1. I am buying a new computer. Are there any special requirements needed for CMS?
2. I am buying a new printer. Are there any special requirements needed for CMS?
3. I have CMS installed on Windows Vista or later. When I run it I get an error that says Full Screen mode is not supported.
4. I have CMS installed on Windows. When I run it, the program is in a small window.
5. I am using Windows 2000 or Windows XP and CMS does not display correctly on the screen.
6. I installed CMS Printer Agent but it doesn't work the way I expected.
7. How do I print from CMS to a Network Printer?
8. Is there a way to run CMS using a remote access program over the internet?
9. There are places in CMS where an entry field is automatically filled in with information from the last item I entered. Is there a way to stop that?
10. When entering customer payments, is there a way to see a list of open invoices only?
11. When entering customer billings, is there a quick way to retrieve the last billed customer?
12. I entered a customer payment against an invoice but now the check has been returned. How do I fix this in CMS?

A. Yes. CMS will run on any DOS or Windows computer except for those that are 64-bit. Windows Vista, 7, and 8 are available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The version you get usually depends on whether the computer itself is 32-bit or 64-bit. Running any DOS program (including CMS) on a 64-bit Windows system is difficult if not impossible. CMS works on a 32-bit Windows Vista or later system but must be run in a window (not full-screen) so it runs a bit slower.

A. It depends on what version of CMS you are using. CMS Version 4.70 can print to any printer with the help of the CMS Printer Agent (included). If you are using an earlier version of CMS and do not have CMS Printer Agent then it may not be possible to use many of today's printers. Most newer inkjet printers cannot accept print jobs from a DOS program like CMS. To get a printer that will work with CMS, it's best to look for a printer that connects to the computer through the Parallel port. Most printers these days connect to the computer through the USB port. Most of these don't work with older versions of CMS. In order for a USB printer to work, it must support the PCL printing protocol and it must be setup as a network printer (see your addendum or the answers below for instructions). CMS Printer Agent software can also be used to print CMS reports to any Windows printer including USB printers.

A. There are two ways to fix this. One way is to:

1. Right-click on the CMS icon on the desktop. A menu will pop up.
2. Click Properties. The Properties window will appear.
3. Click the Screen tab then click Window to change Full Screen to Window.
4. Click OK to save the settings.

The other way is to create a new shortcut. To do this:

1. Navigate to your CMS folder then right-click on your CMS.BAT file (you may just see two files named CMS. CMS.BAT is the one with an icon that looks like gears). A menu will pop up.
2. Click Send To then click Desktop. The new CMS shortcut will be created.
3. Optionally, you may right-click the new shortcut and select Rename to give it a new name such as CMS 4.70.

A. If you are not using Windows Vista or later:

1. Right-click on the CMS icon on the desktop. A menu will pop up.
2. Click Properties. The Properties window will appear.
3. Click the Screen tab then click Full Screen to change Window to Full Screen.
4. Click OK to save the settings.

If you are using Windows Vista or later then CMS must run in a window but you can make it bigger:

1. Right-click on the CMS icon on the desktop. A menu will pop up.
2. Click Properties. The Properties window will appear.
3. Click the Font tab then select a larger size. 10 x 18 raster font works well or click a different font name and experiment with different sizes.
4. Click OK to save the settings.

A. The screen problem is easily fixed. Here is what to do:

1. Right-click the CMS start icon on the Desktop then click Properties.
2. Click the Layout tab then lower the height value for both your Screen Buffer Size and Window Size from 50 to 25.
3. Click the Options tab and find the Display Options. Click the desired button to run CMS in a Window or Full Screen (CMS runs faster in Full Screen).
4. Click OK to save the changes.

1. Run CMS. On the Main Menu select 8) Company Information.
2. Enter the line number of an undefined printer (for example line 24).
3. In the printer name field, enter Windows Printer or any other description you wish.
4. Press enter to open the printer configuration screen.
5. On line 1 enter WINDOWS PRINTER. Answer Yes if CMS asks if you want to add a new printer.
6. On line 2 enter F. This tells CMS that this printer should send all output to a file.
7. On line 3 enter Yes.
8. Lines 4 through 8 must be left blank. If there is data on any of these lines, enter that line number and erase the data.
9. Press enter to save the printer set up.
10. Press enter again to save the company information.

A. You can use CMS Printer Agent to print to network printers. Without CMS Printer Agent, you must print to an LPT port. What you must do is capture LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3 to the network printer. For this to work, the network printer must be shared on the network usually through one of the computers. When you browse your network, the shared network printer will appear as one of the printers connected to the computer where it is shared.

If the network printer is not already shared, setup sharing for it on one of your computers. It is preferable to use a Windows 2000 or XP workstation or Windows server for this. Due to a limitation in older versions of Windows, you cannot share the printer on the same Windows 95 or 98 computer on which you run CMS and want to print.

On the computer you choose, go into the Printer properties and select Sharing. When you set the printer as shared, there will be a printer share name created. Remember this name or change it to something else. If you change the name, keep it short with no spaces. Click OK to save all these settings then go into the Control Panel to find the computer's name. This information is located in different places depending on the version of Windows. It may be in the Network settings or the System settings. It's usually named after the person who logs into that station but it could be anything. You may also be able to see this name by browsing your Network Neighborhood.

Once you have both the computer name and the printer share name, go to the computer that runs CMS. What you do next depends on the version of Windows that you are using.

If you are using Windows 95 or 98, go into the network printer properties (or any other printer's properties) and click Capture Printer Port. Select LPT2 or LPT3 then enter the path as \\computername\sharename where computername is the computer name you found above and sharename is the printer share name created above. Also select the box to reconnect at logon.

If you are using Windows 2000 or XP, click on the Start button, then All Programs, then Accessories, then Command Prompt. A command prompt window will open. Enter the following where LPTn is LPT2 or LPT3 and \\computername\sharename is the computer name you found above and the printer share name created above:

NET USE LPTn: \\computername\sharename /PERSISTENT:YES

After you press enter, you should see "The command completed successfully". Type the word EXIT and press enter. The command window will close.

Finally, go into CMS and setup a printer on the LPT port you used above. For the printer type, try HP LASERJET or HP DESKJET or POSTSCRIPT. In most cases one of these will work. After you create the printer you can also set it as the default printer on line 19 of the Company Information screen.

A. Yes, there are 2 kinds of remote access programs. One kind directly connects the two computers together over the internet or a network. The other kind uses a gateway computer on the internet to connect the two computers.

Examples of the first kind are Microsoft Remote Desktop, PCAnywhere, and VNC. These programs require that your computer and internet router be configured to allow the connection to work.

Examples of the other kind are GotoMyPC, GotoMeeting, and LogMeIn. These don't require special set up but you will have to register with their companies to allow the remote access. It is generally easier to use this kind of program.

In order to use any remote program with CMS you will have to run CMS in a Window, not full-screen. Most people run CMS full screen (it takes up the whole screen) but that won't work with a remote access program.

Here is how to make it work: If you connect to your computer remotely and run CMS and don't see it on the screen, just press the Alt and Enter keys at the same time (Alt-Enter). This will switch CMS from full-screen to a window so you can use it. CMS will run slower than it normally does at the office.

One thing that may not work remotely with CMS is remote printing. With CMS Printer Agent you may be able to print remotely depending on which remote control program you use. Otherwise, you will still be able to print from CMS but the printout will come out on the printer at the office and not on the printer where you are.

A. When this happens it means that Repeat is enabled for the field. You can tell that Repeat is enabled when you see an asterisk (*) next to the line number. This is a handy feature when you have an entry field that usually contains the same information. For instance, if most of your customers are in the same city then turn on Repeat for the City, State field.

You toggle Repeat on or off for a field by selecting the line number of the field then typing an asterisk. The asterisk next to the line number will appear or disappear telling you that Repeat is on or off. If needed, type the correct information in the entry field and press Enter. Save the record as you normally would. Be sure to Save -- do not Cancel. If you Cancel then the changes are not saved for Repeat fields.

As an example, suppose you are entering invoices and the amount field constantly repeats. Do the following: First enter the invoice. Don't use the arrow keys to back up. The wrong amount will be showing because of Repeat. At the top of the screen it will say Enter Line to Change. Enter the line number of the amount field; the cursor will go to that field. Type the * character. The asterisk will disappear but you will still be in that entry field. Type the correct amount and press Enter. Save the invoice as you normally would.

A. Yes, when in the Invoice Number field press either Ctrl-F2 or Alt-F2. Optionally, enter the first few characters of the paying customer's code then press Ctrl-F2 or Alt-F2. The list of open invoices will then pop up showing the first matching code. This method of looking up open invoices also works when picking an invoice to delete or when picking a credit memo or deposit to apply for payment. Ctrl-F2 shows the open invoices in Customer Code / Invoice Date order. Alt-F2 shows the open invoices in Customer Code / Invoice Number order.

A. Yes, when in the Customer No. field enter an equals sign (=). The last billed customer will be recalled. This works even if you have exited from CMS since the last billing.

1. Go into 2) Accounts Receivable then H) Sales Tax File. Print it so that you can check it later.
2. Go into D) Posting Journal and print by 2. Invoice. Print the journal for the invoice with the returned check.
3. Press F7 and set the Date to the date when you entered the payment (the payment that was later returned).
4. Go into A) Transaction Entry and enter 2. Delete. Enter the invoice number to fix. Using the print-out from step 2, fill in the amounts for the G/L Accounts at the bottom of the screen. If you use Inventory, Do Not press F3 to enter the stock item sales information. The Inventory information was posted when the invoice was originally entered and does not need to be fixed. Enter the Delete code. This invoice is now unpaid but it is also deleted.
5. Go into A) Transaction Entry and enter 1. Enter. Re-enter the invoice using the same amounts for the G/L Accounts at the bottom of the screen. If you use Inventory, Do Not press F3 to enter this information. Save the new invoice entry. The books are now up to date. The Sales/Receipts Journal will show a reversal of the sale and payment. The new Invoice will wash against the reversal of the sale. One thing that will be off is that the new invoice will show in the Open Invoice Ledger as new when it is really older.
6. Go into H) Sales Tax File and check the amounts against the print-out from step 1. If the numbers have changed, change them back to the amounts on the print-out.

If these entries are in a prior month, you will have to re-post that month and re-print the financial statements.