This is where you add new entries to a document, or edit old ones. The line at the top of the window ("This entry #21 of 20" for example) indicates your position among the entries in your document. A display like "#21 of 20" indicates you're at the end of the list ready to make new entries; a number like "#18 of 20" indicates you are viewing an entry already entered into your document.
This view has 2 scroll bars. The right-most scroll bar scrolls the list of categories; the middle scroll bar moves your position among entries.
This view has three push-buttons, named "Enter New", "Edit Old" and "Clear". Enter New is active only when you are at the end of your entries; Edit Old is active only when viewing a previously made entry. Clear clears all input field to blanks and moves you to the end of the entries list; It DOES NOT DELETE any entries or information.
To make a new entry, make sure you are at the end of your entries: move the middle scroll bar all the way to the bottom, or, press [clear], or, click the "Clear" button.
Type the appropriate information in each box. Pressing [tab] moves the cursor down to the next field, Shift-[tab] moves it up. Text can be cut, copied, and pasted in between fields, or from desk accessories. Each field accepts only certain characters, whether they are typed or pasted; for example, the "Amount" field only accepts numerals, periods, commas, dollar signs, and the calculation operators * + - and /.
Select the category this entry will belong to by clicking on the category's name in list at the right of the window. DOUBLE-CLICKING on the name will insert the category's auto-payee into the Payee field; if the category's auto-ON field is set, the Auto-Amount will appear in the Amount field. Pressing the [\] key will also activate a selected category's auto-payee.
When the information in the different fields is set the way you wish, press [enter] (or use the mouse to click the "Enter New" button) to record the new entry in your document. If the entry information is incomplete (for example, the Amount field is empty) there will be a beep, and the missing information will be highlighted.
CK provides a few conveniences for data entry. By using the Defaults menu (see below), you can select which fields are cleared after you make an entry. When the cursor is in the CkNum field, pressing [space] will enter the next sequential check number; pressing [-] sets the field to dashes, as you might want to do with entries that have no check number (like deposits).
When the cursor is in the date field, pressing [SPACE] will enter today's date; pressing option-[SPACE] will enter the last date you used that DID NOT EQUAL today's date.
The "Amount" field can contain a simple calculation. In this field type "0.75*4". Press ENTER to enter a new entry, then scroll back to see the entry you just made. The amount field will contain "$3.00". An Important Note: In a calculation, the first half of the expression will be read as a dollars value; e.g., 75 becomes $75.00. The second half is read as a cents value; e.g. 3 becomes $0.03. Then, all calculations are done with CENTS amounts. So typing "75*4" gives an answer of $300.00 (7,500¢ * 4¢), while typing "75*0.4" gives an answer of $3000.00 (7,500¢ * 40¢).
