Cash for Kids User's Manual ------------------------------------------------------------ Contents -------- License Agreement Cash for Kids Order Form Getting Started - What You Need - Installing Cash for Kids - Re-Installing Cash for Kids - Entering and Exiting Cash for Kids - Getting Help - The README.TXT File Basic Operations - Keeping Your System Date Accurate - International Dates - Creating a Bank Account - Using the Kid's Register - Depositing Money - Withdrawing Money - Editing Transactions - Deleting Transactions - Viewing the Graph - Printing a Report - Using the Calculator - Using the Calendar Using the Memorized List - Adding Memorized Transactions - Editing Memorized Transactions - Deleting Memorized Transactions - Recalling Memorized Transactions Setting Goals - Graphing and Goals Account Security - Passwords - Setting Permissions Account and File Management - Editing an Account Name - Deleting an Account - Changing the Account Order - Backing Up Your Data File - Cash for Kids Files License Agreement ------------------------------------------------------------ Cash for Kids Version 1.0T is a Shareware Program. Shareware is a form of software marketing that allows you to "try before you buy". Shareware has low advertising costs that result in lower software prices. You are encouraged to freely copy Version 1.0T and distribute to friends, etc. You may not alter the program or documentation in any way. It must be left in its original form. Cash for Kids Order Form ------------------------ Fill out this form and mail it to: Adrian-Thomas Make Check or Money Order 782 Harlequin Crescent payable to Adrian-Thomas Orleans, Ontario, Canada K1E 2P3 Name ____________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ City _____________________ Prov/State ___________________ Country _____________________ Postal Code / Zip ____________ Phone ( ) ______ - ________ DESCRIPTION PRICE ------------------------------------------------------------ Cash for Kids Commercial Version (all funds in U.S dollars) Windows version $29.95 each ...................... $ ____ DOS version $29.95 each ...................... $ ____ Shipping and Handling $3.00 US and Canada (Other countries $10.00) ..... $ ____ Total ..... $ ____ ------------------------------------------------------------ Cash for Kids includes both 3.5" and 5.25" diskettes How did you hear about Cash for Kids? ______________________ ____________________________________________________________ THANK YOU for your order! Getting Started ------------------------------------------------------------ What You Need ------------- - a Microsoft Windows compatible computer. - Microsoft Windows Version 3.0 or later running in Standard or Enhanced modes. - a VGA or compatible display adapter or better. - a Windows compatible mouse, trackball or other pointing device. - a Windows compatible printer. - Windows Operational Knowledge Cash for Kids is very easy to learn if you know how to operate Microsoft Windows. If you don't, it is recommended that you learn the basics of operating Windows first. Refer to your Windows Manual or the many books available on operating Windows. Installing Cash for Kids ------------------------ Follow these directions to install Cash for Kids on your PC's hard disk: 1. Insert the Cash for Kids diskette in your diskette drive and close the door. 2. Open the Windows Program Manager and choose File / Run. 3. Type A:INSTALL. (If you are installing from drive B, type B:INSTALL) 4. Choose OK. 5. Specify the complete path to the directory where you want to install Cash for Kids. C:\CFK is the default path. 6. Choose OK. The Cash for Kids files are copied to your hard disk. 7. At the Create Cash for Kids Icon dialog box, choose Create Icon to add an icon on the Main group of the Program Manager. Choose skip to skip this step. Re-Installing Cash for Kids --------------------------- If you are installing over a previous copy of Cash for Kids, the installation program will not alter your data file. Install to the same directory and skip the creating of a Cash for Kids icon. Entering and Exiting Cash for Kids ---------------------------------- Running the Program ------------------- From the Windows Program Manager, double-click the Cash for Kids icon to run the program. Exiting the Program ------------------- While viewing the Cash for Kids Main Menu, choose the Exit button to exit the program. Another way is by choosing Close from the Control Menu. Getting Help ------------ You can view help by choosing Help on the menu. Context sensitive help is available by pressing F1 while viewing most screens and dialog boxes. The README.TXT File ------------------- The README.TXT file in your Cash for Kids directory contains last minute changes made after the manual was printed. You can view it using the Windows Notepad program. Basic Operations ------------------------------------------------------------ Keeping Your System Date Accurate --------------------------------- Cash for Kids uses your system date to determine when to add recurring transactions like allowances. It is important that the date is correct. A warning message reminds you whenever the system date is more than a month apart from the date of your Cash for Kids data file. If the system date is incorrect, exit Cash for Kids and correct it at the Windows Control Panel. International Dates ------------------- Cash for Kids allows you to use the default Month-Day-Year format or the Day-Month-Year format. Choose Administration / Program Options from the Main Menu and choose the format. Creating a Bank Account ----------------------- The Cash for Kids Main Menu is the screen with a picture of a bank. Buttons for each account appear to the right of this picture. While viewing the Main Menu, choose Administration / New Bank Account to view the Create a New Bank Account dialog box. Type the Account Name and Starting Balance and choose OK. Adding More than 6 Accounts --------------------------- Cash for Kids can have 6 accounts per DOS subdirectory. If you need more, install Cash for Kids again. This time choose another path like C:\CFK2. Using the Kid's Register ------------------------ After adding one or more Kid's accounts, choose an account name button to view the Kid's Register. ...With Register Screen Keys Cursor Up Move the Gray Rectangle up one transaction. Cursor Down Move the Gray Rectangle down one transaction. Home Move to the first transaction in the register. End Move to the last transaction in the register. Page Up Page backwards through the register. Page Down Page forwards through the register. ...With the Mouse Click Move the Gray Rectangle to the transaction under the mouse pointer. Double-click Move the Gray Rectangle to the transaction under the mouse pointer and edit this transaction. Scrollbar Control movement through the Kid's Register. 100 Transactions per Kid's Register ----------------------------------- Each Kid's Register holds 100 transactions. When you need to add more than this, Cash for Kids throws away the oldest to make room available. This keeps account management simple. Cash for Kids shows your child the future rather than dwelling on the past. No Account Reconciliation Required ---------------------------------- While the Kid's Register looks similar to that of adult checkbook programs, no reconciliation or balancing of accounts is needed. Depositing Money ---------------- Choose the Deposit button to view the Deposit dialog box. Type in the Description (e.g. "Gift") and Amount of the transaction. Use the keys to the right of the Date to change the date. Choose OK to add this transaction to the Kid's Register. Withdrawing Money ----------------- Choose the Withdraw button to view the Withdraw dialog box. Type in the Description and Amount of the withdrawal in the same way as for Deposits (see above). Editing Transactions -------------------- Choose the Edit button to edit or change the transaction marked by the Gray Rectangle. You can change the transaction's Date, Description or Amount in the same manner as in the Deposit dialog box. Deleting Transactions --------------------- Choose the Delete button to delete the transaction marked by the Gray Rectangle. A confirmation box appears. You can perform the delete or cancel. Choose OK to delete the transaction. Viewing the Graph ----------------- Choose the Graph button to view the graph showing the expected cash growth for this account. The graph displays a projection of the money expected to accumulate in this account. It includes memorized deposits (e.g. allowances). It also shows the effect of withdrawals for purchasing "Goals". See "Goals" for more information. Graphs show important trends. The graph bars should increase over time. Otherwise your child is spending more than he or she is receiving. Perhaps spending will need to be decreased. Otherwise, your child must negotiate for a larger allowance. Printing a Report ----------------- While viewing the Kid's Register, you can print out a handy report by choosing Print from the menu. Cash for Kids prints to the default printer defined by the Windows Control Panel. Choose OK at the Print dialog box to start printing. If the message "An active printer is not set up" appears, go to the Windows Control Panel and correct the problem. Using the Calculator -------------------- Choose the Calculator button when visible to run the Windows Calculator. You can return to Cash for Kids by closing or minimizing the Calculator. Another way is by clicking on the Cash for Kids window. You can Copy and Paste numbers between the Calculator and Cash for Kids. Use Ctrl+Insert to Copy from one and Shift+Insert to Paste to the other. Using the Calendar ------------------ Choose the Calendar button when visible to view the Calendar. Use the < > keys to change months. Choose Current to view the current month. Choose OK to exit the Calendar. Using the Memorized List ----------------------------------------------------------------- Use the Memorized List to remember frequently used transactions like Allowances. You can have as many as 20 memorized transactions per account. While viewing the Kid's Register, choose Memorized to view the Memorized List dialog box. Some memorized transactions have information in the Next and Frequency columns. These transactions are automatic deposits or withdrawals. Automatic transactions may occur weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually or only once. Any time you use weekly, the actual day of the week will appear instead of the word Weekly. For example, if you have a weekly allowance that is deposited on Saturday, you will see the word Saturday in the Frequency column. Adding Memorized Transactions ----------------------------- Select Add Deposit or Add Withdrawal to add a transaction to the Memorized List. The Add Memorized Deposit or Add Memorized Withdrawal dialog box appears. Description Type the Description of this memorized transaction. Amount Leave this as "0" if the amount of this transaction varies whenever it is used. Otherwise, type in a fixed amount. Auto Insert Choose On to automatically insert this transaction in the Kid's Register at regular intervals. Set the Next Date for this transaction to occur and set the Repeat Frequency. For example, to set a weekly allowance of $5, enter the following: Description = Allowance Amount = 5 Auto Insert = On Next Date = next date of occurrence Repeat Frequency = Weekly Press the OK button to add this transaction to the Memorized List. If you set the Next Date value of a memorized transaction to a date that is the same or earlier than the System Date, the message "Next Date is on or prior to the System Date so transactions will be added to the register" appears. This message alerts you that Cash for Kids will add one or more transactions to the Kid's Register. Choose OK to accept this. One-Time Insertions ------------------- Set the Repeat Frequency to One-Time if the transaction is to be inserted only once. After this memorized transaction is inserted in the Kid's Register, Auto Insert is turned off. Editing Memorized Transactions ------------------------------ Select a transaction and choose the Edit button to edit a memorized transaction. Deleting Memorized Transactions ------------------------------- Select a transaction and choose the Delete button to delete a memorized transaction. Choose OK at the confirmation dialog box to confirm the delete request. Recalling Memorized Transactions -------------------------------- Whenever you Deposit, Withdraw or Edit Transactions while viewing the Kid's Register, you can use the Recall button to enter Descriptions and Amounts quickly. Follow these steps: 1. Choose Deposit, Withdraw or Edit. 2. Choose the Recall button to search the Memorized List for matching transactions. The Select from Memroized List dialog box appears: 3. Choose the desired transaction by double-clicking on it or selecting it and choosing OK. It is loaded into the Deposit, Withdraw or Edit window. Other Rules: - Only transactions in the Memorized List with Auto Insert off will appear in the Select from Memorized List dialog box. - Only transactions matching the characters in the Description field at the time the Recall button is pressed will appear in the Select from Memorized List dialog box. For example, if the Description field contains the characters "SA" when the Recall button is pressed, only transactions starting with "SA" will appear. Note that Cash for Kids is not case sensitive. If you leave the Description field blank, all transactions will be visible in the listbox. Setting Goals ------------------------------------------------------------ Setting goals is an important habit for children to develop. It encourages planning ahead for major purchases. With Cash for Kids, your child establishes the "what, when and how much" for each goal. Use the Graph button to view the future cash prediction and see if a goal is realistic. Cash for Kids allows your child to set a maximum of 10 goals per account. Don't try to set too many goals. One or two is sufficient in most cases. Older children will tend to have more goals while younger children may have one goal (or perhaps none). Viewing the Goals Dialog Box: From the Kid's Register, choose the Goals button to view the Goals dialog box. Adding Goals: Choose the Add Goal button to view the Add Goal dialog box. Type the Description and the Amount of the goal. Select the Date when you want to reach this goal. For example, if you want to buy a new bicycle in July of 1993 for $200, enter these values in the entry fields. Choose OK to add the new goal to the Goal List. Editing Goals: Choose the Edit button to edit the Description, Amount or Date of the selected goal. Make the changes in the Edit Goal dialog box and choose OK. Deleting Goals: Choose the Delete button to delete the selected goal. Choose OK at the confirmation dialog box to confirm the delete request. Remember to delete a goal when it has been achieved! Graphing and Goals ------------------ Choose the Graph button to see if your child can achieve his goals. Achievable Goals: Goals are achievable if the graph bars are far away from the zero line. Your child will have enough money to purchase the goal items with additional funds remaining for miscellaneous expenditures. Unachievable Goals: Goals are unachievable if the bars fall below zero. Even if the bars are slightly above zero, this means that your child must avoid all spending to reach the desired goals. Whenever goals look unachievable, your child has several options: 1. Reduce the purchase amount. For example, buy a less expensive bicycle. 2. Delay the date of purchase. For example, wait several months longer before buying the bicycle. 3. Eliminate some goals. If there are several goals, keep the more important ones and eliminate the unimportant ones. 4. Negotiate for a higher allowance. 5. Do special chores (ones that the family would normally pay an outsider to do) for additional income. Account Security ------------------------------------------------------------ Cash for Kids provides optional "account security". When you first install Cash for Kids, security is off. Turning on security enables you to: - keep each child's records confidential to prevent siblings from comparing account balances. - prevent tampering by siblings. - prevent children from accidentally destroying their data. Choose Administration / Passwords and Permissions from the Main Menu to turn on security. You see the Passwords and Permissions dialog box. Passwords --------- There are two kinds of passwords: 1. Account Passwords: When used, your child will need to enter an Account Password to view or change the account. 2. Supervisor Password: There is only one Supervisor Password and it is for parental use. The Supervisor Password lets you view or change any account. Even if Account Passwords are not needed, setting up a Supervisor Password will prevent your children from using the Administration pull down menu. This means only "supervisors" can add or delete accounts and set passwords and permissions. Setting Passwords: While viewing the Passwords and Permissions dialog box, type in a password. Choose OK when finished. If you add or change the Supervisor Password, a Confirm Supervisor Password Change dialog box appears. Key in the Supervisor Password again and choose OK to confirm the change. DON'T FORGET THE SUPERVISOR'S PASSWORD. Choose a password that you won't forget or write this password down and keep it in a safe place. Change or set passwords only when the children are not present. You don't want them to see the passwords. Removing a Password: Type in blanks for the password while viewing the Passwords and Permissions dialog box. You can remove the Supervisor Password as well as Account Passwords. Using Account Passwords: To view a password protected account: 1. Choose the account button from the Main Menu. An Enter Password dialog box appears. 2. Type the password. Passwords are not case sensitive so you can type upper or lower case characters. 3. Choose OK. You see the Kid's Register if the entered password is correct. If you forget the Account Password, just look at the Passwords and Permissions dialog box. Using the Supervisor Password To turn on the Supervisor Mode: 1. Choose the Supervisor menu item. An Enter Password dialog appears. 2. Type the Supervisor Password. 3. Choose OK. The Supervisor (key) icon appears. Now you can view any account and use the Administration pull down menu. Turn off the Supervisor icon by choosing the Supervisor menu item again. Setting Permissions ------------------- Use the Passwords and Permissions dialog box to set account permissions. Supervisor Update Only: Only Supervisors can add, change or delete transactions in this account if you check this box. Your child will be able to view this account, but not alter it. You must turn on the Supervisor icon to make any changes. Hide Main Menu Balance: Check this box to prevent the account balance from being visible on the Main Menu. Then only the owner of the account or the Supervisor can see how much money is in the account. You should assign an account password for this to be effective. Otherwise, anyone can easily click on the account button and view the Kid's Register. Account and File Management ------------------------------------------------------------ Editing an Account Name ----------------------- 1. From the Main Menu, choose Administration / Bank Account Administration. You see the Bank Account Administration dialog box. Note: If you set up a Supervisor Password, you must turn on the Supervisor icon before you can choose the Administration menu item. 2. Select the account name in the listbox. 3. Choose the Edit Account Name button. Change the Account Name in the Edit Account Name dialog box. Deleting an Account ------------------- 1. From the Main Menu, choose Administration / Bank Account Administration. You see the Bank Account Administration dialog box. 2. Select the account name in the listbox. 3. Choose the Delete Account button. 4. Choose OK at the Delete Account dialog box to confirm the delete. Changing the Account Order -------------------------- 1. From the Main Menu, choose Administration / Bank Account Administration. You see the Bank Account Administration dialog box. 2. Select the account name in the listbox. 3. Choose either the Move Up in List or Move Down in List buttons to change the account order. Order your accounts alphabetically or by the oldest child first. Backing Up Your Data File ------------------------- All data for Cash for Kids is stored in the file KIDSDATA.CFK. You can back this up with your normal backup procedure. Otherwise, copy this file to a diskette periodically. Cash for Kids Files ------------------- CFK.EXE Executable program file CFK.HLP Help file KIDSDATA.CFK Data file INSTALL.EXE Installation program file README.TXT Last minute document changes. MANUAL.TXT This document. All files are installed on your hard disk with the exception of INSTALL.EXE.