:Help file for the BILLING program
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.1
MAIN MENU -- CUSTOMER MENU                                                     1

This  menu  selection  allows  you to add, update(change), and display customer
records.  The DOS file called CUSTOMER.DAT contains such information  as  name,
street address, city, state, zip, telephone number, etc.

Use the   Cursor positioning keys to select additional information,  then
press the Enter key to view that information.

@8[SELECT]  Add Customers:           Add new Customers to file.
@9[SELECT]  Update Customers:        Change Customer Information.
@10[SELECT]  Display Customers:       Display Customer Information.
@7[SELECT]  Quit:                    Return to Main menu.

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.2
MAIN MENU -- ACCOUNTING MENU                                                   2

This menu selection allows you to look at the History or Current Account files
for any given customer.  Selection of Current will also allow you to update and
add records to the Current months billing information.  These records can be
modified in any manner until such time as the Month End program is run.  The
Month End program will roll the Current billing record into the History Account
file for each customer, and then delete the Current Account file.

Use the   Cursor positioning keys to select additional information, then press
the Enter key to view that information.

@11[SELECT]  Historical: Look at History Account records.
@12[SELECT]  Current:    Add, Delete or Change Current Account records.
@7[SELECT]  Quit:       Return to Main Menu

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.3
MAIN MENU -- PRINT MENU                                                        3

This menu allows you to print various listings:

Use  the    Cursor positioning  keys to select additional information, then
press the Enter key to view that information.

@13[SELECT] Labels:            Prints mailing labels.
@14[SELECT] Bills:             Prints ONE or ALL of the customer monthly bills.
@15[SELECT] Maintainer Report: Lists the customers assigned to each maintainer.
@16[SELECT] Accounting Report: Prints the HISTORICAL ACCOUNT for each customer.
@17[SELECT] Customer Report:   List customers sorted by last name.
@18[SELECT] Income Report:     List the income received for the year.
@7[SELECT] Quit:               Return to Main Menu.

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.4
MAIN MENU -- MONTH END MENU                                                    4

This menu selection allows you to perform those Month end tasks necessary to
support the program functions.

Use the   Cursor positioning keys to select additional information, then press
the Enter key to view that information.

@19[SELECT]  End of Month Update:    Updates the  HISTORICAL  account files.
@20[SELECT]  Print History Accounts: Print the history accounts.
@7[SELECT]  Quit:                   Returns to previous menu.

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.5
MAIN MENU -- SPECIAL PROGRAMS                                                  5

This  menu  selection allows you to perform SPECIAL tasks necessary to support
the program functions.

Use the   Cursor positioning keys to select additional information, then press
the Enter key to view that information.

@21[SELECT]  Delete History Accounts:
                    Delete previous years history accounts.
@22[SELECT]  Customize the System:
                    Sets up base information for your company.
@23[SELECT]  Index Build for Customer File:
                    Rebuilds customer index file.
@24[SELECT]  Register Serial Number:
                    Registers your use of the program.
@7[SELECT]  Quit:
                    Returns to previous menu.

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.6
MAIN MENU -- INSTALL PROGRAM UPDATES                                           6

This  menu selection allows you to install the program updates provided to
subscribers.  Selection of this option will provide directions necessary to
install  the  update diskette(s).

@50[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.7
QUIT                                                                           7

By selecting this menu option the program will return to the previous screen.
Repeatedly pressing Q will cause the program to finally asks you if you wish to
quit the program and return to the DOS system.

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.8
CUSTOMER MENU -- ADD CUSTOMERS                                                 8

Adding customers is just that.  The customer is automatically assigned the next
customer number (at the end of the customer file) and the  data  captured  from
the screen is written to the customer data file.

@9[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.9
CUSTOMER MENU -- UPDATE CUSTOMERS                                              9

This selection allows you to change any field on the customer file input
screen.  You will be asked to enter the desired customer number of the data you
wish to change.  If you do not know the correct customer number you may enter
the first letter of the last name and the program will list all of the last
names beginning with that letter.

@10[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.10
CUSTOMER MENU -- DISPLAY CUSTOMERS                                            10

You will be prompted to select the customer of your choice.  If you do not know
the correct customer number you may enter the first letter of the last name and
the program will list all of the last names beginning with that letter.

Pressing the Esc(ape) key repeatedly allows you to scroll up through the
customer records.  In between customer records you may stop scrolling through
the customer records.

@7[SELECT]  Next menu item
 
@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.11
ACCOUNTS MENU -- HISTORY FILES                                                11

You will be prompted to select the customer of your choice.  If you do not know
the correct customer number you may enter the first letter of the last name and
the program will list all of the last names beginning with that letter.  By
entering the desired customer number the selected customer Historical Account
data is displayed for review.  Since this information is History it can not be
changed.

If the customer history file has more than ten lines of data, the Esc key is
used to page down through the file.  At the end, the program again prompts you
for the customer number.  You can enter a new number as described above, or
enter the letter Y to stop looking at customer files.

@12[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.12
ACCOUNTS MENU -- CURRENT RECORDS                                              12

You will be prompted to select the customer of your choice.  If you do not know
the correct customer number you may enter the first letter of the last name and
the program will list all of the last names beginning with that letter.

You record payments by entering a date, a statement such as "Check number xxxx
dated mm/dd/yy", and entering the amount paid.  You can also enter any special
billing.  To collect taxes for any entry the tax flag should be set to Y.  You
may change any data on the screen and it will be updated in the file.  If you
want to remove a line item just change the description field to blanks.

If the customer current file has more than ten lines of data, the Esc key is
used to page down through the file.  At the end, the program again prompts you
for the customer number.  You can enter a new number as described above, or
enter the letter Y to stop looking at customer files.

@7[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.13
PRINT MENU -- LABELS                                                          13

You will be prompted to select the ALL customers, all ACTIVE customers or
all INACTIVE customers.   You may want to send out a special sales message to
your inactive customers asking what it would take for them to become active
again.

The program will print mailing labels using 1" X 3 1/2" pin feed labels, or the
LaserJet version which uses (3 across 10 done) 1" x 2 5/8" labels.

@14[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.14
PRINT MENU -- BILLS                                                           14

The program will prompt you to enter a one to four line message that will be
printed at the bottom of each bill created during this run.  Any sales message
can be created in this manner, e.i.  special sales, Merry Christmas, etc.

You will be prompted to select All customers, All customers starting with a
given customer number, only ONE customer, or Bypass this function.  Bypass this
function is used when you decide that you really didn't want to print bills
after all.  If you select All customers starting with a given customer or only
one customer you will be prompted to select the customer of your choice.  If
you do not know the correct customer number you may enter the first letter of
the last name and the program will list all of the last names beginning with
that letter.

The  program will print a bill for each customer where the active customer flag
is Y ***OR*** if the balance due is greater than, or less than $0.00.

@15[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.15
PRINT MENU -- MAINTAINER                                                      15

MAINTAINER definition:  A maintainer is one of your employees that provide the
services to your customers.

Selecting this function will result in a listing being printed which is sorted
by the name of the maintainer.  It displays customer information and totals the
service charges for each maintainer.  Use this report to determine what each
maintainer contributes to your business.  Could also be used to determine
workload among your employees, etc.

@16[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.16
PRINT MENU -- ACCOUNTING REPORTS                                              16

Selecting this function results in the printing of the History Accounts for
each selected customer.  While this function is mainly used at year end to
print out the History Accounts, it can be used to obtain a listing any time
during the year.  This listing could be given to your accountant to document
the total activity for each customer during the year.

You will be prompted to print ALL customers, ONE customer, or NONE.  You will
also be asked if you want to start with a certain customer.  NONE might seem to
be a strange selection, but if you decide that you really didn't want to
continue you can stop the function by entering NONE.  If you answered that you
wanted to start with a particular customer, you will be prompted to select the
customer of your choice.  If you do not know the correct customer number you
may enter the first letter of the last name and the program will list all of
the last names beginning with that letter.

@17[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.17
PRINT MENU -- CUSTOMER LISTING                                                17

This function creates a listing of all customers sorted in the sort field
sequence you entered for each customer record.  The active customer flag is
printed as well as the customer's phone number.  A stop date is printed for
each inactive customers.  Your CPA may use the number of customers you lost
during the year to your advantage(at least that was a beta test site request).

@18[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.18
PRINT MENU -- INCOME REPORT                                                   18
This function will read the History Account Files and total the sales tax that
has been billed and the dollar amount customers have paid this year.  It then
reads the Current Account Files and totals the dollar amount customers have
paid during the current month.  The income amount is then calculated by
subtracting the total taxes received from the sum of History payments and the
Current payments.

@7[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.19
MONTH END MENU -- END OF MONTH UPDATE                                         19

This function performs the end of month update task of rolling the current
billing entries into the History Accounts for each given customer.  Each
Current account file is then erased to make room for next months Current
account files.  It then prompts you to perform a backup of the data files.

If the end of month update discovers that it is the end of the year (next month
is January) it will remind you to save the month end back up for business
needs.  NOTE:  This backup should be done on the last day of your business
year.

When the end of month update determines that it is the end of the year, it will
create a new set of History Accounts for next year.  The History Account files
for next year have one entry in them indicating the balance carried forward
from the current year.

@20[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.20
MONTH END MENU -- PRINT HISTORY ACCOUNTS                                      20

Selecting this function results in the printing of the Historical Accounts.
You will be prompted to select a given year.  The year that you select must be
either this year or last year.  You may print last years History Account files
provided that you have not deleted them from your hard drive.  Please read the
help screen for the Delete History Accounts menu selection for additional help.

@21[SELECT]  Delete History Accounts:

@7[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.21
SPECIAL PROGRAM MENU -- DELETE HISTORY ACCOUNTS                               21

Selecting this function results in the deletion of the Historical Accounts.
You will be prompted to select a given year.  The year that you select must be
prior to the current year.  This function is mainly used to CLEAN up the hard
drive.  When the end of month update program runs at year end it creates next
year's History Accounts, it does not delete the old History Accounts.  If you
continue to run the end of month update program, year after year, the hard
drive would eventually fill up.  Before this happens you should delete last
years History Accounts (probably in June or whenever you are through with last
years History Accounts).  Remember a diskette copy of last year's History
Accounts was made at year end.  The only reason they remain on the hard drive
is so that you may display them in order to answer customer questions
concerning last years activity.

NOTE:  It is not unusual for customers to inquire about something that happened
last year.  This is the only reason why  you  may  want  to  keep  last  year's
history accounts around for awhile.
          DELETE THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO RELEASE DISK SPACE

@22[SELECT]  Next menu item
@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.22
SPECIAL PROGRAM MENU -- CUSTOMIZE THE SYSTEM  PARAMETERS                      22

This function allows you to customize the software with YOUR unique
information.  Your business name, address, state, telephone number and zip code
are entered by you and saved in a file.  You may use the defaults for the
diskette drive identity (A), the hard drive (C), path names for the program and
data subdirectories, OR you may select your own.  If you are not sure about the
path names, just use the defaults provided, they shouldn't conflict with any
pathnames already in your computer.  Since you may bill your service before of
after you actually perform them, a field is provided so that the invoices will
be correct.  It also allows you to select the printer port to be used for
printing, any printer port can be selected (LPT#).

You may run the customizer any time you want to change any of YOUR information.
CAUTION:  If you change the subdirectory names, the program will not be able to
find the data files.  On the other hand this allows you to have multiple data
files.

@23[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.23
SPECIAL PROGRAM MENU -- BUILDING CUSTOMER INDEX                               23

The customer index file is used mainly to allow you to enter the first letter
of the customer's last name to get a list of customer names beginning with that
letter.  If you enter f for example, all customers with a last name beginning
with the letter f would be listed together with their customer numbers.  Many
of the programs use this function.

The index is not maintained automatically by the program.  The reason being,
that as the customer file grows the index build slows down the process.
Therefore, every time you add or update a customer record you will be reminded
of the fact that the index build function should be performed.

In the original version the index was automatically updated.  As time passed
however, it was determined that to update the index for each change took too
long.  This new way allows you to pick the time when the update should take
place.

@24[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.
.24
SPECIAL PROGRAM MENU -- REGISTER SERIAL NUMBER                                24

When you subscribe and pay your registration fee, the author will call you and
give you a registration number, or one will be mailed to you.  You should enter
the registration number using this menu function.

Once the registration number is entered, the License and Warranty prompts that
have been appearing at the end of the program and the watermark on the invoices
will be removed.

@7[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.

.25
SELECT THE MENU OF YOUR CHOICE                                                25
Select your choice by using the <-  ->   Cursor positioning  keys.

@1[SELECT]  CUSTOMER ACTIVITIES:      Overview of Customer Menu.

@2[SELECT]  ACCOUNTING PROGRAM:       Overview of Account Menu.

@3[SELECT]  PRINTING:                 Overview of Print Menu.

@4[SELECT]  MONTH END PROGRAMS        Overview of Month End Menu

@5[SELECT]  SPECIAL PROGRAM MENU:     Overview of Special Menu.

@6[SELECT]  INSTALL PROGRAM UPDATES:  Overview of updating the system.

@50[SELECT] VIEW FILES:               Overview of documentation view/print.


.26
KEYBOARD USAGE      PLEASE READ CAREFULLY                                     26
There are two types of screens, Menu Selection and Data Entry.  Both screens
allow you to press the Esc key to advance to the next screen.  Each screen uses
the keyboard in a slightly different manner.

To learn the difference between Menu Selection and Data Entry usage of the
keyboard, press the Enter or Return Key now.

@27[SELECT]    Menu Selection Screen Keyboard Usage
.27
MENU SELECTION SCREEN KEYBOARD USAGE                                          27
You select a menu item using one of two methods.

The   cursor positioning keys will move the menu selection bar.  To activate
your selection you must then press the Enter key.

A quicker method to activate a selection, is to press the key representing the
first letter of the desired selection.  If for example, your desired selection
is "Mouse", pressing the letter 'm' would ACTIVATE the selection "Mouse", no
need to press the Enter key.

The Esc key may be used to return to the previous menu.

@28[SELECT]    Data Entry Screen Keyboard Usage
.28
DATA ENTRY SCREEN KEYBOARD USAGE                                              28
The following keys are used when using a data entry screen:
The <- and  ->  cursor  positioning  keys  will  move  the  cursor  within  the
highlighted  field.   The   cursor  positioning  key  will  move the cursor to
the previous field.  The  cursor  positioning  key  and  the  Enter  key  will
advance  the  cursor  to  the next field.  If you press the Enter key while the
cursor is positioned in the last data entry field on the the screen the program
will go to the next screen.

The space bar and any data key will enter data and move to the next position.

The Home key will move the cursor to the beginning of the field and the END key
will move the cursor to end of the entered data.

The Ins, Del, Backspace, Capslock, and Shift keys perform as normal.

The Esc key can be used when the cursor is in the middle of a data entry
screen.  For example you need to update field eight of a data entry screen
which displays 25 fields.  When your update of field eight is complete,
pressing the Esc key will cause the program to move the next screen.

@27[SELECT]    Menu Selection Screen Keyboard Usage


.29
Customizing the Service Billing Program With Your Data                        29
During the setup process it is necessary for you to customize the software with
YOUR unique information.  Your business name, address, state, telephone number,
zip code, etc.  are entered on the next screen by you.  The prompts at the
bottom of the screen indicate the desired information to be entered.

You may run the customizer any time you want to change any of YOUR information.
To run the customizer perform the following steps:
     1. Start the Service Billing program.
     2. On the MAIN menu press the letter s key.
     3. On the Special Program menu press the letter c key.
     4. When finished making changes press the ESC(ape) key.

CAUTION!:  Do not change the path information for the program subdirectory.  It
has already been set to the current path used for the program files.

CAUTION:  If you change the data subdirectory path, the program will not be
able to find the data files.  On the other hand this allows you to have
multiple data files.  For example, when you run the tutorial you will use a
test subdirectory It is beneficial to keep the test data subdirectory for
testing new releases of the program.  Change the name to test whenever you want
to test the system and want to protect your real data.  When finished testing,
change the data subdirectory back to your the subdirectory containing your real
data.
.30
Special Month End Checkpoint                                                  30
At this point in time the Month End Function has taken the information from the
Current Account files, and moved it to the proper History Account file.  The
Current Account files have been deleted so that you can begin to build the new
transactions for the next month.  As you add new transactions the program will
retrieve the last balance amount from the proper History Account file and use
it to develop the new balance amount in the Current Account you are attempting
to update.

If the Month End function determines that the next month is January, it will
create new History Account files for next year.  For each History Account file
for this year that has a balance of other than zero, an Account History file
for next year will be created.  It will contain one record with a date of
01/01/YY, a description of "Balance carried over from last year", and a balance
due amount.  This amount will be the balance due from the end of this year.

It is now time to backup the files.  The next screen will tell you how to do
this.  Except for December, the program will end so that you can perform the
backup.  In December you will be reminded that you should wait till the end of
the year to perform the backup.  These files should be saved as a permanent
record for your company.
.31
Service Billing Program Install Note                                          31

This BILLING program is a Shareware program.  That means that you TRY IT BEFORE
YOU BUY IT.  After 35 days of evaluation you must either delete the program
from your computer, or pay for this program by sending your payment with the
registration form to the author.  The file REGISTER.DOC contains the
registration form.

    ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
    ║                This is a fully functioning program!                ║
    ║                      ╔══════════════════════╗                      ║
    ║                      ║  WITH ONE EXCEPTION  ║                      ║
    ║                      ╚══════════════════════╝                      ║
    ║          All invoices created by an unregistered version           ║
    ║         of this program will include the following notice:         ║
    ║                                                                    ║
    ║                                                                    ║
    ║ "Bill printed using an unregistered copy of the billing program."  ║
    ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

    *************THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED JUST THIS ONCE**************

.32
Service Billing Program Setup Note                                            32
During the install process it is necessary for you to customize the software
with YOUR unique information.  Your business name, address, state, telephone
number, zip code, etc.  are entered on the next screen by you.  The prompts at
the bottom of the screen indicate the desired information to be entered.

When you have finished entering your data press the Esc[ape] key to continue
with the installation program.

You may run the customizer any time you want to change any of YOUR information.
To run the customizer perform the following steps:
     1. Start the Service Billing program.
     2. On the MAIN menu press the letter s key.
     3. On the Special Program menu press the letter c key.
     4. When finished making changes press the ESC(ape) key.

.40
SETUP PROGRAM -- MAIN MENU                                                    40
The MAIN MENU has two functions:
@41[SELECT]     1. Present a list of tasks to be performed
                2. Exit the SETUP program.

Selecting the Exit menu item will end the SETUP program and return to DOS.


Press the Enter key to view the tasks to be performed by SETUP.

.41
SETUP PROGRAM -- TASK MENU  -- CUSTOMIZE                                      41

Perform this function first.  It will customize the program with your
information.  After changing the sample data to YOUR data, press Enter key to
be returned to the TASK menu.

@42[SELECT]  View/Print Documentation Task.
@43[SELECT]  Start Service Billing program Task.
.42
SETUP PROGRAM -- TASK MENU  -- VIEW FILES                                     42

This task will start the INFO program so that you may read or print the
documentation files.  You should print the TUTORIAL.DOC file so that you may go
through it step by step.  Doing this will enable you to learn things that are
not intuitively obvious.  When you exit the INFO program you will return to the
TASK menu.

@43[SELECT]  Start Service Billing program Task.
.43
SETUP PROGRAM -- TASK MENU -- START SERVICE BILLING PROGRAM                   43

Selecting this task will stop the SETUP program and start the Service Billing
Program.
.50
INFO                                                                          50
Use this menu selection to view/print the documentation files.

        File Name:      Purpose of File:
        ------------ ---------------------------------------------------
        HISTORY.DOC  Service Billing Upgrade History.
        REGISTER.DOC Registration information and order form.
        LICENSE.DOC  Service Billing License Information and Agreement.
        WARRANTY.DOC Service Billing Warranty Information and Agreement.
        TUTORIAL.DOC A Tutorial to help you get started.
        README.DOC   An introduction to the Service Billing program.

@7[SELECT]  Next menu item

@25[SELECT]  Select another Menu.

.END
