DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN          RELEASE 3.11         PAGE 1 OF 10

A trading period is selected (for making changes, etc.) when the selector block
is on the same line as the date of that period. The selector block can be moved
through all of the trading periods by means of the up- and down-arrow keys and
the PgUp, PgDn, Home and End keys.  The display will scroll automatically as
needed.

If this security is being updated weekly, all the dates on the left side of the
screen will fall on Fridays.  NOTE: If you see WEEKLY data and want DAILY data
instead - or vice versa (and both are available) - eXit to the Stock Select
screen, press the Tab key once and press E again.

To add or delete a security, or to enter dividends, earnings, price goals, etc.
press Esc now and then press Esc again to get back to the Stock Select screen.








DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 2 OF 10

I = IMPORT historical data from an external ASCII file.  This function is nor-
    mally used to fill in the price history file for a security that has just
    been added to the system.  ONLY ONE security can be updated at a time using
    this method.  Here's how it works:

    First, a different heading will appear at the top of the screen.  Then you
    will be asked to specify the order in which data items appear on the ASCII
    input file.  Here you can press H for HELP to get more information about
    the translation process.  Note that data in files with names ending in
    .WKS, .WK1, .CAL, .DBF and various other extensions cannot be used; those
    are not ASCII files.  Usually, ASCII files have names ending with .ASC,
    .DOC, .PRN or .TXT.

    Finally, you will be asked for the name of the ASCII input file.  This file
    does not have to be in the same directory or on the same diskette as your
    price history files; however you MUST include the full path name if it is
    not in your program directory.  The program will read the ASCII file, con-
    vert the data to the Stock Charting System's own internal format, and re-
    turn you to the Data Entry screen so you can view the data, set moving
    averages, etc.  You will be prompted when to switch data diskettes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 3 OF 10

    If the ASCII input file contains information for dates that are later than
    those already on the price history file, new dates will automatically be
    added as required.  Thus, the IMPORT function might be used to update in-
    dividual price history files (one at a time) with current volume and prices
    if you are several days or several weeks behind with file maintenance.

    The IMPORT process WILL NOT over-write data already existing on a price
    history file.  It can only add volume and prices to date entries that are
    zeroed out or that have been newly added to the file.  Also, it cannot fill
    in empty "gaps" embedded in existing data.  Normally this is not a problem.

    The ASCII input data does not have to be in any particular order.  You can
    IMPORT to either daily or weekly files.  Weekly historical data can be
    filled in from either daily or weekly ASCII input; daily input is auto-
    matically combined to create weekly data if required.

    NOTE:  If you are working with a DAILY-updated file, you will have to man-    
    ually insert all of the holidays.  You do that from the Data Entry screen.
    Otherwise, the program will assume that data is missing, and will not prop-
    erly compute moving averages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 4 OF 10

U = manual UPDATE of volume and prices for the next trading date which is shown
    in the menu at the bottom of the screen.  The new trading period date will
    replace the earliest previously existing date.  The new date is computed by
    the program.  If data for this stock is being updated weekly, the trading
    period date will always fall on a Friday.  If data is being updated daily,
    the program will ask if the new date is a holiday.  Weekend days are auto-
    matically skipped.  To cancel, press the Esc key any time.

    The UPDATE function works in the same way regardless of where the selector
    block is at the time the "U" key is pressed.  After the data has been en-
    tered, the screen will show the most current volume and price data, along
    with newly updated moving averages, P/E ratio, yield and annualized poten-
    tial return.  The caption N/A means Not Available or Not Applicable.

    For a mutual fund, you can bypass entry of volume and high and low prices
    by pressing the Enter key twice.  Then enter net asset value for the close.

    To update volume and prices for just ONE date for MANY securities, it may
    be better to use the D or W function from the Master Menu.  This will allow
    you to update all securities at one time, on the same screen.    

DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 5 OF 10

E = ENTER volume and prices (from the keyboard) for the selected existing
    trading period.  This function is used mainly for initial data entry for a
    new security that has just been added to the system, or it can also be used
    to correct errors.  If data has been updated daily, the program will ask if
    the selected date is a holiday.  After any change is made to a closing
    price, all moving averages are automatically re-computed and re-displayed.

    For a mutual fund, you can bypass entry of volume and high and low prices
    by pressing the Enter key twice.  Then enter net asset value for the close.

    Fractional entry of prices is permitted; a space must be left between the
    whole number and the fraction.  For examples: 2 1/32; 98 13/16.

    If you press the Esc key before all of the data has been entered for the
    selected trading date, the Enter function will be cancelled and all of
    the original values for that trading date will be restored.





DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 6 OF 10

S = STOCK SPLIT or stock dividend.  This function applies a stock split or a
    stock dividend to all trading periods BEFORE the selected trading period.
    The program assumes that post-split data has already been entered for the
    selected trading day or week.  Volume, prices and moving averages are auto-
    matically adjusted. Adjustment of earnings, dividends, price goals and tar-
    gets are optional, in case the correct values have already been entered.

D = DISTRIBUTION.  This function applies a capital gain distribution (normally
    for a mutual fund or utility stock) to all trading periods BEFORE the se-
    lected trading period.  The program assumes that post-distribution data has
    already been entered for the selected trading period.  Volume, prices and
    moving averages are automatically adjusted.  Adjustment of earnings, divi-
    dends, buy/sell targets and stop limit are optional, in case the correct
    values have already been entered.

    In the STOCK SPLIT function, you enter the ratio directly, as in 3-for-2.
    In the DISTRIBUTION function, the ratio is computed by the program from the
    dollar amount of the distribution and the net asset value just prior to the
    distribution.  Otherwise, both of these functions perform the same task.


DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 7 OF 10

After processing a distribution, the program will ask if you want to adjust the
portfolio quantities.  Be careful here, because portfolio quantities can be
adjusted BOTH from the Data Entry screen AND from the Add/Delete Transactions
screen.  If you have already applied a distribution or stock split to your
portfolios, DO NOT do it again here - reply (N)o to that question.

If you accidentally apply a distribution or split twice in your portfolios, you
can back it out by going to the Add/Delete Transactions screen and applying a
REVERSE SPLIT (for example 2-for-3 instead of the normal 3-for-2).

Applying a stock split or fund distribution does not physically affect the
individual portfolio files.  Rather, it changes a number (the unit multiplier)
which is stored with each security on the CATALOG.  Each time a portfolio quan-
tity is displayed or entered, it is always adjusted by the unit multiplier.
Thus, a distribution gets applied to ALL portfolios in the current data direc-
tory at the same time.

It is easiest to adjust portfolio quantities here in the Data Entry screen, be-
cause the previous closing price or net asset value (needed to compute the cor-
rect ratio) is readily available in the price history.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 8 OF 10

M = set or change any or all of the three MOVING average periods (the number of
    days or weeks included in each moving average calculation).  This function
    will automatically perform all the necessary calculations, and save all the
    results on disk.

    The moving average periods will remain set until they are changed again.
    Therefore as the price history file is updated, the moving average lines
    will gradually fill in towards the left on the bar charts.  You don't have
    to use all three of the moving averages - you can use any one or any two of
    them.  If a moving average is not wanted, set its period to zero.

    Moving averages are calculated only when there is enough contiguous data,
    to prevent erroneous results.  Therefore, date entries with missing data
    will cause gaps in the moving average displays.  An exception to this rule
    (only on a daily-updated security) is a date that is flagged as a holiday.

    Normally the first moving average should be short-term, the second one
    should be intermediate-term and the third should be long-term.  However the
    program does not require a specific relationship.  Experimentation is the
    best teacher in this matter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                               PAGE 9 OF 10

G = draw a bar GRAPH for the selected stock, using the previously selected
    graphics options.  Your computer must be equipped with IBM-compatible color
    graphics (CGA, EGA or VGA).  Some "compatible" computers such as Compaq
    models and the AT&T 6300 already have color graphics capabilities built-in.
    If you have an IBM PS/2 or a VGA display, a color monitor may be required.
    Otherwise either a color or monochrome monitor will usually work.

    If you are using a computer equipped with a "monographics" display, a spe-
    cial software module will be required.  The Stock Charting System by itself
    does NOT support the Hercules monochrome graphics standard.  Refer to the
    special instructions in the installation guide.

O = set OPTIONS for graphic display.  This is where you select what you want to
    have displayed. This screen has its own HELP function for more information.

Esc or X=EXIT back to the Stock Select screen.  You must go back to the Stock
    Select screen to add or delete a security or make changes to dividends,
    earnings, price goals, etc.  All volume, price and moving average data are
    automatically saved on disk, if any changes have been made.


DESCRIPTION OF THE DATA ENTRY SCREEN                              PAGE 10 OF 10

P = PRINT volume and price history in tabular format on the printer.  Data for
    all trading periods is shown, for the selected stock only, in a format
    similar to the screen format. The report is 80 columns wide and pagination
    is automatic.  It contains no graphics or special characters and so should
    work with almost any printer (there is a separate graphics print function
    from the bar graph screen).

    If you are using single sheets, reply (Y)es when asked if you wish to pause
    between pages.  The printer will then pause after ejecting each page, until
    you press the Enter key to continue.  You can press the Esc key to cancel
    printing after the next line of data.  However, this may be delayed or may
    not even work if your printer has a large buffer, because much of the in-
    formation may have already been sent to the printer itself.

    If there is a printer problem, the program should detect it and flash an
    error message.  However if the computer "hangs up" (appears to wait forever
    and do nothing), press Ctrl-Break and it should come alive again.
    WARNING: If you have just printed a bar graph, you may have to re-set your
    printer manually before printing data in character format.
