The Startup screen is the window that appears on your screen when you first open the ABC Client. It can also be accessed at any time by clicking on Utilities and then System Date and Time. To reach the Startup screen by hot key, press F10 and then Shift+8.
The Startup/System Date and Time screen advises you of basic software information such as:
1. Which ABC Accounting version you are running
2. Copyright date
3. Release date
4. Build date
Second, the system time and date are set here. You can change the ABC program time and/or date by changing it in the Time and Date fields here. However, beware. Changing the time automatically changes your computer’s time as well. And changing the date could change your computer system’s date, unless you choose that the change should be temporary. For further information on these changes, press F1 when you cursor is on the field in question.
Third, if you run multiple companies, you may click on the Alt+C link to choose alternate company records.
Lastly, there is the option to use a variety of user names with or without passwords. This option is used to customize the program and its uses for a variety of users.
Helps Accessed From the Startup/System Time and Date (*) Screen
F10—Selection Screen
Shift+F10—goes to the Menu Bar.
Alt+F4—exit ABC
Tools Help (*)
Alt+C—switches to an alternate Company’s data, allowing terminals to share data for more than a single company or business. Each application is specially programmed.
Shift+F3—brings up an accountant's* calculator when your press it the first time. The second time you press it, the final calculations showing are entered into the field the cursor was on.
+ adds or totals - subtracts / divides
* multiplies ) clears ( exits calculator
= totals or equals
*If you are not familiar with an accountant’s calculator, you may want to take a little time to familiarize yourself with the differences in usage here. Figures are entered as positive or negative: i.e. 100+50-75= would be entered as 100+; 50+; 75- The answer calculates each time you press the positive or negative sign. The = sign or Enter key seldom need be used unless you are multiplying or dividing.
Date (*.508)
The date may be changed on the System Time and Date/Startup (*) screen.
When you make a change in the date on the ABC program, you will be requested to confirm your action. If you choose Yes, you will further be asked whether this is a temporary date change. If you choose Yes for a temporary date change, the ABC program date will be changed but not the computer date. The next time you access the System Time and Date/Startup (*) screen, the computer automatically returns the ABC program date to what it was. If you choose to answer No on the temporary date change inquiry, indicating that this change is Not temporary, ABC program’s date as well as your computer’s date changes permanently.
(Most common uses of this feature are to back-date checks received or to finish off a month’s accounting procedures during the first few days of the following month.)
If the date you enter is in a different month from the date previously entered, the program will ask for a password. Entering PASS will allow you to continue, unless some other password has been set up by your administrator.
Do not skip months, or you may cause discrepancies in your data.
System Time (*.1006)
When you make a change in the time on the ABC program, you will be requested to confirm your action. If you choose Yes, the ABC program time will change as well the time for your computer.
User Name (*.1013)
This field can be left blank to make the ABC Accounting program equally accessible to all users. Or you may set up separate user identities so that each user will need to log in before using the program. The individual users can have their own password and display options as well as specific restrictions in how the program will be used by them. To set these up, please contact your ABC Accounting representative.