

    CHECKING
 
    by W.J. Brier
 
    CHECKING is a full-featured program that can supplement or replace the
conventional checkbook.  All of the usual transactions that are recorded in a
regular checkbook are supported in this program.  Additionally, CHECKING can
print checks and reconcile or balance the account.  Unlike a conventional
checkbook CHECKING is not subject to mathematical errors or misplaced
information.  Entries can be quickly and easily located using a variety of
searches.
 
    Using CHECKING requires no special skills on the part of the user.  The
equipment required to run this program is a Commodore 64 computer, compatible
disk drive, a video monitor and a compatible printer.  Version 5.1 supports all
CBM printers as well as many non-Commodore printers interfaced to the C 64
serial port.
 
    I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
 
    1. Program Capabilities
 
    CHECKING permits many different types of entries and permits selectively
displaying and manipulating records thus generated.  In this description a
single entry is refered to as a TRANSACTION.  A transaction could be a check, a
deposit, an automatic interest payment, autoteller (automatic teller machine)
withdrawal and so on.
 
    The succession of transactions thus produced is contained in a disk-based
endless file that is divided into 2000 separately accessed RECORDS.  Each record

contains one complete transaction.  When the last (2000th) record has been
written into, the program starts over at record number one (hence the "endless"
description).  This style of record-keeping assures that adequate space is
always available and that any transaction can be searched for and retrieved by
any one of several search parameters.  Based on a typical entry rate of 350
transactions per year approximately six years will elapse before the file will
start at record number one again.  CHECKING automatically keeps track of the
records when they are used and takes care of all the details for you.  All you
have to do is enter transactions.
 
    As transactions are recorded the balance will be continuously recalculated
and displayed.  Also, certain types of transactions will be marked or "flagged"
as transactions requiring bank clearance or processing.  These transactions are
DEPOSITS, CHECKS (manual or computer-generated) and AUTOTELLER WITHDRAWALS.
When the account is reconciled flagged transactions will be retrieved and
displayed for clearance.
 
    At any time, the checking file may be searched and displayed.  A
sophisticated cross-search system enables one to retrieve transactions that have

user-selectable information.  The user is given the optio=df displaying these
transactions on the monitor screen or on the printer.
 
    2. Getting Started
 
    To get started turn on your printer, disk drive and computer.  Next, load
and run the program by entering LOAD "CHECKING",8 <RETURN> (or ^0:CHECKING with
the WEDGE).  Upon the display of the READY prompt type RUN and press RETURN.
When the program starts the title and a copyright notice will be displayed.  You

will then be prompted to remove the program disk and insert the checking file
disk into the drive.  DO NOT forget to insert the file disk when prompted!
 
    If you are just starting out, use a blank formatted disk (this will be the
WORKING FILE DISK).  The entire file disk will be filled with checking
account-related data and may not be used for anything else.  If you are using a
blank file disk the program will verify with you that the correct disk is in the

drive.  CHECKING cannot work with unformatted disks.
    3. Entering Information
 
    During the use of CHECKING you will be entering information as requested by
the program.  When CHECKING needs information from you it will request it by
displaying a PROMPT.  Immediately adjacent to the prompt, in most cases, will be

the CURSOR (a small patch of light on the screen).  The cursor indicates that
CHECKING is awaiting your input and also shows where what you type will appear.
The prompt tells you what CHECKING needs from you.  Prompts may be displayed in
normal video (yellow text on a black background) or in REVERSE video (black text

on a yellow background).
 
    Prompts that are displayed in reverse video indicate that the entry may be
DEFAULTED (i.e. the RETURN key may be pressed without actually typing anything).

In most cases CHECKING will not allow you to default an entry.  Such an entry
will be indicated by a prompt in normal video.  In this case you must supply
information that CHECKING can use.
 
    NOTE:  If an entry is defaultable (prompt in reverse video) a DEFAULT
CHARACTER may appear under the cursor.  Defaulting will then enter the default
character as data.
 
    If you make a typographical error while entering information use the DELete
key to run the cursor from right to left and remove the incorrect characters.
In many cases CHECKING will restrict what you may type and how much.  For
example, dollar entries only permit the entry of the digits 0 through 9 and a
decimal point.  Menu selections will only permit you to type a valid numeric or
alphabetic choice.
 
    Some prompts are displayed without a cursor.  In such a case CHECKING will
react immediately to what ever you type.  Double-check anything that you type in

as you may not be able to correct it later on if you make a mistake.
 
    4. Account Number and Identification
 
    After inserting the file disk into the drive and pressing the F1 key as
instructed, the program will ask for the account number with which you will be
working.  Since CHECKING is able to work with any number of different file disks

this feature prevents you from accidentally making entries into the wrong file.
The account number may be any number from two to ten digits in length.  Only the

zero to nine keys will be accepted.  Upon typing the account number press the
RETURN key to enter the number.  The program will then request your
identification number.
 
    To protect your account records from unauthorized access, CHECKING requires
that the user properly identify himself.  The identification code may be any
four digits the user desires.  NOTE:  If you incorrectly enter the ID code press

the DELete key to erase it and start over (after all four digits have been
typed).  The code is not actually displayed on the screen when it is entered,
but is symbolically represented by a series of periods printed on the screen as
you type.
 
    Upon entering the ID code the program will attempt to load the transaction
marker index file (normally found on the file disk) into memory.  If the entered

account number doesn't match up with the file disk in the drive the program will

advise you and allow you to start over or abort.
 
    If no CHECKING file is found the program will ask you if you want to create
a file disk.  Answering (Y)es will give you one chance to "escape" the program.
Answering (Y)es to the second warning will result in the disk being formatted
and completely erased.  VERIFY THAT THE DISK IN THE DRIVE IS THE ONE YOU INTEND
TO USE.  Once formatted and prepared for CHECKING, any data that previously was
on the disk will be completely lost.  The formatting and file writing process
will take about five minutes on a CBM 1541 drive.  During the preparation of the

file disk the BEGINNING BALANCE will be requested.  Enter dollars and cents (for

example 618.25) and press the RETURN key to enter the amount.  Only the digits
zero through nine and the decimal point will be accepted (up to a maximum of
99999.99).  If you do not wish to enter a starting balance enter 0.00.  NOTE:
The disk formatting operation and the request for a beginning balance will only
occur when starting a new disk.
    When all preliminary disk operations have been completed, CHECKING will
sound a beeper to alert you and will request the type of printer you are using
(Commodore or Centronics type with an interface connected to the serial port).
Make the appropriate selection and press RETURN.  NOTE:  Selecting the wrong
printer type requires ending and restarting CHECKING to correct the error.
 
    Next, CHECKING will request TODAY'S DATE.  Enter the date using the format
M-DD-YY for the months of January through September, or MM-DD-YY for October
through December.  If the day is the first through the ninth enter a zero for
the first day digit.  For example, September 4, 1985 would be entered as
9-04-85.  An incorrect format will be rejected by the program.  A buzzer will
sound and the date will be requested again.
 
    II. MAIN MENU
 
    The MAIN MENU lists the major operations available in CHECKING.  They are as

follows:
 
1.  ENTER TRANSACTIONS
2.  RECONCILE ACCOUNT
3.  DISPLAY TRANSACTIONS
4.  DISPLAY CURRENT BALANCE
5.  TERMINATE PROGRAM
 
    To perform any desired operation type the appropriate number and press
RETURN.  If you terminate the program and wish to restart it simply type RUN and

press the RETURN key.  It is necessary to terminate CHECKING if a different file

disk is to be used.
 
    III. ENTERING TRANSACTIONS
 
    Selecting this mode will cause CHECKING to display a TRANSACTION ENTRY MENU.

The following operations are available from this menu:
 
A.  DEPOSIT
B.  ERROR (CREDIT)
C.  INTEREST
D.  VOIDED CHECK
E.  FUND TRANSFER (IN)
F.  MANUAL CHECK
G.  COMPUTER CHECK
H.  AUTOTELLER WITHDRAWAL
I.  ERROR (DEBIT)
J.  SERVICE DEBIT
K.  FUND TRANSFER (OUT)
L.  LEAVE ENTRY PROCESS
 
    To perform any operation simply type the letter corresponding to the desired

choice and press RETURN.  Selecting L will enable you to "escape" the entry
process and return to the MAIN MENU.
 
    At the start of any entry CHECKING will display some preliminary
information:  TODAY'S DATE, CURRENT BALANCE and RECORD NUMBER (automatically
assigned by the program).  This information block is refered to as the ENTRY
HEADER.  It will appear at the beginning of each entry you make.  When entering
a computer-generated check the header will also display the consecutive MICR
number of the check (also assigned by the program).
 
    Immediately following the entry header CHECKING will request DATE (IF
DIFFERENT).  If the date of the transaction is different from TODAY'S DATE enter

the correct date (M-DD-YY or MM-DD-YY).  If TODAY'S DATE is to be entered simply

DEFAULT (press the RETURN key without typing anything).
 
    A description of each entry procedure follows.
 
A.  DEPOSIT
 
Use this mode to enter any deposit.  When the AMOUNT is requested type in the
dollars and cents.  The cents must be entered even if .00 (such as 200.00).
Failure to correctly enter the amount will cause CHECKING to sound a buzzer and
request the amount again.  These rules for entering the amount ("dollars and
cents" entry rules) apply in all cases where a money amount is requested.
 
Next CHECKING will request the location at which the deposit was made.  Under
the prompt WHERE AT a list of the four possible locations will be displayed with

the first letter of each location highlighted in reverse video (dark letter on a

light background).  Simply type the the first letter that corresponds with the
location at which the deposit was made.  Defaulting will enter AUTOTELLER
(automatic teller machine, Money Network, or similar) as the location.  Other
possible choices are DRIVEUP/WALKUP, NITE DEPOSITORY and MAIL.  If AUTOTELLER is

selected CHECKING will request the AT LOCATION.  Any text up to 16 characters
may be entered or this may be defaulted (not recommended).
 
After entering all requested information CHECKING will ask ENTRY OK (Y/N).
Answering (Y)es will immediately store the transaction on the file disk and
update and display the balance.  Answering (N)o will return you to the
TRANSACTION ENTRY MENU (the transaction is automatically voided).  Upon
completion of disk activities the TRANSACTION ENTRY MENU will return.  At that
time you may make another entry or leave the entry process.  This sequence of
events will occur for each transaction entered
 
B.  ERROR (CREDIT).
 
Use this entry to make any correction that will result in an increase in the
balance.  The most common use for this entry is to adjust the balance due to a
previous entry error.  More rarely, it could be used to enter an error caused by

the bank.
 
C.  INTEREST
 
If your bank pays interest on your checking account use this entry to record the

amount paid.
 
D.  VOIDED CHECK
 
CHECKING defines a VOIDED CHECK as any check that was issued and/or recorded by
CHECKING but will not be paid by the bank.  An example of a voided check would
be a check returned unpaid due to insufficient funds.  Another example would be
a check that was lost, stolen or destroyed.  If you simply spoil a check and
have not yet entered it into CHECKING it is not a voided check.  You may still
enter it as voided however.  When CHECKING requests the check amount enter 0.00.

 
In addition to the amount of the check the MICR number of the check will be
requested.  Up to five digits will be accepted.  No distinction is made in this
entry between manual and computer-generated checks.
 
E.  FUND TRANSFER (IN)
 
Use this entry to record a transfer of funds into your checking account from
another account.  This entry will require that you identify the source of the
funds.  An account number should be sufficient in most cases.  Any text up to 16

characters may be entered.
 
F.  MANUAL CHECK
 
Use this entry to record the checks that you write out of your regular
checkbook.  This entry will require a PAYEE name (30 characters maximum), the
check MICR number and the amount.  An optional memo up to 16 characters may also

be entered.
If you have used the PAYEE MEMOS program to create a file of payees and memos on

the CHECKING file disk the applicable memo will be displayed immediately below
the MEMO prompt.  Defaulting in such a case will automatically enter the memo.
If no memo for the payee exists defaulting will enter a "blank".  If you type
anything in for a memo it will supersede the filed memo for that payee.  If you
don't wish to have the displayed memo entered simply type a SPACE and hit
RETURN.
 
G.  COMPUTER CHECK
 
This entry is very similar to that for a manual check.  CHECKING, however, will
assign the consecutive MICR number for you.  This number starts at 0001X and
increments each time a computer check is written.  When the number reaches 9999X

it resets back to 0001X.  The X indicates that this is a computer-generated
check and facilitates future searches.
 
After all information has been entered press the F2 key (SHIFTed F1) to print
the check or the F4 key (SHIFTed F3) to verify the alignment of the first check.

If you verify alignment a series of stars (*****) will be printed where the MICR

number will appear.  This will enable you to correct the position of the check
if necessary.  Once the proper starting position has been estab63shed no further

correction should be required.  NOTE:  If you are using a Centronics printer
that offers a choice of fonts you should set it up for PICA.  The check will not

be correctly printed on a Centronics printer in other fonts.
 
When the check has been printed the printer will feed to the starting position
of the next check.  Disk storage of the transaction occurs after the check has
been printed.
 
H.  AUTOTELLER WITHDRAWAL
 
If you withdraw cash from an automatic teller machine or Money Network station
(or similar) use this entry to record the transaction.  In addition to the
amount CHECKING will request an AT LOCATION.  Any text up to 16 characters may
be entered.
 
I.  ERROR (DEBIT)
 
Use this entry in the same manner as ERROR (CREDIT) for any instance where you
need to adjust the balance downward.
 
J.  SERVICE DEBIT
 
Use this entry to enter any debits entered against your account by the bank.
Typically this is used for account service charges, check printing charges,
automatic deductions for payment of obligations or handling fees for NSF checks.

In addition to the amount CHECKING will request a PURPOSE.  Any text up to 16
characters may be entered.  Captions such as "SERVICE CHARGE", "CHECK PRINTING"
or "CAR PAYMENT" are appropriate to this entry.  Do not enter a service debit
unless it appears on your bank statement.
 
K.  FUND TRANSFER (OUT)
 
Use this entry to record the transfer of funds from your checking account to
another account (such as savings).  In addition to the amount, CHECKING will
request TRANSFERED TO.  Any text up to 16 characters will be accepted.  DO NOT
use this entry for service debits.
 
L.  LEAVE ENTRY PROCESS
 
When you have finished making entries simply leave the entry process.  Some disk

housekeeping will be performed and then the MAIN MENU will return (signalled by
the beeper).  During disk activities the current balance will be displayed.
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