





















                            
                            PC-FLORIST version 2.0
                               
                                July 29, 1995

                          Professional Product Costing

                               For Flower Shops    

                                 User's Guide
                                   

                                                                     Page 2
                               Acknowledgements     
                               
IBM, IBM-AT, IBM 286 AND PC-DOS are trademarks of the International Business 
Machines Corporation.

MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.



                              LIMITED WARRANTY

THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION ONLY, ON AN "AS IS"
BASIS.  SCHRECK SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS
SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. NEITHER SCHRECK SOFTWARE NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED
IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE
FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR OTHER DAMAGES
ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE, EVEN IF SCHRECK
SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS.
THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE RESULTS, QUALITY
AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.  THE USER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR
TESTING THE SOFTWARE WITH HIS/HER DATA FOR REASONABLENESS AND ACCURACY OF
RESULT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL SCHRECK SOFTWARES' LIABILITY EVER EXCEED ANY
PRICE PAID, DIRECTLY TO SCHRECK SOFTWARE, FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE
SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE CLAIM.  YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS
WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota
and shall inure to the benefit of SCHRECK SOFTWARE and any successors,
administrators, heirs and assigns. Any action or proceeding brought by
either party against the other arising out of or related to this
agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent
jurisdiction located in Washington County, Minnesota. The parties hereby
consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts. If any provision of
this agreement is found void, invalid or unenforceable, it will not
affect the validity of the balance of the agreement.


                                                                     Page 3

                         30 DAY EVALUATION LICENSE

Use of this product (PC-FLORIST software) constitues your acceptance of
these terms and conditions and your agreement to abide by them.

PC-FLORIST is NOT a public domain program.  It is copyrighted by LEE SCHRECK.  
This software and accompanying documentation are protected by United States 
copyright law and also by international treaty provisions.

SCHRECK SOFTWARE grants you a limited license to use this software for 
evaluation purposes for a period not to exceed thirty days.  If you continue 
using this software after the thirty-day evaluation period, you MUST make 
the registration payment to SCHRECK SOFTWARE.

You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, 
otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer this evaluation program except as 
provided in this agreement.  Any such unauthorized use shall result in 
immediate and automatic termination of this license.  All rights not expressly 
granted here are reserved to SCHRECK SOFTWARE.

ASP MEMBER BBS SYSTEMS may distribute this shareware version of PC-FLORIST, 
completely unaltered, without further permission.  For other distribution you 
must consult the data record in the VENDINFO.DIZ file, which is hereby 
incorporated by reference.  Any distribution satisfying all the distribution 
requirements expressed in that data record is hereby authorized.

Permission to distribute the PC-FLORIST package is not transferable, 
assignable, saleable, or franchisable.  Each vendor wishing to distribute the 
package must independently satisfy the terms of this limited distribution 
license.

U.S. Government Information:  Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. 
Government of the computer software and documentation in this package shall 
be subject to the restricted rights applicable to commercial computer software 
as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and
Computer Software clause at 252.227-7013 (DFARS 52.227-7013).  The 
Contractor/manufacturer is SCHRECK SOFTWARE, 1420 Interlachen Circle, 
Woodbury MN  55125.  SCHRECK SOFTWARE may revoke any permissions granted here, 
by notifying you in writing.  All rights not expressly granted here are 
reserved to SCHRECK SOFTWARE.


                                                                     Page 4
                               PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PC-FLORIST was developed as an easy to use Product Costing System for flower
shops.  If you hate the learning curve of most software packages, you will
love PC-FLORIST.  

With PC-FLORIST you will no longer manually calculate product cost each time
input costs change.  Just compare invoice prices with the stock item
listing in PC-FLORIST, edit any prices that have changed, and PC-FLORIST will
instantly update all calculations throughout!  PC-FLORIST is very easy to use!

Although developed to calculate materials cost, you might also include direct  
labor, supplies, or other overhead as "stock items."  Just remember that any
costs not included in your defined product cost, must be covered by the gross
profit.  Gross profit must also cover your desired net profit. PC-FLORIST will
maintain two required selling prices for each product.  One selling price
is based on a desired gross profit dollar amount, while the other is based
on a desired gross profit percentage.  Gross profit is selling price minus 
defined cost.  The "price changes" feature of PC-FLORIST will alert you to items
which are outside of your pricing specifications.  Review the listing and
decide if the price should be updated.

Pricing is an "art" not a science.  PC-FLORIST is NOT an "expert" system
capable of determining appropriate prices for you.  Don't forget competition 
when pricing!  Also, remember that gross profit must cover all operating costs 
and provide you with your desired profit.  Don't confuse gross profit with net 
profit.

Another feature of PC-FLORIST is the Product Mix function which will maintain 
an overall cost, total revenue and total gross profit for one or more product
"mixes."  Also included in PC-FLORIST is the ability to export all stock items
to a file ready for import to your spreadsheet program.  With this feature, you
may develop your own stock item reports, input forms, maintain inventory 
balances, etc.



                            CONTENTS OF DISKETTE

The PC-FLORIST diskette contains the following files (and possibly others):

FLRST.EXE     the PC-FLORIST program
STOCK.DAT     "STOCK ITEM" data file (created when data is first defined)
ARRNG.DAT     "ARRANGEMENT" data file (created when data is first defined)
PROD.DAT      "PRODUCT" data file (created when data is first defined)
SETUP.DAT     report format settings
*.MMX         "PRODUCT MIX" file (file name(s) determined by user)
FLRST.ICO     icon file for use with WINDOWS 3.1 installation
FILE_ID.DIZ   information for bulletin board systems
FLRST.TXT     this user manual 
VENDINFO.DIZ  complete information on distribution, licensing, etc.

The "DAT" and "MMX" files MUST BE CONSIDERED AN INSEPARABLE SET.  To begin 
with all new data, delete the "DAT" files and any "MMX" files.  When you 
back-up your data, ALWAYS keep the "DAT" and "MMX" files in one set.  Failure 
to do so will cause unpredictable results!

                                                                     Page 5
                   SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAM CAPACITIES

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: IBM or compatible "286" (AT) or compatible computer
with 640K RAM, one 720K or 1.44MM 3.5" floppy drive, hard drive and a printer.

PROGRAM CAPACITIES:  From the Main Menu, PC-FLORIST displays the minimum 
number of additional items which may be added.  This is the sum of stock items, 
arrangements, and products.  Please note that if an item is deleted, the counter 
will not release the record.  Adding a new item after previously deleting an 
item will likewise not reduce the counter.  Total capacity is approximately 
3,100 items (stock items, arrangements, products).

DISK SPACE:  The Main Menu displays available disk space.  Do not attempt to 
exceed available space!  Always leave a safety margin.  Unpredictable results 
will occur if disk space is exceeded, including program crash.




                                 INSTALLATION

The following instructions assume your hard drive is drive "C" and the
distribution diskette is in floppy drive "A".

1) Create a subdirectory on your hard drive:
   
   C:MD FLORIST  <Enter>

2) Copy all files from the diskette to the hard drive subdirectory:

   C:COPY A:*.* C:\FLORIST  <Enter>   
   
3) Installation in Microsoft WINDOWS 3.1 (PC-FLORIST is a DOS program):
  a) Complete steps 1 and 2 or use the WINDOWS file manager to do the same.
  b) From the WINDOWS 3.1 Program Manager, select File, New, Program Item.
  c) Enter a description: PC-FLORIST
  d) Enter a command line: C:\FLORIST\FLRST.EXE
  e) Select Change Icon, OK, Browse, C:\FLORIST\FLRST.ICO, OK, OK, OK




                             STARTING PC-FLORIST

PC-FLORIST uses the computer's system clock in several functions.  If you have
not set the clock, please do so.

Enter the following command from your new subdirectory to start PC-FLORIST:

C:\FLORIST\FLRST  <Enter>

To run PC-FLORIST in black and white, add /b to the end of the command.

                                                                     Page 6
                         GENERAL PROGRAM OPERATION

Begin the definition process with STOCK ITEMS.  Press F1 in any input field to 
view specific help for that field.  The idea is to first define the way you 
purchase (obtain) the stock item.  Then "break it down" to the unit used in
your ARRANGEMENTS and FINAL PRODUCTS.  Proceed from top to bottom on the 
screen when defining a new stock item.  

The ARRANGEMENTS section is where you "build" your floral arrangements or 
possibly develop the total cost of producing your own stock.  Begin by entering
a description.  Then save the arrangement and proceed with inserting stock 
items.  Return to edit the qty and usage unit fields by pressing F7.
The resulting "gross qty" might be your planned "harvest" qty, while the "net 
qty" would be your actual result.  The total cost of your defined "arrangement" 
is absorbed by the net qty.  The yield factor reduces "gross" to "net."   If     
the arrangement is instead single floral arrangement, the gross qty would be 1 
and the yield would be 100 (resulting a net qty of 1).  You might also decide 
to "build" your arrangement directly as a FINAL PRODUCT.

FINAL PRODUCTS are the items you sell in your shop.  You "build" a "PRODUCT" in
PC-FLORIST the same way that ARRANGEMENTS were defined (see prev paragraph).  
Howver, PRODUCTS may use STOCK ITEMS or ARRANGEMENTS or both.  Save the item
after first defining a description, then return to edit the other fields after 
inserting your STOCK ITEMS/ARRANGEMENTS.  For items you simply purchase and 
resell, first define them as STOCK ITEMS and then as FINAL PRODUCTS.  

PRODUCT MIX files are extremely useful for bidding multiple product sales.  
Use a recognizable file name such as the first 8 characters of the customer
name, etc.

PC-FLORIST was designed to be flexible.  Use the STOCK ITEM, ARRANGEMENT, 
FINAL PRODUCT, and PRODUCT MIX sections any way you wish to best meet your  
product costing/pricing/bidding needs.


NOTE:
On-line help is available at the press of the F1 key.  Data input fields also
have help available by pressing F1 while the cursor is in a field.  Because
most of the program's features are presented in help screens, that information 
will not be presented again in this printed documentation.  You are encouraged
to take a tour of PC-FLORIST and review the help screens before actually
beginning to define your data.  Help screens do not exceed one page in length.



                                                                     Page 7
DON'T MISS THESE IMPORTANT POINTS:

1) The main menu help screen discusses moving around in PC-FLORIST.  Be sure
   to try finding a stock item, arrangement or product by just pressing the 
   key of the first character of the description.  Continue to press the key
   to scroll through the listing.

2) When using a mouse, double click to select a list choice.  Single click
   to select a button choice or to answer a (Y / N) question.

3) When defining a product or arrangement, input the description, save the 
   record, insert the desired stock items/arrangements, then return to 
   edit/define the remaining fields by pressing F7=Edit.

4) The location of the highlight bar determines the selections available for
   printed reports in stock items, arrangements and products.

5) When printing, the "lines per page" may be set for fewer lines than are 
   available per page to add additional blank lines after a page number.  Do 
   not set the "lines per page" to exceed your printer's normal lines per
   page (normally 66 for a dot matrix and 60 for a laser).

6) IF YOU INTEND TO EXPORT STOCK ITEMS BY USING F8=FILE, DO NOT USE DOUBLE 
   QUOTATIONS (") IN ANY STOCK ITEM TEXT FIELD.  THE DOUBLE QUOTE CHARACTER 
   SIGNALS THE END OF A TEXT FIELD FOR MANY PROGRAMS.  IMPORTING THE 
   STOCK ITEMS THAT CONTAIN DOUBLE QUOTES WITHIN A DESCRIPTION OR NOTE WILL 
   MOST LIKELY CAUSE THE RECORD TO IMPORT INCORRECTLY TO YOUR SPREADSHEET 
   PROGRAM.

7) A numeric field that displays a preceeding "%" sign contains a value that
   has overflowed the display.  The value may also be negative in adddition 
   to being too large for the display.  Examine the item containing the 
   overflow for reasonableness.  PC-FLORIST was designed for FLORAL costing, 
   not for space shuttle development.  The fields should allow for display if 
   the values are reasonable.

                              
                            MESSAGE FROM THE ASP

This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP).  The ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle
works for you.  If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem
with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, the ASP may be able to
help.  The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an
ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products.
Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon MI 49442-9427, 
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.  
The OMB may also be contacted by FAX by sending to the ASP FAX number: 
(616)788-2765.  When contacting the OMB, please include a telephone number 
and/or FAX if available.


