5.3    Date Processing
       ===============

       With CMS, you can track dates that are either important to your Church
       or to the individual Church members.  You can set up standard date
       categories for future use throughout the CMS system.  You can even print
       mailing labels by dates, e.g. for birthday cards, etc.

       To begin with "Date Processing" from the "Groups Menu":

       Press <D> and then <Enter>.

       The first time you select this option the "Date Processing" screen may
       look like this:

       ===================================================================
       |                        Date Processing
       ===================================================================
       | Date
       -------------------------------------------------------------------
       | Birthday
       | Church Membership
       | Wedding Anniversary
       |
       |


       As you see, three date categories that are most common have been already
       filled in for you.

       Let us take a look at the options available from the "Options Menu" at
       the bottom of the screen.

       Note: The <F> and <R> options are not available from the "Options Menu"
       on the "Date Processing" screen.



5.31   Help
       ====

       Notice the <?>-Help option on the left side of your options menu.

       Press the <?> key now and you will see a Help window appear.  It
       explains all the options available to process SIGs.  Use the <PgDn> and
       <PgUp> keys to see the next or previous Help screen.

       To exit Help press <Esc> and the Help window will disappear again.

       Note: All options presented in the options menu, except the
       <Enter>-Choices option, will act on all the dates in the list. The
       choices presented after selecting the <Enter>-Choices option will act on
       the preselected date category only.


5.32   Add New Date Categories
       =======================

       Adding a new date is easy.

       To add a new date category follow these steps:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen press <A> and a window will appear:

          ========================
          | Enter new date name: |
          |[                    ]|
          ========================

      B. Fill in the name for the new date category to be added (up to 20
         characters long). Duplicate names for dates cannot be used.

      C. Press <PgDn> or <Enter> when you filled in the name. The name for this
         new date category is saved and the newly added date category will
         show on the "Date Processing" screen in alphabetical order.

         To add more date categories now repeat steps A through C.  If you are
         not sure if you already entered a date category into CMS don't worry.
         CMS will warn you and not let you fill in a name that is already in
         use by another date category.


5.33   Date Specific Choices
       =====================

       While the options presented in the options menu affect the list of date
       categories as a whole, it is possible to work with individual date
       categories by choosing the <Enter>-Choices option.

       To see what options are available to work with an individual date
       categories:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the date category
          you want to work with.


       B. Press <Enter> from the "Date Processing" options menu and the
          "Choices" menu will appear.

          ============Choices============
          | Edit Date Category          |
          | Delete Date Category        |
          | Print Date List             |
          | View Date List              |
          | Write Date List to File     |
          | Print Labels                |
          | View Labels                 |
          | Write Labels to File        |
          | Generate Merge File         |
          ===============================


       C. To exit the "Choices" menu again press <Esc>.



5.331  Edit a Date Category
       ====================

       Choose "Edit Date Category" if you want to change the name of a date
       category or if you made mistakes when you added that name to the date
       list.

       To change a date category's name:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the date category
          who's information you want to change.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Press <E> to select "Edit Date Category", and press <Enter>.

          A window will appear:

          =========================
          | Enter new date name:  |
          |[                     ]|
          =========================

       D. Type in the new name, and press <Enter> when you are done.

          You will be returned to the "Date Processing" screen and the changed
          name will appear there.



5.332  Remove a Date Category
       ======================

       Just as date categories can be added to the date category list they also
       can be removed. For example, you discovered after you entered a date
       category, that you use a different name for essentially the same date
       category, and you want to remove this duplicate name from your CMS
       program.

       NOTE: Beware of removing a date category.  Once a category is removed
       all date entries for that category will be lost.  E.g. If you have 5000
       Church members and all their birthdays entered in the CMS system, then
       deleting the "birthday" date category would eliminate all the birthday
       information from all the members.  So, before removing a date category
       ask yourself: "Do I really want to do this?" Also remember, you can
       always first make a backup of your CMS data before initiating such a
       drastic change.

       To delete a date category with all its date information:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the date category
          you want to remove.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Press <D> to select "Delete Date Category", and press <Enter>.

          To prevent you from inadvertently making a mistake and remove the
          wrong date category a window will be displayed:

          ================================================
          | This will remove all <name> date information |
          | from your membership records. Continue [y/N] |
          ================================================

       D. Press <Y> to confirm the removal of this date category and all its
          date information,

          or

          Press <N> if you don't want to remove the selected date category at
          this time.

          If you pressed <N> you will be returned to the "Date Processing"
          screen and no deletions will have been made.

       E. If you pressed <Y> the date category will be removed from the dates
          list and all date entries for this category will be removed from your
          membership records.


       F. You will be returned to the "Date Processing" screen, and if you
          confirmed the removal of that date category its information will have
          disappeared from the "Date Processing" screen.


5.333  Date Lists
       ==========

       You can create lists of Church members by date criteria with the date
       list options.  Output can be sent to the screen, or printer, or be
       written to a file.


5.3331 View Date Lists
       ===============

       To view a list of members with a common date category:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the
          date category you want to get a listing of.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Select "View Date Lists" and press <Enter>.

          A date range prompt window will be displayed. It may look like this:

          =======================================
          | Enter date range for report:        |
          | From: 04/22/91  To: 05/22/91        |
          | (leave year blank to ignore years)  |
          =======================================

          By default the date range will cover the next month starting with the
          system date.


       D. Type in the appropriate dates, and press <Enter>.

          If you type in only the day and month but leave the year blank, then
          the date range will ignore years.

          The list will be generated and another window will appear:

          ================================
          | Sort by Date or Name? [D/N]  |
          ================================

       E. Press <D>, if you want the list sorted in date order,

          or

          press <N>, if you want the list sorted alphabetically by the members
          last name.

          The list of members with this date category and within the specified
          date range will now appear on your screen in the "View Report"
          window.

       F. Press <Esc> when you are done, and you will be returned to the "Date
          Processing" screen.

5.3332 Print Date Lists
       ================

       To print a list of members with a common date category:

       A. Make sure your printer is ready to print.  See the instructions in
          Appendix 10.1, chapter "Preparing Your Printer".

       B. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the date category
          you want to get a listing of.

       C. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       D. Select "Print Date List" and press <Enter>.

          A date range prompt window will be displayed. It may look like this:

          =======================================
          | Enter date range for report:        |
          | From: 04/22/91  To: 05/22/91        |
          | (leave year blank to ignore years)  |
          =======================================

          By default the date range will cover the next month starting with the
          system date.


       E. Type in the appropriate dates, and press <Enter>.

          If you type in only the day and month but leave the year blank, then
          the date range will ignore years.

          The list will be generated and another window will appear:

          ================================
          | Sort by Date or Name? [D/N]  |
          ================================

       F. Press <D>, if you want the list sorted in date order,

          or

          press <N>, if you want the list sorted alphabetically by the members
          last name.

          The list of members with this date category and within the specified
          date range will now be printed on your printer.


5.3333 Write Date Lists to File
       ========================

       To write a list of members with a common date category to a file:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the
          date category you want to get a listing of.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Select "Write Date Lists to File" and press <Enter>.

          A date range prompt window will be displayed. It may look like this:

          =======================================
          | Enter date range for report:        |
          | From: 04/22/91  To: 05/22/91        |
          | (leave year blank to ignore years)  |
          =======================================

          By default the date range will cover the next month starting with the
          system date.

       D. Type in the appropriate dates, and press <Enter>.

          If you type in only the day and month but leave the year blank, then
          the date range will ignore years.

          The list will be generated and another window will appear:

          ================================
          | Sort by Date or Name? [D/N]  |
          ================================

       E. Press <D>, if you want the list sorted in date order,

          or

          press <N>, if you want the list sorted alphabetically by the members
          last name.

       F. When the "Filename" window appears follow the instructions on the
          screen to generate the list. For more details refer to Appendix
          10.2, chapter "Generating Standard Reports in CMS".

       G. Once the list of members with this date category and within the
          specified date range has been generated, and you will be returned to
          the "Date Processing" screen.


5.334  Mailing Labels
       ==============

       When you want to send letters or statements to all members that have a
       particular date category in common this choice lets you generate the
       necessary mailing labels.  Output can be sent to the screen or printer,
       or can be written to a file.


5.3341 View Mailing Labels
       ===================

       To view the mailing labels for members with a common date category:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the
          date category for which you want to generate the labels.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Select "View Labels" and press <Enter>.

          A date range prompt window will be displayed. It may look like this:

          =======================================
          | Enter date range for report:        |
          | From: 04/22/91  To: 05/22/91        |
          | (leave year blank to ignore years)  |
          =======================================

          By default the date range will cover the next month starting with the
          system date.

      D. Type in the appropriate dates, and press <Enter>.

         If you type in only the day and month but leave the year blank, then
         the date range will ignore years.

      E. When the "Label Message" window appears follow the instructions on the
         screen to generate the labels. For more details refer to Appendix 10.3,
         chapter "Viewing Mailing Labels in CMS".

      F. Once the labels for members of this category have been generated, press
         <Esc>, and you will be returned to the "Date Processing" screen.



5.3342 Print Mailing Labels
       ====================

       To print the mailing labels for members with a common date category:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the date category
          you want to mail to.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Select "Print Labels" and press <Enter>.

          A date range prompt window will be displayed. It may look like this:

          =======================================
          | Enter date range for report:        |
          | From: 04/22/91  To: 05/22/91        |
          | (leave year blank to ignore years)  |
          =======================================

          By default the date range will cover the next month starting with the
          system date.

       D. Type in the appropriate dates, and press <Enter>.

          If you type in only the day and month but leave the year blank, then
          the date range will ignore years.

       E. When the "Label Message" window appears follow the instructions on
          the screen to generate the labels. For more details refer to Appendix
          10.4, chapter "Printing Mailing Labels in CMS".

       F. Once the labels for members of this category have been generated you
          will be returned to the "Date Processing" screen.



5.3343 Write Mailing Labels to a File
       ==============================

       To write the mailing labels for members with a common date category to a
       file:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the date category
          you want to mail to.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Select "Write Labels to a File" and press <Enter>.

          A date range prompt window will be displayed. It may look like this:

          =======================================
          | Enter date range for report:        |
          | From: 04/22/91  To: 05/22/91        |
          | (leave year blank to ignore years)  |
          =======================================

          By default the date range will cover the next month starting with the
          system date.

      D. Type in the appropriate dates, and press <Enter>.

         If you type in only the day and month but leave the year blank, then
         the date range will ignore years.

      E. When the "Label Message" window appears follow the instructions on
         the screen to generate the labels. For more details refer to Appendix
         10.5, chapter "Writing Mailing Labels to a File in CMS".

      F. Once the labels for members of this category have been generated you
         will be returned to the "Date Processing" screen.



5.335  Generate Merge File
       ===================

       Sometimes you may want to share the information in CMS with other
       software packages (e.g. for word processing, mail merge, statistical
       reporting). CMS lets you create "Merge Records" that you can later
       import into your other application software.  For technical information
       on the structure of the merge record refer to the Appendix, chapter
       10.7 "Merge Record Structure - Technical Information".

       To generate merge records for members with this date category:

       A. At the "Date Processing" screen move your cursor to the date
          category for which you want to generate merge records.

       B. Press <Enter> to get to the "Choices" menu.

       C. Press <G> to select "Generate Merge File", press <Enter>, and follow
          the instructions on the screen to generate the merge records. For
          more details refer to Appendix 10.6, chapter "Generate Merge Records
          in CMS".

       D. Once the merge records have been generated you will be returned to
          the "Date Processing" screen.



5.336  Exit the Date Choices Menu
       ==========================

       To exit the "Choices" menu:

       Press the <Esc> key, and the choice menu will disappear.



5.34   Exit Date Processing
       ====================

       Press <Esc> to return to the "Group Menu", and again to return to the
       "Main Menu".

