PART 4 -  ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
----------------------------

The program is now very complex and extremely 
configurable, although the default values make it easy to use.  
The purpose of this section is to introduce you to some of 
the more unusual functions so that you can get the most out 
of the program.

Quicken Import/Export
---------------------

1.	By popular request, I have included a 'Quicken' 
Import and Export option.  As it was very simple, I have also 
included an option to export an ASCII file, and a 'Comma 
Separated Variable' (CSV) option which could be loaded into 
any spreadsheet.  Because of different ways of exporting the 
date field between UK and US versions of Quicken, you 
have to specify, during the Import/Export process, which 
date format you want.  (USA Versions, regardless of display 
format, seem to export & import dates as MM/DD/YY, UK 
versions use DD/MM/YY).  To export, use <PSION-
SHIFT-Q> from the Accounts screen or the Transaction 
screen, and fill in the required details.  I believe they are all 
self-explanatory, although note you can export all or just 
reconciled transactions. To import from Quicken, select 
<PSION-SHIFT-I> and specify whether you wish to start a 
new account or import into the selected account, and how 
you want to treat unknown categories.  I have also had to 
add a 'MS Money' option to both Import and Export, as it 
doesn't seem to implement the QIF format in the normal way. 
When building a QIF file in Quicken, make sure you only 
check the Transactions box, and the rest are clear.  Note that 
S3ABANK will initially assume that the QIF file is in the 
\BANK\ Sub-directory.  This option seems to have caused 
the most trouble, so you will find a special section in the 
FAQ file which answers the most common questions.

Configurability
---------------

2.	When I first wrote the program, it was obviously 
designed for my use.  Following comments received from 
earlier versions, many of the details have become 
configurable and this is now one of the program's strengths.  
These are accessible through  Set Preferences menus in 
each screen and a full explanation of each line follows:

Main Accounts screen:

	General Menu

	a.	All the Currency options discussed 
	earlier, including a maximum value, automatic 
	selection of secondary country to Home city, 
	display of negative numbers and the Currency 
	separator.

	b.	Warning Beeps can be selected On/Off
	
	c.	The Terminology menu incorporates 
	selections for 'Check' & 'Cheque', 'Petrol' & 
	'Gas', 'Shares' & 'Stocks' and 'Scheduled 
	Transactions'  or  'Future Transactions' rather 
	than 'Standing Orders'.  Note that the hot keys 
	for these will also change, i.e. <PSION-
	SHIFT-P> for petrol will become <PSION-
	SHIFT-G> for gas, and <PSION-SHIFT-O> 
	for orders becomes <PSION-SHIFT-D> or 
	<PSION-SHIFT-F> respectively.

	d.	The Escape key can be configured to 
	offer a quick way of changing accounts, 
	rather than returning to the main screen.  

	e.	The directory where your Memo Pad 
	is held can be changed.

	f.	The Printer Configuration can be 
	selected (Parallel, Serial, File)

	g.	When setting up the program it is 
	often useful to stay in the Set Preferences 
	menu until you are complete.  This can be 
	selected from the menu.

	h.	The program has a memory cache to speed 
	up performance, but at the expense of using memory.  
	The optimum size for the cache is 11,000 bytes, but 
	if the program crashes with No System Memory 
	during complex operations, you may find reducing 
	the cache size will help.


	Transaction Menu

	a.	The facility for using Default 
	Transactions and Auto-Counters is covered 
	later.

	b.	If you want the 'Deferred' transaction 
	idea to be automated, use this toggle switch.  
	Basically, if it is set to Auto, any entry after 
	today's date will show up as deferred, and 
	then as the date arrives, the deferred flag will 
	be automatically removed.

	c.	The Tax Rates option is discussed 
	separately later.

	Archive Menu

	a.	The default Archive file can be 
	selected to be either a certain file or the last 
	one used.  Alternatively, you can go straight 
	into the 'Archive Select' dialog.

	b.	The Archive file extension.  This 
	defaults to ARC, but this can cause trouble in 
	Windows if you have it associated with 
	WINZIP.

	Display Menu

	a.	The Font can be toggled between 
	Swiss and Roman.

	b.	The Date can be configured for '1 Jan 
	96' or 'Jan 1, 96' and a few other formats.

	c.	The default number of decimal places 
	can be defined.  This is used for all currency 
	displays.  Where relevant, i.e. fuel 
	consumption or Share numbers, separate 
	configuration options are provided.  From 
	V1.6 this is Group-specific, so you can have 
	different values for each Group.

	d.	The labels you attach to the 'Account 
	Details' information window can be edited 
	through this option.

	e.	You can select a faster screen refresh, 
	but this tends to be jerky, so the slow option 
	is also selectable.

	f.	If you have a long Account 
	description and don't want it truncated, you 
	can combine the Credit/Debit display to give 
	you a bit more screen room.

Transaction screen

	Transaction menu

	a.	Again, Default Transactions and 
	Counters are covered later.

	b.	Some people like having deferred 
	transactions not included in the Balance, with 
	or without the Balance showing, some people 
	like them included in the balance.  Use the 
	option to select your preference.

	c.	If you dont like having single keys 
	working to set attributes (Space Bar or r for 
	reconcile, w for warning, d for deferred) 
	you can disable them.

	d.	Normally, the first dialog in the 
	Transaction Entry option has the usual 
	entries, and the Advanced ones are put into 
	second, and occasionally third, optional, 
	dialogs. However, if  you have the Foreign 
	Currency option selected, there is not 
	sufficient room in the first dialog to hold all 
	the entries.  Therefore, you have this option 
	to determine which 2 out of three you would 
	like to have in the first dialog (the other gets 
	'bumped' to the second screen) [This option is
	available only if you have the Budget Module
	loaded.

	e.	You can specify whether the 
	'Advanced Functions' field in the Transaction 
	Entry dialog defaults to 'Yes' or 'No'.

	f.	Often, during reconciling, it 
	can be useful to automatically jump to the 
	next transaction.  This is selectable.

	Display menu

	a.	The Symbols for Cleared, Reconciled, 
	Warning and Deferred entries can be defined.

	b.	I like to have 'Initial Balance' 
	displayed in the transaction screen, but other 
	people prefer 'Current Balance', or 'Total 
	Balance', which takes deferred entries into 
	account.  Use this option to select which you 
	want.  The single key 'B' also activates this 
	option.

	c.	If you have the Status Window 
	removed, there is room for another column.  
	Use this option to define whether you want 
	the Reference field, the Budget Category field 
	(if available) or nothing in this column.  Note 
	that this can be set differently for each 
	account for maximum flexibility. Also, the 
	single key 'M' has the same effect.

	d.	If you have a long Transaction 
	description and don't want it truncated, you 
	can combine the Credit/Debit display to give 
	you a bit more screen room.

	e.	You can select the initial highlight in 
	the Transaction screen to be on todays date, 
	or the last entry.

	f.	You can decide if the Credit limit 
	figure displayed is the absolute value, or the 
	amount you have remaining

Currency Screen

	a.	There is a repeat of the Currency setup dialog 
	available from the Main screen.

	b.	The number of decimal places for the 
	Exchange Rate can be specified.

	c.	The optional Allowances display can be 
	toggled.

	d.	Some people find it easier to put the rate 
	using the number of the foreign currency to '1' of 
	their own, some prefer the opposite.  Use this option 
	for your preference.

	e.	You can specify here which currencies first 
	appear in the 'Conversion' module.

	f.	You can also decide if you want the 
	Secondary Currency to be selected automatically 
	based on your 'Home City'.

Archive Screen

	a.	The Archive screen has a similar 'Middle 
	Column' selection, and options repeated from 
	the Main screen.

Stocks/Shares Screen

	a.	Normally, the program will prompt you as to 
	whether you want the History file updated.  An 
	option here is to remove that confirmation request.

	b.	The decimal places for the Number and Price 
	can be set separately from the main program setting.

	c.	In the History screen the X & Y-axis can be 
	defined, and the type of Gain/Loss display.

Petrol/Gas Screen

	a.	The decimal places and units can be defined.

Expenses Screen

	a.	The default entries use the same principle as 
	those in the main Transaction screen.

	b.	The final column can be toggled between 
	Total spend or Balance remaining from a specified 
	overall allowance.

	c.	The total sign can be switched between +ve & -ve.

Accounts
--------

3.	When entering or updating Accounts, there is a 
second screen obtainable by selecting 'yes' in the first dialog 
screen.  This allows you to specify the Quicken type, 
whether the Account should be included in the 'Net Worth' 
calculation, a Credit limit (Use +ve for the case of a 
minimum balance for a current/checking account, and -ve for 
a Credit card debit limit) and the associated Interest rates if 
you are using the option in the Standing Orders.  The Credit 
Limit will cause an alarm to be displayed if the value is 
exceeded, and the Interest Rates are used in the Automatic 
Interest option available from the Standing Order screen.

4.	After popular demand, I have incorporated a 'Look 
Ahead' mode <PSION-L>.  For example, on the 27th of the 
month, you can have a prediction of your status on the 2nd 
of next month when all Standing Orders and Deferred 
Transactions are taken into account.  I have also left in the 
Transaction Enter/Update/Delete options, so you can do 
some 'what if' budgeting.  In V1.4, I improved this option, so 
that you can either do it for all accounts in a Group (the 
default), or for a single account.  Please note that any 
changes you make while in this mode will be canceled when 
you return to normal operation.

5.	In a similar vein, I have implemented a 'Pay Bills' 
option - <PSION-I> in the main screen, similar to that 
provided in Microsoft Money.  It is very similar to the 'Look 
Ahead' mode, except it now gives you the option of actually 
actioning the Standing Order to pay it in advance.  Once 
complete, unlike the 'Look Ahead' mode, it does NOT 
restore the original values, but stays with the new values.

6.	I have provided general information screens. Press 
<PSION-G> from Main screen and <PSION-N> from the 
Transactions screen.  Also, after popular request, there is an 
'Account Details' option available to display Account 
Numbers, Bank addresses, Card Numbers, Emergency Phone 
numbers etc.  Use the 'Account Details Labels' option under 
the 'Display' sub-menu of the 'Set Preferences' menu 
(<PSION-Q> to define the Labels, then <PSION-?>) either 
from the Accounts screen or the Transaction screen to 
View/Edit the details.

Transactions
------------

7.	As with Accounts, when entering or updating 
Transactions there is a second (and sometimes third) 
'Advanced Functions' screen.  To access them, just select 
'yes' on the 'Display Advanced Functions' on the bottom of 
the first dialog. These screens give access to the automatic 
counters (see later), and also allows the attribute to be set, 
and the transaction to be integrated into each of the 
appropriate optional modules that you may have loaded.   
Under normal circumstances, the most common dialogs are 
put onto the first dialog, so that you do not have to access 
the Advanced screens.  However, if you activate the foreign 
currency option, which means the first dialog needs an extra 
line, then something has to be bumped to the second dialog.  
To decide which ones you want under that circumstance, 
select Define First Dialog from the Set Preferences menu 
in the Transaction screen and make your selection.

8.	In the Transaction and Expense screens, and their 
associated Archive screens, you can set a Budget Category 
Filter, and then the system will display (and print) only those 
entries applicable to that category.

9.	For advanced users, I have also incorporated a 
'Default Transaction' option for those entries that you 
regularly want to input.  Using the 'Set Preferences' Menu 
from the Account or Transactions screen and 'Default 
Transactions'  you can define up to 20 default transactions, 
giving each one a unique name.  These can then be quickly 
obtained by pressing <SHIFT-ENTER> instead of 
<ENTER> when in the transaction screen (or <PSION-J>), 
and then most of the fields will already be completed. (This 
option is also implemented in the Expenses module.  Exactly 
the same logic applies).  

10.	Within each Default Transaction, or Standing Order, 
or normal Transaction you can also implement an Automatic 
Numbering option to keep track of cheque numbers or, in my 
case, the number of registrations for the program !!  To 
enable this function use the 'Set Preferences' menu from the 
Account or Transactions screen and the 'Setup Counters'.  
Allocate a title and a value to each of the counters you wish 
to use (i.e. My Cheque and 345) and then it can be allocated 
from within a default transaction or Standing Order. 

11.	There is also a  last Transaction Used  option, just 
like the  last Number Redial  on a phone.  Use <PSION-M> 
or <CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER> to redisplay the last entry.

Standing Orders
---------------

12.	The Advanced functions in the Standing Order 
second dialog allow you to specify a different initial payment 
if that is appropriate, make it a warning entry only, allocate a 
counter, or just do the order a specific number of times, i.e. 
10 monthly payments, and whether you want it to integrate 
with the optional modules.

13.	If a Standing Order is set to be done a fixed number of 
times, once it has been actioned that number of times it will 
still remain in the screen, but with a 'Complete' displayed 
instead of the date.  This allows you to either delete it, or 
keep it until it needs restarting again next year.

Archive
-------

14.	Providing an Export routine for the Fuel and Shares 
history, and the Archive file, that would produce .SPR files 
proved to be very difficult, so I have provided an interim 
attempt.  Select the 'Export History'    option.  This will 
produce a file (initially defaulting to FUEL.TXT, 
INVEST.TXT or ARCHIVE.TXT, but selectable) in your 
\WRD\ directory.  Next, load the file into Word, go to the 
beginning of the document, then block it all using Shift-
Control-Psion-PgDn.  Now start a new Sheet file, and use 
'Bring' function <PSION-B> to bring it in.  It can then be 
saved in a PC-spreadsheet compatible format.

Budgets
-------

15.	In V1.5 I implemented 'Split Categories' for Budgets.  
This was to cater for those occasions when a single cheque 
or VISA payment related to more than one category.  To use 
the option, enter a transaction, select 'Yes' in the Advanced 
function field, and select 'Split Transactions' in the 'Update 
Budget' field.  This takes you to another screen allowing you 
to split the value across various categories.  Unfortunately, 
memory limitations preclude the program remembering these 
values, so this is 'one-shot' only, and the transaction will not 
remember to which categories it was allocated.  However, the
word 'Split' will appear on the display as a reminder.

Planner
-------

16.	I found it very difficult to cope with all the possible 
permutations of display in the Planing module, so a 'Screen 
Display' option was incorporated.  This allows you to define 
the design of the screen, including the position of the vertical 
lines  (remember the screen is 480 pixels wide) and how 
many months are displayed, where they start, and how much 
gap between them.  Basically, just play about with settings, it 
may take a few goes to get what you want. Note the 'Total' column 
and the associated second vertical line are available only if the 
Status Window is turned off.

General
-------

17.	In most screens, pressing the first letter of an entry 
will take you straight to it, and using the left/right arrows 
will cycle through groups/accounts/files.

18.	As with the Agenda and Data programs, I have coded 
a routine to allow you to configure the Diamond menu to 
those screens that you access regularly.  Simply press 
<PSION-Shift-Diamond> to set it up.

19.	Note the individual Groups can be Password 
protected.  Use <PSION-@> from the Accounts screen.  
From V1.4 onwards, this password is not case-sensitive.  
The Password can be configured to work only on program 
start, or on all occasions, i.e. auto-shutoff and then restart.

20.	I've implemented a 'memo pad' feature along the same 
lines as that used for the 'To-Do' lists in Agenda.  Simply 
access a Notepad from any screen by using <PSION-+>.  
For most of the screens, this will access the same file.  In the 
case of the Fuel module, the Expenses module, the 
Investment module and the Home Inventory module, this will 
access a file unique to that module.  That is for people who 
like to keep track of Car Maintenance details, Trip timings, 
Certificate numbers and Insurance Policy details. 

21.	The final option to be discussed  is one to help in 
tracking Tax payments such as Value Added Tax, (VAT) or 
GST.  Use the 'Set Preferences' menu to define up to 4 Tax 
Bands, and the 'Advanced Settings' field on Transaction entry 
will then have a new field allowing you to allocate a tax 
value to the entry.  In both the Transaction and Archive 
screen there is then a Tax filter which will then display only 
those entries which match the filter value.  Note that it is the 
actual percentage that is saved with the transaction, not the 
tax band.  The use of the tax band is simply a short-cut, to 
save you having to type in the value every time.  These tax 
bands can also be put in Default Transactions and Standing 
Orders. Also, you can select Tax Rate as the option for the 
Middle Column in both the Transactions and Archive display screens.

21.	Finally, don't forget the Help menu (<HELP> or 
<PSION-H>.

