          DAYS OFF CALCULATOR : DAYS OFF REPORTER
       Version 3.0 for DOS : Version 2.0 for Windows
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                        USER'S GUIDE
           For quick reference, see QUICKREF.TXT
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The Days Off Calculator, the Days Off Reporter, and this
documentation are Copyright 1992-1997 David Grant - all
rights reserved.  However, you may freely copy the software
and documentation, provided that you keep the copyright
information including address and telephone numbers intact.

The software is neither warranted nor guaranteed.  All risk
for use of the software and this documentation lies with the
user.  All information herein is subject to change without
notice.

The Days Off Calculator and the Days Off Reporter are
freeware.  You may not charge for their distribution or that
of the accompanying material beyond a nominal fee covering
actual copying and distribution costs.  If you distribute
the software, you must include all accompanying files; for a
list of these files, see "Included files."  (You may omit
VBRUN300.DLL if you include a statement that you are so
doing and give a location where this file can be obtained.)

Schedule me! is a sole proprietorship owned and operated by
David Grant.  Trademarks, service marks, etc. used in this
documentation are the properties of their respective owners.

DAYS OFF CALCULATOR:  You may not alter, modify, de-compile,
or reverse-assemble the software.  To distribute a
derivative work as freeware, you must first get written
permission from David Grant; and you must give David Grant a
copy of the complete freeware package.  To distribute a
derivative work as shareware and/or for pay beyond a nominal
fee covering actual copying and distribution costs, you must
first get written permission from David Grant; in this case,
there may be a licensing fee.  To reach David Grant, send
e-mail to david@schedule-me.com

DAYS OFF REPORTER:  The source code is freely available from
Schedule me! at our Web site, http://www.schedule-me.com.
You may freely use the source code in any way you find
useful, with the understanding that all such use is at your
own risk.

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CONTENTS

Introduction
Versions covered
Installation
Included files
Uninstallation
Using the Days Off Calculator
Transferring solutions
Workweek variations and cycles
Extra-day priorities
Shell
Shortcut keys
Data correction
Using the Days Off Reporter
Data files
Name lists
Custom header and footer lines
Quotes and commas
Reports on the World Wide Web
Command keys
Changing defaults
Filling extra work
Online help
Compatibility
Network issues
Increasing data entry speed
Using the DOS version from within Windows
Technical support
Reporter source code
About us

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INTRODUCTION

The Days Off Calculator allocates crew members among the
seven days of the week, allowing for different staffing
levels on various days and optimizing the off-days assigned
to each crew member.  From the calculator's results, the
Days Off Reporter generates a number of forms and templates
useful in the process of scheduling work and making specific
work assignments to crew members.

The software is ideal for any crew-scheduling application:
retail operations, maintenance, construction, assembly
lines, field supervision, telephone coverage, etc.  Use the
calculator after completing your daily work schedules.  At
this point, you'll know how many staff you need on each of
the seven days of the week; you'll next need to find out how
many people can be given each combination of days off (such
as Saturday/Sunday, Sunday/Monday, Sunday/Thursday, etc. for
5-day workweeks; or such as Friday/Saturday/Sunday, etc. for
4-day workweeks; or individual days for 6-day workweeks).
The calculator produces an optimized solution to this
problem.

The calculator can maximize either the number of consecutive
days off or the number of combinations with those days off
that you consider most desirable.  (You can change the most
desirable off-day combinations by editing the calculator's
initialization file, DAYS.INI.)

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VERSIONS COVERED

This documentation covers both Version 2.0 for Windows and
Version 3.0 for DOS.  Since both versions work almost
identically, we have combined the documentation for both. 
Information specific to one version or the other is always
marked as such.

For the latest information about the software, visit us at
http://www.schedule-me.com

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INSTALLATION

Here's how to install the software.

1.  If you have a previous version of the software,
    uninstall it.  See "Uninstallation" for a checklist of
    steps.

    DO NOT attempt to use a previous version's
    initialization (.INI) file.  If you have customized an
    .INI file, you will have to recreate the customization
    manually in the new file.  Print the old .INI file;
    delete it; install the new .INI file; and use the
    printout as a guide in editing the new file.

2.  If you obtained the software from somewhere other than
    Schedule me!, the disk files may be compressed; if so,
    the vendor should have provided you with a way to
    decompress them.  You'll need to do this before you go
    on.

3.  We recommend that you copy the files to your hard disk
    for use.  A full installation takes a little more than
    1MB of disk space.  We assume that you will copy the
    files to a directory named C:\DAYS, but you can use some
    other directory name if you wish; just substitute the
    name you choose in the steps below.

    >   If you're using Windows 3.x, select the MS-DOS
        Prompt icon from the Main group.  If you're using
        Windows 95, open the Start menu, move to Programs,
        and select MS-DOS Prompt.  If you're using a menu
        program, exit to a DOS prompt.

    >   Type:

        md c:\days

        and press Enter.

4.  If you obtained the calculator directly from Schedule
    me!, type

    copy a:\*.* c:\days

    and press Enter.  (If your floppy disk is in B: drive,
    type b: instead of a:.)

5.  If you'll be using the DOS version, type the following
    from the DOS prompt, pressing Enter after each line. 
    (The DOS prompt will not reappear until the end of the
    process.)  This will make the DOS version of the
    calculator accessible at any time.

    copy con c:\docdos.bat
    c:
    cd\days
    docdos
    cd\
    [Then press the F6 key, then press Enter.]

    If you make a mistake during this procedure, press the
    F6 key, then press Enter.  This will return you to the
    DOS prompt, and you can start this step over again.

6.  If you'll be using the DOS version, type the following
    from the DOS prompt, pressing Enter after each line. 
    (The DOS prompt will not reappear until the end of the
    process.)  This will make the DOS version of the
    reporter accessible at any time.

    copy con c:\dordos.bat
    c:
    cd\days
    dordos
    cd\
    [Then press the F6 key, then press Enter.]

    If you make a mistake during this procedure, press the
    F6 key, then press Enter.  This will return you to the
    DOS prompt, and you can start this step over again.

7.  If you're working from Windows 3.x or Windows 95, close
    the MS-DOS prompt you opened in step 3.  To do this,
    type EXIT and press Enter.

8.  If you're using Windows 3.x:

    >   Open the group from which you wish to run the
        calculator.

    >   From the Program Manager's File menu, choose New,
        then select Program Item.

    >   Enter the following:
        Description:  Days Off Calculator
        Command Line:  C:\DAYS\DOCW20

    >   Choose OK.

    >   From the Program Manager's File menu, choose New,
        then select Program Item.

    >   Enter the following:
        Description:  Days Off Reporter
        Command Line:  C:\DAYS\DORW20

    >   Choose OK.

9.  If you're using Windows 95, right-click a blank area of
    the taskbar, then choose Properties, then Start Menu
    Items, then Add, then Browse, then type either
    DOCDOS.EXE or DOCW20.EXE, then choose OK and follow
    the on-screen prompts to add the calculator into the
    Start menu.  Repeat the process, using the file names
    DORDOS.EXE or DORW20.EXE instead, to add the reporter.

    If you're installing the DOS version into Windows 95,
    and you wish to use the DAYS.ICO icon file we have
    provided, you will first have to install the calculator
    using one of the icons Windows proposes; you can then
    open Explorer, find the shortcut to the calculator,
    right-click, choose Properties, Shortcut, and Change
    Icon.

10. The software is ready for use.  To learn how to use
    the software, see "Using the calculator" and "Using the
    reporter."

If necessary, you can use the DOS version with only
DOCDOS.EXE, DORDOS.EXE, VBDRT10.EXE, and DAYS.INI, and you
can use the Windows version with only DOCW20.EXE,
DORW20.EXE, DAYS.INI, and VBRUN300.DLL.  You can also omit
DAYS.INI if you are willing to use the preprogrammed
defaults, which most users will find acceptable.

For the DOS version of the reporter to generate signup
sheets or assignment lists, you must include a FILES=11 (or
higher number) statement in CONFIG.SYS.  (If using name
lists, the minimum increases to 12.)

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INCLUDED FILES

Here's a description of each of the included files.  You
can use the software without this information; it's here for
those who are interested.

DAYS.ICO is an icon file for use with the Windows version of
the calculator.  (The icon is built into DOCW20.EXE, and
Windows extracts it automatically when you install the
Windows version into a Windows program group; but it's also
provided separately for DOS-version users and others who may
find it of use.)  The design represents a calendar showing a
7-day week (the 7 squares) with two days off (the two shaded
squares).  DOR.ICO is the equivalent icon for the reporter.

DAYS.INI is a text file with user-configurable variables for
both the Windows and DOS versions of both the calculator and
the reporter.

DEFAULT.SOL is where the calculator saves your inputs and
its solutions when you exit.

DOCDOS.EXE and DOCW20.EXE are the DOS-version and Windows-
version calculator program files.

DORDOS.EXE and DORW20.EXE are the DOS-version and Windows-
version reporter program files.

EVALUATE.TXT is a text file containing an evaluation form,
which we encourage you to print out, fill out, and return -
so we can make future versions better!

FILE_ID.DIZ is a program description in a standard format
used by online services.

NAMELIST.TXT is a text file which you can use to practice
generating reports containing name lists.

OVERVIEW.TXT is a text file containing a quick introduction
to the software.

QUICKREF.TXT is a text file containing a condensed step-by-
step guide to using the software.

REPORTS.TXT is a text file containing samples of the text-
format reports the calculator and the reporter can generate.

REPORTS.HTM is an HTML file containing samples of the HTML-
format reports the reporter can generate.

USERGUID.TXT is the file you're reading now - a text file
with detailed instructions.

WEEKDAY.TXT, SATURDAY.TXT, and SUNDAY.TXT are text files
which you can use to practice generating signup sheets,
assignment lists, and CSV reports containing information
about daily work assignments.

WHATSNEW.TXT is a text file listing improvements in the
current versions of the software.

VBDRT10.EXE is a dynamic link library required by the DOS
versions of the calculator and the reporter.

VBRUN300.DLL is a standard dynamic link library used by the
Windows versions of the calculator and the reporter, and
also by a variety of Windows freeware and shareware.  If
you already have this file in a directory on your path, you
don't need to install it again.

There are no separate printer drivers.  All reports are text
files, which avoid graphical or non-standard characters that
would require printer-specific instructions.  However, see
"Compatibility" for information on using the DOS version
with PostScript printers.

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UNINSTALLATION

To uninstall or remove the program files, simply delete them
from your disk.  (For a list of the files, see "Included
files.")  The software itself does not alter any other disk
files when it is used (except its own DEFAULT.SOL file, and
when you generate reports on disk).  (When you print reports
from the Windows version using Windows 3.x, Print Manager
creates a file in your Windows temporary directory for each
page of your printout.  Normally, Print Manager deletes
these once it has successfully sent the job to the printer,
but if you exit abnormally, the files may still be in your
temporary directory.)

We advise that you not delete VBRUN300.DLL, since this is a
standard dynamic link library file used with a wide variety
of Windows freeware and shareware programs.  (Even if you
aren't a Windows user, be sure to keep VBRUN300.DLL if only
on floppy disk; you may in the future start using Windows,
and want to use Windows programs that require it but don't
include it!)

You may also wish to:

Delete any report files you created.

Remove the directory containing the program files if it's
empty.

If you've used the DOS version, delete any reference to the
software in DOSAPP.INI if you have run it from Microsoft
Windows 3.x; if you installed it in Windows 3.x as either a
program group or program item, delete the group or item; if
you installed it into the Windows 95 Start menu, right-click
a blank area of the taskbar, then choose Properties, then
choose Start Menu Items to remove it from the Start menu.

Delete any DOS batch file you created to run the software.

If you're a Windows user, delete your Days Off program group
or program item in Windows 3.x; or, in Windows 95, right-
click a blank area of the taskbar, then choose Properties,
then choose Start Menu Items to remove it from the Start
menu.  You cannot use the Windows 95 Uninstall procedure.

If you're a Windows user, and you set up associations
between the software and report file name extensions,
break those associations.

Delete any reference to the software in any shells or
application launchers into which you installed it.

Edit AUTOEXEC.BAT to remove the program directory from
your PATH statement.

Delete any installation or decompression program that came
with the software, if you obtained it from a source other
than Schedule me! and the vendor included such a program.

Note that some of these steps must be taken twice - once for
the calculator and again for the reporter.

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USING THE CALCULATOR

Here's a general description of how to use the Days Off
Calculator.  Succeeding sections provide more detail about
these steps; other, more advanced options; and the Days Off
Reporter.

1.  To use the DOS version:

    >   If you did not follow the installation procedure we
        recommend under "Installation" or make other
        provisions, change to the directory where
        DOCDOS.EXE is installed.

    >   From the DOS prompt, type DOCDOS, then press Enter.

    To use the Windows version, simply open the calculator.

2.  Set:

    >   The number of staff needed on each of the 7 days of
        the week.

        *   You can specify up to 99,999 staff per day.  You
            cannot enter more than 5 digits without first
            deleting already-entered digits.  You can
            specify a different number of staff on each of
            the 7 days.

        *   See "Shortcut keys" for a list of keys that
            speed data entry.

        *   Windows-version users can enter daily staff
            totals with the mouse by clicking on the
            appropriate keys on the keypad displayed on the
            screen.

        *   If you wish to "start over," choose Clear to
            reset the entries for all 7 days to zero.

    >   The workweek length - 0 to 7 days.

    >   The calculation strategy.

        *   If you select Maximize desirable off-day
            combinations,  the calculator maximizes the
            number of combinations with the most desirable
            days off, at the expense of additional split
            days off.

        *   If you select Maximize consecutive days off, the
            calculator maximizes the number of combinations
            with consecutive days off, at the expense of
            additional less-desirable days off.

        *   If you select Allow only consecutive days off,
            the calculator groups as much work as it can
            into combinations with consecutive off-days and
            stops.  This may cause many more extras than
            would otherwise be the case.  To the extent
            possible, the calculator equalizes the number of
            extras it leaves on the various days.

        *   We recommend that you try all 3 options if you
            are using 2, 3-, 4-, or 5-day weeks.  The
            results may or may not be the same.  With 0-,
            1-, 6-, or 7-day weeks, any option gives the
            same results.

    >   Your preferred extra-day priority sequence, if you
        wish to vary from the default.  For details, see
        "Extra-day priorities."

    >   If your workweek lengths vary, rerun the calculator
        for each workweek length.  For details, see
        "Workweek variations and cycles."

    >   How do you tell the calculator how many people you
        have available?  You don't.  Rather, you tell the
        calculator how much work you have, and the
        calculator tells you how many people you need to get
        it done.

3.  The calculator shows:

    >   The number and percentage of combinations with each
        group of days off.

    >   The breakdown by day of week of any work that could
        not be fitted into combinations.  This work will
        have to be done by part-timers, substitutes, regular
        staff on a day off, etc., on the day shown every
        week.

    >   The following statistics:

        *   The total number of daily shifts per week.

        *   The total number of combinations.

        *   The total number of extras.

        *   For 5-day workweeks, the number and percentage
            of combinations with consecutive days off, with
            split days off, and with split weekdays off.

        *   For 4-day workweeks, the number and percentage
            of combinations with consecutive days off, with
            2-1 split days off (such as Wednesday/Thursday/
            Sunday), and with 1-1-1 split days off (such as
            Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday).

        *   For 3-day workweeks, the number and percentage
            of combinations working consecutive days,
            working 2-1 split days such as Wednesday/
            Thursday/Sunday), and working 1-1-1 split days
            (such as Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday).

        *   For 2-day workweeks, the number and percentage
            of combinations working consecutive days,
            working split days, and working split weekdays.

4.  If you wish, the calculator can prepare a summary report
    of its results.  Summary reports are always one page and
    less than 1700 bytes.  To prepare a summary report, set
    options as desired, and choose Start summary report.
    For a detailed explanation of options, see "Using the
    Days Off Reporter"; the options provided for summary
    reports in the calculator work in the same manner as
    their counterparts in the reporter.

    >   The file REPORTS.TXT, provided with the calculator,
        includes a sample summary report.

    >   By default, summary report files use the extension
        .RSS (the "RS" stands for "roster").  (You can
        change this default by editing DAYS.INI.)

    >   The calculator saves reports only as text.  It
        cannot save reports as HTML.  For instructions on
        how to make a summary report viewable on a Web
        browser, see "Reports on the World Wide Web."

5.  When you exit the calculator, it saves the currently-
    displayed inputs and results in DEFAULT.SOL, overwriting
    DEFAULT.SOL's previous contents, so you can easily use
    these results in the Days Off Reporter.  However, you
    may wish to use some other solution file name (so that
    you can save several sets of inputs and results), or you
    may wish to append the current results to previously-
    saved results.  If so, enter a file name, and choose
    Start solution report.

    >   By default, solution files use the extension .SOL.
        (You can change this default by editing DAYS.INI.)

    >   If the solution file already exists, the calculator
        will ask whether you would like to overwrite the
        existing solution file, append the current results
        to the end of the existing solution file, or cancel
        the save.  The append option allows you to build up
        solution files with information for a variety of
        workweek lengths and/or other inputs.

    >   Solution files are plain text files, so you can edit
        them using any text editor or word processor.
        Generally, they will be only a few hundred bytes.

    >   Solution files created with their the DOS or Windows
        version of the calculator can be used with both
        versions.

    >   In a solution file, the first 9 characters on each
        line indicate the type of entry on the line, and
        remaining characters on the line give a value for
        that entry.  The easiest way to understand the
        format of a solution file is simply to generate one
        and examine it using a text editor or word
        processor.

    >   Combinations and extras appear in reports in the
        same order in which they are listed in solution
        files - so if you want work assignments listed in
        a particular order other than that set by the
        calculator, just use a text editor or word processor
        to edit the solution file accordingly.  In fact, if
        you wish, you can prepare solution files manually,
        without ever using the calculator.  (But don't try
        this until you're familiar with how the calculator
        sets up these files and how the reporter interprets
        them.)

    >   Solution files can be any size; however, the
        reporter will read in only the first 200 lines of
        combinations or extras, will ignore the rest, and
        won't tell you it's doing so.  In practice your
        solution files should never get anywhere near that
        large, so this should never be a problem.

    >   When you save a solution file, you can specify a
        comment of up to 66 characters, to be placed at the
        end of the solution file, by typing it into the
        Header/comment text box.  Characters over 66 will be
        truncated.  You can also add comments to solution
        files manually.  Just open the file into a text
        editor and add the information on a separate line
        (separated by a carriage return).  The first 9
        characters of the line should be the word COMMENT
        followed by 2 spaces; your text should start at
        position 10 on the line.  You can put as many
        comment lines into a solution file as you want,
        anywhere in the file.

    >   If you want to save your solutions to DEFAULT.SOL
        quickly and without exiting, so that you can task-
        switch to the Days Off Reporter and prepare reports
        immediately, choose Save solution to default file
        from the File menu.  Since the calculator saves the
        currently-displayed solution to DEFAULT.SOL
        automatically when you exit, this is never necessary
        unless you want to use the reporter without exiting
        the calculator.  Of course, you can also use the
        calculator to customize the way you save solution
        files.

6.  You can change inputs and prepare summary reports and
    solution files as many times as you want.  To end your
    calculator session, choose Exit.

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TRANSFERRING SOLUTIONS

The reporter can work only with solutions generated by the
calculator (or those you manually enter into a solution
file).  It is imperative that before generating reports you
ensure that the reporter is working with the solutions on
which you want the reports based.

To make this as easy as possible, the calculator and the
reporter have a number of built-in features that make it
easy to transfer solutions.  You can use whichever of these
features you find convenient - but do be sure that you have
sent the appropriate solutions to the reporter.

Here's a list of the ways you can transfer solutions:

1.  When you exit the calculator, the current solutions are
    automatically saved to DEFAULT.SOL in the current
    directory.  When you open the reporter, it automatically
    reads in the contents of the current directory's
    DEFAULT.SOL.  So if you exit the calculator before
    opening the reporter, and if the calculator and the
    reporter are in the same directory (which we recommend),
    this is taken care of for you.

2.  You can also save solutions in any file of your choice
    using the calculator, and open any solution file in the
    reporter by specifying its name and choosing Open named
    solution file.

3.  The Windows version of the calculator can also save
    solutions to the Windows clipboard.  You can do this by
    choosing Copy solution to clipboard from the Edit menu.
    You can choose Automatially copy solutions to clipboard
    from the Edit menu, as well.  With this setting, the
    calculator sends solutions to the clipboard every time
    you change inputs and it recalculates.  (However, it may
    slow down the calculator considerably, especially if you
    are running the Windows Clipboard or Clipbook Viewer.)

4.  Similarly, the Windows version of the reporter can read
    solutions from the clipboard.  Press Ctrl+V, or choose
    Paste solutions from clipboard from the Edit menu.

Remember:  When the calculator generates results, you must
explicitly make sure they are saved as solutions in some
manner, or the reporter can't use them.  The calculator and
the reporter can't communicate directly; they must use a
file or the clipboard as a go-between.  In other words, just
because you open the reporter with the calculator already
open doesn't mean that whatever solution the calculator is
displaying will be used by the reporter.  You must first
close the calculator or make other provisions using one of
the methods above.

To help you make sure that the reporter is using the
solution you want, the reporter displays the currently-open
solution on its main screen.

------------------------------------------------------------

WORKWEEK VARIATIONS AND CYCLES

The calculator assumes that all members of your work crew
work the same number of days each week.  If this is not the
case, split the work assignments into groups, and calculate
for each group separately.  For example:

>   If you have workweeks of varying lengths, enter data
    separately for workweeks of each length.  For example,
    if you have both 5-day and 4-day workweeks, enter the
    data for the work which you intend to combine into 5-day
    workweeks, then clear that data and enter the data for
    the work which you intend to combine into 4-day
    workweeks.

>   If you use part-time staff, set aside the work to be
    done by the part-timers for separate treatment, and use
    the calculator to set up off-day combinations for your
    full-timers.

The calculator also assumes a 7-day cycle of work shifts -
that is, that each crew member works the same days and times
each week.  If you use a multiple-week cycle, calculate off-
day combinations on a weekly basis, then set up a rotation
in which each crew member works each combination in turn.

If your crew members work varying numbers of days during
different 7-day periods within a multiple-week cycle (for
example, alternating 5-day and 4-day weeks), you'll need to
adjust the calculator's results manually.  In this case:

1.  Multiply your total number of crew members by the
    LONGEST workweek length.

2.  Apportion this number of work shifts over 7 days,
    allowing on each day your needed number of work shifts,
    and adding additional "phantom" shifts to make up the
    total.  For example, suppose you have 7 shifts per day
    on each of the 7 days, and 12 staff members who work
    either 4-day or 5-day weeks.  You therefore need a
    minimum of 49 shifts per week, but you should input a
    total of 12 times 5 or 60 shifts.  The 11 "phantom" work
    shifts should be apportioned among the 7 days.  For
    example, you may apportion 2 "phantom" work shifts per
    weekday and 1 on Saturday; in that case, you will input
    9 shifts per weekday, 8 per Saturday, and 7 per Sunday.

3.  When you group your daily work shifts into combinations,
    you won't have enough daily work.  The shortfall will
    match your "phantom" work shifts.  Make up this
    shortfall by assigning an extra day off where each
    "phantom" work shift would otherwise go.

4.  As explained above, set up a rotation in which each crew
    member works each combination (with different
    combinations thus involving different workweek lengths)
    in turn.

If you use this procedure, we recommend that you develop
reports using data files manually, rather than using the
reporter.  If you do use the reporter for this purpose, you
could, in the data files, enter "Off" as the information for
each "phantom" work shift, but there is no guarantee that
"Off" shifts will be distributed evenly among the
combinations; your workweek lengths could be as short as
zero days!  (You can, however, use the reporter to develop
templates for these reports, by not specifying any data
files.)

You will also want to develop reports using data files
manually if, rather than (for example) an 8-hour daily
guarantee, you pay full-time employees (for example) a
40-hour weekly guarantee with short and long shifts on
different days combined to total 40 hours.  Again, this is
because the reporter does not examine the information
about each day's work before setting up combinations (it
treats the information in data files simply as text).

------------------------------------------------------------

EXTRA-DAY PRIORITIES

By default, the calculator, as much as possible, assigns
extras during the middle of the week, when your absenteeism
is presumably lowest and you thus have the greatest number
of substitute staff available.  The calculator shows the
extra-day priority sequence for the currently-selected
workweek length.

However, you may wish to change this priority.  The most
common reason for doing so is that setting Monday and Friday
as priority days will often produce more consecutive days
off if you choose the Maximize consecutive days off
calculation strategy.  But be aware that if you choose the
Allow only consecutive days off strategy, the calculator may
ignore your priorities and instead concentrate on equalizing
the number of extras per day.

Extra-day priorities are meaningless for 0-, 1-, and 7-day
workweeks.  If you enter a priority sequence, the calculator
will ignore it.

To change priorities:

1.  Make sure that the currently-selected workweek length is
    the one whose priority you wish to change.  (To change
    the priority for more than one workweek length, repeat
    the change process for each workweek length whose
    priority you wish to change.)

    >   Priorities are shown as a string of 7 digits - 1 for
        Monday, 2 for Tuesday, and so on through 7 for
        Sunday.  The left-to-right sequence indicates
        highest to lowest priority.  The default priority
        sequences are:

        For 2-day weeks:  2341567
        For 3-day weeks:  3241567
        For 4-day weeks:  2314567
        For 5-day weeks:  3241567
        For 6-day weeks:  3425167

        For example, with 5-day weeks, any extras needed are
        assigned first on Wednesday, then Tuesday, then
        Thursday, and so on.

2.  Enter the new sequence (or edit the old one).  Use the 7
    digits from 1 to 7 in the sequence of your choice,
    following the same format as the sequence already shown.

    >   You cannot enter more than 7 digits without first
        deleting already-entered digits.

    >   Windows-version users can enter extra-day priorities
        with the mouse by clicking on the appropriate keys
        on the keypad displayed on the screen.

3.  Your selection takes effect immediately.

    >   While you are editing the sequence and an invalid
        sequence is showing on the screen, the calculator
        does not set up combinations, and you cannot select
        Report.  The calculator will set up combinations
        again as soon as a valid sequence is again showing.

    >   You are not guaranteed that there will be any extras
        on your top-priority days.  However, if the
        calculator has a choice, all else being equal, it
        honors your preferences.

4.  Your choices stay in effect throughout your calculator
    session, but are lost when you exit the calculator. 
    That is, the calculator reverts to the defaults each
    time you start a new session.

5.  If you wish to reset extra-day priorities to the
    calculator's defaults, press Escape while the cursor is
    in the priorities entry box and the box is empty, or
    Escape twice if the box is not empty.  This resets the
    priority only for the currently-selected workweek
    length.

You can change the calculator's default midweek priority by
editing DAYS.INI.

------------------------------------------------------------

SHELL

This feature is in the DOS version only.  Windows-version
users can use the MS-DOS Prompt icon instead.  In Windows
3.x, this is in the Main group; in Windows 95, you can find
it by opening the Start menu and choosing Programs.

The Shell command in the File menu allows you to return to
DOS temporarily.  This is useful for floppy disk formatting,
file management, and similar system functions.

In general, while in DOS, avoid loading or running any
memory-resident programs, especially terminate-and-stay-
resident (TSR) programs.  If you do, you may not be able to
re-enter the calculator, or, after choosing Exit to end your
calculator session, you may be unable to start other
applications.

When you're ready to re-enter the calculator, type EXIT and
press Enter.  Do not type DOCDOS or DORDOS to re-enter the
calculator!  This may cause a second copy of the calculator
to be loaded into memory; if that happens, you may lose your
inputs, and experience other problems as well.  When you
choose Shell, the calculator reminds you of this.  (You can
disable the reminder by editing DAYS.INI.)

You cannot use the shell while reports are being printed or
saved, unless you first choose Stop to terminate the print
or save.

------------------------------------------------------------

SHORTCUT KEYS

In both the calculator and the reporter, you can speed data
entry using these keys:

/   Copies the current weekday's information to each of the
    5 weekdays; positions you to enter Saturday information

/   Pressed after entering Saturday data, positions you for
    Sunday entry; pressed after entering Sunday data,
    positions you for Monday entry.  Unlike weekday
    information, Saturday and Sunday information is not
    copied to other days.

>   Increases by 1 the entry in the current numeric entry
    box

<   Decreases by 1 the entry in the current numeric entry
    box

Windows-version users can also make entries into the
calculator by clicking on the on-screen keypad.

To "start over" with your entries, choose Clear from the
Edit menu.  This will reset the entries for all 7 days to
zero.

Also see "Command keys" for more information about commands.

------------------------------------------------------------

DATA CORRECTION

To restore the contents of the current data entry box to
what they were when you last moved the cursor to the box,
choose Undo from the Edit menu.

To reset textual data as it's specified in DAYS.INI, press
Escape while the cursor is in the data entry box and the box
is empty, or Escape twice if the box is not empty.

------------------------------------------------------------

USING THE DAYS OFF REPORTER

NOTE TO WINDOWS 95 USERS:  The reporter does not support
Windows 95 long file names.

To further assist you in scheduling employees, the Days Off
Reporter can prepare any of these reports:

>   A worksheet template, suitable for use in working out
    which work will be grouped into each combination.

>   A comma-separated-value (CSV) file, which contains
    information about combinations and extras in a format
    readable by spreadsheet and database programs.  This is
    also known as a delimited text file.  This allows you to
    set up a template using your own format.

>   A signup sheet, on which staff members can directly pick
    the combinations they wish to work.

>   An assignment list, which shows, for each day of the
    week, each staff member's assignment for that day.

The files REPORTS.TXT and REPORTS.HTM, provided with the
program package, contain sample reports.

Any report can be printed, saved to disk as a text file
readable by any text editor or word processor, or (from the
Windows version) sent to the Windows clipboard or to another
Windows application.  Most reports can be saved as HTML
files, suitable for posting to the World Wide Web.  Reports
are saved to disk by default.  (You can change this default
by editing DAYS.INI.)

To generate reports:

1.  If you plan to generate a CSV report, signup sheet, or
    assignment list including data files, prepare these
    files.  If you plan to generate reports using a name
    list, prepare the name list file.  

    >   It's best to do this before you start the
        reporter.  For details of how these files should
        be set up, see "Data files" and "Name lists."

2.  If you plan to send your report to an application, make
    sure the application is open and the cursor is in the
    location where you want the report.  Some applications
    cannot receive reports while minimized, so make sure the
    target application is maximized or restored.

3.  Use the Days Off Calculator to calculate off-day
    combinations, then in the calculator, choose Report and
    save the calculator's results to a solution file.  For
    more information on this, see "Using the Days Off
    Calculator."

    >   You can also develop solution files manually, and/or
        edit the files created by the calculator.

4.  Open the Days Off Reporter (DORDOS.EXE or DORW20.EXE).
    The reporter reads the default solution file last saved
    by the calculator.  If you wish to use some other
    solution file, enter its file name and choose Open named
    solution file from the File menu.  Or, in the Windows
    version, choose Paste solution from clipboard from the
    Edit menu if you have previously copied a solution to
    the clipboard.

    >   The calculator saves its results in DEFAULT.SOL by
        default when you exit the calculator, and the
        reporter reads DEFAULT.SOL when you start it.  So if
        you want to generate reports from the calculator's
        latest results, you don't have to open a solution
        file manually.  But if you have the calculator and
        the reporter open at the same time, remember - the
        calculator does NOT save DEFAULT.SOL automatically
        until you exit!!!  If you want to use the
        calculator's currently-displayed results in the
        reporter without exiting the calculator, you must
        first choose Save solution to default file from the
        calculator's File menu, or use the calculator to
        save the results to a solution file with some other
        name, or, in the Windows version, use the clipboard
        as a go-between.

    >   If in doubt, check the reporter's display of the
        solution currently in use to make sure it's the
        solution on which you want reports based.

    >   The reporter estimates the size in kilobytes and
        number of pages of the currently-selected report
        type.  The actual size will usually be slightly less
        than shown, but plan for a variation of up to 10%
        either way from the estimate.

    >   The downward variation in file size of CSV reports,
        signup sheets and assignment lists may be much
        greater, since the report size depends on the
        information you supply in the data files.  The
        downward variation will certainly be much greater if
        you choose to generate these reports without
        including details of daily assignments.  Printed CSV
        reports including work details, on the other hand,
        may take many more pages than estimated, because the
        reporter assumes that the information for all 7 days
        of each combination can fit on one line, which will
        be true only if your work shift details as recorded
        in the data files are very short.

5.  If you have previously saved your formatting choices in
    a report format file and you wish to restore those
    choices, enter the report format file name and choose
    Open report format file from the File menu.

6.  If you wish to direct reports to the printer, select
    Printer.

    >   The reporter assumes letter-size (8 1/2-by-11-inch)
        paper and portrait orientation.  The reporter sends
        a page feed at least every 60 lines; with a standard
        6-lines-per-inch font, this allows half-inch top and
        bottom margins.  Similarly, lines contain no more
        than 75 characters of text, so that with a standard
        10-pitch font, you can set half-inch left and right
        margins and expect that text will fit on the page.

    >   The reporter reverts to the default of saving
        reports as disk files each time you start a new
        session.  (You can change this default by editing
        DAYS.INI.)

    >   It's usually best to save reports using data files
        to disk, and then examine them using a text editor
        or word processor.  That way, if you want to make
        any changes in which daily work is grouped into each
        combination, you can do so, then print directly from
        the text editor or word processor, thus saving
        paper.

    >   The Windows version sends printouts to the Windows
        default printer.  By default, the DOS version sends
        printouts to LPT1.  You can change this to LPT2 or
        LPT3 by editing DAYS.INI.

    >   To print to a port other than the default, specify
        the port name rather than a file name in the path,
        and print to the file.  For example, if you select
        File and print to C:\DAYS\LPT3, the reporter sends
        the report to LPT3.  (Do not include a colon in the
        port name.  If you do it could hang your system.)
        However, if a printer problem develops and the print
        job stops with an error message, you'll have to
        start the print job again from the beginning; you
        will not have a "Retry" option.  If you print this
        way, the reporter does not send a form feed at the
        end of the report or between pages of CSV reports.
        Finally, Windows 3.x users who print this way will
        be bypassing Print Manager, which may cause
        unpredictable results if other print jobs are in
        Print Manager's queue, or if you are printing to a
        COM port or other device that is in use by some
        other application.

    >   The following additional printing information
        applies to DOS users:

        *   The reporter does not support printing to serial
            (COM) ports.  To use a serial printer, you must
            redirect print output from a parallel (LPT) port
            to a serial port using the DOS MODE command.
            For details on this command, check your DOS
            manual or see your computer resource person.

        *   It's best to use MODE before starting the
            reporter.  You can use MODE through the shell
            feature, but because of the way MODE uses
            conventional memory, if you do so you will
            probably be unable to start other applications
            after you exit the reporter; if after exiting
            you have this problem, you'll have to reboot.

        *   Because of the way Windows works with serial
            ports, users of the DOS version who are using
            the reporter with Windows running may not be
            able to print to serial ports, even if the MODE
            command is used.  If this happens, try running
            the reporter from the DOS prompt in a window;
            running the reporter from the DOS prompt in a
            full screen; or exiting Windows and then running
            the reporter.

7.  If you wish to save reports to disk, enter a file name. 
    If you wish to save reports in a directory other than
    the one shown, enter a new path.  (By default, the
    reporter proposes to save reports to the current
    directory.  You can change this default to a specific
    location by editing DAYS.INI.)

    >   By default, the reporter adds extensions to file
        names of text-format reports as follows:

        Worksheet template files      .RSW
        Comma-separated-value files   .CSV
        Signup sheet files            .SUS
        Assignment list files         .ASG
        Report format files           .FOR
        Solution files                .SOL

        (The "RS" in "RSW" is short for "roster.")  This
        allows you to save each type of file without having
        to enter different file names.  However, you can
        specify a different extension, or type . (a period)
        at the end of the file name to save your file
        without an extension.  (You can change default
        extensions by editing DAYS.INI.)

        The default extension for HTML-format reports is
        always .HTM.  Again, you can specify a different
        extension, or end the filename with a period to
        specify no extension.

        The reporter doesn't save solution files - that's
        done by the calculator - but it does assume the .SOL
        extension when opening solution files if you don't
        specify a different extension or no extension.

    >   Even if a file name is too long for all of it to be
        displayed in the entry box on-screen, the reporter
        will still accept it, and will use it if it's legal.

8.  If you're a Windows-version user and you wish to send
    reports to the Windows clipboard, select Clipboard.

    >   The clipboard can hold only one report at a time; if
        you send a second report to the clipboard, the
        reporter overwrites the first one.  To preserve it,
        you must first paste it into another application
        such as a text editor or word processor.

    >   The Windows clipboard can hold only 64K of data. 
        The reporter will send information to the clipboard
        until the clipboard is full; then it will show an
        error message and leave the partial report on the
        clipboard.  (Applications that appear to be sending
        more than 64K to the clipboard are actually placing
        into the clipboard information about where in memory
        the data apparently being sent is located.  But
        since the reporter is generating the report and
        sending it to the clipboard "on the fly," it does
        not have this option.)

9.  If you're a Windows-version user and you wish to send
    reports to an application, select Application.

    >   Since some applications may not recognize certain
        keys, the resulting reports may differ slightly from
        those sent directly to the printer, to a file, or to
        the clipboard.  Typically, these differences may
        take the form of extra carriage returns.  Since
        every application is different, we recommend that
        you inspect the output closely.  There should not be
        any substantive differences affecting the
        information itself.

    >   The reporter sends a standard form-feed character
        (ASCII 12) at the end of each page.  Most
        applications will recognize this as a hard-page
        break.  However, your application may be different,
        and if so, you will have to make any needed
        adjustments manually.  (You may be able to use the
        application's search-and-replace feature for this
        purpose.  If this is a problem and this is something
        you will be doing frequently in an application that
        supports macros, you may wish to write a macro to
        perform the search-and-replace operation.)

10. In worksheet, CSV, signup sheet, and assignment list
    reports, combinations are normally numbered
    consecutively from 1, and extras are normally numbered
    consecutively from X1.  To start at a different number,
    choose First combo and/or First extra.  You can specify
    any number from 0 to 99,999. (You can change the default
    starting numbers by editing DAYS.INI.)  You cannot enter
    more than 5 digits without first deleting already-
    entered digits.  In these boxes, you can press > and <
    (the greater-than and less-than arrow keys) to increase
    or decrease the number shown by one.  You can also leave
    either of these boxes blank to suppress the printing of
    combinations or extras.  If you want your report to show
    only combinations, blank out the First extra box; if you
    want your report to show only extras, blank out the
    First combo box.

11. To specify a line to be printed at the top or bottom of
    each page (or to appear at the top or bottom of each
    page of a disk file), choose Header or Footer.  (In CSV
    and assignment list reports, the header appears only
    once, at the beginning; and CSV and assignment list
    reports do not include footers.)

    >   Your header and footer are each limited to one line
        of up to 66 characters.  Anything after the 66th
        character is truncated.

    >   To include the current page number in a header or
        footer, type ^ (the caret).  To include the total
        number of pages in the report, type ? (the question
        mark).  In this manner, you can construct a header
        or footer such as Page ^ of ? which will become
        "Page 1 of 3" (or whatever the appropriate figures
        are).

    >   In the DOS version, you can use extended characters
        (those with ASCII codes above 127) in headers, but
        they won't print as you see them on the screen
        unless you set your printer to use the PC-8 symbol
        set (see your printer documentation for
        instructions).  Windows-version users can use
        extended characters in headers subject to the
        limitations of the Windows character set.  The
        reporter does not recognize Unicode 2-byte
        characters.

    >   If you have previously edited DAYS.INI to include
        custom lines, you can use them by typing a tilde and
        the custom line number into the header or footer
        text entry box.  For details, see "Custom header and
        footer lines."

    >   Your header and footer are lost when you exit the
        reporter.  (You can specify a default header and
        footer, and set custom headers and footers, by
        editing DAYS.INI.)

12. If you plan to generate a report using data files,
    choose Data files, then for each of the 7 days, enter
    the name including extension of the text file
    containing information about the day's work shifts.
    When looking for files, the reporter works from the
    current directory regardless of what directory is
    specified under File name.  (Unless you change it, File
    name lists the directory that was current when you
    started the reporter - even if you later used the DOS
    version's Shell feature to change to another directory
    and/or drive.)

    >   Enter ONLY the file names here.  DO NOT enter the
        shift information itself - instead, put the shift
        information in the files whose names you enter here. 
        In preparing the files, follow the format of the
        WEEKDAY.TXT, SATURDAY.TXT, and SUNDAY.TXT files
        included with the reporter.

    >   You can specify the same file name for more than one
        day.  For example, if you have the same work on each
        of the 5 weekdays, set them up in one file, then
        specify that file name 5 times.  You can press /
        (the slash key) to copy one weekday's file name to
        the remaining weekdays.

    >   If you have no work shifts on any particular day
        (for example, you're closed on Sunday), or if you
        want the reporter not to show information about the
        work on a particular day (so that you can insert it
        yourself into the finished report), leave that line
        blank.

    >   Even if a file name is too long for all of it to be
        displayed in the entry box on-screen, the reporter
        will still accept it, and will use it if it's legal.

    >   To clear any file names you have already entered in
        any of these boxes, choose Clear from the Edit menu.

    >   You can set default data file names by editing
        DAYS.INI.

13. If you plan to generate reports using name lists, choose
    Name list and enter the name including extension of the
    text file containing the name list.

    >   Enter ONLY the file name of the name list file here. 
        DO NOT enter the name list itself - instead, put the
        name list in the file whose name you enter here.  In
        preparing the name list file, follow the format of
        the NAMELIST.TXT file included with the reporter.

    >   Even if a file name is too long for all of it to be
        displayed in the entry box on-screen, the reporter
        will still accept it, and will use it if it's legal.

    >   You can set a default name list file name by editing
        DAYS.INI.

14. If your workweek begins on a day other than Monday,
    choose First day and enter the first day of the week in
    the form of a number between 1 and 7 inclusive (1 for
    Monday through 7 for Sunday).  For example, if your
    workweek begins on Thursday, enter 4 here, and reports
    will show the workweek as extending from Thursday
    through Wednesday.  (You can change the reporter's
    default of starting reports on Monday by editing
    DAYS.INI.  However, you cannot change the Monday-
    through-Sunday order of the reporter's input screens.)
    You cannot enter more than 1 digit without first
    deleting the digit already entered.  In this box, you
    can press > and < (the greater-than and less-than arrow
    keys) to increase or decrease the number shown by one.

15. Select the report type you want:  Worksheet, CSV,
    Signup, or Assignment.

16. Select the report format you want:  Text or HTML.

    >   CSV reports are always saved as text no matter which
        format you select.

    >   You cannot view an HTML report using a Web browser
        by sending it directly to the browser application.
        If you do, the browser will try to interpret the
        keystrokes of the report as commands.  Instead, in
        this case, save the report to a file, and type the
        file name into the Web browser to view it, just as
        you would type in a Web address.

17. The reporter shows the number of combinations or extras
    it will put between page breaks.  To change this
    number, choose Items per page and enter the new number.

    >   For assignment list reports, this will be the number
        of lines of text on each page, not the number of
        combinations or extras.

    >   You can choose any number between 0 and 999.  If you
        choose 0, the reporter will not put any page breaks
        in your report (although, of course, inkjet and
        laser printers will eject each page once it's full).

    >   For HTML reports, you will probably want to set this
        to 0, since Web browsers will otherwise show
        artificial "breaks" on screen.  Despite these
        artificial "breaks," HTML and the World Wide Web are
        designed primarily for screen display and not for
        printing, and since there is therefore no way in
        HTML to specify where page breaks should occur when
        printing, attempts to print HTML reports from Web
        browsers will produce page breaks at unpredictable
        locations which may or may not correspond to the
        artificial "breaks" you specify.  This is a
        limitation of HTML and of Web browsers, and is not
        under the reporter's control.  You may be able to
        get around this by opening your HTML report into a
        word processor that can read HTML files, and editing
        it there.
        
    >   You can change the reporter's defaults by editing
        DAYS.INI.

    >   The ability to change this setting is useful when
        you want to print on non-standard paper such as
        legal-sized paper - but the reporter does not direct
        the printer to use different-sized paper for you.
        You must do this yourself.  DOS-version users should
        change the switches on the printer itself.  Windows-
        version users can make the needed change through the
        Windows Control Panel.

    >   You cannot enter more than 3 digits without first
        deleting digits already entered.

    >   In this box, you can press > and < (the greater-than
        and less-than arrow keys) to increase or decrease
        the number shown by one.

18. To start the print or save, choose Go.

    >   If you are sending the report to an application, the
        reporter shows a list of all open applications.
        Choose the application to which you want the report
        sent.  Normally, this will be a word processor, but
        since the reporter cannot know the specifics of
        every application you may have open, it lists them
        all.  Be sure to choose the right application.  An
        attempt to send a report to an application not
        designed for it may cause unpredictable results. 
        The reporter cannot send reports to DOS
        applications, only to Windows applications.

    >   While the reporter is sending a report to an
        application, do not attempt to do any work with any
        other program.  If you must regain control of the
        system while the application is being sent, first
        try to close the application by pressing and holding
        Alt+F4.  One or more error messages may result.  If
        this fails, a reboot may be necessary.  The reporter
        will return to the screen once it's finished sending
        the report.

    >   A tone confirms your report request (or warns you in
        case you didn't mean to send a request).

    >   If a file already exists with the name you specify,
        the reporter beeps and warns you.  To overwrite the
        existing file, choose OK; otherwise, choose Cancel.

    >   To cancel a print or save in progress, choose Stop. 
        (Print jobs won't stop until data already in the
        print buffer is printed.)  Most reporter commands
        don't work while a print or save is in progress.  If
        you choose Stop and then change your mind, you
        cannot start from where you left off; you must
        restart the print or save from the beginning.

    >   Before printing worksheets, signup sheets, or
        assignment lists, make sure that the printer is set
        for a fixed-pitch font (such as Courier). 
        Otherwise, characters won't be spaced properly.

    >   If the printer is not on-line, out of paper, etc.,
        the reporter beeps and shows an error message.  Fix
        the problem and choose Retry to continue or Cancel
        to cancel the print job.  This may cause a line to
        print twice.  In the Windows version, nothing may
        print (or printing may resume with a gap of many
        pages) even though you choose Retry.  This is
        because by the time Windows reports an error, the
        reporter has already sent through more (perhaps all)
        of the report.  At that point, printing is out of
        the reporter's control; you may have to delete the
        print job from Windows and resend it from the
        reporter.  This can also happen with the DOS version
        if you're using Windows 95 (except in Windows 95's
        DOS mode), since Windows 95 intercepts DOS
        applications' printer output.

    >   If the file cannot be saved due to system error
        (disk unreadable, disk is write-protected, etc.),
        the reporter beeps and shows an error message.  Fix
        the problem and restart the save.  A partial file
        may nevertheless be created on disk.

    >   The reporter sends a form feed at the end of a print
        job, unless the job terminated abnormally (either
        because of a printer error or because you chose
        Stop).  The reporter does not put a page-break
        character (ASCII 12) at the end of a disk file or of
        information sent to the Windows clipboard.

    >   For the DOS version to generate reports using data
        files, you must include a FILES=11 (or higher
        number) statement in CONFIG.SYS.  If you get an
        error message or if the system locks when you try to
        print or save a report using data files and there is
        no other apparent cause, use Shell (if you can) to
        view CONFIG.SYS.  If the needed statement is
        lacking, return from the shell; exit the reporter;
        edit CONFIG.SYS to increase the number after FILES=
        to 11 or more; reboot, and try again.  If you're
        using a name list, this number increases to 12.

    >   File size is limited only by available disk space. 
        If the free space is used up before the save is
        finished, the reporter beeps and asks whether you
        would like to retain the partial file on disk or
        delete it.  If you're unsure whether you have enough
        disk space, check before you start the save.  DOS
        users can use Shell and the DOS DIR command for this
        purpose; Windows users can use File Manager or
        Explorer.

19. If wish to save your formatting choices for future use,
    enter a file name and choose Save report format file.

    >   By default, report format files use the extension
        .FOR.  (You can change this default by editing
        DAYS.INI.)

    >   If the report format file already exists, the
        reporter will ask whether you would like to
        overwrite the existing file or cancel the save.

    >   Report format files are plain text files, so you can
        edit them using any text editor or word processor.
        Generally, they will be only a few hundred bytes.

    >   Report format files created with either the DOS or
        Windows version of the reporter can be used with
        both versions.

    >   In a report format file, the first 9 characters on
        each line indicate the type of entry on the line,
        and remaining characters on the line give a value
        for that entry.  The easiest way to understand the
        format of a report format file is simply to generate
        one and examine it using a text editor or word
        processor.  In fact, if you wish, you can prepare
        report format files manually, without ever using the
        reporter.  (But don't try this until you're familiar
        with how the reporter sets up these files and how it
        interprets them.)

    >   You can add a comment line, for your own reference,
        to a report format file.  Just open the file into a
        text editor and add the information on a separate
        line (separated by a carriage return).  The first 9
        characters of the line should be the word COMMENT
        followed by 2 spaces; your text should start at
        position 10 on the line.  You can put as many
        comment lines into a report format file as you want,
        anywhere in the file.  The reporter cannot add a
        comment line itself.

20. There are no commands for file deletion, editing,
    management, etc.  For these tasks, you can use DOS
    commands (access the DOS prompt from the DOS version's
    Shell feature or from the MS-DOS Prompt icon in
    Windows); the Windows File Manager or Explorer; or
    utility software.  For details, check your DOS, Windows,
    and/or utility manual, or see your computer resource
    person.

------------------------------------------------------------

DATA FILES

The reporter can include information about each day's work
in CSV reports, signup sheets, and assignment lists, if you
set up files in advance containing this information.

1.  If you're using the DOS version, you should set up these
    files before you run the reporter.  You can use Shell to
    prepare them, but you may not have enough conventional
    memory to open your word processor or text editor.  This
    is not an issue with Windows, since multitasking allows
    you to switch away from the reporter to create these
    files on the fly if necessary.

2.  These must be plain text files.  Each line must contain
    whatever information you want printed about one person's
    work for the day; lines must be separated by a carriage
    return; and the body of the staff assignment information
    cannot contain blank lines.  Any comment lines must be
    at the end of the file, after the end of the staff
    assignment information.  You are limited to 66
    characters of information about each assignment;
    anything after the 66th character will be truncated.
    You may find it easiest to create these files with a
    spreadsheet.  But be sure to save them in plain text
    format - without margins or page breaks.

3.  If you have the same work on several different days each
    week (for example, on each of the 5 weekdays), you do
    not have to create a separate file for each day.  Simply
    specify the same file name for each separate day. 
    However, you may want to set up multiple files with the
    same information anyway, so that if the reporter doesn't
    group work into combinations the way you want, you can
    edit files for individual days and have the reporter try
    again.

4.  If a data file does not list as many work assignments as
    called for in the solution file, the reporter will
    terminate with an error message, and you will be left
    with a partial report.  (If you're saving the report to
    a file, the reporter will ask whether you want to keep
    or delete the file.  If you're saving the report to the
    Windows clipboard, the reporter will stop with an error
    message and leave the partial report on the clipboard.)

5.  If your daily work shifts vary in length, you may want
    reports to show the total weekly hours for each
    combination.  However, the reporter has no way to glean
    this information, because it treats entries in data
    files simply as text.  It does not analyze them.  That
    gives you freedom to set up data file entries in
    whatever format is best for you.  To get around this,
    enter the total daily hours in a fixed location within
    each data file entry (for example, in columns 63-66);
    use the reporter to create a CSV file listing
    combinations; import the CSV file into a spreadsheet;
    use the spreadsheet's string-manipulation functions to
    extract the daily hours from each entry; and add them
    within the spreadsheet to get weekly totals.

6.  The reporter does not check for minimum time off between
    work on consecutive days.  You must do this manually.
    We've found that a good strategy for optimizing
    combinations, which generally avoids this problem, is to
    list work by finish time, from earliest to latest.

The files WEEKDAY.TXT, SATURDAY.TXT, and SUNDAY.TXT,
included with the reporter, are samples for you to look at
and practice with.  Calculate using 6 staff per weekday, 4
per Saturday, and 3 per Sunday, then create reports using
these files.

------------------------------------------------------------

NAME LISTS

The reporter can attach a name to each combination in
reports, thus allowing you to prepare reports with staff
members' names (or employee numbers or any other information
you choose, subject to the limits on length listed below)
preprinted.

The reporter does not show names for extras.

If you use a name list, worksheet, CSV, and signup sheet
reports show a name for each combination.  Assignment list
reports show a name for each work assignment on each day of
the week, so that for each of the 7 days of the week, you
have a list by name of who has each assignment on that day.
The one-per-line format of CSV and assignment list reports
makes these easy to sort by name, by importing these reports
into software that is capable of sorting.

Name lists are probably most useful with assignment lists,
because after you know who will be working combination #1,
combination #2, etc., you can put those names in order, and
the assignment list report will then list the names instead
of the combination numbers.  To do this, first list the
person who will work combination #1, then the person who
will work combination #2, and so on.

To keep lines of text from going beyond 75 characters, the
reporter omits combination numbers and extra numbers from
assignment list text-format reports when you use a name
list.  In other words, when you generate an assignment list
text-format report, you can have the reporter show either
combination/extra numbers or name list entries but not both.
However, assignment list reports in HTML format will show
both combination/extra numbers and name list entries (if you
use a name list).

If you prefer, you can use the name list for employee
numbers or other data instead of names.  Be sure that each
entry in your name list is unique; the reporter does not
flag duplicates.

If you specify a name list file name in the appropriate box,
the reporter will use the name list.  If you don't want to
use a name list, just leave this box blank.  DO NOT enter
the name list itself into the reporter.  Put the name list
into a file on disk, and enter only the file name.

Here's how to set up a name list file:

1.  If you're a DOS user, you should set up this file before
    you run the reporter.  You can use Shell to prepare it,
    but you may not have enough conventional memory to open
    your word processor or text editor.  This is not an
    issue with Windows, since multitasking allows you to
    switch away from the reporter to create this file on the
    fly if necessary.

2.  This must be a plain text file.  Each line must contain
    the name as you want it printed; lines must be separated
    by a carriage return; and the body of the name list
    cannot contain blank lines.  Any comment lines must be
    at the end of the file, after the end of the names.

3.  Each name entry may be as long as you like.  However,
    the reporter will use the full entry only when
    generating CSV reports.  In signup reports, the reporter
    uses only the first 64 characters of each entry;
    anything after the 64th character is truncated.  In
    worksheet and assignment list reports, the reporter uses
    only the first 7 characters of each entry and truncates
    anything after the 7th character.

4.  If the name list file does not list as many names as you
    have combinations, the reporter will stop generating the
    report and show an error message; you will be left with
    a partial report.

The NAMELIST.TXT file included with the reporter is a
sample for you to look at and practice with.

------------------------------------------------------------

CUSTOM HEADER AND FOOTER LINES

The software proposes to use in your reports the default
header and footer lines specified in DAYS.INI.  (In DAYS.INI
as we supply it, the default header is blank, and the
default footer shows the current page number and the total
number of pages in the report.)  You can edit DAYS.INI to
change the default header and footer lines.

However, there may be a variety of header and/or footer
lines that you would find convenient to use in reports.  To
make this easy, you can specify up to 10 custom lines for
use in headers or footers.  You can set up these custom
lines by editing DAYS.INI.

The custom lines are numbered 0 through 9.  To use a custom
line, type a tilde and the custom line number into the
header or footer text entry box.  For example, to use the
line of text you have previously entered as custom line 7,
enter ~7 (with no spaces before, between, or after) as your
header or footer.  When you choose Go, this is converted
to the text of the custom line as entered in DAYS.INI.

Custom lines are subject to all the limitations of regular
headers and footers (66 characters, ? is replaced with the
total number of pages, etc.).

------------------------------------------------------------

QUOTES AND COMMAS

If you plan to generate CSV files, avoid quotation marks and
commas in your report inputs such as headers, footers, data
files, name lists, custom lines, etc.  Since quotes and
commas are used to separate individual fields in CSV files,
introducing additional quotes and/or commas from these
sources could cause spreadsheets and databases to be unable
to tell where fields begin and end.

------------------------------------------------------------

REPORTS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

Most reports can be saved as HTML (Hypertext Markup
Language) files which can be viewed by Web browsers with
full formatting.  Simply choose this option in the reporter.

A report that has been saved as a text file can easily be
modified for posting to the World Wide Web.  To do so:

1.  Open the completed report into a text editing program
    such as the DOS Editor or Windows Notepad.  (You can use
    a word processor, but if you do, be sure to save your
    work in text format.)

2.  At the beginning of the report, type:
    <TT><PRE>

    At the end of the report, type:
    </PRE></TT>

    This tells Web browser software to display the report in
    fixed-pitch; this is necessary so that the browser
    honors line breaks in the report, and so that
    information lines up neatly in columns.

3.  Save the modified report with the file name extension
    .HTM.

4.  The report can now be uploaded to your Web site for
    access via the Internet.

There are, of course, many other ways to make information
more attractive for display over the Web.  Many books and
online sources have information about how to use HTML.

If you're preparing reports for posting to the Web, avoid
using < and > (the less-than and greater-than symbols) and &
(the ampersand) in your report inputs such as headers,
footers, data files, name lists, custom lines, etc., since
these symbols are used for special purposes in HTML.

------------------------------------------------------------

COMMAND KEYS

Non-menu commands are listed in online help.  Press F1 from
the calculator's or reporter's main screen for a list of
command keys.  Also see "Shortcut keys" for a list of keys
that speed data entry.

When pressing Alt and a number, you must use the numbers on
the main keyboard, not the number pad.  When inputting
numeric data, you can use either set of number keys (if the
Num Lock light is on).

All mouse operations are performed by clicking (not double-
clicking) the left mouse button (the right button if you're
using a left-handed mouse).  SPECIAL NOTE TO WINDOWS 95
USERS:  When you right-click on a text entry box in the
Windows version, Windows 95 displays a pop-up menu that
allows you to perform actions not normally permitted, such
as entering letters into boxes that can normally accept only
digits.  Since it is Windows 95 producing this pop-up menu,
these actions are not under the software's control.  This
capability may cause unpredictable results, and we therefore
recommend that you avoid it.  If you do use it, it's at your
own risk.

The software does not allow you to press Tab or Shift+Tab or
the cursor arrows to execute commands or select options.
You must press and hold either Alt key and tap the
appropriate letter or number (or use the mouse).

------------------------------------------------------------

CHANGING DEFAULTS

By editing DAYS.INI, a plain text file, you can change the
default:

>   Header and footer
>   Off-day combination preferences
>   Extra-day priorities
>   Workweek length and calculation strategy
>   Report type
>   Policy of showing both combinations and extras in
    reports
>   Starting numbers for combinations and extras in reports
>   Output device for reports (to printer, to disk, or, for
    Windows-version users, to the Windows clipboard or to an
    application)
>   Printer port (LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3) (DOS version only;
    Windows printouts are sent to the Windows default
    printer)
>   Use of sound when you make an error, when you print or
    save a report, and at various other times
>   Policy of reminding you, before opening the shell, to
    type EXIT to return to the program (DOS version only)
>   Speed with which daily staff totals are incremented or
    decremented when you click and hold the < and > buttons
    on the on-screen keypad (Windows version only)
>   File name extension for each report type (Note: Neither
    the calculator nor the reporter set up associations in
    Windows between themselves and the file name extensions
    they use)
>   Destination for saving reports
>   Policy of beginning reports with Monday
>   Number of items between page breaks of reports
>   Data file names
>   Custom header and footer lines
>   Name list file name
>   Policy of not automatically copying solutions to the
    clipboard as they're generated (calculator's Windows
    version only)
>   Default report format (text or HTML)

For details, view DAYS.INI online.  The calculator and the
reporter cannot themselves change these files; to edit
either, you must use a text editor or word processor (be
sure to save in plain text format).  Any changes you make
will not take effect until you exit and restart the
calculator or the reporter.

For the software to read these settings, DAYS.INI must be in
the current or working directory when you start the program.
If DAYS.INI file is missing or corrupt, you are asked
whether you want to start anyway using preprogrammed
defaults (the same settings contained in DAYS.INI when you
originally received the software).  Most users will find the
preprogrammed defaults acceptable. Therefore, you need
DAYS.INI only if you wish to vary from the defaults.

DO NOT attempt to use a previous version's .INI file.  If
you have customized an .INI file, you will have to recreate
the customization manually in the new file.  Print the old
.INI file; delete it; install the new .INI file; and use the
printout as a guide in editing the new file.

A corrupted DAYS.INI will cause unpredictable behavior,
including erroneous results - so if you edit DAYS.INI, MAKE
A BACKUP COPY FIRST!  If in doubt, reload it from your
original program disk.  If necessary, download a fresh copy
of the program from http://www.schedule-me.com

------------------------------------------------------------

FILLING EXTRA WORK

Users often ask how extra work should be handled, or how to
make sure that all work grouped into combinations and extras
are avoided.  We offer the following tips:

1.  If you maintain a staff of substitutes separate from
    your regular workforce:

    >   Enter data for your regular work.  You may have a
        few extras which will have to be worked on the
        specified day each week by the substitutes.

    >   Once you see how many people you need to fill the
        regular work (how many combinations there are),
        subtract this from your total number of staff to
        determine the size of your substitute staff.  (Or,
        the size of your substitute staff may already be
        fixed.)

    >   Multiply the total size of your substitute staff by
        the workweek length to determine how many on-call
        days per week the substitutes will work.  Apportion
        this number among the 7 days of the week, and
        calculate combinations for the substitutes on this
        basis; the result will be a list of off-day
        combinations that can be selected by the
        substitutes.

2.  If your staff members work regular assignments on some
    days and substitute on other days:

    >   Add the total number of work shifts for the 7 days
        of the week.  Subtract this total from the total
        number of workdays available (the total number of
        staff times the workweek length).  The difference
        will be extras.  Apportion these extras among the 7
        days; add the regular work assignments and the
        extras for each day; and calculate combinations
        based on the total of regular plus extra assignments
        for each day.

    >   If you use this procedure, it's best to develop
        reports using data files manually, rather than using
        the calculator.  Your extras may not be divided
        evenly among the combinations; some staff may not
        have any extras, and others may have nothing but!
        (You can, however, use the calculator to develop
        templates for these reports, by not specifying any
        data files.)

3.  If you have separate staff for separate groups of work
    assignments (for example, day staff and night staff),
    enter data separately based on the number of work
    assignments given to each group.

4.  If you don't have a separate substitute staff, but the
    calculator's results include extras, take the days of
    the extras along with other days of your choice, and
    manually make a combination from them; or rerun the
    calculator with one shift added on enough days each week
    so that the total number of shifts per week becomes a
    multiple of the workweek length, thus eliminating
    extras.  (For example, if you have 52 shifts per week
    and a 5-day workweek, arbitrarily add one shift on each
    of 3 days of your choice, so the total becomes 55, an
    exact multiple of 5.  In this case, you'll have to have
    something for this person to do - the equivalent of a
    work shift - on each of these days!)

    >   If you do this, and you generate reports using data
        files, make sure that the files for those days on
        which you added the extra shift have information for
        the additional shift.

------------------------------------------------------------

ONLINE HELP

The calculator and the reporter offer online, context-
sensitive help, which you can get through the Help menu or
by pressing F1 at any time (except when error or warning
messages are showing).

To move among help topics, use the mouse or the cursor
arrows, or press Tab and Shift+Tab (in the DOS version) or
the first letter of a topic name (in the Windows version).

To print the help topic currently showing, choose Print. 
The print job is directed to the default printer port. 
Windows-version users can also copy the help topic currently
showing to the Windows clipboard, by choosing Copy to
clipboard.  You cannot print or copy help topics while
reports are being printed or saved; and you cannot save help
topics to a file or to an application.

The Windows version's help system is built into DOCW20.EXE
and DORW20.EXE.  The software does not use the Windows Help
engine; there is no separate Windows help file.

To exit the help system, choose Close or press Escape or
Alt+F4.

------------------------------------------------------------

COMPATIBILITY

The DOS software requires DOS 2.1 or later and 480K of free
conventional memory.  It cannot use upper, extended, or
expanded memory (unless run through Windows or another
memory-management program).  The Windows version requires
Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 95, or Windows 3.0 or later
running in Standard or 386 Enhanced mode, a 286 or later
microprocessor, 1 MB of RAM, and a VGA or better monitor.

Notes to Windows 95 users:  The calculator and reporter are
16-bit applications.  They do not support Windows 95 long
file names.  Also, see "Command Keys" for a special note
about using the pop-up menus Windows 95 provides when you
right-click a text entry box.  (In short, these menus are
not under the software's control; their use may cause
unpredictable results; and we recommend that you avoid
them.)

There are no versions of the software for Apple II,
Macintosh, OS/2, Power PC, Unix, or other operating systems;
however, certain versions of these operating systems, and/or
specific computers using these systems, may also be able to
run DOS and/or Windows programs.  For assistance, check your
operating system manual, see your computer resource person,
or contact your hardware vendor.

The DOS version sends reports to printers in a form that
PostScript printers don't understand.  To print a report
from the DOS version using a PostScript printer, you must
either take the printer out of PostScript mode (see your
printer documentation for instructions), or save the report
as a disk file and then print the file from a word processor
or other application that supports PostScript printers.

If you're using Windows 95 "large" or "extra large" screen
appearance settings, the extra height used by the title bar
may cause information at the bottom of the screen to be
invisible.  If this is a problem, right-click on the
desktop, choose Properties, choose Appearance, and select
Windows Standard.

If you're using the Windows version on an IBM PS/2 computer
running version 3.0 of Microsoft Windows, do not use the on-
screen keypad.  This will cause erratic mouse behavior.
This problem is due to a bug in Windows 3.0, which Microsoft
corrected in Windows versions 3.1 and later.

------------------------------------------------------------

NETWORK ISSUES

There is no network version of the software.  It is designed
for stand-alone use.  It should function properly on a
network, but network users should be careful to choose the
most appropriate option for directing reports (to disk,
LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, or, for Windows users, the Windows
clipboard or an application) and help topic printouts (to
LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, or, for Windows users, the Windows
clipboard), depending on network configuration.  Attempts by
two users to save files with the same path and file name at
the same time may cause unpredictable results.

In addition, the software uses the settings in the DAYS.INI
file in the current directory.  Therefore, if you change
DAYS.INI in a shared directory, you are affecting others who
use the software from that directory.

You can run the software from a shared directory while
maintaining individual DAYS.INI files, by starting the
software through a batch file.  For example, to use the
settings in C:\MYDIR\DAYS.INI while running the calculator
from M:\DAYS, set up a batch file like this:

c:
cd\mydir
m:\days\docdos

However, if you do this, the Windows calculator's Switch to
reporter command and the Windows reporter's Switch to
calculator command won't work, because each program will
look for the other only in the current directory.

For assistance, see your network administrator.

------------------------------------------------------------

INCREASING DATA ENTRY SPEED

The calculator features immediate calculation, setting up
combinations as you enter each keystroke of data.

Since this is time-consuming, users of older, slower
computers may notice delays in the calculator's acceptance
of keystrokes, and may therefore wish to turn off immediate
calculation, to allow data entry without keyboard delays. 
This is more likely to be a problem if you are using the
consecutive-only strategy, since with this strategy it takes
the calculator considerably longer to find an optimal
solution.  We suggest that you try entering data as usual
first; use this procedure only if the calculator can't keep
up with your keystrokes.

The calculator does not allow you to turn off immediate
calculation directly.  However, the calculator does not set
up combinations unless a valid extra-day priority sequence
is showing.  You can use this fact to speed keyboard entry,
using the following steps:

1.  Move the cursor to the Extra-day priorities entry box.

2.  Press Escape, which clears the box.  This also blanks
    the results portion of the screen, and prevents the
    calculator from recombining shifts.

3.  Press Alt+D to reposition the cursor for entry of daily
    staff totals.

4.  Enter the total staff for each day.  Since the extra-day
    priority sequence is not valid and the calculator is
    therefore not using time in setting up combinations with
    each keystroke, it accepts keystrokes quickly.

5.  With all daily staff totals entered, again move the
    cursor to the now-empty Extra-day priorities entry box.

6.  Press Escape.  The extra-day priority sequence reverts
    to the default, and the combinations are formed.

    or...

    Type the new priority sequence of your choice.  When you
    finish typing a valid sequence, the calculator combines
    the work.

Another way to speed up the Windows version is to turn off
the automatic copying of each solution to the Windows
clipboard as it's calculated.  You can do this through the
Options menu.

------------------------------------------------------------

USING THE DOS VERSION FROM WITHIN WINDOWS

The information in this section applies only to the DOS
version of the calculator and reporter.

There are several ways to use the DOS version from within
Windows, of which the simplest for beginning Windows users
is:

1.  If you're using Windows 3.x, select the MS-DOS Prompt
    icon, usually found in the Main group.  If you're using
    Windows 95, open the Start menu, move to Programs, and
    select MS-DOS Prompt.

2.  From the DOS prompt, start the calculator or reporter
    as explained under "Using the Days Off Calculator" and
    "Using the Days Off Reporter."

3.  After exiting the calculator or reporter and returning
    to the DOS prompt, type EXIT and press Enter to return
    to the Windows desktop.

If you run the DOS version from Windows, be aware that:

>   The software does not route print jobs through the
    Windows 3.x Print Manager; thus, when you are printing,
    the Print Manager is not aware that the printer is in
    use.  Therefore, printing a report while a Windows
    application is printing, or vice versa, may cause
    unpredictable results.  This is not a problem with
    Windows 95.

>   The software does not support Windows 95 long file
    names.

>   The Print Screen key sends a graphic image of the screen
    to the Windows clipboard rather than the printer.  (To
    print a help topic, choose Print from the help screen.)

>   Because of the way Windows works with serial ports, you
    may not be able to print to serial ports even if you use
    the MODE command as described under "Reports."  If this
    happens, try running the software from the DOS prompt in
    a window; running it from the DOS prompt in a full
    screen; exiting Windows 3.x and then running it; or, if
    you're a Windows 95 user, rebooting into MS-DOS mode and
    running it.

Non-Windows applications can be run from Windows in a
variety of ways, of which only one is shown above.

For Windows 3.x users who wish to install the software into
a Windows group, we have provided the files DAYS.ICO and
DOR.ICO.  If you're installing it into Windows 95, you will
first have to install it using one of the icons Windows
proposes; you can then open Explorer, find the shortcut,
right-click, choose Properties, Shortcut, and Change Icon.

For more information, check your Windows manual or see your
computer resource person.

------------------------------------------------------------

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Because the calculator and reporter are freeware, we are
able to provide only limited technical support.  For
assistance, please visit us at http://www.schedule-me.com
or send e-mail to dayshelp@schedule-me.com

Customization of the software is also available from the
same source.

Your comments, questions, and suggestions for improvement
are always welcome!  However, we cannot compensate you for
these.  All such input becomes the property of Schedule me!.

Since the software is free, we do not register users;
however, we would be pleased to have your input via the
EVALUATE.TXT file.

We've tried hard to make sure that the software is bug-free
- but if you do find a bug, we'd like to know.  As part of
any bug report, please include the circumstances that led to
the problem, your name, and a way we can reach you in case
we need more information.  And, as far as we know, the
software is fully Year 2000-compliant, but if you become
aware of a problem in this regard, please tell us right
away.

------------------------------------------------------------

REPORTER SOURCE CODE

The source code to the Days Off Reporter is freely
available.  You can download it from our Web site,
http://www.schedule-me.com

The reporter is written in Microsoft Visual Basic, Version
3.0 for Windows, and Version 1.0 for DOS.  You are welcome
to alter the source code for your own use, though to take
advantage of this you will need both the appropriate version
of Visual Basic and a knowledge of how to use it.  While we
believe the source code is reasonably well-written, we
certainly don't hold it up as any sort of model programming
technique.  We regret that we cannot provide detailed
assistance in using Visual Basic.

This applies to the Days Off Reporter only.  The Days Off
Calculator source code and algorithms are proprietary and
are not available.

Because the reporter's source code is available for you to
modify, and because of the plain-text nature of both
solution and report format files, it is possible for you to
develop custom reports and generate them using either your
own modifications to the reporter or some other means such
as spreadsheet macros.  If you have this need and the
requisite programming knowledge, we encourage you to do
this...but...if you find the need to modify the structure of
solution files or report format files for this purpose
(perhaps by introducing new categories of information into
these files, perhaps in some other way), you may wish to
contact us first - at dayshelp@schedule-me.com - to make
sure that what you want to do doesn't conflict with anything
we have planned for future versions.

------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT US

The Days Off Calculator and the Days Off Reporter are
freeware - our way of introducing you to Schedule me!.

We're the work-scheduling experts!  Our professionals have
many years of day-to-day operating experience in business
and industry.  Whether in our specialty - the transportation
industry - or in any field requiring the scheduling of work
crews, we deliver creative, innovative, yet practical
solutions that work within your budget.

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