                         DPBank manual
                         Daniel Pfund
                   version 1.7, October 1997
              Copyright  1995-1997 Daniel Pfund
         http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/8130/
         ============================================
                               
  1. SUMMARY                                                 1
  2. FOREWORD                                                1
  3. INTRODUCTION                                            1
  4. DISTRIBUTION                                            1
  5. USES                                                    1
  6. FEATURES                                                1
  7. INSTALLATION                                            1
  8. MEMORY REQUIREMENTS                                     1
  9. USING THE PROGRAM                                       1
    9.1 TRANSACTION DIALOG                                   1
    9.2 MOVING AROUND                                        1
    9.3 NEW ACCOUNTS                                         1
    9.4 TRANSFERS                                            1
    9.5 CURRENCIES                                           1
    9.6 AUTO DESCRIPTIONS                                    1
    9.7 CATEGORIES                                           1
    9.8 STANDING ORDERS                                      1
    9.9 EDITING TRANSACTIONS                                 1
    9.10 EVALUATING TRANSACTIONS                             1
    9.11 COPY / INSERT TRANSACTIONS                          1
    9.12 RECONCILING TRANSACTIONS                            1
    9.13 DELETING TRANSACTIONS                               1
    9.14 ARCHIVING TRANSACTIONS                              1
    9.15 EXPORTING TRANSACTIONS                              1
    9.16 SUM UP TRANSACTIONS                                 1
    9.17 VIEWING GLOBAL AMOUNT AND BALANCES                  1
    9.18 PREFERENCES                                         1
    9.19 PASSWORD PROTECTION                                 1
    9.20 COMPRESSION                                         1
    9.21 USEFUL INFO                                         1
    9.22 PRINTING                                            1
    9.23 DIAMOND KEY                                         1
    9.24 PLOTTING ACOUNT DATA                                1
    9.25 PLUGINS                                             1
    9.26 SWITCHING BACK TO DPBANK WITH A HOTKEY              1
  10. REGISTERING DPBANK                                     1
  11. LIMITATIONS AND BUGS                                   1
  12. TECHNICAL                                              1
  13. FUTURE                                                 1
  14. THANKS TO                                              1
  15. LEGAL STUFF                                            1
  16. SUPPORT / IDEAS                                        1
  17. AUTHOR                                                 1
  18. PLANET PFUND                                           1
  SUMMARY
  This  file contains all the necessary information to use  and
install the DPBank bank accounts tracking program.

2.  Foreword
  For  those who never completely read the documentation files:
just read the section 7 ``Installation'' and install the online
help  file which you can delete later when you're used  to  the
program.
  If  you are upgrading from a previous version, I suggest  you
read  the  file HISTORY.TXT for a list of changes. All  version
1.x files are compatible with this version so you don't need to
change  anything. You do however need to need to copy  the  new
application file as well as a language file and a help file  if
you  want  help. See the ``Installation'' section for  details.
Please note that the program will only work in conjunction with
BOTH files (application and language) found in this archive.

3.  Introduction
  DPBank  is a program designed to help you keep track of  your
bank accounts. The program is written in OPL and will only work
on Psion Series 3a/3c palmtops.
  It  lacks some of the bells and whistles of the ``big'' shots
(like ``S3aBank'') but on the other hand, it offers rudimentary
bank  account tracking possibilities to those using a  256/512k
RAM  Psion  Series  3a  (and all others who  care  about  their
precious little RAM ;-) .
  The  objective of this program wasn't to try to compete  with
such  ``monsters'', but give users with lesser needs an  easier
to use and learn alternative.
  If  you  need  more  than  a  (fairly)  simple  bank  account
tracking program, I suggest you opt for S3aBank, otherwise take
a look at section 6 for a list of available features.

4.  Distribution
  DPBank  is distributed under the terms of shareware. You  can
try  it freely during a test period of 30 days. After this test
period,  if  you still like and/or use DPBank you  must  either
register  it or delete all the files associated to DPBank  from
your Psion. See the file ``REGISTER.TXT'' for more details.
  The  program  can  be distributed freely  by  any  electronic
means  (anonymous FTP sites, BBSes, packet radio ...)  provided
the  file  ``DPBNKxxE.ZIP'' (where the ``xx''  is  the  version
number)  stays intact (see section 7 ``Installation''  for  the
file's  contents). This gives you express right  to  distribute
this program by whatever electronic mean you wish.
  Software  distributors can freely distribute this program  on
their sharewaredisks, provided that:
   You don't charge more than $5 for the service.
   The file ``DPBNKxxE.ZIP'' stays intact (see section 7
``Installation'' for the file's contents).
   You don't make any money out of it.
  Steve  Litchfield has specific right to change the  ZIP  file
contents to accomodate his disk's space needs.
  If  you  plan to include this program on a CD-ROM, go  ahead,
but  please  let me know which CD-ROM and when you release  it.
No, I won't ask for a freebie, but it's just to know!
  If  you have any technical questions or comments of any  kind
(good/bad),  do, by all means, contact me (Email prefered;  see
end of file)!

5.  Uses
  DPBank  is  one of the most useful programs on my  Psion  (of
course, otherwise why would I have written it ;-). It helps  me
keep  track of my bank accounts and I can now have an  overview
of  my  bank situation at all times. I've added the possibility
to  ``see''  into the future for all those who  use  a  lot  of
standing  orders  (up to 90 days). I myself am  only  a  (poor)
student  and I must admit that I don't have hundreds of monthly
transactions on my accounts, so this option is not very  useful
for me.

6.  Features
    Foreign currencies supported with exchange rates in either
 local or foreign form
   Accounts can be held in foreign currencies
   Currency conversions "on the fly" possible
   Automatic transaction descriptions supported (avoids
unnecessary typing)
   Budget categories supported
   Shows ``Global'' value (sum of your selected accounts)
   Supports unlimited transactions
   Supports unlimited monthly standing orders
   ``Forecast'' possibility of up to 90 days
   Automatically deletes counter part of a deleted transfer
(unless it is already reconciled)
   Automatically increments cheque number (if account uses
cheques)
   Supports useful information for each account
   Programmed system conform, ie: interacts with the System
screen for file changes, exit...
   Optional password protection
   Dynamically edit transfers
   View specific balances, ie: debit/credit/reconciled...
   Possible archive of selected transactions
   Export of selected transactions to Quicken, ASCII, pure
Psion DATA
   Printing to either parallel, serial or file (but NOT with
PsiPrint!)
   Possibility to Sum up transactions with same descriptions
or same categories (view or replace transactions)
   Possible to evaluate amount (ie: enter 100+23+45 or even
use calculator memories!)
   Possible warning when reaching user defined limit
   Possible automatic monthly interest rate calculation
   Optional cache memory
   Optional help system
   Nice graphic user interface
   Possible graphical plotting with external Plot application
writen by Nick Dawkins
   Plugin capability to allow you to infinitively expand
DPBank to do what YOU want or need!

7.  Installation
  Here  is  a  table  showing you what files  are  in  the  ZIP
archive and where to put them on your Psion:
File            Directory        Required         Description
DPBANK.OPA      \APP             Yes              Executable
LANGS01.OPO     \APP\DPBANK      Yes*             UK      language
                                               file
LANGS10.OPO     \APP\DPBANK      Yes*             US      language
                                               file
HELP01.RSC      \APP\DPBANK      optional         UK help file
HELP10.RSC      \APP\DPBANK      optional         US help file
DPBANK.CTL      -                -                Control     file
                                               for   the  Setup
                                               installation
                                               program     (see
                                               below)
INSTALL.BAT     -                -                RCOM
                                               installation
                                               script
DPBANKxx.TXT    -                -                Doc  in english,
                                               ASCII      (DOS)
                                               format       (in
                                               several    parts
                                               because  of  the
                                               Psion       Word
                                               limitation)
PLUGIN.TXT      -                -                Technical
                                               plugin
                                               description
                                               (for         OPL
                                               programmers).
REGISTER.TXT    -                -                Registration
                                               details       in
                                               English,   ASCII
                                               format
HISTORY.TXT     -                -                History       of
                                               program,   ASCII
                                               format
SETUP.OPO       \OPO             for              An     installer
                               installation     program
                               only
  *only one language file is necessary! (EITHER langs01.opo  OR
langs10.opo but not both!)
  As  you  can  see, only the executable file and one  language
file  is necessary for the program to run. These files  can  be
placed  on  any  drive (A, Internal, or B) of  any  media  type
(Internal  RAM, Stat RAM, or Flash) as the files  do  not  need
modifying.
  Here  are  the language codes used for the language and  help
files:
   01: UK English
   02: French (available separately, look for the file
``DPBxx_FR.ZIP'')
   03: German (available separately, look for the file
``DPBxx_DE.ZIP'')
   08: Norwegian (available separately, look for the file
``DPBxx_NO.ZIP'')
   10: US English (check instead of cheque)
  If  (for  example) you own a UK Psion but want to use another
language file, this is still possible by overiding your Psion's
preference with the help of the LANGS.USR file (included in the
different  locale  files but NOT in this  english  distribution
file).  This file must be an ASCII file with only the  language
number you want to use (from the above list) as the first  (and
only) line of the file.
  For  a  more  permanent  change of language  for  your  Psion
(including  the  keyboard),  I  suggest  you  take  a  look  at
Konstantin I. Saliy's excellent KbdMap program.
  To  install  DPBank, simply copy the required files  to  your
Psion  or use the RCOM installation script. If you have  PsiWin
you  can  just  drag and drop the files over (be  sure  NOT  to
convert  them on the way though). If you don't have a  PC,  you
can  now  use Jochen Siegenthaler's excellent Setup application
which  I'm  including  in  the archive.  You  must  first  copy
Setup.opo  to your Psion's \OPO directory and then  launch  the
program  from under your "RunOPL" icon (while leaving the  link
on).  Once  done,  choose the DPBANK.CTL file  on  your  remote
computer and let the program do the work for you.
  On  you  Psion, go to the system screen and choose  the  menu
option ``Install'' from the ``Apps'' list (or just press Psion-
i  for  a shortcut). Choose ``DPBank'' and that's it! You  will
then see the DPBank icon I have drawn.
  If  you  wish  to uninstall DPBank, you have  to  remove  the
\DPBANK  directory the program created (as well  as  all  files
inside  it) and \APP\DPBANK and finally the DPBANK.OPA file  in
your \APP directory.

8.  Memory requirements
  DPBank  requires  about 60k of disk space  (storage  memory).
When running, DPBank will need about 30k free (process memory).
As  you  can  see, the program was really optimized for  people
with small memory space. Of course, the counter part of this is
that  you  lose  in speed. (Programmer's axiom ;-)  Although  I
tried to make a suitable compromise between space and speed, if
you  find DPBank too slow, contact me and I'll see what  I  can
do.
  It  may happen that you don't have this memory free if you're
really  low  on  mem.  The program will warn  you  and  act  in
consequence.  Versions  from 1.5 greatly  improved  the  memory
checking  problem  and it should not happen that  DPBank  exits
without warning you that your memory is too low.
  Of  course,  if DPBank is running and then you  open  another
application that requires a lot of memory, be sure to close  it
again before coming back to DPBank otherwise it may happen that
DPBank closes itself.

9.  Using the program
  The  first time you will run DPBank, the program will ask you
on  what drive you want to make the DPBank directory (\DPBank).
This directory HAS to be on RAM disk as it will contain all the
necessary files to keep your accounts (it will not allow you to
select  flash disks anyway). These reason is that  the  account
files will change each time you use DPBank, so a Flash card  is
not useable!
  Here  is  a  small tutorial for getting the ``feel''  of  the
program.
  Once  the  program has started, you will be  asked  to  enter
some information. I will describe the procedure now.
    Account  group  name: this is the name  that  will  appear
 under  the  DPBank icon on your System screen. The default  is
 simply ``Accounts'';
   Currency file: you need to define your home currency
symbol you want to use (up to 5 numbers or characters, but
please make sure that this is correct, since it is the only
thing you cannot change later!) and any other foreign
currencies you plan on using (not necessary for the moment).
The default is the System currency you set;
   Accounts: enter your most used account first since DPBank
will always show this one on start. You then need to enter the
real opening balance, it's currency, as well as the date of
this balance (no future dates are allowed here). Make sure that
the currency is correct, since you cannot change this later on.
After that you can enter some useful information for this
account (especially if you use cheques, choose yes in the
``Uses cheques?'' line).
  Since  this  is the first time you're using DPBank,  it  will
display  a  dialog with some information on how to  use  DPBank
optimally; please read it. When you've read it press  ESC,  you
are  then  welcomed with your first account in the  form  of  a
``card''. This is just like a filing card and each account  you
add,  will appear to the right of this one (no re-ordering  for
the  moment, but see section 13 ``Future'' for features planned
for next versions).
  You  see  the first transaction which is always the ``opening
balance''  with the balance you entered. To add a  transaction,
simply  press  the  space bar (or Psion-n). You  will  see  the
transaction dialog which I will describe now.

9.1 Transaction dialog
  The  first  line  asks  you  for a  description.  It  is  not
mandatory  to enter a description, since if this line  is  left
blank, the auto description will be used (unless of course  you
don't have any auto descriptions!)
  The  second line is the auto description choice (select  with
TAB).  If  you want to select an auto description, be  sure  to
leave  the  description line blank! Note that  this  line  only
appears if you have entered at least one auto description.
  The  third  line  is the amount and the fifth  asks  for  the
currency  of this amount (select with TAB to expand the  choice
if you have set several currencies).
  The  fourth  line asks if this transaction is a credit  or  a
debit in your account ie: if you give money to the bank or take
back  from  them). I've put it here so you don't need  to  move
around  with  the  cursor too much in  order  to  enter  a  new
transaction.
  Finally,  your  are  asked for the date of this  transaction.
You  can  enter future transactions. For this example,  do  not
change  this  since it automatically defaults to today's  date.
Just  enter  an  amount  and  a description  or  use  the  auto
description  to see how it works. The date defaults  either  to
the  date  of  the  highlighted (selected)  transaction  or  to
today's  date  if the (previously) highlighted transaction  was
the last one in the account.
  If  all  goes  well (if you entered enough information),  you
will  see  this transaction appear on the last line in  reverse
characters (highlighted).
  You   can   now  move  up  and  down  on  the  two  different
transactions. Once you get some more items entered, you will be
able to move from page to page, below are the commands you  can
use to move.

9.2 Moving around
   right/left: moves from one account to another
   up/down: moves from one transaction to another
   Psion-up/down: equivalent to page up/down; moves 10
transactions at a time
   Psion-control-up/down: jumps to first/last transaction in
account
   Psion-left/right: equivalent to home/end; goes to
first/last accounts in group.
  You  can also press the first letter of the account you  want
to jump to. If more than one account has the same first letter,
pressing  the first letter a second time will jump to the  next
and so on.

9.3 New accounts
  Now  press Psion-shift-n (for new) or choose ``Add new'' from
the  ``Accounts'' menu choice. You will be asked  for  the  new
account's  name as well as it's balance (with the corresponding
date  and currency) and some useful information (just like  the
first  one  actually...)  You then  see  that  a  new  ``card''
appears. You can now move between between the accounts with the
cursor right/left.

9.4 Transfers
  Now  that you have two accounts, you can make a transfer from
one to the other. Choose ``Transfers'' from the ``Transaction''
menu choice or press Psion-t for a shortcut.
  You  are then shown the Transfer dialog. It is quite straight
forward, and I don't believe you need instructions ;-).

9.5 Currencies
  The  strong point of this program is its currency management.
I  was  looking at some of the other bank account programs  for
the Psion Series 3a but I haven't found one that allowed me  to
do  what I wanted very easily: see my bank account in my  local
currency,  but  allow  me  to  enter  transactions  in  foreign
currencies  (when  I  travel) for my credit  card  for  example
(well,  of  course, other ``monsters'' could do that...  but  I
didn't  need  the rest!). If you've always looked  for  such  a
feature, then here you have it!
  To  go  to  the currency maintenance, press Psion-shift-u  or
choose ``Currencies'' from the ``Special'' menu choice.
  You  will  be  asked  if  you  want  to  add/delete/modify  a
currency  (unless you don't have any currencies in  which  case
you go directly to the add section). Select add and you will be
prompted with a dialog. The only thing that needs some  details
is  the  conversion rate. You can enter the rate in both  ways,
this  means that you can enter for example: 1$ = XX  amount  in
your local currency, or 1 amount of your local currency = XX $.
This  is up to you and actually depends on your country's money
strength  and traditions... Just be sure to enter  the  correct
choice in the ``Rate is for 1 unit of'' by choosing foreign  or
local (as in the above example).
  Deleting  and  modifying currencies is quite intuitive,  just
try  it.  Note  that  you cannot delete  a  currency  which  is
currently  being used in a standing order or as  base  currency
for an account (including global).
  Just  a  quick  note here: all currency conversion  are  made
through  your  home currency. It might not give you  the  exact
direct  conversion rate if say for example you have  UKP  (home
currency),  USD and CAN$, when you enter a USD amount  into  an
account kept in CAN$ since the program will transfer USD to UKP
then to CAN$.

9.6 Auto descriptions
  If  you're really in a hurry (and you usually are ;-)),  auto
descriptions can greatly simplify your life. If you want to add
or  delete an auto description, press Psion-shift-a. You cannot
edit  an auto description, so delete it first, then add  a  new
one.
  If  you  delete the last auto description, you will  not  get
the  ``autodescription''  line in  the  ``transaction  dialog''
anymore (that was just in case you didn't need them).
  Auto  descriptions are limited to a maximum  comma  separated
list of 255 characters (internal OPL limitation). Thus you  can
have  many small auto descriptions, but only a few (well 9)  of
25 characters (maximum I have allowed per auto description).

9.7 Categories
  For  each transaction, you can assign it to a category.  This
field  is  usually  used  for budget categories,  but  you  can
actually use it for anything you like (maybe to remember  where
the  money came from/who paid if the account is shared  between
several  people/...).  For  each category  you  must  assign  a
``short  code'' (2 letters/numbers max) that will be  displayed
on the screen.
  Categories display can be toggled on/off in the preferences.
  If  you  intend to export to Quicken, be sure  to  enter  the
same  category names that you use in Quicken (in the long  name
field of course).

9.8 Standing orders
  Standing  orders  are transaction which  happen  every  month
(like  payments or your salary ...) You can enter these in  the
standing  orders  dialog  which is called  with  Psion-shift-o.
Choose  whether you want to add/delete/modify a standing order.
If no standing orders are entered yet, you are defaulted to the
add  option. You will be asked to enter some details  and  when
everything is correct, it will save the standing order to disk.
As  soon  as  the  chosen day comes around, you  will  see  the
standing order appear. You can also make future standing orders
appear   by   changing  the  preferences  (see   section   9.18
``Preferences'').
  For  the  time being if you want to make a standing transfer,
you will need to make two different standing orders.
  Just  a  word of caution though: once the standing order  has
appeared,  do  not delete it, as it will NOT  come  back  again
during  that  month!  Please be careful  with  future  standing
orders!  See also section 12 ``Technical'' for more information
on how the program works.

9.9 Editing transactions
  Press   Psion-e   or  simply  Enter  to  edit   the   current
(highlighted)  transaction.  As  usual,  the  dialog  is  quite
intuitive and looks quite like the ``New transaction'' dialog.
  Note:   if  you  have  deleted  the  original  currency   the
transaction was made in, you will get the conversion into  your
account's  main currency with the last rate you used. Otherwise
you will get the foreign currency and amount (what else did you
expect ;-).

9.10Evaluating transactions
  When  in  the transaction dialog, you can evaluate an  amount
automagically simply by entering the string to evaluate in  the
amount  line.  You  can even use the calculator  memories!  For
example,  if you have 100 stored in the M1 calc memory,  typing
``m1+25'' will result in a transaction with an amount of 125.

9.11Copy / Insert transactions
  You can copy a transaction into the memory buffer with Psion-
c. Alternatively, when you delete a transaction, it will be put
into  the memory buffer as well for safety reasons. Just  press
Psion-i  as in all ``normal'' Psion applications to insert  the
transaction again.
  Notes:
    This does NOT work with transfers; you would only get back
 the transaction from the current account.
   You can copy/insert transactions over different accounts
and even different groups.

