
- CHEX.INI - Options file.
- CHEX.AD# - Free form text/binary files for check printing. # = 2 or 3
- Can be used for signatures or logos.
-
- If you like CheX please send a $30.00 contribution. As an option you may
- send the CheX FEEDBACK form. Print form by pressing <F7> and option "F".
-
- Thanks to everyone who provided feedback, helped test, or helped distribute
- CheX.
-
-
- ----------------------------
- | Rich Young |
- | 6060 Ashley Place |
- | Goleta, CA 93117-1773 |
- ----------------------------
-
-
- (end of CHEX.DOC document)
-