XBOOK README FILE

Thanks for downloading XBOOK version 1.3a.

The self-extracting XB13A.EXE file contains these files:
        README     - This very text
        BU.BAT     - The backup Batch file
        XBOOK.EXE  - The executable for 1.3a

The documentation is contained in the file XB13ADOC.EXE
available from the same source as XB13A.EXE.


UPDATING TO 1.3A

XBOOK continues to be self-updating. Just unzip the file you
downloaded by typing its name (without the extension) and copy it
to your working disk or directory.

This version adds two variables to your XBOOK.MEM file: your choice
of screen or printer for report output, and your choice of sequential
or random for check cancellation. XBOOK sets these values according
to its previous defaults if you choose not to change them.

You can change them by using the Defaults option under the File menu.
Just answer the two questions with a Y for Yes or an N for No.

If you can't remember what you've chosen, use the TYPE command from the
system prompt to look at your XBOOK.MEM file (A:TYPE XBOOK.MEM). A zero
following the option means the first choice was selected; a one means
the second choice was selected. Thus, Scr/Ptr: 0 means reports are going
to the screen.


If you are UPDATING TO 1.2 for the first time:

When you boot XBOOK, you'll notice in the ABOUT XBOOK window
(accessible from the HELP menu) you are using version 1.2.

But your Reports menu won't display an "Income Report" option. And your
Enter Deposit option won't display a category.

To enable the income categories and reports, you have to modify your
XBOOK.CAT file. Until now, it has only contained expense categories.

There are two ways to do this conveniently. The one you choose depends
on how comfortable you are with other Rainbow software.

Method One: Using XBOOK Only

    1. COPY XBOOK.CAT PRN
            This command prints your expense categories on your
            printer. Make sure you're printer is on before giving
            this command at the DOS prompt.
    2. DEL XBOOK.CAT
            This command erases the XBOOK.CAT file. Don't worry, though,
            because you have that printed copy of your expense categories.
    3. XBOOK
            At the DOS prompt, boot XBOOK. XBOOK will tell you it can't
            find your categories. It will ask you if you want to enter
            them now. Say YES by pressing Y. Then type each expense
            category from your printout. Press ESC (<F11>)when you're done.
            Then type each income category. Press ESC when you're done.

Method Two: Using An Editor

    1. Boot The Editor
            EDLIN, DED, or any word processory that can import and export
            an ASCII file is fine.
    2. Open XBOOK.CAT
            Some editors take the file as a command line argument. This is
            file to edit.
    3. Go To The Bottom
            You should see your last expense entry at the bottom of the file.
            And your cursor should be on the line just below it.
    4. Enter An Equals Sign, then press <RETURN>
            Put an equals sign (=) on a line by itself, just under your last
            expense categoy.
    5. Enter Income Categories
            One to a line, no spaces, 10 characters maximum. Make sure to
            end the last one with a <RETURN>.
    6. Save The File

Whichever method you use, your file should now look something like this:
        Auto
        Phone
        Rent
        Utilities
        Taxes
        =
        Salary
        Tips
        Lotto

Think of it as a sort of monetary verse where the categories above the equals
sign are intended to "equal" those below it, the supporting cast.

Version 1.2 uses a new indexing method that keeps your entries ordered by both
date and check numbers. You may delete your old .NDX (the smaller one).


REVISION HISTORY (in chronological order):

Among the changes in XBOOK version 1.0z:
   1) A Deduction entry (and cancellation) for those items which cost you
without your having to write a check for them (such as automatic payments from
your checking account).
   2) Searches now find the record if it is the last one (how embarrassing: a
record_number < total_records rather than <=!)
   3) An Uncanceleds report showing all uncanceled records in the Monthly
Statement format.
   4) Expense report headings positioned over the categories.
   5) Repair of the alternate but infinitely less pleasing spelling of
Canceled. Saved some bytes, too.
   6) All this at about 10K less.

XBOOK version 1.1a adds these new features:
   1) You may now press <ESC> to exit the record number search (and edit).
   2) Deductions can be made automatically by XBOOK.

XBOOK version 1.1b uses Code Base version 4.04, with improved keyboard
handling of illegal characters, enhanced list command (printing all records
now includes field names), but no new functions.

XBOOK version 1.1c features:
    1) Correction of a loop that included the first non-matching record
in the Expense reports for months and years. If the first record for March
was an expense, it would be included in the February graph. If your first
record for each month was typically a deposit, you would never notice the
problem.
    2) Entry template for the date was changed to DD MMM CCYY, so the
most likely to change characters (the day) come first. It may be an
acquired taste, but the efficiency is, for me, exhilarating.
    3) XBOOK retrieves the system date for your first entry of any kind,
but thereafter will remember the last entered date. If you're putting in
a week's worth of data, it will be easier to keep track of the data.
    4) The 45-day monthly report now suggests a date 45 days prior to
today or the last date you entered.

XBOOK version 1.1d features:
    1) A slightly more efficient algorithm for copying old records out
of the database. Write Archive runs about the same speed, but XBOOK shrinks
a bit.
    2) A revised Cancel auto-deductions module. If you had a number of
auto-deductions and displayed them with cancel menu, XBOOK would have freed
an incorrect location in memory. Normally this had no effect. If repeated
an unusual number of times, however, parts of the program may have been
disabled.
    3) Also, empty auto-deduct databases (what you get when you cancel
all your auto-deductions) returned to XBOOK without reselecting the
current data file. This has been corrected.
    4) The -0.00 error report in the Reconcile command has been fixed.
XBOOK was comparing a floating point zero to absolute zero. This fix
first appeared in the DECUS copy of 1.1c.
    5) Title window now displays current date.
    6) Expense & Income reports now display a total.

XBOOK version 1.1e features:
    1) A new index that keeps entries in order of date and check number.
    2) Calculator's double rule now appears with the standard character 
generator ROM.

XBOOK version 1.2 features:
    1) The addition of Income categories, if the XBOOK.CAT file has the
equals sign delimiter followed by income categories.
    2) Sequential check cancellation in the manual cancellation menu.
    3) Slight modification to printed reports (8.5 inch width, rather 
than the 8 inch width of previous versions; and dropped down one line
to fix mis-aligned headings on LA50s).
    4) Some screen text made more concise to reduce program size.
    5) Revised documentation.

XBOOK version 1.2b features:
    1) The addition of a Defaults option under the File menu, enabling
the user to choose whether reports go to the printer or screen, and 
whether Reconcile should use sequential or random check cancellation.
    2) The -0.00 error report in the Reconcile command has been fixed.
Again. We're assuming we had a syntax error preventing our clever previous
fix from being implemented.
    3) Code Base library changes: one long attribute was made short, and
CB-calculated menues no longer extend to the bottom of the screen, obscuring
messages. These changes do not affect users, since code worked around them.
    4) Well, another shot at -0.00 in Reconcile. This time, a whole new
technique. No longs. Doubles. Difference is calculated. An absolute of the
difference is evaluated. If it exceeds 0.009, an error is reported. The
error reported is the original difference, not the absolute value. This
did in fact eliminate the problem. March XBOOK version 1.2b only.

XBOOK version 1.3a features:
    1) You can access any particular "default" from the local menu it
affects. For example, you can change from screen output to printer output
from the Reports menu. The option is always last, so an UP arrow will take you
there immediately.
    2) New default: search direction. You can now tell XBOOK to search backward
for a check number, or description. Record numbers are instant, so there's
no point really. XBOOK saves your last direction. If you don't set the
direction, XBOOK uses forward (as it always has).
    3) Revised Reports. Monthly and Uncanceleds were rewritten but should
appear the same to you. Except that Uncanceleds now includes a total.
    The new structure allowed me to add two new reports:
        One is filtered by the description, and replaces the Individual expense
    report. You can now get a printout of all your DEPOSITS, or all your
    checks to Tower Records -- with a total at the end of the report.
        The other is filtered by category. You pick from a category menu
    of expense items followed by income items is presented for you to pick from
    (just as you do when you enter a check). You can now get a printout of all
    the checks your wrote for Taxes, or all the Interest payments your bank
    paid you -- also with a total.
    4) When you enter a Fee, XBOOK no longer puts "Bank Fee" in the category
field. It enters "BankFee". Spaces are illegal characters in categories.