PC User Log Copyright 1984 John MacEntyre Allen Page 1



PC USER LOG:
USER SUPPORTED TAX LOG PROGRAM

COPYRIGHT 1984 by John MacEntyre Allen
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

We recommend that you read this document in order to gain some
insight into the organization of the database, as well as obtaining
tips on operation. YOU SHOULD ALSO MAKE BACKUP COPIES OF ALL FILES ON
THE PC User Log DISKETTE AND YOU SHOULD PLACE A "WRITE-PROTECT" TAB
ON IT.

PC User Log is a utility for maintaining a log of the use of your IBM
Personal Computer. It creates a data base using the file format of
PC-File III, a general purpose "Data Base Manager" program written and
distributed by Jim Button under the "user-supported software" concept.
Together with PC-File III (or earlier versions), the PC User Log provides
the IBM PC user with a versatile tool for complying with the 1985 tax
rules requiring a contemporaneous record of computer use.

To use PC User Log with floppy drives, it is best to keep a separate disk
with all of the PC User Log files on it. The files used by PC User Log
are:

USELOG.HDR PC-File header file defining the database
USELOG.RPT PC-File report file for listing database
USELOG.DTA will be created by PC Use Log to hold data
USELOG.INX will be created by PC-File when you SORT the data
DEFAULTS.COM Creates the file DEFAULTS.LOG
DEFAULTS.LOG Holds default User Name & Description,
and the starting date & time of use
STARTLOG.COM Writes date & time to DEFAULTS.LOG
STOPLOG.COM Reads DEFAULTS.LOG, calculates duration
& writes new record to PC-File database
PCUSELOG.DOC This file, with instructions and invoice

For those intuitive individuals who already know enough to put PC User
Log to work, here are the quickest instructions:

1) Run DEFAULTS.COM to enter your most likely user name and description.
2) Before using an application run STARTLOG.COM, then
3) after using the application run STOPLOG.COM.
4) Always SORT the data first when you use PC-File, to make the index.

That's all there is to it!











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The .HDR, .DTA and .INX files are the PC-File data base files. The .DTA
file will be created by STOPLOG.COM the first time it is run, but
it must be present each subsequent time that STOPLOG.COM is run, or it
will be created again. If that happens, just rename one and
MERGE them using the directions in the PC-File utilities documentation.
The HDR file is used only by PC-File when reading the data.

Always remember to SORT the database every time you use PC-File so that
the index file will be created.

The file DEFAULTS.LOG will be created by the program the first time that
DEFAULTS.COM is run. It contains the default user name, machine, use
code and description, as well as the starting time and date (if
STARTLOG.COM has been executed). STOPLOG.COM reads DEFAULTS.LOG before
calculating the duration and writing the new record to USELOG.DTA.
DEFAULTS.LOG must be present in order to use PC User Log. Execute
DEFAULTS.COM when you first use PC User Log, or any time you wish to
change the default User Name or Description.

STARTLOG.COM and STOPLOG.COM are the programs that you will use to record
your computer usage. STARTLOG.COM gets the system date and time, then
writes them to DEFAULTS.LOG, which already contains the default user name
and description. STOPLOG.COM reads DEFAULTS.LOG, calculates the time
elapsed since you executed STARTLOG.COM and allows you to edit the new
record before it updates USELOG.DTA and USELOG.INX. STOPLOG.COM will
also allow you to abort without updating the data files.

STOPLOG.COM and DEFAULTS.COM use a full screen form to display the data
record for you to edit. They both use two lines of the screen to show
you a menu: "Save Edit Abort" on the top line and a description of the
highlighted choice on the second line, as in Lotus 123 and Microsoft Word.
This menu is easy to use; the arrow keys control the cursor to mark the
highlighted choice and display a new descriptor. Press the first letter
of a choice to activate it, or move the cursor to it and press "Return".
When editing the record, use the arrow keys to move from one entry to the
next. When you press a key to begin changing an entry, the entire entry
will be erased before your new keystrokes will appear. If you press
"ESC" while you are editing a field, the previous value will be entered
again. Pressing "Return" enters the new data and takes you to the next
field. If you press "ESC" while moving the cursor from field to field,
the menu will appear again.

To use PC User Log with a hard disk, just remember that it expects to
find the necessary files in the logged directory.











PC User Log Copyright 1984 John MacEntyre Allen Page 3




COPYRIGHT AND COPY PERMISSION

PC User Log is NOT a public domain program. It is Copyright 1984 by
John MacEntyre Allen. Your permission to copy this program is similar
to the arrangement with PC-File.

Users of this program are encouraged to send $10 to the author if they
find the program suitable to their needs. Customizing is possible; mail
your requests to the author.

Individuals are granted permission to copy this program for their own use
and for others to evaluate, so long as no price or other consideration is
charged and no changes are made in the documentatin or program.

Computer clubs are granted permission to copy this program and share it
with their members as long as the no price is charged beyond a $6
distribution cost and no changes are made in the documentatin or program.



PC-FILE: GENERAL INFORMATION.

In order to use the PC User Log database most effectively, we recommend
using PC-File III, although earlier versions will work almost as well.
One can obtain a copy of PC-File III directly from Jim Button by sending
a $45 check to:

Jim Button
P.O. Box 5786
Bellevue, WA 98006

[MasterCharge and Visa are accepted (telephone: (206) 746-4296)].
The remainder of this documentation assumes that you are reasonably
familiar with one of the versions of PC-File. [If not, then at
least study "LISTING THE RECORDS" from the PC-FILE USERS GUIDE before
proceeding any further]. The data base has already been DEFINED for you.


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For those of you who want to initiate payment through your company
accounting system, or wish to have an invoice for tax purposes, the
following invoice is provided.
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PC User Log Copyright 1984 John MacEntyre Allen Page 4








-------------------
INVOICE
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Purchased from: John MacEntyre Allen
The PC User Log
6201 N. 10th St. #218
Philadel[hia, PA 19141




DATE: / / Invoice No. 8412-001
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PRODUCT QTY EACH TOTAL
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The PC User Log database 1 $10 $10 *



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PLEASE PAY THIS AMOUNT => $10 *
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* $15 if we provided diskettes,
mailer, and postage.


+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Please make check payable to: John MacEntyre Allen |
+-----------------------------------------------------+



Note: You may retain this Invoice for your tax records.