QickWatch Version 5.0 Copyright (c) 1994 P. Lutus, Ashland, Oregon.

NOTE: To view this file using Notepad,
maximize the document size and select
Edit .. Word Wrap so the paragraphs
will be formatted correctly.

I. Introduction

The purpose of QickWatch is to make it possible to use any check format desired by the user, rather than the limited options available with a certain very popular financial and check writing program.

QickWatch normally runs in the background under Windows, waiting for the appearance of a print-format file. When the file appears QickWatch reformats the file's contents and then makes it available to the user's mail-merge application to print checks in any format, using any application program the user desires.

This means the user can take the check printing information from a financial record-keeping program and transform it to another format of the user's choosing.

II. Installation

QickWatch contains a normal Windows 3.1 executable file and a help file (this file). The QickWatch file may be placed in any directory the user wishes. Then the user enters Windows and, from Program Manager,  selects File ... New ... Program Item and enters the path and filename for QickWatch.

The first step in setting up QickWatch is to make your check writing program "print" to a file instead of your printer. This requires a little effort, because Windows won't automatically "print" to a file without a change in the WIN.INI initialization file. Here are step-by-step instructions to add this capability:

1. Enter DOS and select the windows directory:

c:\>cd windows

2. Back up your original WIN.INI:

c:\>copy win.ini winini.bak

3. Edit the contents of WIN.INI, using the Windows Notepad program.

a. Find the [ports] section of WIN.INI. Example:

[ports]
; A line with [filename].PRN followed by an equal sign causes
; [filename] to appear in the Control Panel's Printer Configuration dialog
; box. A printer connected to [filename] directs its output into this file.
LPT1:=
LPT2:=
LPT3:=

b. Enter a line according to the instructions provided in the file. Example:

[ports]
; A line with [filename].PRN followed by an equal sign causes
; [filename] to appear in the Control Panel's Printer Configuration dialog
; box. A printer connected to [filename] directs its output into this file.
LPT1:=
LPT2:=
LPT3:=
c:\temp\qickwtch.prn=

The final entry will allow a program to print to a file as though it were a printer.

c. Save this new version of WIN.INI, exit and re-enter Windows so the change will take effect.

4. Now we need to select a generic text "printer" and connect it to this file.

a. From Windows, choose the Control Panel, and select Printers.

b. Select Add >> and choose Generic / Text Only from the provided list. Press Install. At this point Windows may require you to insert one of the Windows system diskettes.

c. Once the Generic / Text only driver has been installed, you need to connect it to the special file name you have entered into WIN.INI. Select the Generic / Text Only printer and select Connect. Choose the special file name from the list.

5. Now you need to select this printer for check printing. Run your check printing program and select Printer Setup ... Check Printer Setup ... Printer ... and choose Generic / Text Only connected to your file name. Also, for best results, select Page-Oriented Voucher Checks.

6. Normally QickWatch runs in the background, so if you use it regularly, you should place a copy in the Startup program group so it will run automatically when you start Windows. You can make it run invisibly by selecting its icon and choosing File ... Properties ... Run Minimized.

III. Using QickWatch

QickWatch needs to know several things about its environment:

1. The location and name of the print-format file generated by the check-writing program.
2.  A location and name for its output data file.
3. The location and name of the user's mail-merge document, which receives the check information from the data file.
4. The location of the help file.

The program provides default values for some of these, and you may change the names or locations to meet special requirements. Selecting the third file name, that of the mail-merge document, can wait for you to set that document up and bind it to the QickWatch data file.

First, start QickWatch and then run your check writing program. Create a dummy check to print and "print" it using the special Generic / Text only printer choice. If all goes well, QickWatch will give an error message saying it can't find the document file. Disregard this message for now.

Now run your favorite word processing program, create a mail-merge document and bind the QickWatch data file to it. The QickWatch data file is a tabbed text file consisting of fields and records. Each record describes a particular check, and each field describes a part of the information needed to print the check. The first line of the data file has field names, subsequent lines contain check data. This file format is a universal way to convey data to a word processing program that can merge data into an existing document.

Once you have created your document and are satisfied with the printing results, save the document for future use. Then tell QickWatch the location the document. Remember: type in the name of the document, not the program that created it. Under Windows, most programs have document types that are associated with them, and you only need to provide the name of the document -- Windows does the rest.

If this isn't true, if Windows can't figure out which program created your document, you need to:

1. Reinstall your word processing program, or
2. Tell Windows which program is associated with your document, using File Manager:

a. Run File Manager and click on your document once.
b. Select File ... Associate.
c. Select your word processing program from the provided list, or type in the location and name of your program.

QickWatch should be fully functional now. It should detect the print file, reformat it, and automatically "launch" your mail-merge document so you can make any last-minute changes you care to, put your checks in place on your printer, and press the Print button.

If this isn't true, check the following things:

1. Is QickWatch running in the background? Press Alt-Tab and see if it appears. Be sure to place a copy of its icon in the Startup program group if you use it regularly. You may run it at any time and then stop it if you wish.
2. Do the three file names in QickWatch correspond to the names of the files you have selected elsewhere?
3. Does the document name correspond to a document type recognized by Windows? To test this, open File Manager and click on your document name twice -- does your word processor start and load your document?
4. If you are having problems with the contents of the data file, make sure your check writing program is set up for Page Oriented Voucher Checks.

IV. CareWare

QickWatch is not FreeWare, nor is it ShareWare. It is the first of a new category of software called "CareWare." This means if you like the program and find it useful, you have to make a payment -- but not to the author. Instead you should make a contribution to a charitable organization, preferably one I like:

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
2010 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

Zero Population Growth, Inc.
1400 16th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036

Obviously these are just SUGGESTIONS. You also may contribute to any worthwhile cause you believe in. And, if you can't make a generous contribution to a charity, there are some actions of a less expensive kind you can make that I will consider PAYMENT IN FULL:

If you are a parent and you normally smack your kids, restrain yourself for a week. Or longer.
Don't tease your little brother or sister.
Be nice to someone you don't know, for no apparent reason.
Or, if all these seem like too much trouble, just look outside at a tree and marvel. Neither you nor the tree will be around for very long.

V. Disclaimer, Author

This software is provided AS IS, with no warranty of any kind as to fitness or applicability to a particular purpose. The sole judge of this program's usefulness is the recipient. No product maintenance or updates will be provided, and the author is not responsible for direct or indirect loss or damage.

Paul Lutus
Ashland, Oregon