Version: | 4.0.13 |
---|---|
Author: | Paul Malherbe |
Contact: | paul@tartan.co.za |
Home: | http://www.tartan.co.za |
Copyright: | Paul Malherbe (C) 2004-2011. |
Licence: | Free use of this software and all it's modules is granted under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). |
Note: | This document is not intended as an accounting manual. It is primarily a manual for people with some accounting expertise to learn how to use Tartan as an accounting tool. |
Table of Contents
Tartan Systems started out in 1981 as a suite of programs I wrote in COBOL and until 1994 ran on various platforms including CPM, RSX11M, MSDOS, AT&T UNIX and SCO.
In 1994 I discovered LINUX and when iBCS2 became available I modified the systems to run under LINUX and continue doing so until today.
In 2003 I started looking around for another programming language in which I could rewrite the systems to natively run under LINUX as well as Windows without having to recompile etc. Also I was getting irritated with having to compile using SCO.
Eventually I decided on the following:
During 2005 I changed the graphical user interface to PyGtk, a python wrapper for the Gtk library.
Ensure that the following dependancies are installed on your system:
Additionally the following dependancies should also be installed:
And depending on your database needs, one of:
or
or
Download the following file from ftp://ftp.tartan.co.za
Extract Tartan_4.0.13.tar.gz into a directory of your choice as folows:
Tartan should now be installed on your computer and you can continue with the Startup Procedure or, for the impatient, the Quick Start.
Download the following files from ftp://ftp.tartan.co.za or if you are in possession of a CD this is not necessary.
Install Tartan_full_4.0.13.exe by browsing to it and double clicking and then accept the defaults, except, agree to creating an icon on your desktop.
Tartan should now be installed on your computer and you can continue with the Startup Procedure or, for the impatient, the Quick Start.
Start Tartan by entering the following command:
python program_path/ms0000.py [options]
To find out what the available command line options are, use the -h option.
The first time you run Tartan you will automatically be taken to Preferences where you will have to enter various parameters relating to your installation. You will also have to create the system and company records.
Note
VISTA and Windows 7 Users must first perform the following steps:
- Right click on the Tartan shortcut icon.
- Select Properties on the menu. A dialog box will appear on the screen.
- Click the Advanced button under the Shortcut tab in the dialog box.
- Check the Run as administrator box.
- Click the OK button (or press Enter on your keyboard if the button is highlighted by default).
- Finish by clicking Apply and then OK. Your preferences have been saved. Next time you open the shortcut to the application you performed the task for your computer will no longer require administrative permission.
Start Tartan by clicking on the shortcut icon on the desktop or by navigating to the c:Tartanprg directory and double clicking on the ms0000[.exe] file.
The first time you run Tartan you will automatically be taken to Preferences where you will have to enter various parameters relating to your installation. You will also have to create the system and company records.
Please note that when using Tartan your available options will be highlighted on the status line at the bottom left hand side of the screen. Please read this carefully before asking for assistance.
Throughout the various modules comprising Tartan Systems the following keys are used to perform certain functions. These options will always be highlighted in the Status Line at the bottom of the screen. The most common ones are:
In addition to the above keys, all underlined characters on notebook tags and buttons, can be used in conjunction with the <Alt> key as shortcuts e.g <Alt-s> to open the System menu.
There are various common routines. Rather than continually describing them they will be described once here only.
If no users have been created using the User's Maintenance routine on the System menu and no password has been allocated to the admin user, the system will automatically log in using admin as the user name. In all other cases a user must log in by entering a valid name and password. If no password exists for the admin user a password should be created as soon as possible using the Change Password routine on the System menu.
For every routine which is company specific and where you have more than 1 company, you will be required to select the relevant company. In some cases you will also have to enter a financial period. Please note that you will not always be prompted for the financial period as this only applies to routines which require it. Also note that for both selections there is a F1 Record Selection option as per Common Keyboard Functions.
Most data capture routines require you to enter batch details. The reason for a batch is ease of balancing and the resolution of errors made during data capture. After you exit a data capture routine a totals summary will be displayed. If there is a discrepancy between the expected and entered values all the various systems have a routine to print the batch details thus enabling you to determine where the error is and therefore to correct it.
While capturing transactions for various systems you will be required to allocate the amount to existing outstanding transactions for ageing purposes.
There are four different methods of ageing a transaction:
Normal - This will display a list of all outstanding transactions on the account and you will be able to allocate at random until the full amount has been allocated.
- Select a transaction to allocate against by either clicking on the required line or moving the cursor to the required line and hitting the Enter key.
- Enter the allocation amount.
- Accept the allocation amount by either clicking on the Apply button or by hitting the Enter key.
- The amount will be allocated and the Balance will show the unallocated portion.
- Continue these steps until the full amount has been allocated. In the event of a balance remaining which cannot be allocated, hitting the Esc key or clicking on the Exit button will exit the routine leaving the balance as unallocated.
History - This is identical to Normal above but the available transactions will include previously fully allocated ones thus enabling you to reallocate transactions.
Oldest - This will automatically allocate the amount against outstanding transactions, starting from the oldest transaction, until either the amount has been fully allocated or there are no more outstanding transactions in which case the balance will remain as unallocated.
Current - This will leave the full transaction as unallocated.
Whenever a report is being produced you will have the opportunity of deciding on the output method i.e. viewing, printing, exporting and, in some cases, whether or not to email it. Please note that the option to email the report will only be available if there is a valid SMTP Server in the System Record Maintenance record.
Should an error message occur and there is a file named errors.txt in the Work Path as created in Preferences. Please email it to errors@tartan.co.za after which you may delete it.
Once Tartan Systems has been installed, the following procedures have to be performed before any meaningful work can be done. These procedures obviously depend on which modules are going to be used but this will be explained as we progress.
Start Tartan by either clicking on the icon on the desktop or from the command line as follows:
- Linux - program_path/ms0000.py [options]
- Windows - program_path\ms0000.exe [options]
To find out what the available command line options are, use the -h option.
Login using admin as the user name and a password if prompted.
The first time Tartan is started you will be taken to Preferences where you will have to set up your preferences regarding database, paths, utilities and various other choices. You will then have to enter the system record using System Record Maintenance as well as a company record using Company Records Maintenance. For most SOHO installations there will only be one company, however there is provision for up to 999 integrated companies.
Once you have created your Company Record you might be required to login again in order to get the new menus for the system modules selected.
If you are going to use the General Ledger you must perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record using Control Record (GL).
- Create the chart of accounts using Masterfile Records (GL).
- Create control accounts using Control Accounts.
- Capture the account's opening balances using Opening Balances (GL).
- Print a trial balance using Trial Balance (GL) and ensure that your accounts balance. If not, recapture the incorrect ones.
- Capture the account's budgets using Budgets (GL) if required.
The General Ledger system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture postings, produce basic reports and do interrogations etc.
If you are going to use the Creditor's Ledger you must perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record for the company using Control Record (CR).
- If you elected to integrate with the General Ledger you must create the crs_ctl and dis_rec control accounts as per above.
- Create Creditor's accounts using Masterfile Records (CR).
- Capture the account's opening balances using Journals in Data Capture (CR).
- Print an aged analysis using Age Analysis (CR) and ensure that your totals balance. If not, recapture the incorrect ones.
Please remember that if you are integrating the Creditors and General Ledger systems, the control account must balance with the age analysis.
The Creditor's Ledger system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture postings, produce basic reports and do interrogations etc.
Please note that within the Creditor's system all balances are stored as positive even though they are stored as credits in the General Ledger. Therefore to increase a supplier's balance you would capture a Journal Credit and to decrease a supplier's balance you would capture a Journal Debit.
If you are going to use the Debtor's Ledger you must perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record using Control Record (DR).
- If you elected to integrate with the General Ledger you must create the drs_ctl and dis_all controls as per above.
- If you are going to make use of chain stores, i.e. the facility to have separate accounts for branches within a chain with a consolidated statement. You would have to create the necessary chain store records using Chain Stores (DR).
- If you are going to group your accounts by business activity, create the necessary records using Business Activities (DR).
- If you are going to group your accounts by business types, create the necessary records using Business Types (DR).
- If you are going to group your accounts by area, create the necessary records using Areas (DR).
- If you are going to group your accounts by salesman, create the necessary records using Salesmen (DR).
- Create Debtor's accounts using Masterfile Records (DR).
- Capture the account's opening balances using Journals in Data Capture (DR).
- Print an aged analysis using Age Analysis (DR) and ensure that your totals balance. If not, recapture the incorrect ones.
Please remember that if you are integrating the Debtors and General Ledger systems, the control account must balance with the age analysis.
The Debtor's Ledger system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture postings, produce basic reports and do interrogations etc.
If you are going to use the Store's Ledger you must perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record for the company using Control Record (ST).
- If you elected to integrate with the General Ledger you must create the stk_soh and stk_susp controls as per above.
- Create units of issue records using Units of Issue (ST).
- Create product groups using Product Groups (ST).
- Create stock records for the company by selecting Masterfile Records (ST).
- Enter the current stock on hand for the company by selecting Stock Take Returns (ST).
- Print a variance report using Stock Take Variance Report (ST) and ensure that all the quantities have been entered correctly. Correct any errors by redoing the previous step for the incorrect ones only.
- Update the stock items using Stock Take Merge (ST).
- Print a stock on hand report using Stock on Hand (ST).
Please remember that if you are integrating the Stores and General Ledger systems, the control account must balance with the stock on hand report.
The Store's Ledger system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture postings, produce basic reports and do interrogations etc.
If you are going to use Sales Invoicing you must perform the following procedures in order:
- Setup the Debtor's System as in 8) above ensuring that you create at least one salesman's record.
- Setup the Store's System as in 9) above.
- Create a control record using Control Record (SI).
The Sales's Invoicing system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture invoices, credit notes, sales orders and quotations.
If you are going to use the Asset's Register you must at least perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record using Control Record (AR).
- Create depreciation codes using Depreciation Codes (AR).
- Create group records using Group Records (AR).
- Create masterfile records and take on opening balances for existing assets using Opening Balances (AR).
The Asset's Register system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture payments, receipts and journal entries. Please note that new assets are captured via the data capture routines i.e. Payments and/or Journal Entries.
If you are going to use the Member's Ledger you must at least perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record using Control Record (ML).
- If you elected to integrate with the General Ledger you must create the mem_ctl and mem_pen controls as per above.
- Create category records using Category Records.
- Create contact records using Contact Records.
The Member's Ledger system is at this stage fully functional and you can add members, edit member details, capture postings, produce basic reports and do interrogations etc.
If you are going to use the Rental's Ledger (Basic) you must at least perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record using Control Record (RB).
- Create premises records using Premises Records (RB).
- Create masterfile records using Masterfile Records (RB).
The Rental's Ledger (Basic) system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture payments, receipts and journal entries.
If you are going to use Salaries and Wages you must at least perform the following procedures in order:
- Create a control record using Control Record (WG).
- If you elected to integrate with the General Ledger you must create the wag_ctl, wag_slc and wag_sli controls as per above.
- Create at least one branch record using Branch Records (WG).
- Create at least one department record using Department Records (WG).
- Create all necessary earnings and deduction records using Earning and Deduction Codes (WG).
- Create employee records using Employee Masterfile (WG).
The Salaries and Wages system is at this stage fully functional and you can capture clock cards and produce payslips etc.
If you are going to use Staff Loans you must first of all set up Salaries and Wages as in 14) above and then, at least, perform the following procedures in order:
- Ensure that there is a deduction record, in the salaries system, for loan repayments.
- Ensure that all employees with loans have the deduction record included in their masterfile records as a deduction, without values.
- Capture existing loans using New Loans.
The Staff Loans system is at this stage functional.
If you are going to use Bowls Clubs you must first of all ensure that the System and Company records have been created.
Create a systems record, by selecting System Record Maintenance from the Control menu.
Create a company/club record, by selecting Company Records Maintenance from the Control menu.
- Club Competitions
- Create a Competition Type record by selecting Competition Types from the menu.
- Create player's records by selecting Player's Maintenance (CC) from the menu.
- Capture Competition Entries by selecting Capture Entries from the menu.
- Print Match Cards and Match Report by selecting Print Match Cards from the menu.
- Print Match Cards Summary by selecting Print Cards Summary from the menu. This report is a running summary of all draws.
- To change Match Cards select Change Match Cards from the menu. After changing the cards you must reprint them as per above. Please note that to only reprint certain cards you must select All Cards No.
- After the games have been played enter the results by selecting Capture Results from the menu.
- Print the game and match results by selecting the applicable routines from the menu.
- League Selections
- Create a league format record by selecting League Formats from the menu.
- Create player's records by selecting Player's Maintenance (CC) from the menu.
- Create side's records by selecting Side's Maintenance from the menu.
- Enter team selections by selecting Capture Selections from the menu.
- To print Assessment Forms select Assessment Forms from the menu.
- To print flag Declaration Forms select Declaration Forms from the menu.
- To capture the completed Assessment Forms select Capture Assessments from the menu.
- To print the Match Assessment Report select Match Assessment Report from the menu.
- To print the Assessment Summary select Assessment Summary from the menu.
- To clear historical selections select Clear History from the menu.
Club's Maintenance - Amend club details with this routine.