checkbook register or like that for other money accounts?

[jarych]

I wonder if anyone in JB or LB community tried or did write a checkbook register program, and for keeping files to work with the program, did person choose to work with random-access files, or with sequential files, and any other comments about such checkbook software.  

I have been away from JB/LB programming recreation for a long while now.  I tried a couple of times to work with a spreadsheet program to make use of a file AS a check register program alhtough since creating that, I have not used it more than once.  I found working with spreadsheet programs for this was difficult.  An online web search also showed some already available checkbook type program, and a few of them look good and may be simple enough for what I myself would want but most if not all are try-before-you-buy in nature.  Found also were much fancier and far more sophisticated programs which do more than just operate as checkbook recording and accountment.

[Rod]

Seems like an archaic task. Don’t know when my bank last issued me a cheque or even if they would do now. It’s all online, immediately accessible and they are very proactive in telling me what is happening.

That said it would be easy to write a cheque register program. But who don’t you trust? The bank to get the cheques right, the payees or yourself in recording them?

More importantly if the issued cheque is not processed what does your cheque reconciliation program tell you? Not much. Seems a pointless exercise to me but you might educate and convince me.

[jarych]

Jun 23, 2022 17:53:45 GMT Rod said:

Seems like an archaic task. Don’t know when my bank last issued me a cheque or even if they would do now. It’s all online, immediately accessible and they are very proactive in telling me what is happening.

That said it would be easy to write a cheque register program. But who don’t you trust? The bank to get the cheques right, the payees or yourself in recording them?

More importantly if the issued cheque is not processed what does your cheque reconciliation program tell you? Not much. Seems a pointless exercise to me but you might educate and convince me.

People still use checking accounts.  People still write checks.  Those who use, even if they write few or much fewer checks than in the past, still need to make records of what they are doing.  Person can't always go online and sign-in for everything.  Person needs to make some record of withdrawels, payments (regardless of by check, by online, by debit card at a retail pay station), and deposits.  A checkbook register booklet is still and been the traditional way to track what is happening each day that something is or was done.  ONLINE?  No.  for me, that ain't happening.  Bank sends a statement every month.  I willn't wait for a statement. No wish to call the bank to find out; no wish to visit a local branch to find out.   I make a record in the booklet so I know what my balance is NOW.  The idea for making a SIMPLE checkbook program is to make the record-keeping a little easier on the account-holder's end.  These days, I still write a small number of checks during the year but most of what I do is debit card, online interacting with a payment system to a retail, or ATM device in visiting a real physical place of purchase.  

Creating & writing a checkbook program would be a big job for me, because this would mean relearning how to work with variables and the handling of variables, and relearning of at least sequential files, if not trying random access files.  None of this has ever been easy for me.  Also possibly need to relearn how to use FreeForm.  I forgot how all of this stuff works.  About 3 years ago was the last time that I developed a program(writing code in JustBASIC and designing all the parts and flow of a program).  

[Rod]

Ok, if you want to proceed it will be a good learning exercise and it is a relatively simple process. Not found any examples on the forum. I do recall one member creating such a program but it was a long time ago.

Having worked with cheques in a bank my advice is keep it real simple. You need a transaction file, held out on disc as a RAF. The transaction needs a date, what type of transaction it is, description, an amount and that’s about it. The RAF needs to be kept in date or transaction order.

Start simply, create a few dummy transactions and play around till you can list them in date segments and calculate the balance. You will want to calculate the balance going backwards from the current balance and you probably want to keep statement date balances.

Keep the core of it really simple and build that first. Editing old transactions or deleting old transactions can make it all seem complicated.

There is a simple database example on the LBPE to look at.

libertybasiccom.proboards.com/thread/878/simple-contacts-database

There are lots of small database examples in the files archive, have a browse and a play.

[plus]

I use an extremely simple little program to check my checkbook when the monthly Bank Statement arrives.
Looks like I've been using it for almost 5 years! Look ma, no Data basing or RA Files, just a lowly txt file run in any editor that recognizes CR + LF, chr$(13) + chr$(10), line delimiters including Just Basic's.

'checking balance help 2017-10-10

cur$ = "-#####.##"
DIM r$(1000)
itop = 0
OPEN "2022 check book.txt" FOR INPUT AS #1
WHILE not(EOF(#1))
   LINE INPUT #1, fline$
   itop = itop + 1
   r$(itop) = fline$
WEND
CLOSE #1

FOR i = 0 TO itop
   balance = balance + val(r$(i))
   PRINT using (cur$, balance);
   PRINT SPACE$(10); r$(i)
NEXT



The first thing I do is enter all my checkbook entries into my Checking Book file for month in the currently, "2022 check book.txt" file.
All Dollar amounts go first in the line (if line is not just comments about bank balance, checks out,...)
I put a ' single quote comment before the $ amount for starters, I uncomment those lines when I see the bank has processed the check to track which checks are still out and not counted in bank statement.

To start year, and txt file:
1. I list all outstanding checks still not processed by bank, they still have comment to start line
2. The balance that matched the last bank statement closing balance (no comment for actual amount matching bank).

Then as I said I enter the months checks and other deposits or bank charges (minuses like then checks)
'-84.27 ck 8674 Illuminating Company payment mailed 1/19
'-102.00 ck 8675 Gas Company 1/20
'50000.00 deposit lottery winnings
...

Then when I go through statement, I uncomment all items the bank has processed, add lines I missed but bank didn't like SS check deposit or autopay maintenance fee. I also uncomment checks from previous month that bank finally processed.
-84.27 ck 8674 Illuminating Company payment mailed 1/19
-102.00 ck 8675 Gas Company 1/20
'50000.00 deposit lottery winnings, oops didn't happen yet!

Then I run the file in the bas program and check the bank's balance with what the program shows.
It shows the balance as the very first number before even the amounts as a running balance even through lines of comments. The final balance should match the banks and only difference to check book balance is checks still out not processed by bank yet.

So this program helps me spot my typo's and missed items, same as what bank statement does, and saves me from having to add and subtract all the items over and over to get things squared up.

The big trick in this is:
balance = balance + val(r$(i))

r$(i) is one line in the check book file with the amount starting the line.
So when I get the val(r$(i)) JB reads that line as number until non numeric character is encountered.
If the line started with a letter or a ' then val(r$(i)) = 0 and the balance would just be repeated as the line above.

The other trick is the bank knows I didn't win no dang lottery so the amount stays 0, ticked off with comment character. LOL