DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN            SM3.11             PAGE 1 OF 8

Note that in the Master Menu screen, the current path (drive letter and/or sub-
directory) for data files is shown in reverse video under the PATH function
about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom of the display.  Normally, data should
be on a different diskette or in a different sub-directory from programs.

While the Master Menu screen is displayed, it is OK to switch DATA diskettes in
the same drive, without a need to use the PATH function first.  DO NOT switch
data diskettes at any other time (unless you are asked to by the program).
Failure to heed this rule may result in damage to your catalog file!

Note:  The Master Menu controls only those functions which do not pertain to a
particular security.  For any operation that does affect a particular security,
you press the S key to go to the Stock Select screen first, and then select the
stock you wish to work with.  From there you can update the selected price his-
tory file and draw the bar graphs.  In general, the Master Menu is used only to
select the more general functions.





DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN                               PAGE 2 OF 8

W = update volume and prices for ONE date, for ALL stocks (or other securities)
    which are tracked WEEKLY.
D = update volume and prices for ONE date, for ALL stocks (or other securities)
    which are tracked DAILY.

Each of the above functions allows either manual updating (from the keyboard),
or "importing" current data from an external ASCII file.  Either function will
take you to another screen, with another menu at the bottom of the display.
That menu has its own HELP function which you should use for more information
about current price and volume updates.

Note that you cannot update current prices on both weekly- and daily-updated
price history files simultaneously.  Also note that you CANNOT update current
or historical prices directly from a spreadsheet or database file.  Those are
not ASCII files.  In general, you must first use your spreadsheet, database or
communications program to create a print file on disk. A print file is an ASCII
file, but files with names ending in .WKS, .WK1, .CAL, .DBF, and so on are NOT
ASCII files.  Refer to the users' manual for your spreadsheet, database or com-
munications program to find out how to create an ASCII print file.  Usually,
ASCII files have names ending in .ASC, .PRN or .TXT.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN                               PAGE 3 OF 8

Note: the W and D functions are used to update MANY securities for just a sin-
gle date.  To manually update just ONE security with historical prices for many
days or weeks, press S to go to the Stock Select Screen), select the security
you wish to update, and press E (for data ENTRY).  If the security you want to
update is not shown on the screen (and is not on another disk or in another
sub-directory), you can press A to ADD it to the catalog first.

T = TRANSFER historical data from daily files to corresponding weekly files.
    Both daily and weekly price history files must be in the SAME directory.
    This function has its own HELP screen for further explanation.

    The TRANSFER function can be used to fill a weekly file that doesn't con-
    tain any data.  However, that weekly file must already exist. It is created
    automatically when you add a new security, if you specify a greater than
    zero number of weeks.  Or it can be created from the View/Change screen by
    changing the number of weeks from zero to a positive value.  To get to the
    View/Change screen from the Master Menu, press A or S, select the security
    you want and then press C.

The W, D and T functions are on Disk #1 if you have two Program diskettes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN                               PAGE 4 OF 8

S = STOCK SELECT. This function takes you to the Stock Select screen, which
    lists all the securities on the current data disk or in the current data
    sub-directory.  That screen has two purposes: first, to select a security
    for historical data entry or graphics; and second, to ADD or DELETE a sec-
    urity or make changes to data other than volume and prices.  The Stock
    Select screen has its own HELP function for more information.

A = ADD or delete a security.  This is the same as the STOCK SELECT function
    described above, and is provided for consistency throughout the system.
    Again, note the screen labelled "Stock Select" serves also for adding and
    deleting securities and making changes.  (The "A" function may not be shown
    on the menu.)

    You can have more than one data disk or sub-directory.  Each one will have
    its own list of securities, called the catalog (file CATALOG.POR on disk).
    A catalog can only pertain to the corresponding price history files (files
    with names ending in .SMP) that are in the SAME directory.




DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN                               PAGE 5 OF 8

B = BUY or sell a security in the active portfolio.  A portfolio must first be
    made active (see below).  This screen has its own separate HELP function.
    You can buy or sell in only one portfolio at a time.  If the active port-
    folio doesn't yet exist, it will automatically be created for you before
    you can BUY or sell in it.

C = CHANGE the active portfolio.  Here you enter the name of the portfolio that
    will be updated with the BUY function (above).  A "portfolio" can be any
    grouping of security purchases.  It can contain different securities such
    as IBM stock and Ford stock.  It can contain securities of different types,
    such as CDs, stocks and mutual funds.  It can represent all of the holdings
    of one person, or it can represent all of the securities held by a particu-
    lar broker.  Examples of intuitive portfolio names are:  MOTHER  MYTRUST
    IRA  HUSB401K  SHEARSON  and so on.

    The active portfolio also supplies the number of shares and average pur-
    chase cost to show on the bar chart, if you are charting a security that
    exists in the active portfolio.  You can have as many different portfolios
    as you want, as long as they all exist in the SAME directory as the corres-
    ponding stock charts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN                               PAGE 6 OF 8

R = REPORTS.  This takes you to the portfolio report screens.  You can combine
    up to five different portfolios and select data by security type and range
    of dates.  The reports show such things as market value, purchase cost,
    gain or loss (realized and unrealized), holding period, Beta, annual appre-
    ciation (Internal Rate of Return), and Total Return.

    The report screens prompt you all through this process, and they have their
    own HELP functions for more information.

    The specification of what portfolios are to be combined for the reports is
    independent of the specification of the "active" portfolio (the portfolio
    to be updated).  In other words, you can update one portfolio and do re-
    ports on another.

NOTE:  Some copies of the Stock Charting System may not have the portfolio man-
agement feature.  If your copy does not have it, the BUY, CHANGE and REPORTS
functions will not show on the Master Menu.  The portfolio management feature
is on Disk #2 if you have two Program diskettes.



DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN                               PAGE 7 OF 8

P = specify the PATH (disk drive and/or directory) for data files.  To facili-
    tate file backups and program updates, it is recommended to keep all data
    on a separate diskette or in a separate directory from the programs.
    To change the path, use this PATH function which will give examples and ask
    you to enter the name.  (This is not related to the PATH command in DOS.)

    If your data is on the SAME diskette or in the SAME directory as the pro-
    grams, press the Enter key by itself to specify the "default" directory.
    Enter a drive specification (such as B:) only if data is on a different
    physical drive.  If data is on the same drive, but in a different sub-
    directory, don't enter the drive specifier, but just enter the path name
    (such as \STOCKS\ or \SM\DATA\).  Remember, you need the backslash charac-
    ters on both sides (the program won't accept \STOCKS, for example).

    The program looks to see if you entered a drive specifier, in order to de-
    termine if and when to give you a message to switch diskettes.  If you
    always enter the drive specifier, you may get un-needed messages.
    



DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTER MENU SCREEN                               PAGE 8 OF 8

O = OPTIONS.  This function allows you to select the color schemes for text and
    graphics display, and then to select the format in which dates are dis-
    played and entered.  Dates can be displayed month, day or year first.  All
    options are "remembered" by the system until changed again.

    NOTE: This function is not related to the Graphics Option screen.  That
    screen is used to select WHAT is to appear on the graphics display.  This
    function only selects the COLOR and date formats.

    Color schemes are shown graphically and you select by number.  Color choice
    0 (zero) gives you a monochrome display (normally white, green or amber on
    black, depending on the type of monitor).  On most laptop computers you
    should choose monochrome.  The effects may vary depending on the type of
    display.  The color actually changes when you return to the Master Menu.

    Color choice 0 (zero) for graphics automatically gives you high-resolution
    (80-column) graphics, but in monochrome.  The other graphics color schemes
    give you medium-resolution (40-column) graphics, but in color.  This system
    is not state of the art, but is intended to work on most IBM-compatible
    computers including the older 2-floppy CGA systems.
