
     EZ Loan Manager 98 for Windows 95, Version 5.0
    -------------------------------------------------
            (Released: November 10, 1997)


1. Introduction:
================

EZ Loan Manager 98 (Version 5.0) provides a very easy and flexible tool
for you to evaluate and manage your loans and mortgages.  The program
is for anyone with fixed, adjustable or biweekly loans, or like to save
interest money with early extra payments.  The program allows you to
analyze various combinations of loan amounts, interest rates, loan
terms, etc. to determine the best possible loan for your budget.  This
program is excellent for anyone who wishes to see the effect of making
extra payments on the life of a loan and the total interest paid.
If you want to manage your money smartly, you definitely want this
money saving program to help you.

This version adds many new features, such as Loan Prequalifier, Loan
History Chart, Summary Chart, Software Upgrade function, better display
in the amortization table, better printing options and much more.  Free
upgrade for registered users.  A one time registration fee is $20 for
home user and $55 for business user.


2. Requirements:
================
System requirement: Windows 95 or later.
 
Before continuing, please be sure that you have a copy of Microsoft
Visual Basic run-time library VB40032.DLL installed in your
\Windows\System directory.  If you don't have it, the installation
program won't run.  VB40032.DLL is available as vb40032.zip on many
Internet sites, such as

  http://www.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/dll/vb40032.zip
  ftp://ftp.coast.net/Coast/win95/dll/vb40032.zip
  http://www.winsite.com/cgi-bin/dload/41/win95/sysutil/vb40runt.zip


3. Installing EZ Loan Manager 98:
=================================
 Run the Setup.exe program.


4. Uninstalling EZ Loan Manager 98:
===================================
 Remove EZ Loan Manager 98 from control panel.


5. Changes:
===========

Version 5.0 (November 10, 1997)

 1) Added Loan Prequalifier, that estimate the max loan for your dream home.
 2) Added Loan History Chart.
 3) Added Loan Summary Chart.
 4) Bug fix for adjustable loan that pays off early.
 5) For adjustable loan, the monthly payment automatically changes when you
    change interest rate in the amortization table.  You can still manually
    input the monthly payment (do it after you change the interest rate).
 6) Added Software Upgrade function, that allows Internet users to get
    on our web page and download the latest version.
 7) Moved <Update> button on the up-right corner and add the <Undo> button.
 8) Better display in the amortization table.
 9) Better printing options and some minor printing bug fix.
10) Now loading the program at the last opened position.

Version 4.20 (June 5, 1997)
 1) Major upgrade in the 16-bit version (now equivalent to the 32-bit
    version).
 2) A few bug fixes.
 3) More convenient to input data in amortization table.

Version 4.12 (March 8, 1997)
 This is a maintenance release with improvements in inputting loan
 information.

Version 4.11 (February 11, 1997)
 1) Allow to input loan term in biweeks in Biweekly loan.
 2) A few bug fixes.

Version 4.10
 1) Added biweekly loan type.
 2) Added drag and drop support.
 3) Added easy loan amortization table navigation function.
 4) This Year's amortization table now loads automatically for
    registered users.
 5) Added function to easily input monthly extra payments for a year.
 6) Added many "Easter Eggs".


6. Frequent asked Question:
===========================
 1) How To Do A Fixed Rate or Biweekly Loan Calculation?
  a. Select "Fixed Rate" or "Biweekly" in the Loan Type box.
  b. Input Amount of Loan, Starting Interest Rate, Starting Date (in
     MM/DD/YY) and Term in Years, Months or Biweeks.
        Note: Double click in the Starting Date box will put today's
              date in the box.
  c. Input any other information in Loan Description for you to
     identify the loan.
  d. Do the calculation by click the <New Loan Calculation> button.
  e. You can now view amortization table by clicking a numeric button.

 2) How to Do An Adjustable Rate Loan Calculation?
  a. Do the same as in a fixed rate loan calculation, but select
     "Adjustable Rate".
  b. Go to the amortization table of a particular year by clicking a
     numeric button.
  c. Change the interest rate and click <Calculate>, or you may
     manually input the new monthly payment
  d. Click <Update> to update the loan amortization table.

 3) How To Do A Loan With Extra Payments?
  a. Go to the amortization table of a particular year by clicking a
     numeric button.
  b. Input extra payments in the amortization table.
  c. Click <Update> to update the loan amortization table.

 4) How does the <Update> button work? 
  The <Update> button does not change the amortization table before
  the current year but will set the future interest rate and monthly
  payment to the same as the current year.

 5) How is the "Interest Saved" calculated?
  The "Interest Saved" is calculated by comparing the interests with
  and without extra payments.

 6) How to quickly navigate the loan amortization table?
  a. Press <Ctrl>+<Home> button to view first year's amortization table.
  b. Press <Ctrl>+<End> button to view last year's amortization table.
  c. Press <F12> button to view This year's amortization table.
     When there is no active amortization table, clicking mouse below
     the numeric buttons does the same.  When the table is active,
     click on the Blue Year Banner also loads This Year's table.
  d. Press <Page Up> button to view previous year's amortization table.
  e. Press <Page down> button to view next year's amortization table.

 7) How to add monthly extra payments in a particular year?
  a. Go to a particular year by clicking the numeric button.
  b. Input the extra payment in the month you want to start paying
     monthly extra. 
  c. Double click the number and you will see the extra payments are
     added within the year.
  d. Click <Update> to update the loan amortization table.

 8) What type of loan is best for you?
  With EZ Loan Manager, you can easily determine what type of loan is
  best for you.  The following are comparison of various loans.
  (Included with the software)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
File Name        Fixed-0.ezl  Fixed-1.ezl Biweek-0.ezl  Adjust-2.ezl
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Type        Fixed        Fixed       Biweekly      Adjustable
Amount Borrow    $100,000     $100,000    $100,000      $100,000
Interest Rate    7.25%        7.25%       7.25%         4.25,6.25,8.25,
                                                        10.25,8.25,
                                                        7.25, 7.25, ...
Loan Term        30 Years     20 Years    20 Years      20 Years
Pay No./Year     12           12          26            12
Monthly Payment  $682.18      $682.18     $364.53       $789.82**
Monthly Extra    $0           $107.64
Annual Payment   $8,186.12    $9,477.84   $9,477.67     $9477.84**

Extra cost/Year
compare with     $0           $1,291.72   $1,291.55     $1,291.60**
Fixed-0.ezl

Total Interest   $145,583.47  $89,858.99  $89,553.42    $84,217.15

Savings* compare
with Fixed-0.ezl  None        $55,724.47  $56,030.05    $61,366.32
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   * The savings are the differences comparing with a fixed loan,
     i.e. Fixed-0.ezl, not the "Interest Saved" as shown in the
     amortization table.

  ** When the interest is 8.25% or higher, monthly payments are higher
     than $789.82.


 9) How to quickly open a loan file using Drag and Drop?
  a) Double click a loan file (*.ezl).
       Note: In the first time, you need to Create the EZ Loan Manager
             file type.
  or
  b) Create an EZ Loan Manager shortcut on you desktop, and drag the
     loan file to the shortcut to open it.

 10) Notes on EZ Loan Manager Data file.
  The loan file default extension is .ezl, which is unique and easy for
  you to create the EZ Loan Manager file type in the Explorer or other
  file managers.

  Although the loan data files are plain ASCII files, editing it with
  an editor may cause the files unreadable by EZ Loan Manager.


7. Files:
=========
The EZL98A32.zip file you downloaded from the Internet contains:

  Ezloan.exe -------- The program file, which is the only file needed
                      besides the runtime library files.

  File_id.diz ------- Brief description of the software.
  Readme.txt -------- This file.

  Adjust-0.ezl ------ An adjustable loan example.
  Adjust-1.ezl ------ Another adjustable loan example.
  Biweek-0.ezl ------ A biweekly loan with 360 biweeks/payments.
  Biweek-1.ezl ------ A 20 year biweekly loan example.
  Fixed-0.ezl ------- A fixed rate loan example with extra payment.
  Fixed-1.ezl ------- A fixed rate loan example without extra payment.
  Car-loan.ezl ------ A car loan example.

The following files are Microsoft Runtime Library files that you may
already have, if you are using other softwares that are developed with
MS Visual Basic V4.0.
  Comdlg32.ocx
  Comctl32.ocx
  Graph32.ocx
  gsw32.exe
  gswdll32.dll
  Mfc40.dll
  VB40032.dll ------- Not included, but available on many Internet
                      sites as VB40032.zip
  ven2232.olb
  olepro32.dll
  msvcrt20.dll
  msvcrt40.dll
  ctl3d32.dll

The following files are used for installing the program.
  setup.exe
  setup132.exe
  stkit432.dll
  setup.lst
  st4unst.exe


8. Disclaimer
=============
EZ LOAN MANAGER IS SUPPLIED AS IS.  THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES,
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.  THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO
LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM
THE USE OF EZ LOAN MANAGER.
  

9. Distribution:
================
Shareware.  The ezl98a32.zip file without any modification is
freely distributable.


10. Where To Get The Latest Version:
====================================
Thanks to Mike Exner of Tangent Computer's Software Warehouse, you can
always find the latest version at our home page:

   http://gsanet.com/www/Joy/ --- Tangent sponsored home page
or http://www.erols.com/gfck/

If you have Internet access, you may simply click the "Visit Our Web
Site" button to get the latest version. 


11. Registration:
=================
***********************************************************************
*  Free for registered users (just use the same user name and serial  *
*  number).  If possible, email us your comments and suggestions.     *
*  We thank you for your support and registration.                    *
***********************************************************************

The shareware version is fully functional.  If you use it for more
than 30 days, you must register it.

 a) Registration fee for home users: USD $20.

 b) Registration fee for business users: 
    USD $55:   for up to 5 users, $10 for each additional user.
    This is a site licence, with your company name as the User Name.

 c) Registration for registered users: FREE, forever!!!

Price is subject to change without notice.  Please check our web page for
the current registration fee.  If you want save money, register now.
This is a one time registration, you will get any future upgrade free.

For registration, please send check, cash or money order, with your
e-mail address or a self-addressed, postage paid envelope to:

   Joy Chu
   145 Brittany Place
   West Chester, PA 19380
   U.S.A.

Please specify "EZ Loan Manager Registration" and clearly print your
e-mail on your check or letter.
 
Registered user will receive a serial number that will make the program
even simpler to use without the nag registration information on the start
up screen and printed amortization table.


12. Author:  Kevin Cai
===========  E-mail: gxc2@po.cwru.edu

For technical support, comments and suggestions, please send email to:
gxc2@po.cwru.edu.
