 05/02/88                                                             v2.30
                                C h e X
                  Copyright (c) Rich Young, 1987, 1988

 CheX, a simple full screen checkbook program for your IBM PC or compatible
 computer.  It assists in balancing and can also be used for credit cards,
 savings accounts, and other types of debit / credit bookkeeping.

 To START a new checkbook type "CheX" and press <Return>.  Respond with a
 "Y" or "y" to create a new checkbook.  Enter your 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 helps keep
 items in date order.  <F7> is used to print your checkbook, and <Escape> or
 <F10> exits the program.

 Feel free to copy and distribute this program fully intact with this
 document.  If you are using this program for personal use, please send a
 $10.00 contribution to the address at the end of 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       VII.  Check Printing.......... 18.03
   II.  Function Keys...... 5.01      VIII.  Format Check............ 19.03
  III.  Fields............. 8.10        IX.  Graphing................ 21.16
   IV.  Balancing..........10.14         X.  Password Options........ 23.10
    V.  Custom Options.... 13.04        XI.  Errors.................. 25.14
   VI.  Print and Audit... 16.08       XII.  Program Information..... 26.07


I.   C O N T R O L   K E Y S:

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |  Home       - Top of checkbook.    |  Return      - Next column.        |
 |  End        - Bottom of checkbook. |  Right Arrow -  "    "             |
 |  Page Up    - Up one screen.       |  Tab         -  "    "             |
 |  Page Down  - Down one screen.     |  Left Arrow  - Previous column.    |
 |  Backspace  - Back up one space.   |  Shift Tab   -  "        "         |
 |  Escape     - Exit.                |  Up Arrow    - Up one line.        |
 |  "0" (zero) - Clears date; Check#. |  Down Arrow  - Down one line.      |
 |  "."        - Decimal or "00".     |                                    |
 |               (option dependent)   |                                    |
 |                                    |                                    |
 |  Alt-C      - Copy item cursor     |  Ctrl-PgUp   - Top of screen.      |
 |                 is on.     Ctrl-K  |  Ctrl-PgDw   - Bottom of screen.   |
 |  Alt-I      - Insert line. Ctrl-N  |                                    |
 |  Alt-D      - Blank item.  Ctrl-Y  |  Alt-D Alt-D - Delete item.        |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

   While entering numeric fields, the alphanumeric key board 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     .  \
                     ----------                    ------------

 Note: If you start an entry in error, back spacing to the beginning of the
       field will restore the original field.  Once you move off the field,
       you may use <F3> to undo any changes made to the item.  Undo has a
       limit of 40 items and is cleared when you go to another checkbook,
       <F9>.


II.   F U N C T I O N   K E Y S:

  F1  - HELP.  Displays this document, "CHEX.HLP".  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 SideKick editor
        with a right margin of 76.  Maximum number of lines is 540.

  F2  - SORT items 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 level, <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.
          (M)ove to item - moves the cursor to the actual item.
          (N)ext item    - search for next occurrence of string.
          (P)rint & next - print item, display next occurrence and total.

 [F5] - FIND NEXT occurrence of an alpha string.  Used after F4, FIND.

 [F6] - RECONCILIATION functions:

          (B)alance - balance bank statement.  (see section "IV. Balancing")
          (L)ock    - lock posted items so that they can not be modified.
          (P)ost    - move the cursor to the first non-posted item.
          (S)ort    - sort the last #### items in the checkbook.
          (U)nlock  - unlocks the checkbook for modifying posted items.

 [F7] - PRINT functions:

          (C)heck       - print an individual check.      (see section VII.)
          (D)isk        - print checkbook to disk.        (see section  VI.)
          (E)xport      - create an export file for 123.
                          (A)ll fields or (N)umeric fields only.
          (F)eedback    - Display/print optional CheX FEEDBACK form.
          (G)raph       - graph last sixty months.        (see section  IX.)
          (P)rint       - print checkbook to printer.     (see section  VI.)
          (T)ypewriter  - use your printer as a typewriter.

 [F8] - OPTIONS settings:

          (C)ustom options   -  setup and color options.     (section    V.)
          (F)ormat check     -  custom check print formats.  (section VIII.)
          (P)assword options -  passwords and encryption.    (section    X.)

 [F9] - OPEN AUXILIARY checkbook.  The current book number is displayed in
        the headings in column "To:".  From DOS, you may go directly to an
        auxiliary book by typing CheX ## at the DOS prompt, ## being a value
        of 1 through 99.

 F10  - EXIT directly to DOS from any and all prompts.  Clears the screen.

 ESCAPE   - EXIT current checkbook or exit function.


III.   F I E L D S:

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 | TITLE   | DESCRIPTION                                                   |
 |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Item    | ITEM NUMBER.  Generated by the system.  (1 thru 9999)         |
 |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
 | P       | POSTING CODE.  Used by balancing to determine which items     |
 |         | 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 may also        |
 |         | highlight non-posted items by entering an asterisk.  Valid    |
 |         | entries are; J, F, M, A, M, J, J, A, S, O, N, D, or *.        |
 |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Date    | DATE WRITTEN.  Default is today or date last entered.  May be |
 |         | entered as MMDD, MMDDYY, MM/DD, or MM/DD/YY.  This is CheX's  |
 |         | primary sort key.  Valid entries are 01/01/50 thru 12/31/99.  |
 |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Chk#    | CHECK NUMBER.  Default is last number entered plus one if the |
 |         | debit is not future dated.  Entering a zero will turn off     |
 |         | automatic check numbering.  CheX print will display a warning |
 |         | message if a check number is out of sequence.  (0 thru 9999)  |
 |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
 | 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.      |
 |         |   b. Can be used to continue an item description.             |
 |         |   c. "-" or "=" are personal and will not print on checks.    |
 |         |   d. "=" is an audit figure for the running balance.          |
 |---------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
 | 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.  (I use an upper case "J" to
 differentiate July from June.)  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.

 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 has been 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 have been 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 "XI. ERRORS").

 If your checkbook is too low, check the following:

    1.  Posted debits that should not have been 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 "XI. ERRORS").


V.   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 for each
 auxiliary book.  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. Border color        - Enter 0 through 15 to change the border color.

  7. Fast screen mode    - (Y or N)  Some color monitors will produce "snow"
                           when the screen is being displayed.  Press "N" to
                           suppress this snow.  This will make screen
                           display slower.

  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, the
                           system will clear the screen, save all updates
                           and exit your checkbook for safekeeping.  In the
                           event you were using SideKick, auto exit is
                           postponed to one minute after you return.

 10. Save # minutes/chgs - Number of elapsed minutes or the number of
                           changes to do an automatic full save.  A full
                           save also occurs prior to any print operation
                           that could hang the system.

 11. Auto load help file - (Y or N)  Specifies whether the help file should
                           be automatically loaded.  Auto load works in
                           between key strokes.

 12. Auto read # of items- (0 to 255)  Number of items to be automatically
                           read into the input buffer.  Like "Auto Load
                           Help", Auto Read works in 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 6342.

 13. Check print LPT:    - (1 or 2)  Selects which printer checks are
                           printed on.  Does not affect checkbook printing.

 14. Decimal entered     - (Y or N)  Determines if decimal points are
                           entered on dollar amounts.

 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.


VI.   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 print see
 section "VII. 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.  Should the
 running balance ever change, the print process would flag the entry as an
 error.

 Sequence warnings 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 have not been sorted.  This is just a warning and may not
 require any action.


VII.   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 formating information stored by
 checkbook.  This information can be changed with <F8> option "F".

 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.

 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.


VIII.   F O R M A T   C H E C K                                         F8-F

 If you plan on using 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 auxiliary book.  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 formating 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.

  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 "/".

 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 use an old SilverReed EXP 400 hooked up to LPT2:.
        Then I can still use LPT1: for faster dot matrix printing.


IX.   G R A P H I N G:                                                  F7-G

 Press <F7> and option "G" to graph your checkbook.  Four standard business
 graphs are supported.  Each bar represents the month indicated on the
 bottom.  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.  Down arrows represent negative
 balances.  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 title being what ever
 is entered in the note field of item number one.

 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 may also graph selected items using the "F4 FIND" command.


X.   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
 auxiliary book.  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.

 The first time you add password options, CheX needs to be started with the
 "/P" option;  CHEX [##] /P.  Once a checkbook is password protected, the
 password may be entered as the last parameter on the command line;  CHEX
 [##] [/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 of the four
                          fields 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.  They 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.


XI.   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, but it is up to you to
 determine which items have been lost.  See section "VI. PRINT and AUDIT"
 above.


XII.   P R O G R A M   I N F O R M A T I O N:

 CheX will run in 190K but runs better in 256K 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.  CheX does not support memory above
 the DOS 640K barrier.


 CheX's FILES:

   README.      - Short description on how to get started.  May be deleted.
   CHEX.EXE     - The checkbook program.  Dated 05/02/88; size 101,504.
   CHEX.HLP     - 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.
   CHEX.PIF     - Used for running under MS Windows.  May be deleted.
   CHEX.UPT     - Updates or changes to the CheX program.  May be deleted.

   CHEXBK##     - Checkbook.  Created by CheX.  ## = book # 01 - 99.
   CHEXPR##     - Created by CheX on print to disk.  May be deleted.    F7-D
   CHEXPR##.PRN - Export file for transferring to Lotus or DB III.      F7-E
   CHEXPR##.OLD - Old copy of CHEXPR##.  Temporary.  Save this if you get a
                  disk error while printing your checkbook to disk.
   CHEX.AD#     - Free form text print files for check printing. # = 2 or 3.

 As your checkbook grows the checkbook file may become fragmented.  This
 will make loading the checkbook slower.  One way to eliminate some of this
 fragmentation is to copy the file using the DOS COPY command.  Then
 use the DOS RENAME command to make the new file your checkbook.

   i.e.  COPY    CHEXBK01  NEWBK01  /V
         RENAME  CHEXBK01  OLDBK01
         RENAME  NEWBK01   CHEXBK01


 Please send $10.00 to keep CheX alive and growing.  As an option you may
 use the CheX FEEDBACK form.  This form can be printed by pressing <F7> and
 option "F".  Thank you in advance.

 Special thanks to Rick Mendosa and all of you who have provided advice and
 support.  CheX's success is a direct result of your help.


                         --------------------------
                         |      Rich  Young       |
                         |   6060 Ashley Place    |
                         |   Goleta, CA  93117    |
                         --------------------------


 (end of CHEX.HLP document)  
