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********************************************************************* * * * Ami-Check 2.0 - AC2.0 * * * * 'The User Friendly Amiga CheckBook' * * * * written by: Jeff Hoag * * * * Copyright - 1991 Jeff Hoag All Rights Reserved World Wide * * * * * * FOR WORKBENCH 2.0 ONLY!!! * * * * * ********************************************************************* SHAREWARE: Ami-Check 2.0 is Shareware. You may upload this software to any bulletin board or electronic service provided: 1. That service does not claim copyright on uploaded software or does not charge above it's normal access rates for download of this software. 2. No organization may charge more than handling and media costs for this software with out the express written permission of the author. Drop me a line - I'm pretty easy. 3. All files included in this archive remain intact inside the archive, including this licensing notification. AC2.0 is Shareware. This means that you may try the software first and see if you like it or use it frequently. If you do, shareware asks you to send $25.00 (Twenty Five dollars) as a registration/usage fee to: Jeff Hoag 615 10th Ave So. Safety Harbor, FL 34695 Doing so will give you a warm feeling inside, knowing you have helped support an Amiga developer who wants to develop quality software for your use. Also I plan on releasing more titles in the future as shareware and as a registered owner you will be entitled to several things: 1. 50 % (fifty percent) off Ami-Check Plus, a much expanded Amiga financial system, utilizing accounts, credit card tracking and many many more features, including a couple I guarantee you won't find in ANY Amiga checkbook program currently available. Ami-Check Plus is going to be a COMMERCIAL release program, currently we are thinking of a 79.95 release price. All Ami-Check 2.0 registered users would thus be offered Ami-Check Plus for 39.95, with NO time limits on how long to take advantage of the offer. 2. Notification of upgrade availability or new title releases as they occur. Depending on response, I have several additional features on the burner for Ami-Check 2.0. Registered users will get one free update mailed to them if and when it is available. Registered users will also be entitled to further updates for the minimal cost of a disk and postage. If and when updates are available registered users will be notified via the postal system. (Updates DO NOT cover Ami-Check Plus). 3. Technical support. If you are having a problem with the program, enclose a description of the problem with your registration and I will respond, either by telephone or a letter. If you are a member of PeopleLink or Genie, give me your ID and I will leave mail for you. I feel Ami-Check 2.0 is the easiest, most intuitive checkbook program for the Amiga (I tried hard to make it so) but difficulties may arise, I will help registered users only. I can also be reached on PLink as JHoag. 4. These docs are available to registered owners of AC2.0 in a printed format for $20.00 (twenty dollars) extra. This barely covers the cost of printing and binding them, not to mention postage but I have found it's much nicer to have them in printed form. The easiest way to get them is to enclose the additional amount with your registration payment and add a note saying you want them. They'll be in the mail the same day! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why Ami-Check 2.0: A long time ago (6-7 years) I had a Commodore 128, upgrading from the C64. I used a program on the 128 called CheckBook 128, written by Mike Taylor, a friend of mine. I liked this program a lot and when I upgraded to the Amiga in the fall of 1985 I looked forward to an even better interface and design for a checkbook on the Amiga, utilizing the Amiga's superior graphics, multitasking, GUI, mouse, memory and all the other features that made the Amiga the best computer available. This did not happen. What we got instead was home financial programs that would do our checkbooks like an IBM or a clone. No intuitive interface, no options on whether to set up accounts for checks or NOT, heck I might as well of bought a pc to do my checkbook, the programs coming out for the Amiga weren't even as intuitive as some available on the pc. This situation got more depressing to me after spending big bucks for these other programs and not getting what I wanted. There were promised updates, upgrades coming etc. that promised more of what I was looking for but noooooo, they never got away from the pc feel, and in my opinion they still to this day have not. In the meantime I had been slowly, in my spare time teaching myself C and the Amiga OS, with the help of my good friend Timm Martin (SID). My first real project, the Amiga PhoneBook was ok, it did what I wanted but wasn't the prettiest Amiga program available (I plan on redoing it soon), but I did learn a lot. Ami-Check 2.0 is my second major project and I feel it is immensely better in design and interface considerations. I made many efforts to modularize the code and to have no duplication of code. While I may not have succeeded totally in this, I have gotten pretty darn close. Now the big question - Why did I choose to write the program for Amiga Dos 2.0 only? The reasons for this are twofold, I attended the C= developers conference in Atlanta last summer (90) and became really excited by the new OS. Commodore has given us a truly professional operating system and environment and I wanted to both learn to program inside the new OS plus I wanted to write a piece of low cost shareware that would be good enough for people to want to use it and add another timber to the support for WorkBench 2.0. As loyal Amiga owners and users it is my belief we owe Commodore our support of this new OS, not to mention it is just soooooo much better than 1.2 or 1.3. By using and showing our Amiga's with 2.0 running we give a professional computer a professional look. There are many many new features inside 2.0 and where possible and practical I have attempted to use these new features. I think the effect is quite nice, I hope you agree. Anyway that's the 'why' of the Ami-Check 2.0. Jeff Hoag ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Overview: Ami-Check 2.0 (ACB2.0) is an easy to use, intuitive, friendly checkbook program for the Commodore Amiga personal computer. It runs under Workbench 2.0 of the Amiga Operating System ONLY, adjusting itself for all Workbench 2.0 display modes. AC2.0 allows you to enter your checks in a very natural style, giving you a running balance as you do so. The program also allows you to clear & reconcile your checkbook, start new registers with outstanding checks only, print all, cleared, outstanding or selected entries from your checkbook to your printer, or a disk file, as a standard ascii file suitable for use in all word processing or desk top publishing programs. AC2.0 has a unique feature, called Flow-Tracker which summarizes your check register for you by totals so you can see where your money is going, without setting up accounts. AC2.0 has multiple user definable options such as total font configurability, auto dating, auto check numbering and auto clearing balance to name a few. There is also a calculator with memory functions built in that transfer to the AC2.0 register. The program will run from the Workbench or from the CLI, detaching itself from the calling shell. Extensive documentation and quick reference is also included. In all, Ami-Check 2.0 simplifies the day to day maintenance of a checking account in a friendly, easy to use, and intuitive way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Starting AC2.0 from the Workbench: Copy AC2.0 to the appropriate window or directory you wish to run it from. Open the window and double click your left button while the pointer is over the AC2.0 icon. That's it, the program will load and run from there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Starting AC2.0 from the CLI/Shell: Copy AC2.0 to the appropriate window or directory you wish to run it from. Change directories to that directory and issue the command 'AC2.0'. That's it, the program will load and run from that point forward. It is certainly NOT necessary to actually change directories to run the program, you will however have to provide a path to the CLI, telling the Amiga where AC2.0 is located. Example: df1:utils/AC2.0 would run AC2.0 from the df1: drive in the utils directory. Startup Recommendation: I recommend putting AC2.0 in your C: directory or some other directory that is in your system path. This allows you to run AC2.0 from any place in the system from a CLI/Shell simply by typing AC2.0 and pressing return. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** The Main AC2.0 Window: This is the check register. When the program starts up a blank register is shown, with the first entry field for check number active. You may immediately begin adding new checks, or use one of the menu options to, for example, load in a previously used register. You will also see several buttons and gadgets in the window, including Enter, Delete and Sort a scroller bar and scroller arrows and finally the standard system gadget such as the Zoom gadget, Window Close gadget, the Window Sizing gadget and the Window Depth gadget. All of these gadgets are hooked up and their use will be covered below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Entering Transactions: Entering deposits and checks is as simple as entering the appropriate number or description in the appropriately labeled field. For example if the Check # field is the highlighted field enter the check number you want, deposits do not need a check number, and press return. The active field will change to the next field, the Date Field. If you wish to use today's date or simply hit return in the blank field and a date will be filled in for you. If you have already entered checks, the date of the previous check or deposit will automatically be entered for you unless you have selected the Auto-Date feature from the preferences menu. AC2.0 will support a wide range of different date entry formats, converting them to it's own dd/mm/yy format. This allows you to be very brief with your date entering (as brief as hitting the return key) or make continuous date changes. Pressing return in the date field will move you to the next active field, the Description field. The Description field is very easy. Simply enter the transaction description from your checkbook into this field. A note, pressing return on an empty Description field will enter the word 'Deposit' into that field and move you to the credit field. You may get more complex with your deposit descriptions though by entering the word deposit as the first word in the field followed by any other supporting detail text you wish. AC2.0 will look at the first 7 (seven) characters of the description field and attempt to match them with one of the following three variations of the word deposit. They are: Deposit DEPOSIT deposit Any one of these three in the first word position of the description field will cause AC2.0 to see that line as a deposit and move you to the credit amount entry field. This allows you to enter deposit descriptions such as: Deposit Paycheck or.... DEPOSIT Cash or.... deposit check from friend. I think you will find adequate space for most transaction descriptions you use in your checkbook, as long as you do not get carried away. Anything other than one of the three deposit variations as the first word in the description field will move you to the Debit amt entry field. Pressing return in a blank description field will automatically put in the word Deposit, and move you to the credit amount field. The Debit/Credit Amt Fields are just as you would imagine, the place where you enter the amount of the transaction. As explained above, AC2.0 will determine which field is the appropriate one based on your entry in the description field for that transaction. Dollar signs are not used in AC2.0 and if you enter them they will not effect the amount entered but they will be removed by the program. The reason for this is because the standard Amiga displays, even in HighRes are 80 columns across. AC2.0 uses all 80 of these columns and to give the widest description field possible I opted to not use the dollar sign for amount fields. The '-' minus or negative sign is recognized however and used and kept. This will become most apparent if you overdraw your checking account. After you have entered the amount in the appropriate field, press the return key and AC2.0 will automatically calculate your balance, display that balance and take you to the next line ready to enter your next transition. Note: A benefit of 2.0 - The TAB key and the SHIFT-TAB key are active while you are in transaction entering mode. Pressing TAB will move you forward one field and SHIFT-TAB will move you back one field. This is very useful when in Edit Mode which will be discussed below. Note: Another benefit of 2.0 - If you are in a debit or credit amount entry field and if you have stored a number using the Calculators STO command, pressing Right-Amiga-I will put the stored number in the credit or debit field for you. This can be very handy if, for example, you are adding together many checks for a deposit using the calculator. When you are finished just STO them in the calculator and then close it down. Once you are back at the AC2.0 register simply enter your deposit info and when you get to the amount field press R-Amiga-I and the number will appear in the field. You will then be able to edit the number or by pressing return enter the number into your register. That's the basics of the transaction entry system for AC2.0. I hope you will agree that it's friendly and easy to understand, I spent many many long hours making it so. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Extra Entry Features - Utilizing the Mouse: When you are in transaction entry mode, clicking your left mouse button while the mouse pointer is over a previously entered transaction will select (highlight) that transaction. You may have multiple transactions selected at any time simply by clicking your left button on them once. These selected entries can then be used by the Delete Selected and the Print options for example. Waiting a moment past your Workbench 2.0 Preferences Double-Click time and then clicking your mouse on a selected entry will de-select that particular entry. If you Double-Click your left button over one transaction entry, AC2.0 will assume you wish to edit that entry and will activate that transaction's check number field. Return or the TAB keys will move you around the field. AN IMPORTANT NOTE: When you enter or edit a transaction entry, AC2.0 does not process that entry until you press the RETURN key on either the Debit or the Credit amt field. This means that if you Double-Click an entry to edit the entry, YOU MUST press return to 'step-through' the rest of the transaction so AC2.0 will know you wish that entry re-processed. If you do not do this you will lose your changes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** AC2.0 Font Discussion AC2.0 is totally font adjustable, with one practical limitation a program such as AC2.0 must have. This limitation is based on the horizontal character width of the transaction register and the standard Amiga display modes. AC2.0 requires 80 columns across the screen to properly lay out and display the register. Normally this is not a problem but WB 2.0 provides some interesting challenges as it will allow you to customize your workbench with large or small fonts. Small fonts are not really a problem and AC2.0 will accommodate them but a large font, greater than 8 pixels wide will throw the 80 column character spacing off. As AC2.0 operates on the Workbench screen and it is possible to have a very wide font on a 640x200 or 640x400 WB screen I had to enforce an 8 pixel wide character font limit. This is a horizontal limit, there is no limit on vertical height and in fact I have included in this archive a 13 pixel high, 8 pixel wide font, Sol20. To the best of my knowledge Sol20 is a public domain font, I have asked on BBS's and the national networks and no one has stated differently. If it is not a pd font I apologize to its owners and if you let me know I will remove it from AC2.0's archive. Assuming Sol20 is a pd font, it is a very nice font for use with a 640x400 interlaced Workbench screen and it looks very nice with AC2.0. Give it a try, I think you will like it. One final note, again because of the columns and alignment considerations inherent in a program such as AC2.0, I had to rule out the use of proportional spacing fonts. I had this capability in for a while and discovered, more often than not, that a proportional font threw off the spacing and alignment of the register. I had some correcting mechanisms built in for a while but the overhead involved did not, in my humble opinion, justify the benefit received so I removed them and limited AC2.0 to only non-proportional fonts. I don't feel this is a major limitation for a checkbook and I hope you won't either. The bottom line to this is, when you use the Customize font option listed below, the Font Requestor has been set up to show only non-proportional fonts. WB 2.0's system default font is also set up this way, thus proportional fonts are not accessible inside AC2.0. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** The Menus: AC2.0's menuing system is straight forward and most of the entries are self explanatory while the program is running. I will cover each now. There are 5 (five) main menu headers, these are: 1. Project -for load, save, clear etc. 2. Edit -for entering, deleting, sorting etc. 3. Special -for reconcile, calculator etc. 4. Report -for print function and display etc. 5. Preferences -for configuring AC2.0 the way you want it. These headers and their associated menu items and sub-items will be discussed below. If the menu item or sub-item has an associated Right-Amiga Hot key it will be listed as well. To access any menu item in this matter simply hold down the Right Amiga Key and at the same time press the alpha-numeric key listed. These keys will not function when an entry field is active. You must deactivate the entry field by clicking your mouse outside the entry window or by selecting the first menu item with the mouse. Another note about WB 2.0 conventions. The '...' convention. Commodore has asked that all projects developed using menu's or gadgets that open another window or present a requestor asking 'Are You Sure?' be followed by the '...' (three dots). What this does is tell you that this option is not a fatal type option, you will be given at least one more chance if you are about to do something that changes your data, or if another window will be opened. The purpose of this is to provide a sense of security to a user that the option about to be selected is not an irrevocable one. I agree with this philosophy and have instituted it throughout AC2.0. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Project: The Project header inside AC2.0 has the following menu items. Clear - Right-Amiga + L Overview: Clears current register. The Clear menu item will clear the current register and present you with a clean check register. It has the effect of wiping the slate clean. If you have made any changes to the register AC2.0 will present you with a system requestor first asking you if you wish to 'Clear the Register?' This reminds you that you have done something to the register that has changed it and that you have not yet saved those changes. Clicking your left button on the Change button of the requestor will tell AC2.0 to go ahead and clear the register anyway, clicking your left button on the Cancel button of the requestor will abort the operation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ClearCarry - Right-Amiga + Y Overview: Clears current register, creates new register based on cleared balance and non-cleared checks. The Clear Carry menu item functions the same as the Clear menu item explained above but with additions. These additions are: Before the register is cleared AC2.0 will go through the register and calculate your cleared check balance (the blue lines). The program will then go through the register and temporarily store all outstanding check entries. AC2.0 will then clear the register. After the register is cleared, a new first entry will be created from the cleared check balance calculated above. It will have the current month and day date but the year will be set to zero (00) for sorting purposes. AC2.0 will then create entries in the new register for the stored outstanding checks, will enter those checks into the register and calculate the new balance for you. This is one of the nicest features of AC2.0 and is very useful for keeping shorter monthly or quarterly registers rather than having a large register full of cleared and reconciled checks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Open - Right-Amiga + O Overview: Brings up file requestor to open previously saved register. The Open menu option will allow you to open a previously saved AC2.0 check register. This option will present you with the new WB 2.0 ASL File Requestor, and as a default put you in the s: directory. I admit the choice of the s: directory is arbitrary but you can change it using the functions of the requestor and AC2.0 will remember the change throughout the current session. This is probably as good a time as any to say that I am considering an upgrade option to allow saving of full AC2.0 configuration options but this is not currently supported as the options are all very easy to change at startup. Select your saved register in the file requestor and click on the load gadget to load that register into AC2.0. See Below for a more detailed look at the 2.0 ASL File Requestor. A final note, AC2.0 will not load a non-AC2.0 file. It will open the file, determine that it is not an AC2.0 file and close the file, informing you of this. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Save - Right-Amiga + W Overview: Saves current register. No file requestor presented. The Save menu option saves your current AC2.0 register. This option will NOT present you with a file requestor (see Save As) rather it will immediately attempt to save the file using the last defined file name and file path. If a previously defined name is not found, the save operation will terminate and inform you that no name is found. If a previously defined file name is found but no path is found, AC2.0 will save the register to the current active directory. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Save As Overview: Saves current register, presents file requestor. The Save As menu option also saves your current AC2.0 register but before doing so this option will present you with the new WB 2.0 ASL file requestor. (See below for a more detailed look at the ASL file requestor). You may either select a file name from the requestor or enter one in the File line of the requestor. Clicking your left mouse button on the Save button inside the requestor will save the register. A further note: The Save As file requestor will list the files in reverse colors, the background of the display will be black (using standard 2.0 colors) and the file names will be gray. This differentiates the Save from the Load options. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quit - Right-Amiga + Q Overview: Quits Ami-Check. The Quit menu option will quit out of AC2.0. If you have an unsaved register currently open, AC2.0 will ask you if you wish to quit without saving. Clicking on OK will quit the program without saving, clicking on cancel will terminate the quit function and return you to the main register window where you may use the options presented above to save your file before quitting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Overview: About Ami-Check. Beg for shareware. The About menu item will present a sub-menu of text that will tell you a little more about AC2.0 and remind you of the shareware requirements of the program. Please READ IT! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Edit: Enter - Right-Amiga + E Overview: Begin transaction entry mode, activates first field. The Enter menu item performs the same function as the Enter button located at the bottom of the main register window. This option will take you to the next free transaction line and activate the check number field, allowing you to enter a new transaction. If you have already entered many entries, enough to fill the size of your window at least once, it automatically scroll the register window to the bottom of the register, thus allowing you to continue entering transactions at the end of the register. The only way to enter a transaction into the middle of the register is to use this method to enter the transaction and the use the Sort option to sort the register into the new desired order. (See Sort below). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delete Selected - Right-Amiga + D Overview: Deletes all selected (highlighted) entries. After selecting entries by clicking once on them to highlight the entry you may delete these highlighted entries by selecting the Delete Selected menu option. This option functions the same as the Delete button at the bottom of the AC2.0 register window. AC2.0 will count the number of selected (highlighted) entries and present you with a requestor asking if you wish to delete x number of entries. Clicking your left mouse button the Delete button inside the requestor will delete all the highlighted entries, Cancel will abort the operation and return you to the AC2.0 register window. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UnSelect All - Right-Amiga + U Overview: Un-selects all selected (highlighted) entries. The UnSelect All menu item will do just what its name implies, the option will go through the entire AC2.0 register currently active, finding all currently selected transactions and change those selected entries to the un-selected state. This saves time if you have multiple transactions selected for a Print and then wish to change to a different selected set. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sort Overview: Register sort options. A lot of thought and discussion went into the sort feature of AC2.0 and what was finally decided on was to use a Shell-Sort. Admittedly a shell sort is not the absolute fastest sort available but it is what is known as a 'stable sort'. What this means is the items sorted will retain their relative position within the array being sorted as long as they are not moved. This was of high importance in this application and the shell sort is the fastest of the stable sorts. I am very satisfied with the speed obtained and even in a 1000 transaction register the difference in speed between the shell sort and a non-recursive quick sort was minimal and not really noticeable. The Sort menu item has two sub menu items, they are: Natural - Right-Amiga + S Overview: Sorts register in 'natural' form. The Natural Sort sub-menu item will sort your AC2.0 register in a checkbook 'natural' manner. What this means is that it sorts the register first by date and then by check number, putting Deposits ahead of Checks in the register for the same date. Where possible AC2.0 will attempt to put checks in check number order but if you enter check number 1 on the 5th and check number 2 as being written on the 1st, check number 2 will precede check number 1 in the register after this sort is completed. The reason for this is I felt it more important to maintain the date the check was written as the primary key field (it'll get back to the bank sooner) rather than the Check Number. This function is the primary sorting option of AC2.0 and is the same as clicking your left mouse button on the Sort button located at the bottom of the main register window. If you wish a strict numeric sort of your register use the second Numeric Sort option detailed below. Numeric Overview: Sorts register in numeric form. The Numeric Sort sub-menu item over-rides the Natural sort method listed above and sorts the AC2.0 transaction register in a strictly numeric way, putting all Deposits or transactions without check numbers at the top and then listing your checks in numeric check number order. This can be useful when reconciling your checkbook with the bank statement as many banks will list checks separately from Deposits and in a numeric order. It is interesting to see your register in this order at times and I suggest you give it a try. To return to a more normal 'checkbook' sort, simple select the Natural Sort sub-menu item or click your left mouse button on the Sort button located at the bottom of the AC2.0 register window. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Special Calculator - Right-Amiga + C Overview: Brings up calculator. The Calculator menu option will bring up the AC2.0 calculator with memory. Detail and operation of the calculator will be given below. (See section titled **** Using the Calculator) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reconcile The Reconcile menu item has three sub-items attached to it, these are: Reconcile Mode - Right-Amiga + R Toggle Checked Overview: Turns on reconcile mode for check transaction clearing. The Reconcile Mode sub-menu item turns on AC2.0's check clearing feature. When this item is on a check mark will appear next to it in the menu and the status line will inform you that it is the active mode. What this mode does is, when you single click your left mouse button on an already entered transaction instead of selecting (highlighting) the transaction line, the transaction text will turn blue (assuming standard WB 2.0 colors). This is AC2.0's way of noting that the transaction has cleared the bank, thus you would only want to use this option when your statement arrives from your bank. To turn Reconcile Mode off, simply select it again from the menu. NOTE: Transactions that have been cleared (are blue) will not be editable. If you wish to edit a cleared transaction you must go into Reconcile Mode and then click your left mouse button once on the cleared transaction item. This will un-clear the transaction and allow you to edit or delete the item. Don't forget to turn Reconcile Mode off again when you do this. As a matter of course I do not recommend editing a cleared transaction but I do recognize that a time could arise when you might want to, so this option is provided. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Show Clearing Balance Toggle Checked Overview: Shows cleared balance each time transaction is reconciled (cleared). The Show Clearing Balance sub-menu item works in conjunction with the Reconcile Mode sub-menu item detailed above. When you select this item from the menu a check mark will appear next to the items name in the menu. To turn this feature off simply select it again from the menu. What Show Clearing Balance does is this, every time you click on a transaction to clear that transaction (it turns blue), AC2.0 will re-calculate the registers cleared balance and display that balance in the status line at the bottom of the register. The final cleared balance, after you have cleared all deposits transactions, service fees etc listed on your bank statement should equal the balance shown on your bank statement. This is the 'quickie' way to reconcile your checkbook with AC2.0. Fabbian DuFoe gets the credit for this idea, thanks Fabbian! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reconcile Overview: Brings up reconcile window. The Reconcile sub-menu window will open the main Reconcile window. The operation and functions of this window will be detailed below. You should NOT use this option until you have cleared your entered transactions based on your bank statement. This is not to say all your transactions will be cleared, undoubtedly they will not, but if you do not clear your entered transactions first, the figures used in this window will be incorrect. (See ****Reconcile Window below) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Report Print - Right-Amiga + P Overview: Brings up print window for printing to printer or disk. The Print menu item brings up the Print window, which allows you to print all or partial transactions to either your printer or to a disk file. As this is a separate window, the operation and detail of the Print window are covered below. (See **** Print Window) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flow Tracker - Right-Amiga + K Overview: Brings up Flow Tracker window for register analysis. The Flow Tracker window is one of the unique features of AC2.0 that I am quite pleased with. What this window does is display a summary of your check register, sorted and collected into groups based on the number of letters shown in the Compare Chars entry field. The default for this field is 7 characters. The reason for this default of seven characters is because this is the same number of characters in the word deposit. Thus you can have multiple deposit entries that are different such as: Deposit my paycheck deposit Income Tax etc etc But when flow tracker groups its entries, it will only use the first seven characters (by default) and thus group these entries together, giving you an accurate total of your deposits. (See **** Flow Tracker Window below) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Display Cleared Balance. Overview: Calculates and displays transaction cleared balance. The Display Cleared Balance menu item tells AC2.0 to go through the current register and perform a balance on all transactions that have been cleared (are blue). It will then display this cleared balance in the status line of the main register window. This is useful as a quick check option when looking at your bank statement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Preferences Auto # - Right-Amiga + A Toggle Checked Overview: Turns on auto-check numbering for transaction entry. The Auto # menu item turns on AC2.0's auto check numbering feature. This auto numbering is based on the previous entry in the register. Auto numbering will add 1 (one) to the previous check number and immediately display that number in the check number field of the transaction register. Thus if you want this number all you have to do is press return on the check number field, the number will auto matically become part of the transaction. To turn this mode off, simply select the option from the menu again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Today- Right-Amiga + T Toggle Checked Overview: Places the current date into date field during transaction entry. The Date Today menu option toggles on and off the current system date in the transaction register. The normal default for the date field is to take it's date from the previous transaction entry. This allows entering checks that were written several days previously. If you want to guarantee that the date entered into the transactions date field is the current system date, turn this option on. Then all you have to do is hit return in the date field and the current date will be entered for that transaction. To turn this option off simply select it again from the menu. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Font The Font menu item has two sub-menu items attached to it. These are: System Overview: Selects system default font. The System font sub-menu item will immediately read the system default font as set up in Preferences and apply it to AC2.0. This is a non-proportional font as discussed above and is a very quick way to set AC2.0 back to a 'default' font if you have chosen a different custom font using the sub-menu item listed below. (See AC2.0 Font Discussion above) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Custom - Right-Amiga + F Overview: Allows selection of custom font. The Custom font sub-menu item will bring up the new 2.0 ASL Font Requestor. This is the option that allows you to customize your AC2.0 register to the font of your choice. The ASL Font Requestor's function and operation is discussed below. Upon return from this function AC2.0 will attempt to re-display itself using the newly selected font. (See AC2.0 Font Discussion above) (See also ASL Font Requestor Overview Below) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Using the Calculator AC2.0 comes complete with its own mini-calculator that performs the four basic math operations as well as a single register memory. Before going into the details let me just say that the calculator is one of those areas I am looking at for improvement in AC2.0. It is ok, it works well, is accurate, font adjustable etc etc but I like my calculators with lots of functions (for a check book program financial functions), and multiple memories. Depending on response to AC2.0 I may or may not release an upgrade that expands the calculator. Another thought is to make the calculator a process unto itself, that way it could hang around on the screen all the time. I am working on these expansion ideas now, but again, it all depends on response. On to the description. AC2.0's calculator is basically a 13 (thirteen) position basic calculator, working the same way almost all other calculators work. Clicking your left mouse button on a number will put that number into the display at the top of the calculator. Clicking your mouse button on one of the function buttons, described below, will cause the calculator to perform that operation on the number in the display. Calculator function buttons: % is the Percent button, converting the number in the calculator display to a percentage value. You can then use this value in another calculation. Example: Enter the number 50 into the display of the calculator. Then click on the % button. The number should have changed to .50 (point five zero). Now click on the '*' (asterisk - multiplication) button and then enter the number 30. Finally click on the '=' (equals) button and the result should be 15, or 50% of 30. <- Is used to delete a single digit of a number that you are currently entering into the calculator. This function works in natural order, from smallest decimal place to largest and can be clicked repeatedly to remove multiple digits. +/- This button toggles your current displayed number negative to positive or positive to negative. CA Clears all numbers from the current calculation, in effect zeroing all registers. It does NOT effect the calculator memory. CE Clears only the current entry in the display, does not effect the number you may have already entered to perform a calculation on. / This is the divide button. * This is the multiply button. - This is the subtraction button. + This is the addition button. STO This is the STOre button, storing the current display into the calculator's memory. Any number that was previously in this register is replaced by the current display. Use this button as well to store a number for later retrieval into the AC2.0 register. (See Note: Another benefit of 2.0, above). ** Note - to clear the calculator's memory, store a zero. RCL This is the ReCaLl (recall) from stored memory button. It will recall the stored in memory number and make it the active number in the display, suitable for use in a calculation. SUM This is the SUM button. This function will take the currently displayed number and add it to the value that is stored in the calculator's memory, storing the result in the memory. To see the value of a multiple SUM'd number use the RCL function. EXC This is the EXChange button. This function will exchange the value in memory with that in the active display. Both values are preserved in this operation. . This is the decimal point button. = This is the equals button. In a single operation calculation, this function will cause the calculation to take place. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Reconcile Window The reconcile window is selected from the 'Special' menu, 'Reconcile...' sub menu option. This window is an exact duplicate of the reconcile method printed on the back of my bank statement that comes every month. The first thing you should do is use the Reconcile Mode option described above and clear all checks on your statement. Shown in the window are: On the left side: Checking Balance From Statement and a numeric entry field to its right. This is where your cleared (or ending) balance is entered from your bank statement. AC2.0 will automatically calculate this field for you and fill in this field. *** WARNING ***> This field will only be correct if you have used the 'Reconcile Mode' option described above first. ADD + Deposits Not Reconciled - This field will also be calculated by AC2.0 and again will only be valid if you have first cleared all checks that have been returned to you by the bank. SUBTRACT - Checks Not Reconciled - This field will also be calculated by AC2.0 and again will only be valid if you have first cleared all checks that have been returned to you by the bank. On the right side: Ami-Check 2.0 Balance - This is the current balance of your checkbook. AC2.0 calculates this field for you and enters the value into this field. This is a non-editable field. ADD + Interest - This field is for adding in interest accrued (say from a money market account) and adjusting your balance for any accrued interest. I don't recommend you use this or the next fields but rather enter these in as either debits or credits in your check register. This will insure these amounts are permanently entered into your register. Auto Deposits - for entering automatic deposits during reconcile. I don't recommend you use this or the next fields but rather enter these in as either debits or credits in your check register. This will insure these amounts are permanently entered into your register. SUBTRACT - Auto Charges - Misc Charges - Service Charge - for entering automatic charges to your account during reconcile. I don't recommend you use this field, rather enter this in as either a debit or credit in your check register. This will insure these amounts are permanently entered into your register. At the bottom of the window are two buttons, Reconcile and Calculator. Reconcile will cause AC2.0's reconcile window to calculate your reconcile balance. These values will be displayed in the two read-only fields shown in the middle of the window. If there is an error in the reconcile calculation a suggestion message will be displayed. If the AC2.0 register is in balance a message will appear informing you of this. On the right side of the window is a Calculator button that will bring up the AC2.0 calculator as described above. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Print Window The AC2.0 Print Window allows you to print various combinations or all of your register to either your printer or to a disk file. When the window opens you will see four read only boxes across the top of the window titled: Preferences Printer Left Margin Right Margin Page Length The values presented in the read only boxes below these headers are strictly informational, displaying the printing preferences you have set up in the WB 2.0 preferences printer program. Below these boxes to the left is another read only box titled Destination. This box lists the current output destination for the print command. The current default is to the PRT: device. You may change the print destination by clicking your left mouse button with the pointer over one of the two mutually exclusive buttons directly below the Destination box. These are: Printer - The default. Outputs to the PRT: device allowing the use of your printer driver. Disk - When you click on this button you will be presented with the File Requestor to select a path and a file name for your register output. Select a path and a file name and then click on the button labeled out. Your destination box should now list this path and file name. (See also **** The ASL File Requestor below). To the right of the Destination box are two more groups of mutually exclusive buttons labeled, Output Option and Form Feed. These two groups are detailed below. OutPut Option All - Prints all entries in your register. Cleared - Prints only those entries from your register that have been reconciled (cleared). Outstanding - Prints only those entries from your register that have not been reconciled (cleared). Selected - Prints only those entries from your register that are currently in the Selected (Highlighted) state. Form Feed On - Turns on Form Feeds at the end of every page and at the end of the print function. This option has no effect if you are printing to a disk file as disk files do not require a form feed. Off - Turns off Form Feeds. Finally at the far right is the Print button. Clicking your left mouse button on this button will cause the print to take place. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** The Flow Tracker Window The Flow Tracker window function is described above. The window opens with a read only window, a slider gadget hooked to the window, a numeric entry field titled Compare Chars, and three mutually exclusive buttons titled Sort By, Count, Description, and Totals. Each of these is described below. The read only window - # Description Totals | | | The number of entries that Flow Tracker has grouped together. | | The descriptions of the grouped AC2.0 register entries shown with the number of chars specified in the Compare Chars field to the right. | The total dollar amount of all entries in each group listed in the window. The Slider gadget is attached to the entries in the read only window and if there are to many to display in the window, the slider gadget will display allow you to scroll through the listed entries. The Compare Chars entry field allows you to change the number of characters AC2.0 will use to calculate its grouped entries. Simply click your left button with the pointer in the field and then enter a number between one and twenty seven (27 is the max number of characters available in the description field of the AC2.0 register). Press return to enter the number and AC2.0's Flow Tracker will recalculate the grouped entries and totals. The Sort By buttons are mutually exclusive, meaning only one of them can be selected at a time. By clicking your left mouse button on one of the buttons will resort the groups based on: Count - Resorts the Flow Tracker by the number of entries in each group. Description - Resorts the Flow Tracker by descriptions alphabetically. Totals - Resorts the Flow Tracker by total amount of each group, displaying the totals from highest to lowest. I find this sort one of my most often used. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** The 2.0 ASL File Requestor: (Overview) The new WB 2.0 includes a standardized library file requestor. This file requestor resides in your WB 2.0 Libs directory, in the file ASL.Library. This library MUST be present for AC2.0 to function. If you installed WB 2.0 in the normal manner, this should not be a problem. Commodore is to be applauded for listening to the Amiga developer community concerning this. A standardized file requestor is something we have been lacking since the Amiga's inception. I realize there are some pretty slick PD file requestors out there now but they are NOT the standard. The ASL requestor is the standard and hence its use in AC2.0, plus it is a pretty slick file requestor in its own right. Any time you Save-As, or Load a file (as well as trying to save a file without having a file name set up) you will be presented with the ASL File Requestor. I have given it the default of looking in your S: directory at start up, though if you change this, AC2.0 will remember your directory of choice throughout your current session. The options available inside the file requestor are pretty straight forward. Use the slider and arrows to move scroll the files inside your active directory. Clicking once on a file name will hi-lite the file, double- clicking on a file name will hi-lite the file and select it, returning you to AC2.0 and loading or saving your register. Note - AC2.0 knows its own files and will not allow you to load in a Non-AC2.0 file. More Notes - In the Save operation the files will be listed in a reverse color order, in other words the background will be black and the file names white (gray actually, again assuming standard wb 2.0 colors). Also, the requestor is sizeable and can be controlled with your arrow keys (give it a try :). One other thing, for the life of me I could not figure out how to tell the ASL requestor to use a different font, I don't think this feature is implemented in the library. If anyone knows differently, drop me a line, I'd love to know how. The buttons at the bottom of the requestor are Load (or Save depending) which actually causes the action to occur. Once you have selected or typed in your register name clicking on this button will cause the load or save to take place. Disks - allows you to select a different disk or dos device for your load or save. Parent - takes you out one layer of directories, to the parent directory of the directory you are currently in. Cancel - cancels the file operation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 2.0 ASL Font Requestor: (Overview) The new WB 2.0 includes a standardized library font requestor. This font requestor resides in your WB 2.0 Libs directory, in the file ASL.Library. This library MUST be present for AC2.0 to function. If you installed WB 2.0 in the normal manner, this should not be a problem. Again this requestor is an attempt at standardization, though there is much less competition in the font requestor arena, hence the ASL inclusion in AC2.0. When you select the Custom sub-item of the Font Item of the Preferences menu item inside AC2.0 (say that one 10 times fast :) either with the mouse or the R-Amiga+F key you will be presented with the ASL font requestor. Shown will be two separate display windows, two string entry areas, one box that shows what the font looks like and two buttons at the bottom labeled Change and Cancel. As explained above (see AC2.0 Font Discussion) AC2.0 limits you to fonts that are eight pixels wide or less, non-proportional spacing. The fonts in your currently assigned FONTS: directory path that fit the non-proportional part of the requirement will be shown. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a way to have the requestor display only eight wide fonts so if you select one wider than eight pixels wide AC2.0 will let you know after you click the Change button. Choosing a font is as simple as clicking your left mouse button with the pointer over a font name, selecting a size for the font in the next window (SEE NOTE BELOW) and then clicking on the change button at the bottom of the requestor. AC2.0 will automatically re-configure itself with the new font you have chosen. ** NOTE - You must select a size for the font when you select the font or the display of your checkbook will be distorted. This is because the ASL font requestor does not change the value of the height variable inside its structure unless you tell it to do so. This I believe is because the Amiga allows us to have multiple sizes of the same font. Anyway's, just select a size when you select a font and you won't have any problems. I realize I have not gone into great detail concerning the ASL File or font requestors, for more information consult your system manuals or dos 2.0 upgrade manual. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** The Obligatory Disclaimers Etc. Jeff Hoag makes NO WARRANTIES as to suitability of this software. Use this software AT YOUR OWN RISK. Jeff Hoag makes no warranties or fiscal guarantees for decisions made by the user based on financial results obtained using this software. All speculations and comments made by the author are purely speculation. No guarantees are made concerning any possible future products or upgrades to this product. Workbench 2.0, and Amiga are Trademarks of Commodore Business Machines Ltd. Enjoy AC2.0. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to Timm Martin, the writing of this software and many of the algorithms contained in it are a product of his software expertise. Without Timms assistance, AC2.0 might never have been. Thanks Timm! Thanks for using Ami-Check 2.0. Please don't forget that it is Shareware and that I am depending on you to help support it. I can be reached at the Shareware address provided above or in the About menu sub-item inside the program. Please feel free to pass AC2.0 along to other bbs's or friends, only PLEASE keep all the files included in this LHarc together. Drop me a line, let me know what you think. Thanks. Jeff Hoag. 4.6.91