The BAL program allows the manipulation of the accounting system related data contained in the system account file RSX11.SYS. For non-privileged users, running this program displays the account balance and other account parameters. For the privileged user, BAL presents a number of options, a list of which can be obtained by typing HELP BAL OPTIONS. To obtain help on option "X", type HELP BAL X. 2 OPTIONS The following BAL options are available in version 7 of the accounting system: A Alter Monthly Money Allocation B Alter Disk Block Allocation C Chain (or unchain) a member account to a Master account E Display account parameters H Display help text I Dump account information to transactions file L Write all account parameters to BALANCE.DMP and spool this file M Create a Master account N Delete Master status of a master account S Set up parameters for a new account U Update the current balance of an account X Exit from BAL ? Display help text Further information on option "X" can be obtained by typing: HELP BAL X If BAL is installed, invocation by a non-privileged user causes a jump to the E option followed by an exit. The users' password will be prompted for. Usually a RETURN is all that is necessary. 2 A The BAL "A" option allows the monthly allocation of money to be reset for a desired account. The original value is set by the "S" command in BAL. This option is only allowed if Monthly Money Allocation support was included in the accounting system at ACCGEN, and causes the account balance to be set to this figure whenever a new accounting period is started. This option is illegal for an account that is chained elsewhere. 2 B The BAL B option allows the Disk Block allocation of an individual user to be reset. All blocks in use by a user above this allocation are charged at double the standard rate. The default value for this parameter is set by the "S" option of BAL when the account is enabled for use with the accounting system. This option requires that Disk Block Allocation support be included in the accounting system when it is assembled. This option is illegal for a chained account. 2 C The BAL C option allows a user to be "chained" to a master account for the purposes of charging for computer use, that is, all costs incurred by the user are charged against the master account. Upon chaining a user, that users' current balance and monthly allocation (if relevant) are added to that of the master account and the account balance is zeroed. The disk block allocation is added to that of the master account also. A master account can be set up using the M option of BAL. The C option also allows a previously created chain linkage to be broken. This must be done before a chained account can be chained again to a different master. To unchain an account, use the C option and specify a value of zero for the master account number. 2 E The BAL E option displays all parameters relevant to an account in the current version of the accounting system. Data displayed include the disk allocation, current account balance and average disk use in the current accounting period. If the account is chained to a master account, parameters for the master account are also displayed with a message. 2 H The BAL H option displays a list of available options. The ? option has the same effect. More detailed information on option "x" can be obtained by typing HELP BAL x. 2 I The BAL I option dumps information about an account entry to the accounting transactions file. This supplies the RSU task sufficient information to include this account in a report that has been produced after the account entry has been deleted from the account file. This option is usually used immediately prior to deleting an account entry with ACNT. 2 L The BAL L option causes the creation of a file called BALANCE.DMP on the current SY: under the current default UIC. Parameters for all the accounts are written to this file, which is then spooled to the lineprinter, if one is available. Non-accounting data, such as is maintained by the DEC program ACNT is not displayed in the output produced. 2 M The BAL M option allows the creation of a master account. Such an account may have "member accounts" chained to it in such a fashion that all computing done by the member accounts is charged to the master account (see also the "C" option). An account cannot be processed by the M option if it is already a master account or is a member account chained elsewhere. 2 N The BAL N option allows the master status of a master account to be deleted, for example, if you wish to chain it elsewhere. A master account cannot be processed by this option if there exist member accounts chained to it. In the latter case, the C option must be used to unchain all the member accounts first. 2 S The BAL S option is used for every account to enable its use with the accounting system. Accounting information, such as allocations of money and disk blocks and a unique account number, are entered into the system account file RSX11.SYS. If an account has not been processed by the S option, the HELLO command will reject the user with an appropriate message if he/she tries to log on. The S option is illegal for an account that has already been processed. The various fields in the account file that are required by the accounting system may be manipulated at a later time by other options of BAL, a list of which may be obtained using the H option or by typing HELP BAL OPTIONS. 2 U The BAL U option allows money to be added to or taken away from a users' current account balance. It has no effect on the monthly allocation. The U option is illegal if the account is a member account chained to a master account. 2 X The BAL X option causes exit from the BAL program. The same effect can be achieved by typing CTRL/Z whenever BAL is prompting for input. In the latter case, any option currently in progress is cancelled.