*****************************************************************
-> This file introduces PERS-PLAN, explains how to get started 
   etc. It should be read by all first-time users.

-> The file has been supplied as an integral part of PERS-PLAN.     
   This is a personal financial planning software package developed 
   as a shareware package for use on a 'try-before-you-buy' basis 
   by Invest-Tech Limited. For contact details, see end of this file.

-> To print this file, type "PRINT README.TXT"
*****************************************************************

			      WELCOME
			      =======

PERS-PLAN (r3.3) is an easy-to-use software package for 
preparing a personal/household budget and cashflow projections
for twelve months ahead. It enables you to project your income 
and expenditure and to forecast monthly cashflows and end-month 
bank and credit card balances. Use PERS-PLAN to plan ahead
and save money !!!!!!!!

We have offered PERS-PLAN as shareware to encourage users to 
evaluate and to register it and maybe to also purchase some of our 
other financial planning software products for preparing financial 
projections for businesses. 

PERS-PLAN is NOT free software. It has been supplied on a "try-
before-you-buy" basis. If you continue to use PERS-PLAN after
a 30-day trial period, you must register with the author,
Invest-Tech. 

In return for registering, you will receive a copy of the latest 
release of PERS-PLAN with its printing and file options fully 
enabled, a spiral-bound 90-page manual incorporating tutorial 
exercises etc. You also gain access to full support etc. Full 
registration details are contained in the REGISTER.TXT file.

PERS-PLAN is fully protected by copyright. However, the shareware 
version may be copied in its entirety and without modification for 
FREE distribution to friends and, subject to the conditions set out
in the VENDINFO.DIZ file, by shareware libraries, BBSs etc.

	     Good luck with PERS-PLAN.

		  Brian Flanagan, Invest-Tech Limited 

*****************************************************************

		       FILE CONTENTS/INDEX
		       ===================

This file (README.TXT) covers the following topics in separate
sections below:

	A - Details of supplied files
	B - General introduction PERS-PLAN and related matters
	C - Guidance on how to run PERS-PLAN
	D - Explanation of shareware
	E - User Licence Agreement
	F - Software revisions

*****************************************************************

The supplied file VENDINFO.DIZ also contains important information.
It can be accessed by entering READ_ME.BAT at the DOS prompt.

*****************************************************************

		    A - SUPPLIED FILES
		    ==================

See VENDINFO.DIZ for a list of supplied files.

Before starting to use PERS-PLAN, we recommend that you review
this entire file either on-screen or, preferably, after printing
it. It includes brief instructions for loading PERS-PLAN which
should enable you to start using the package. 

Another supplied text file (MANUAL.TXT), explains, in much more 
detail, how to load and use PERS-PLAN. Because PERS-PLAN is
very intuitive and contains very extensive 'on-line' help, you
may only need to refer to this file on an occasional basis.
However, you may wish to print it at this stage in order to
have it readily accessible for future reference, or if you get
"stuck",  or need detailed guidance on a specific issue.

We have also included with PERS-PLAN a text file (MONEY.TXT)
which contains dozens of famous (and not so well-known)
quotations on the subject of "money". If you feel depressed
about your personal finances after using PERS-PLAN, you should
have a look at MONEY.TXT. It MIGHT cheer you up !! We welcome
further quotations for inclusion in the next release of 
PERS-PLAN. More seriously, have a look at Section 6.5 within
the manual text file (MANUAL.TXT) for some basic ideas on
utilising the output from PERS-PLAN to improve your financial
planning and/or position.

Other text files of note are as follows:
   
   PICPRT     About the PICprint graph printing utility
   REGISTER   Details and Form for registration
   ENTERASS   Detailed guidance on entering assumptions.

*****************************************************************

		  B - GENERAL INTRODUCTION
		  ========================

PERS-PLAN is an easy-to-use software package for preparing a
personal budget and cashflow projections for twelve months ahead.
It can be used to improve the management of your finances by
forecasting your income and expenditure. The resulting budget
can then be used to improve your financial planning & control
and, ultimately, to save yourself money. 

Based on your estimates and assumptions, PERS-PLAN compiles a
detailed and summary budget for twelve months ahead. It also 
produces reports analysing the budget and detailing all
your underlying assumptions on income and expenditure. 
PERS-PLAN incorporates facilities for graphing key results;
overwriting assumptions by actuals; undertaking 'what-if' 
analysis; and rolling-forward assumptions and projections one
month at a time.

PERS-PLAN is very suitable for users with limited or no
prior experience of computers as well as for more experienced
computer users who do not wish to go to the very considerable
trouble, or to waste valuable time, developing their own 
planning system on a spreadsheet. Bear in mind that PERS-PLAN
involved hundreds of hours of development and years of 
"know-how".

To run PERS-PLAN you need the following system:
 
 * Industry-standard PC with DOS 3.30 or higher and a hard disk,
   or dual 3.5" or 5.25" drives. 
 * Conventional memory of 640k. 
 * VGA, GCA, mono, Hercules or LCD display (or equivalent). 
 
A printer (dot-matrix, ink-jet or laser) is desirable. You can 
run PERS-PLAN as a DOS program within Windows (use the supplied
icon called PERSPLAN.ICO).

PERS-PLAN complements the very many personal financial packages
currently available in the market. Most of these are basically
household accounts systems with only very limited budgeting
facilities. To our best knowledge, very few of them have any
dynamic planning capabilities, similar to PERS-PLAN's. To 
produce any form of projections with most of these systems, 
you must first keep historic accounts. For many people, this is 
a pain in the ......  Most of us are much more interested in 
projecting our income/expenditure and making ends meet in the 
FUTURE, rather than in learning about the past ("water under 
the bridge", "closing the stable door after the horse has 
bolted" and that sort of thing).
 
Historic data is NOT required to use PERS-PLAN. However, if you 
do happen to keep household accounts (either manually or 
computer-based), past data on income and expenditure patterns 
etc. should help you make more accurate projections for the 
future.

Features
--------
PERS-PLAN's features include the following:

* Thirteen categories of income (salaries for one or two wage 
  earners, reimbursed work expenses, dividends, rent etc.).

* Facilities for handling salary deductions based on absolute
  amounts and simple percentages as well as different
  percentages related to bands and thresholds (as for PAYE 
  income tax) specified by the user. PERS-PLAN is not
  restricted to any particular tax system or currency.

* Seventeen main expenditure groups (household, car,
  accommodation etc.) incorporating over fifty subgroups
  which can be defined by a user. 

* Facilities for planning credit card expenditure and payments
  and for calculating interest on any outstanding balances.

* Current and deposit accounts with facilities for calculating
  interest on the basis of specified interest rates, handling
  accrued interest and specifying interest payment dates.

Help
----
PERS-PLAN is entirely menu-driven and incorporates very
comprehensive context-sensitive help facilities. These 
include extensive menu prompts, error trapping, on-line Help 
Pages, pop-up Hint & Guidance Windows, annotated variable 
descriptions and "drill-down" values. A very comprehensive 
manual is supplied as an accompanying text file (MANUAL.TXT).

Specification   
-------------
  Number of reports                               13  
  Number of graphed variables                     18  
  Approximate maximum number of user assumptions  1,100 
  Approximate total number of built-in formulae   1,700 

Registration
------------
The idea behind shareware is to allow a user to evaluate a 
software package at minimal cost - "try-before-you-buy". 

PERS-PLAN is NOT FREE software. If you decide that you would
like to retain and continue to use PERS-PLAN after a 30-day
trial period, you must register with Invest-Tech, the author
and copyright holder. 

In return for registering, a user is licensed to continue
using PERS-PLAN on one computer without any time limit and
receives a copy of the latest fully-operational version of 
PERS-PLAN with its 90-page spiral-bound printed manual 
(incorporating tutorial exercises etc.). You also gain access 
to full support.

If you prefer, you can remotely upgrade this shareware version of 
PERS-PLAN. Press U (for Upgrade) from PERS-PLAN's Main Menu
for details.

See the REGISTER.TXT file for further details and a Registration 
Form.

Invest-Tech Limited
-------------------
We are management consultants specialising in financial and
business planning software. Formed in 1983, Invest-Tech is a 
Registered Practice within the Institute of Management
Consultants in Ireland. Our banker is Bank of Ireland, 
Dublin, and our auditors are Deloitte & Touche, Dublin.

In addition to PERS-PLAN, our range of financial planning software 
includes the following commercial products:

BANK-PLAN: 12-month cashflow planner for micro- and small-
	   businesses. Runs 'stand-alone' and with similar
	   general structure to PERS-PLAN. Handles debtors,
	   VAT, creditors, expense payments etc. Price: 50 
	   pounds (sterling or Irish) excluding VAT (US$70).
	   These is a shareware version of BANK-PLAN. Look for 
	   a file called BANKP*.ZIP.

CASH-PLAN: 4-week + 11-month cashflow planner for small/medium
	   sized businesses, subsidiaries of large companies
	   and corporate cash planning. Runs 'stand-alone' and
	   with similar general structure to PERS-PLAN. More
	   powerful version of BANK-PLAN with additional
	   features and facilities. Price: 95 pounds (sterling 
	   or Irish) excluding VAT (US$150).

EASI-PLAN: A range of comprehensive and fully-integrated financial 
	   planners (P&Ls, cashflows, balance sheets, ratios etc.)      
	   covering 12-months plus 8 quarters. To our best                 
	   knowledge, no other package even remotely offers the 
	   same range of features or facilities for business and 
	   financial planning. Runs 'stand-alone' with similar 
	   general structure to PERS-PLAN. 
	   
	   A "MICRO" version for new and very small businesses (with 
	   annual sales of up to 250,000 pounds). Price: 45 
	   pounds (sterling or Irish) excluding VAT (US$70). 
	   
	   A "LITE" version for new and small businesses (with 
	   annual sales of up to 2 million pounds). Price: 75 
	   pounds (sterling or Irish) excluding VAT (US$120). 
	   
	   A "PRO" version for larger businesses and/or professional
	   advisers. Price: 145 pounds (sterling or Irish) excluding 
	   VAT (US$230).
	 
	   These are shareware versions of EASI-PLAN Micro, Lite and 
	   Pro. Look for files called EASI*.ZIP.

FIN-PLAN:  Wide range of comprehensive and fully-integrated
	   financial planners (P&Ls, cashflows, balance sheets,
	   ratios etc.) covering 12-months plus 8/16 quarters. 
	   Versions are available to run on Lotus 1-2-3 (any
	   release for DOS or Windows). 
	   Extensive menus with numerous features and facilities. 
	   Easily expanded by user. Price: 95 pounds (sterling or 
	   Irish) excluding VAT (US$150).

Comprehensive descriptions, specifications and 'demos' are
available for each of the foregoing products.

******************************************************************

		   C - HOW TO RUN PERS-PLAN 
		   ========================

Refer to Section 3 of the MANUAL.TXT text file for more detailed 
instructions if you run into any problems.

Note that you can run PERS-PLAN as a DOS program within Windows.

The following guidelines assume that you have already installed
(i.e. copied, unzipped, unarchived, uncompressed etc.) the
complete set of PERS-PLAN files onto a hard disk or a 3.5" disk. 

If PERS-PLAN has been installed onto a hard disk:
------------------------------------------------

     a) Get into the sub-directory where you have installed
	all PERS-PLAN's files. For example, if the sub-directory
	PERS was used, type "CD PERS" and press RETURN at the 
	DOS prompt.
    
     b) For general introductory information, type "GO".  If your
	PC uses a very old type of display, do not select this
	option - choose d) or e) below.
     
     or
     c) For guidance on the syntax for loading PERS-PLAN etc. 
	type "PP".
     
     or
     d) Type "PP MASTER" to load PERS-PLAN along with a set of
	specimen assumptions in a file called MASTER.ASS (Make 
	sure that there is a single space between "PP" and 
	"MASTER"). 

	By following the on-screen Hints and Guidance Notes and
	by accessing Help Notes and Help Pages, have a go at 
	building your first budget. Good luck !

If you are running PERS-PLAN from a 3.5" drive:
----------------------------------------------          

     a) Place the disk to which you have installed PERS-PLAN
	into a drive. If necessary, switch to that drive by
	typing the drive designation followed by a colon,
	e.g. "A:" and press RETURN.
     
     b) For general introductory information, type "GO".  If your
	PC uses a very old type of display, do not select this
	option - choose d) or e) below.
     
     or
     c) For guidance on the syntax for loading PERS-PLAN etc. 
	type "PP".
     
     or
     d) Type "PP MASTER" to load PERS-PLAN along with a set of
	specimen assumptions in a file called MASTER.ASS (Make 
	sure that there is a single space between "PP" and 
	"MASTER"). 

By following the on-screen Hints and Guidance Notes and
by accessing Help Notes and Help Pages, have a go at 
building your first budget. Good luck !

Running PERS-PLAN through Windows
---------------------------------
To set up PERS-PLAN to run within Windows, install it using the DOS
commands etc. before you load Windows.

Next, run the Windows Program Manager and proceed as follows:

  1. Select the Applications Group which you want to contain PERS-PLAN.
  2. Select File and New options from the Program Manager's menu.
  3. When the New Program Object box appears, select Program Item
     and OK.
  4. When the Program Item Properties box appears, proceed as
     follows:

     - Type "PERS-PLAN" as the Description.
     - Type "C:\PERS\PP X" as the Command Line. Make sure you enter
       a single space between PP and X. This command assumes that
       PERS-PLAN has been installed to the PERS sub-directory on
       a hard disk called C.
     - Enter "C:\PERS" as the Working Directory.
     - Select Change Icon and select OK when the Change Icon message
       box appears.
     - When the next Change Icon box appears, enter
       "C:\PERS\PERSPLAN.ICO" as the File Name and select OK.
     - Once you return to the Program Item Properties box select
       OK twice to complete installation.

To run PERS-PLAN within Windows, double-click on its icon and wait while
it loads. Press RETURN to ignore the 'File does not exist' message and
then use the cursor keys and RETURN to select the desired *.ASS file in
response to the instruction 'Enter Data File Name" which appears at the
top of the screen. If more than five such data files exist, press the F3
Function Key to display them in a larger window.

***** WATCH OUT ****

If you try to display graphs when running PERS-PLAN in a DOS Window (i.e.
less than full screen) when running in Enhanced Mode, the graphs may not
show and the display may lock. To unlock it, return to a full DOS screen
by pressing ALT+RETURN. Always use a DOS full screen when displaying
PERS-PLAN graphs.

Using a LCD display
-------------------
If you are running PERS-PLAN on a portable PC with a LCD display, you
will probably need to change PERS-PLAN's video setting once it has loaded
in order to clearly distinguish the rectangular cursor which appears when
you are viewing reports on the screen. To do this, press I (for
Initialise) at the Main Menu, V (for Video) and L (for LCD/B&W). The
Manual explains how to make these changes permanent.

Other Information
-----------------
The following text files contain more detailed information about
PERS-PLAN etc.:

  Register.txt     -   Registration details, form etc.
  Picprt.txt       -   Manual for the PICPRT graph printing utility
  Money.txt        -   Numerous quotations about money
  Manual.txt       -   Comprehensive manual
  Enterass.txt     -   Guidance on entering assumptions

To read a text file:
  
    - Enter "TYPE *.TXT|MORE"
    *or*
    - Use DOS Edit or Windows Notepad.

****************************************************************

		    D - WHAT IS SHAREWARE ?
		    =======================

"Shareware" is a method of software distribution designed to
give users a chance to test a package before purchase at a very
competitive price. Copyright rules apply to shareware and the
authors retain all the rights except as indicated in their licence
agreements. As you will see from PERS-PLAN, shareware does not 
signify cheap (in the nasty sense) or poor quality software.

*****************************************************************
	
		   E - USER LICENCE AGREEMENT
		   ==========================

See VENDINFO.DIZ.

*****************************************************************

		  F - SOFTWARE REVISIONS
		  ======================

r3.0   20th-June-1995
---------------------
First shareware release of PERS-PLAN. 

Enhancements since r2.0 and r2.1 of PERS-PLAN include the provision 
of additional rows for income and expenditure and a facility to 
suppress the printing of rows containing zero values. An utility 
for customising the printing of graphs has been provided.

r3.3  15th October 1995
-----------------------
Minor changes. Addition of info on Web site etc.

*****************************************************************
PERS-PLAN (c) Copyright Invest-Tech Limited 1992-95   
All Rights Reserved     

    Invest-Tech Limited  
    27 Ardmeen Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
    
    Irish Tel: 01-283 4083      UK Tel: 01232-315454
      (Call 9 to 9 weekdays and 10 to 6 weekends - GMT/BST)  
    Fax: 278 2391 
      Fax codes: Irish:01-  UK:00-353-1-  Inter'l:+353-1-
    
    CompuServe:    100606,2665
    Internet:      brianf@iol.ie
    WWW Site URL:  http://www.planware.ie/resource/planware

*****************************************************************
	   To print this file, type "PRINT README.TXT"
	    
	       *** End of README.TXT file ***

