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                          C H A P T E R   1 0

         M A I N T A I N I N G   Y O U R   D A T A   F I L E S


It  is  inevitable  that the value of your time and effort expended in
entering  and  maintaining data for the OWL Personal Portfolio Manager 
will  eventually  far  outweigh the cost of the software itself.  Just 
as  you  make  backup copies of your software programs to protect your 
investment,  'Otto-Williams Ltd. strongly advises that you make backup 
copies of your data.  OPPM data files are named as follows:

                      PORTDIR.DAT     PORTMAS.DAT
                      PURSALE.DAT     STKINC.DAT 
                      STKHIS.DAT      ASSETS.DAT 
                      INDEX.DAT                  

These  files  should  be  backed-up  frequently  using  the  DOS  Copy 
command.   Backup  copies  should be stored separate from your working 
data disk.

In  addition  to performing manual backups of your data files, the OWL 
Personal   Portfolio   Manager   provides   several  file  maintenance 
functions.   The File Maintenance menu provides the following options. 


                       ÕÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͸
                       ³ FILE MAINTENANCE MENU ³
                       ÆÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͵
                       ³ CHANGE DATABASE PATH  ³
                       ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
                       ³ BACKUP DATABASE FILES ³
                       ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
                       ³ INITIALIZE DATABASE   ³
                       ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
                       ³ PURGE OBSOLETE DATA   ³
                       ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
                       ³ RESTORE BACKUP FILES  ³
                       ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
                       ³ RETURN TO MAIN MENU   ³
                       ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
                              Table 10-1


CHANGE DATABASE PATH

Each  time  you use the OWL Personal Portfolio Manager, it defaults to 
the  database  path  which  was  specified  in  the command line.  The 
"Change  Database  Path"  option  allows  you to switch to a different 
database  without exiting and restarting the program.  You should note 
that  data  files on the new path are not automatically backed-up when 
you change to that path.


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BACKUP DATABASE FILES

Use  this option to backup your current database files.  You should be 
aware  that  this  procedure  will  overwrite  any  previously created 
backup files in your current database path.


INITIALIZE DATABASE FILES

Use  this  option  to  create  new  database  files  in your currently 
selected  database  path.   If  this  path  already  contains database 
files,  a warning message will appear.  You will be prompted to either 
proceed with creating new database files or to abort the process.


PURGE OBSOLETE DATA

This  option  provides the capability of purging (deleting) individual 
securities  from  the  portfolio  database  in your currently selected 
database path.

When  selected,  the  "Purge  Obsolete  Data"  option first displays a 
message  which  warns that any current backup files will be lost.  You 
are  given  the option to proceed or abort the process.  If you choose 
to  proceed, new backup data files are automatically created.  (If you 
are  unsatisfied  with  the  results  of  running  this option you may 
select  the  "Restore  Backup  Files" option and your database will be
restored using these newly created backup data files.)

After  your database files have been backed-up, you are ready to begin 
selecting  which securities to retain and which to delete.  The system 
reads  each  security  from  your  database  and  lists  the following 
information.

                                Ticker Symbol
                                Security Name
                                Portfolio Name

A  menu  is  displayed with options to "RETAIN" or "DELETE" the listed 
security.    Use   the  left  and  right  arrow  keys  to  select  the 
appropriate  option  and  press the return key to execute the selected 
option.   Securities  which  reside  in  multiple  portfolios  will be 
displayed once for each portfolio in which they reside.

When  you select the DELETE option you will be asked if you would like 
a  printed report of the security being deleted.  This report provides 
a  summary  of  all  purchases,  sales, and dividends for the security 
being  deleted  and  is  sufficiently detailed to recreate the records
being deleted should you desire to do this at a later date.

Once   the   system  has  cycled  through  all  securities,  the  File 
Maintenance menu is redisplayed.



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RESTORE BACKUP FILES

Each  time  you  use  the  OWL  Personal Portfolio Manager, the system 
automatically  makes  backup  copies  of  all data files.  The RESTORE 
BACKUP  FILES  option  may be used to erase any mistakes which you may 
have  made during a data entry session.   Selection of the option will 
restore  your  data  files to their condition at the time you executed 
OPPM  for  the  current  session.    NOTE:  all updates which you have 
made during the current run of OPPM will be lost.  

This  automatic  backup  procedure  is  not designed to replace manual 
backups as described above.