January 25, 1991- notes re: QCHECK3 v.7.09 - rbs WARNING: IF YOU ARE A QCHECK3 Version 6 user: BE SURE TO BACK-UP YOUR OLD QCHECK3 PROGRAM AND FILES, AND/OR TO INSTALL THE NEW VERSION IN A SEPARATE DIRECTORY DURING INITIAL TESTING AND OPERATIONS. CREATIVE RESOURCES WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR DAMAGED DATA OR FILES IF THIS PRECAUTION IS NOT FOLLOWED. Please read this completely, and print it out for easy reference until the updated user manual is available. To the patient (and not-so-patient) users of QCHECK3 who have been waiting for the promised major upgrade -- HERE IT IS !! The revisions were completed and put into BETA test over last summer. Some minor bugs were found and fixed, and the program has been stable for several months, waiting for the updated user manual. Unfortunately, due to some major upsets in my regular consulting work, (including two major products prepared for nationwide commercial release in the last 15 months!!), I have not be able to make the time to re-write the user manual. Since the update is already very late, I have elected to release it without the new user manual, with this README file as your guide to the major differences, since most features work the same or very similarly. The new features are mostly extensions or common sense additions, and are either self-explanatory or can be learned by looking at the new improved HELP screens and screen prompts. I promise to provide a completely updated, rewritten user manual to all registered users at no charge as soon as it it available. Thanx for your support. Please read on... This version is completely re-written in Clipper, for speed & new features. It is also specially compressed, using the LZEXE utility to take up only about half the disk space required by the old .EXE file, although the self-extracting QCHECK37.EXE file is about the same size as the old one. Added November 24, 1990 - New report on Monthly Income/Deposits - just like the Monthly Expenses report described below, but for deposits only. This report will be particularly good for individuals and/or companies with varying incomes over the year. Also revised the initial reports screen to use a regular menu, with prompts, for better on-screen explanations of the differences between the reports. Added September 30, 1990 - Modified file structure (again), to add a new field for "running balance". You can see, but not edit this field from the Browse Cancel/Edit screen. Simply use the Rt-Arrow and Left-Arrow cursor keys to scroll horizontally across to the new field. For convenience, some fields are re-displayed for easy comparison with your manual check register. This avoids the need for a third party program/spreadsheet for manipulating exported data to obtain the running balance info -- a real time-saver for the older PC/XT class (slower) machines. The new field is not exported, as it can be easily calculated in the output spreadsheet. Added October 27, 1990 - also added option to both main edit screen and any screen, plus the ability to view running balance in . This added convenience allows immediate display of the new running balance right after adding any new items, without the need to go back thru the main menu and browse or list screen. Revised September 30, 1990 - if you choose a non-QCHECK3 file from the command line, the screen will clear and display titles & prompts for proper error handling. Also, if you re-start, when entering the check file name you will now have the cursor ON, rather than OFF, as in the previous bug. I think I have now found all the places where prompts neglect to turn the cursor back ON. If not, please advise. Added August 28, 1990 - If you have 2 LPT ports, but only one in use, and the new printer error checking routine erroreously keeps telling you that the printer is not ready, add the command line parameter "/NOCHECK" to the end of the command line, this overrides a bug in the Clipper Isprinter() function (used to prevent a crash if the printer is not ready...) that will not return .T. (ie: never let you print anything) for this hardware set-up. Added August 29, 1990 - Added new report - Monthly Expenses. This report subtotals by month and memo field for each month in a calendar year. It is useful to see how your budgeting is working on a month by month basis. You can still set a filter for a range of checks, payees, or memos. Also added was the ability to cancel the report at the printed report title entry question, by pressing , as usual. Now, if you do not enter a check register file name on start-up, you can use a "pop-up" window to "point & shoot" to choose the one wanted. Check register files from previous versions can be used with the new version, and they will be automatically converted to the new file structure, with the old file renamed to xxxxxx.V60 - for version 6 files, or xxxxxxxx.v70 for earlier version 7 (BETA) files. If you attempt to use a file with the wrong structure, you will get an error message and the program will quit, rather than the rude "crash" that could have occurred in the old version. The Check Memo and Pay-To entries can now be made unlimited, and are accessed from a pop-up window "Picklist", by pressing function key when on the Pay-To or Memo fields. Use the cursor arrows or press the first letter of the selection (if known) to move to the entry desired. Pressing on any other field will simply skip the remaining items and go to the "SAVE Y/N" or other next prompt. In addition, the Memo field also uses its picklist to validate your entry, and will prompt you if you have manually entered a value not found in the Memo picklist. The picklists may be maintained -- edited, deleted, added-to -- by using the main menu "M" option, as before, and follow the prompts at the bottom of the screen. You may wish to do a screen print of the old function key macros and check memo suggestions in the old program to use as a guide to your new entries. There are two sets of picklists, Business and Personal. The set to be edited is dependent on which mode of operation you are in at the time. Added September 30, 1990 - Improved the prompts when adding new records to the picklists, to make them more informative and less confusing (since they work differently than in the main screen), ie: the field name is now included in the Edit prompt, for easy reference. The ADD option adds a new blank record, and automatically puts you in EDIT mode in the current field in that record. To then edit (ie: fill in...) the adjacent field in the new picklist record, just highlight the field, and press . Some BETA testers were hitting ADD twice -- once for each field, but then not getting both fields in the same record -- confusing and very frustrating. The calculator is completely new & can be "popped up" at any time, even over the check maintenance screen to figure amounts, and then "paste" them directly into the check/deposit amount field. See the help screen (press for calculator help at any time) for details. The option to set or change screen colors will now only display on color or CGA compatible systems, and not at all on monochrome systems. At this time, most, but not all colors through-out the program are changeable. This may be revised before final release. The main menu has been revised for the new features. To be added will be some means for re-indexing and/or packing all files - Added August 28, 1990 packing & indexing is now automatic anytime that the matching .NTX file is not found. To force re-indexing & packing, merely go to DOS & delete *.NTX. Upon re-starting, it will pack & reindex to suit. All new check & deposit entries are now made directly from the check edit screen, by selecting "Add" mode. You will be asked which to add (check or deposit), and then the program will operate much as before. If you attempt to add a duplicate check number, however, you will get an error message, and be prevented from doing so. Note 09/30/90 - The running balance is NOT updated for newly added items, and must be updated using the BROWSE option from the Main Menu. Due to user demand, you may now Delete entries. This is NOT recommended, however, as it wrecks any possible audit trail. It is recommended that bad entries simply be "voided out", as in the old version. Note 09/30/90 - If you delete entries, be sure to run the Update Balance from the BROWSE option from the Main Menu, to be sure the running balances are correct after the deleted record. Almost anywhere in the program, you may change a date field by pressing , then <+> or <-> keys to increment or decrement the date by one day. To change by a week, press first, then <+>/<->. Or, by a Month, press , etc. See the help file (press H at the edit screen) for more information. You can also press at any time to enter today's date, or to clear the current field to the right, as always. Revised December 24, 1990 - Fixed bug in Clipper date handling that caused problems for filtering by date range on fields changed with . If you experience problems with date ranges, contact Creative Resources for a free FIXDATE utility to fix date fields in your existing files. The BROWSE cancellation mode (from the main menu) is now much, much faster and more convenient, as are all the List screens. From the edit screen List option, you can move up and down the list using the arrow keys, to see earlier or later entries, and can go immediately to that entry by pressing after highlighting it. In the Browse/Cancellation mode, from the main menu, you can press "T" or "F" directly to cancel or uncancel any item, but you can also use the cursor arrows to highlight any other field, in any order, then press to edit that field. You no longer have a fixed order for editing any fields, and do not have to use , then ext or

revious or xit to move to the next 10 records, so it will be much faster to use. Also, uncancelled items can now be printed or sent to a file. Added September 30, 1990 - as noted above, after selecting the BROWSE option, and being prompted for a record from which to start, you will be asked if you wish to Update the Running Balances. This was added for convenience in checking your final balance with Main Menu option 5 - Balance Reconciliation, without the need to manually calculate or export data to obtain the results. Run the Update at any time, particularly after adding or deleting items from the check register file. Then use the cursor arrows to scroll horizontally right and left to display the data. Some columns have been duplicated for ease of comparison after scrolling others off the screen. Also, the field name is now included in the Edit prompt, for easy reference. That's about it for the major changes. Please advise of any problems, or comments so that I can include them in the next release. Your help and support is most appreciated. к Pop-Up Calculator Help ФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФП Г Г Г Г Г The maximum number that can be utilized is: 99,999,999,999.9999. Г Г Г Г To activate: Press . Then press the following keys, as needed: Г Г Г Г + Addition Г Г - Subtraction Г Г * Multiplication Г Г / Division Г Г ^ Exponentiation Г Г % Percentage Г Г C Clear current total Г Г E clear current Entry Г Г D change number of Decimals displayed Г Г R Round-off to specified number of decimals Г Г P Print (adding-machine tape mode) - toggle on/off Г Г M Memory operations - then press: Г Г R Recall number stored in memory Г Г C Clear memory (re-set to zero) Г Г + Add current number to memory Г Г - Subtract current number from memory Г Г * Multiply memory by current number Г Г / Divide memory by current number Г Г = process operation Г Г process operation Г Г erase last digit entered Г Г change colors used in calculator Г Г cursor keys move calculator position on screen Г Г EXIT the calculator Г Г Г Г Г Г Upon exiting the calculator, you can 'Paste' the final value into any Г Г numeric field on the screen, by moving the cursor to that field, then Г Г pressing . Г Г Г Р PgDn/PgUp/Esc ФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФй к Check Register Maintenance HELP ФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФП Г Г Г Add Add a record to the database Г Г Beg Go to the first record Г Г Cpy Add a record/use & modify from existing record Г Г Del Delete the record on display Г Г End Go to the last record Г Г Lst Display records beginning from current record Г Г Mod Edit the current record Г Г Nxt Go to the next record Г Г Prv Go to the previous record Г Г Quit Terminate current maintenance level Г Г Ret Retrieve a record by key Г Г Skp Go forward/backward by a number of records Г Г Tally Count the records (may be slow if many records) Г Г Esc key Terminate current maintenance level (same as Quit) Г Г Г Г Key Screen editing action Г Г ФФФФФФФФФ ФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФ Г Г --> Character right Г Г <-- Character left Г Г up arrow Previous field Г Г down arrow Next field Г Г PgDn, PgUp Accept screen Г Г End Next word/field Г Г Home Previous word/field Г Г Del Delete character Г Г Ins Insert on/off toggle Г Г Esc Abort screen edit Г Г F7 + Change date field Г Г T enter Today`s date Г Г N Non-scheduled (12/31/99) Г Г W change by Weeks Г Г D change by Days Г Г M change by Months Г Г Y change by Years Г Г - decrement by one unit Г Г + increment by one unit Г Г F5 Today`s Date Г Г F10 Clear Field (^Y) Г Г Г Г Г Р PgDn/PgUp/Esc ФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФй ********** S H A R E W A R E -- User-Supported Software *********** If you have received this program from another user and find it of value, your $30 Registration Fee will support continued development. Registered users will receive the latest version, be advised of updates and future versions, and receive technical support. NOTE: ONLY REGISTERED USERS ARE ENTITLED TO SUPPORT. HELP SUSTAIN THE SHAREWARE CONCEPT - REGISTER YOUR COPY ! CREATIVE RESOURCES 773 Somerset Place Concord, CA 94518 (415) 685-1615 (new phone !!) Regardless of whether you register or make a contribution, you are encouraged to copy & share this program as described in the manual. -------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 1986-1991 CREATIVE RESOURCES ******************************************************************