ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN LIMA NEWSLETTER MAY 1987.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN AND AVAILABLE FROM
THE LIMA USER GROUP
 
                CHECKBOOK WRITER ver 4.41 
 
                    by MELVIN NOMINA 
 
                   Lima Ohio User Group
 
    Here is the latest version of my checkwriter program
with many enhancements over proviously published versions.
In case you havn't used this program before, it may be the
only checkbook program that actually SAVES YOU TIME.  The
program prints checks and stores check data on a disk file
for later retreval and/or editing.  All you do is type in
the data for each check (date, payee, dollar amount, etc)
and the computer then prints a check stub and prompts you
to insert a check in your Star-Epson compatable printer.
You can use ordinary sized bank checks and slip them behind
the print head and over the paper already in the printer.
Lowering the paper bail bar over the check holds it in
position.  Pressing ENTER then prints the data directly
onto the check.  This program will also support large 8x11
checks with sprocket holes that feed through the printer
like fan fold paper.  These large checks are available from
most banks on special order. 
 
    This new version of Checkbook Writer comes in two
parts, the Checkbook Writer program itself, and a linked
program called RECONCILE which is used to reconcile bank
statements.  Both programs should be placed on the same
disk and named LOAD and RECONCILE respectively and used in
DSK1.  To change to another drive number see line 25.  The
two programs will keep track of 4 different accounts, all
from the same two programs and all on the same SS/SD disk.
A D/V 80 file named CHECKBOOKx is created for each of the
four accounts.  These files show the following information
for every check or deposit written on the account: check
number, date, written for, deposit amount, payee, check
amount, has check cleared bank, and account balance after
the particular check or deposit.  The CHECKBOOKx files can
be read and if necessary edited with TI-Writer. 
 
    Checkwriter V4.41 has the following features not
present on the earlier verison published in the Feb 87
issue of BITS BYTES and PIXELS:  
1.  The program looks to see if the necessary data files
are present.  If not present, these data files are
automatically generated on the disk as needed.  No user
intervention is needed for the automatic creation of these
files.  
2.  A window calculator has been added so +-/* calculations
can be done manually from within the program.  The program,
automatically keeps continuous track of account balances. 
3.  A "Memo" of up to 28 characters can now be printed
directly onto the lower right part of the check, such as
"for VISA account 3333333333".  The memo size is larger
than the "For" data (only up to 8 characters) which is
retained in the CHECKBOOKx file for every check
transaction. 
3.  Several minor bugs have been fixed, and the display of
the checkwriting menu (the third menu) has been improved. 
 
    When your bank statement arrives, load the RECONCILE
program.  This can be loaded by name, or from the
"Reconcile statement" option of the first Checkbook Writer
menu.  The RECONCILE program searches the CHECKBOOKx file
of written checks for any that have not yet been checked
off.  These are listed on the screen and you type in the
record number (same as the TI-Writer line number) of those
checks and deposits listed on the bank statement.  These
are then read back into CHECKBOOKx file flaged as having
been cleared by the bank. From RECONCILE you can also
generate on a printer a complete listing of CHECKBOOKx and
a summary of your outstanding checks and bank balance.  The
RECONCILE program provides a very easy way to reconcile and
balance your checking accounts.  After reconciliation, you
have the option of loading Checkbok Writer or exiting to
extended basic.  
 
    If you have used an earlier version of Checkbook Writer
and your data files seem to be incompatable, the problem
may be a null string (blank line) at the beginning of each
file.  Load your checkwriter data files (CHECKBOOKx,
BKBBOOKx, BKNBOOKx, and PRI-SET) with TI-Writer and delete
the first blank line, if it is present.  All BKBBOOKx
BKNBOOKx and the PRI-SET file used in this version 4.41
have a null string (blank line) as the second record of the
file.  This empty second record makes Checkbook Writer
fully compatable with Horizon Ramdisks.  The operating
system of these ramdisks has trouble with single record
VARIABLE files that are overwritten again and again.  If
you are using BKBBOOKx BKNBOOKx and PRI-SET files from a
previous version of Checkbook Writer, you may have to add
this empty second record (line) with TI-Writer in order to
make them compatable with this new version.  You could, of
course, let ver 4.41 automatically create its own data
files from scratch. 
 
    These two programs are fairly easy to use.  Each is
menu driven, and each has an instruction subprogram that
can be read at any time.  I hope you like them.  I think
they really do save time compared to hand writing checks
and using a calculator to figure out balances.  These
programs are for poor people.  The cost is low (free)
since I am placing them in the public domain.  However,
$9999.99 is the largest amount that you can write a check
for or deposit at one time.  If you need to write larger
checks, than you can probably afford to pay for the
required software.