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Pc Mars Plus Version 2.1

PC MARS PLUS for Windows (Version 2.1) is now available. If you are wanting more from your Pc Mars, check out Pc Mars Plus. This enhancement will add complete inventory tracking, enterprise allocation, field production tracking, and livestock production data. See Pc Mars Plus page for details.  A list of improvements/enhancements in version 2.1 is found here.

Upgrade to Version 2.1 of Pc Mars for Windows (full)

Pc Mars for Windows (full) version 2.1 upgrade in now available. Many improvements and enhancements have been made. A list of improvements/enhancements can be found on the Pc Mars for Windows (full) page.

Upgrade to version 2.7 of PC MARS

PC MARS version 2.7 is now available for all versions. A brief list of the improvements/enhancements in version 2.7 can be found on the PC MARS page.

Accounts Receivable for Windows 1.0 now available

Pc Mars Accounts Receivable for Windows 1.0 is now available. It included the features of the DOS version with the added capabilities of the Windows platform. See Pc Mars Accounts Receivable for Windows 1.0 page for details.

*** Extra, Extra, Read All About It ***

News That Is Too Current To Be In The PC MARS for Windows Owner's Manual

We just had to get the owner's manual to the printer and quit revising it. Since then, more things have happened. This information is for your assistance and ours. The phone is quite busy with new users getting accustomed to the program. This is the largest thing we have ever done. The first Pc Mars program (in January 1986) started slowly with less than 100 users the first year. News of our program eventually got spread around. Thus our customer base was built slowly over a period of years. This is the first completely re-written PC accounting program we have had since that time.

Accounting Period

Windows Full Version has an "option" of direct control over "periods". With this option, you can force each transaction to a particular "period" while entering data. You can change the period by using the "Reconcile / change Period" option. What you cannot do is have very many reports sort by the period instead of the date on the transaction. Reporting by "period" is only available with the Check Register and the Bank and Loan Balance Report.

The "Period" option was designed to assist users with balancing the checkbook with the bank statement, and not to control the month breaks on the balance sheet and other key reports. We can see the value in this for some users and might incorporate this option in the future.

If full control of "periods" is important to you, adjust the dates on the transactions that are "out-of-period" to the "period" you want it in. For example, if you have a carry-over check written 4/29/98, use the date 5/1/98. If you are doing this, unmark the "direct control" option; you don't need it. It might just cause more confusion than it prevents.

Accounting Periods and Fiscal Years

It might be pointed out that "Periods" are not the same as months. With the MS DOS version of Pc Mars, the number was the same as the month. For example, we called it accounting month, and 6 was always the same as June. With the Windows version, it is a "period". Period one is January IF you are on a calendar year. IF you are on a fiscal year, then period 1 is the first month of your accounting (fiscal) year. For example if your fiscal year starts July 1, then July is period one (1), August is period two (2) and so on. Pc Mars for Windows automatically marks the transactions according to the date entered; June=1, July=2, August=3. When you ask for a check register, use the period for the time-frame you want to see. Remember that you can adjust the period assigned to each transaction by using "Transactions -- Reconcile / Change Period". Normal editing of the transaction while a different period is active does not change the period assigned to the transaction. It keeps the original period assignment unless changed by the .... "Change Period" function

Converting from Lite to Full

The file format is quite similar between these two programs. Windows Full will add the extra data files to create a complete "full" set of books from the data created by the Lite version. The trick is to find the data files. Pc Mars for Windows, Lite Version 1.0 arranges things as follows: DATA ==> C:\Progra~1\Pcmwin\books.97 --- where books 1997 was the data location.

Pc Mars for Windows Full Version 1.0 arranges this as follows: DATA ==> C:\Progra~1\PcmwinF\books.97 --- where books 1997 was the data location.

Use Windows Explorer to drag and drop the files where they belong. MS DOS commands work just as well, and we can include them here without taking 4 pages of explanations. At the C prompt please type: Copy \Progra~1\Pcmwin\Books.97 C:\Progra~1\PcmiwnF\Books.97\*.*

Note the tilde ~ is used for long names and "Program Files" is a long name. The true DOS name is Progra~1.

Converting from Demo to Regular

If you had the demo version of Pc Mars for Windows, you must uninstall it first BEFORE installing the Regular version. Either that, or don't uninstall it at all. Deleting the demo also zaps the IDAPI files needed by all Windows versions of Pc Mars. If you did this, simply install the regular version again. That also places IDAPI back on the hard disk.

HAVING TROUBLE With "Advanced File Management"?

"Advanced File Management" provides a lot of flexibility for file locations resulting in things getting royally messed up. Most callers with this problem did not and do not need to be using this feature. Until you are quite familiar with file arrangements, stay out of here. You can get a lots of files where they do not belong. If you don't thoroughly understand directories and file hierarchy, you are asking for trouble.

Back Ups

A few users have been backing up to the hard disk when they thought they were backing up to a floppy disk.(3.5" or 5.25").

When you tell Pc Mars for Windows that you want to back up, it displays the FROM and IN places. Make sure that you have a:\ for the right side of the screen answer. If it says C:\Progra~1\PcmwinF or C anything, it is going to back up to the hard disk. Pc Mars for Windows already has an additional feature of keeping a duplicate set of data on the hard disk. It is usually pointless to back up to the hard disk again. Unless you have an unusual setup, only A and B are floppy disks. A and B are where you should be backing up.

Fonts

Pc Mars for Windows uses certain fonts that you should have within your Windows System. If the screens(s) have goofy letters in them, it probably is a result of a non-standard font setup on your computer. For example, we need SSERIFE.FON for certain displays. If that font is missing, then Windows makes a guess at substitution. It may miss the mark and find Cyrillic or Greek (who knows). Try reinstalling Windows if that is the case.

Screen Settings and Large Fonts

If you are running your Windows 9X system on other than 640 by 480 pixels, you may run into trouble viewing the entry screens as you may wish. If you have Windows 9X set at 800 by 600 or 768 by 1024, then be sure you specify small fonts. The "large fonts" setting in combination with the higher pixel numbers(s) just does not work the best.

Adding Pc Mars to the Task Bar

If you are planning to add Pc Mars to the task bar menu system, check out page S-2 of the manual. Here it explains how to do it. BUT, we should have been more specific about the "\Program Files" subdirectory. "Program Files" is what is called a long file name, and cannot be addressed directly by typing "Program Files". Instead, you have to use DOS shorthand. The command line is as follows: C:\PROGRA~1\PCMWINF\PCMARS.EXE

Notice that between the A and the 1 is the tilde ~ . It is located just left of the number 1 key in the number row. Don't ask us why Microsoft did it that way, they just did.

This page last updated on 2/22/07