FINANCIAL CALCULATOR V1.2 (S3A Only)
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Following the success of my Home Accounts  program S3ABANK,  a
number of people have  suggested that I issue some of the optional modules
as standalone programs.  This is the last the modules.  The first 3 were:  An
Investment Tracker (INVEST2.ZIP), a Fuel Consumption Tracker
(FUEL2.ZIP) and a Home Inventory (HOUSE2.ZIP).  This module allows
you to keep track of an annual Budget for up to 25 different billing agencies
(Phone, Gas, Electricity, TV etc).

To Install the program, simply put PLAN2.APP into any /APP/ directory
and install as usual, using <PSION-I>.

Now go into the program.  The 'nag' screens can be removed by registering
the program, which will also allow you 25 agencies.  The unregistered
version allows you just 6 entries, to see the capabilities of the program.
Working through the MENU commands will show you the capabilities of
the program. 

The basically works on 3 different levels:

Level 1.  To start, use <PSION-E> to enter a couple of agencies who send
you bills, such as Electricity and Phone (The usual Update, Delete and
Move options are available as always).   You can now move the vertical
highlight to the required agency (either using the cursor, or pressing the first
letter), and the horizontal highlight to the required month, and use <PSION-C> to enter the estimated bill.  The bottom line will show the total for each
month.  Note that, although it starts up with January as the first month, you
can use the horizontal cursor to make any month the first to be displayed. 
All the setting you have will be remembered between sessions.  Once a
payment has been made, you can use <PSION-R> (or the Space-Bar) to
show a cost in Bold as a reminder.  The default is for a 12-month display,
which is usable for costs up to 999.  If you need more than 3 figures, there
is an option to reduce the number of months on display to prevent overlap.

Level 2.  If, like me, you run a separate account to pay the bills, you can use
the planner to decide how much to transfer into the account each month.
Press <PSION-W> to switch the bottom line to 'Transfer' and use <PSION-T> to put an initial estimate in for the amount.  Note that you can put the
amount in for individual months, to the end of the screen (if you have less
than 12 months in the display it will fill up the remaining months as though
they are displayed), or for all months.  Now press <PSION-W> again, and
the line will show the Balance for each month.  You can now increase or
decrease the transfer accordingly, depending on how much in debt you are
willing to go.  There is also an option to adjust the initial balance in case
you are not starting from zero.

Level 3.  This is the fully automatic mode that I operate.  Use <PSION-A>
to enter the mode once you have completed all the entries.  From now on,
the present month will always appear in the second column, leaving the
previous month in case there is an outstanding payment.  All future
payments will be de-reconciled, and the bottom window will show the
predicted balance based on the previous months total.  This total is shown
in bold, and can be changed if required.  Once the next month arrives,
everything will move one column to the left, so you continually have a
prediction for 11-months ahead.

In V1.1, I implemented an 'Edit memo' function along the same lines as the
option in 'Agenda'.  Just use <PSION-+> to open up a notepad to keep
records of extra details, numbers and references.  I also implemented the
status window switching using <CTRL-MENU>.

In V1.2 I have implemented decimal places.  The only problem this
generates is that of overlap between entries if you have too many digits.  I
have tried to make the program sensible enough to avoid this, but if you do
have trouble, just reduce the number of months on display until the overlap
disappears.

If you find the program useful and wish to register it, please see the file
REGISTER.TXT for up-to-date instructions on how to register.  Apart from
giving you a 'warm' feeling, allowing  you  25 agencies, and getting rid of
the 'nag' screens, registering will give you access to full support and
notification of  regular, free, updates.   If anyone has any useful suggestions
for improvements, I will always try and include them in the next version. 
Also, I know my limitations as an artist, so the first person to send me a
nicer icon will  get a free registration !

Al Richey