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PC MARS for Windows is a full-featured accounting software designed specifically for farm applications, but with enough flexibility that it may be used for small business applications. Designed for the Windows 9X operating system and above, it features many capabilities available in that platform. The program also works in the Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows XP environments. Pc Mars is fully 32 bit compatible. (It will not work with Windows 3.1)

The software requirements are a Pentium 266 MHz system with 32 meg of RAM if using Windows 95/98 or 64 meg of RAM if using Windows ME/2000/XP/Vista/7. A VGA monitor and Windows supported printer is also required.

CASH OR ACCRUAL:

The software will operate in either a cash basis accounting mode or the fully accrual basis mode; depending on which system is selected during the installation process. The cash system is a simpler and easier to use, whereas the accrual system will handle more complex accrual accounting methods. The accrual system is capable of generating cash basis reports, dependent upon the method of inventory adjustment entries.

BANK, FUND ACCOUNTS:

PC Mars will enable the user to track up to 30 different bank, money market or other fund accounts and their balances. As in the vendor file, new accounts may be added from the data entry screen without exiting to the software setup procedures. As the user enters individual transactions, the data entry screen will display the accessed bank or fund account balance. Procedures are provided to rapidly reconcile information entered into PC MARS with monthly bank statement(s).

CHART OF ACCOUNTS:

The software, either cash or accrual, has several farm or small business charts of accounts that may be selected during the setup process. There are farm charts of accounts that conform to the categories used by the Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota (FinPack) Farm Business Farm Management systems. User may select a totally user defined system as well. The system provides up to 625 account codes.

VENDOR CAPABILITIES:

The software provides the user listing for commonly used vendors, both to facilitate entry time and check printing. There is a separate vendor listing for individual loan accounts. All vendors may be "flagged" for 1099 reporting, and specific reporting capabilities are available for the listing of potential 1099 recipients. New vendors can be added "on-the-fly" without having to enter the software setup procedures. All vendors may be assigned a default account code, easing the data entry routines. The vendor file capacity is limited only to the user's needs or hard drive capacity.

PAYROLL CAPABILITIES:

Users may set up payroll files for an unlimited number of employees; specifying the information necessary to generate the payroll check and the appropriate deductions for federal, state and FICA withholdings as well as a pension and three other potential withholdings. Payroll checks can be printed with a detailed stub. A full compliment of labor/payroll reports are available to users in both the case or accrual versions of the software.

LOAN TRACKING:

PC Mars users are able to track specific loan balances and interest paid on each specific loan. Loans will display in the vendor file, with the *L indicator denoting that this is a specific loan. As with the payroll capability, there is a full compliment of loan reports available for the users to select from. As with the vendor file, the loan list is limited to the users needs and/or hard drive capacity.

ENTERPRISING:

In the farm accounting area, or the small business structure, ability to segregate the business into enterprise segments is a necessity. PC Mars users can define an unlimited number of different enterprises within their business. The reporting capability of PC Mars allows the user to generate reports by enterprise. All account codes may also be defaulted to a specific enterprise, easing the data entry process.

DESCRIPTIONS:

PC Mars users can set up a "pick list" of an unlimited number of descriptions that may be used in either deposit or check transactions. The list insures that the descriptions are identical for search and selective reporting purposes. These descriptions may be added "on-the-fly" as in the case of vendors, and account codes, etc.

PROFIT CENTERS:

During the software setup, PC Mars users may opt to utilize profit center designations in their accounting. A profit center may be a separate segment of an enterprise, i.e. the finishing buildings in the hog enterprise, or a land lease unit. In the flexible "selective" reports capabilities of PC MARS, this allows excellent income/expense tracking abilities.

DETAILING ENTRIES:

Users may track income and expenses to many levels. From vendor, account code, enterprise, descriptions, to profit center. The selective reporting capabilities will support this "sort" level, plus date and bank/fund account selections.

CREDIT TRANSACTIONS:

Transactions involving revolving credit accounts or credit cards can be entered.

INVENTORY CAPABILITIES:

Inventory information can be entered to the level of detail desired by the user. For instance the user can enter total quantity of grain and livestock or detail it by bin or individual livestock group. This inventory information is used to compile a Net Worth Statement using either cash (basis) or market value numbers. In the accrual system, an accurate inventory can be derived at any time from information entered in transactions. Seven screens provided for entry of inventory information.

REPORTING CAPABILITIES:

PC Mars has the normal report capabilities, in either the cash or accrual mode, of any accounting software, but its payroll and loan tracking reports have been designed with versatility in mind. The "selective" reporting capability permit the user to generate reports based on any one of the data entry blocks or any combination.

CASH FLOW PLANNING:

Cash flow planning / budgeting features in PC Mars allows the user to build a annual, monthly or quarterly budget for the accounting year. The system will then generate "comparative" income statements that compare the budgeted amounts with the actual figures for the reporting month and the year-to-date figures.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE DURING DATA ENTRY

• Checks/Expenses
• Deposits/Income
• Paychecks with automatic calculation of gross pay and deductions
• Bank Account Transfers
• Credit Transactions (Revolving credit or credit card accounts)
• Journal entries (code transfers, items involving both income and expense, miscellaneous journal entries)
• Screens for "Special Transactions" (Sealed grain deposits/repayments, crop insurance, and Coop dividends)
• Browse transactions (with many sorting / selection options and with fast path to editing with a click of the mouse)
• Reconcile transactions (clear transactions and bank statement reconciliation)
• Writing checks and deposit slips as you go
• Using a vendor list
• Using enterprise list and/or profit center list
• Using "pick list" of descriptions
• Fast and easy search / edit / delete routine
• Add bank accounts, vendors, account codes, enterprises, descriptions, profit centers on the fly
• Ability to "reuse" recurring or similar type transactions.
• Audit trail of edited and deleted transactions

REPORTS AVAILABLE

• ENTRY JOURNAL - Your transactions in the order that they were entered
• YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY REPORT - Account code totals - month and year to date (with optional budget comparisons).
• CASH INCOME STATEMENT
• MONTHLY DETAIL REPORT - Amounts, enterprises, vendors, quantities, etc. (all the details) sorted by account code and sub-totaled. Optional code group totals.
• CHECK REGISTER - Reconcile your accuracy with bank statements
• BANK AND LOAN BALANCE REPORT - Summary of all bank and loan balances
• DETAILED REPORT SELECTED ITEMS -Very flexible report with the same format as Monthly Detail Report but prints a range of months and will print only the items you specify (any of the input items).
• MONTHLY DETAILED REPORT SELECTED ITEMS -Very flexible report with the same format as Monthly Detail Report but will print only the items you specify (any of the input items), for a particular month.
• ENTERPRISE REPORTS - Summary or details dealing with one or more enterprises (5 report formats)
• YEAR TO DATE CASH FLOW FORMAT - Actuals with/without budget comparisons, a column for each month and yearly total
• DETAILED LOAN REPORT - Details of one or more loan accounts with summary at the end
• LABOR REPORTS - Details or summary of labor activity for one or all employees with summary of federal and state withholding and deposits (9 report formats)
• YEAR END REPORT/TAX PREP - 12 months, all details, sorted by account code, with optional cover sheet information
• YEAR END CASH SUMMARY REPORT
• RESALE REPORT
• CODE GROUP TOTALS REPORT
• VENDOR SUMMARY REPORT
• PROFIT CENTER REPORT - Summary or details dealing with a profit center
• YTD - COMPARE WITH ANNUAL BUDGET
• NET WORTH STATEMENT - A snapshot of your farm's financial situation with or without supporting inventory detail
• AUDIT TRAIL REPORT
• MULTI-YEAR REPORTS - Compare with previous years (Summary Report, Income Statements, Balance Sheet)
• ACCRUED INCOME STATEMENT (Accrual Version)
• BALANCE SHEET REPORTS (Accrual Version)
• TRIAL BALANCE (Accrual Version)
• INVENTORY TRACKING REPORT (Accrual Version)
• INVENTORY SUMMARY REPORT (Accrual Version)

Summary of Other Features

• Select from 6 different chart of accounts (Iowa/Regular, MSD, Ill, Small Business, Church, and Generic)
• You select your individual account codes from 625 built in accounts codes, of which 400 are changeable
• You can divide your farm in separate enterprises and keep separate accounts on each -- 13 are built it, but you can add an unlimited number of your own
• Listing for an unlimited number of vendors
• Listing for an unlimited number of loans
• Listing for an unlimited number of profit centers
• Listing for an unlimited number of descriptions
• Listing for an unlimited number of employees
• Data entry facilitated by appropriate codes, enterprises, vendors, profit centers, descriptions. being chosen from pick lists
• It will handle an unlimited number of line items per check or deposit
• Will handle an unlimited number of "set of books" or business entities
• Automatic backup and restore
• Pop-up calculator (handier than that provided by windows)
• Handy print preview (fully WYSIWYG)
• Inventory can be entered to as much detail as you desire
• Fully windows compliant (all the features that you expect from any windows program, including adjustable window size and placement)
• Icon Bar (tool bar) for often used menu commands - user definable
• Hints for buttons and icons
• Fully compliant windows help system
• Simplified or Advanced file management
• Automatic or direct control of accounting period
• Flexible selection of individual report pages or multiple copies
• Export options to spreadsheets or FinPack software (Iowa and MSD)
• "Enterprise Locking" feature for Church/Small business application
• Notepad
• Calendar

Prices

• Version 2.3 -- $350.    To order by E-mail click on this link http://www.iowafarmbusiness.org/support/e-mail%20order%20form.htm
• Version 2.3 -- Demo version - $5

Upgrade Information

Pc Mars for Windows (full) version 2.3 is now available. The major changes from Version 2.0 and Version 1.2 are listed below.  The changes in Version 2.3 are in blue and listed first.  Pc Mars will now be sent out on a CD (Compact Disk), unless stated otherwise.

Payroll

• Advanced Payroll can be added to version 2.2 and above, for more extensive payroll (extra cost)

File

• New restore feature allows users to restore multiple sets of Pc Mars books at once.
• Ability to specify background screen for various set of books. This will help user with multiple set of
  books easily recognize various books based on the screen color.
• Backup Warning: PcMars warns user if a “removable” backup location is not selected.
• Added sort options to enhanced open/view set of books screen. Users can sort by set of books, year,
  version, or date modified.
• Enhanced open/view screen for sets of books. Multiple sets of can be backed up.
• Do not default backup drive to drive A if it does not exist
• Improved the "Default Directory" usage in Advanced File Management mode (2.1)
• Added option to default the backup to last location used (2.1)
• Delete only the files associated with Pc Mars prior to backup (2.1)
• When working in previous years data, the default month is December or last month of the fiscal year (2.1)
• Improved ease of use of the Create New Set of Books and Carryover Set of Books functions (2.1)
• Open Set of Books window is now re-sizeable (2.1)
• Retained coop dividends balance will carry over (recommend to use 119)
• Custom upload Set of Books Information feature for consultants
• Ability to define a default set of books
• Carry over function asks to delete each loan that carries a zero balance.
• When setting up new set of books, the name is left blank instead of defaulting to "Books"

• Option to preview without making changes when doing “carry over balances”

Options

• Miscellaneous Options
  • User can now select if “memo”, ”first description”, or “vendor (pay to)” prints on reports for loan
    vendor description
  • Separate choices of matching text option for Vendors and Descriptions.
  • Added option to backup to the last location used (2.1)
  • Enable or disable batch printing, thus un-cluttering the screen if you do not print checks in a batch
  • Enable or disable month reminder dialog box
  • Show 1st deposit vendor on check register
  • Show payroll codes in regular check

Setup

• Updated PcMars “carry over”. Any vendor or inventory item added to the previous year books after
  they had been carried into “new” year, can also be updated in new year set of books.
• Allows user to select if they want to install the program as cash only, accrual only or a "both" option allowing the user to work with cash or accrual sets of books.
• Added ability to set up a default description for vendors for use in transactions
• Track money loaned out through asset loan vendor type.
• A “Labor Description” list separate from the general description list
• Added the ability to setup recurring transactions, discussed more fully under transactions below (2.1)
• Improved the carrying over of options to the next year (2.1)
• Added the ability to specify a breeding, market or "both" type of livestock enterprise (2.1).
• Added the ability to enter miscellaneous notes for employees (2.1)
• Business Information
  • Additional Information tab stores extra data to help the consultant - printed on Year End Detail Report
  • Advanced page allows changing enterprise wording, monthly or annual budget, locking enterprises codes
• Each loan has a field for the interest rate and taxpayer ID number
• Enhanced handling of CCC loans - can be treated as income or as a loan for tax purposes
• Ability to change CCC loan treatment in midstream of year. (button on vendor screen)
• Added an option to vendor screen to show only loans, CCC loans, or regular vendors (uses right mouse button)
• Included a beginning of year date to screen adding/editing loan vendor data
• Loan vendors can have a default account code defined in the form of a "Use as a default" check box
• Payroll General Information improvement
  • Employer data / Social Security phase out limit
  • Labor withholding data
  • Pension and other deductions have check boxes for "subject to taxes..."
  • FICA account code and description for use with files made prior to ver 2.0
• On Accrual installations, a double-click on account code goes to appropriate inventory screen
• Code Groups - added ability to change the spelling of certain "group" names
• Illinois books have account codes changes: 329 is FSA Payments, and included with FSA Subsidies group, thus removing "Building Receipts" as a default code name. Codes 329, 331, and 332 are now changeable

Transactions

• Simplified reconcile procedure, enhancements include:
  • When user “clears” a previous years transaction, it is linked to the current years books monthly
    bank statement
  • Current year bank statement reports can include transactions entered in a previous year; this
    allows user to easily compare against their bank statement
  • Ability to print a bank statement in a detailed report format showing income and expense
    summary
• Check transaction has been updated to “save” a manually entered payee address with transaction.
• New capital purchase wizard feature: This wizard screen is designed to help users enter capital
  purchases for various scenarios; such as:
  • Purchase by cash and/or financing
  • Trading in the asset
  • Rolling traded assets loans into the new assets purchase
• Pc Mars now “warns” user prior to deleting a cleared transaction.
• “Multiple Asset Vendor” added as a right click feature on deposit, checks and revolving transaction
  screens.
• Revolving Credit Transaction updates with the following features:
  • Ability to specify which loan vendors are available to select
  • Updated re-use feature so users can easily find previous transaction
  • Added multiple loan vendor option as a right click feature
  • User can now select if “memo”, ”first description”, or “vendor (pay to)” prints on reports for loan
    vendor description
• Can select “view as a transaction” report for Journal Transactions.
• Improved the find functions to reduce user errors.
• Check printing: shortcut key added.  Users can now use the "F9" shortcut key to quickly print check or deposit slip.
• Improve bank account default
• Add number to browse filter
• Bi-weekly and custom times added for recurring transaction reminders
• Instead of “add line” to transaction, you now “insert line” (directly below current line)
• Batch check printing now supported for credit transactions
• Multiple Loan vendors can be used in checks
• Floating notepad implemented (tack notes) can be used with each transaction

• Added credit reconciliation

• Browse and Find can focus on payroll transactions only.

• Added recurring transactions.  These are transactions you can set up to repeat weekly or monthly. When the day or the month or week rolls around, a window appears and asks you if you want to add them now, later, or to skip this time.  You can also enter recurring transactions manually from the transaction screens. (2.1)
• Added the ability to reconcile previous year's checks, making year transitions easier to handle (2.1)
• Added the ability to enter credit income transactions (2.1)
• Added the ability to print a check or deposit slip from a credit transaction (2.1)
• Added the ability to specify a non-bank journal transaction as "cash" so it will appear in all the reports (2.1)
• The hourly wage is printed on paychecks (2.1)
• Added the ability to "reuse" transactions from the previous year set of books (2.1)
• Added the ability to select  a dollar amount and a full date range (Mo./Day/Year) in the browse transaction screen (2.1)
• Updated state tax tables for Minnesota and Iowa (2.1)
• Date picker (pop-up calendar) for more user-friendly data entry
• Grids in the browse screen in alternating colors
• Notification between Add New and Edit Existing change to bolder letters with graphic
• Added Bank Account Transfers
• Complex Transactions renamed Journal Entries
• Medicare split from Social Security withholdings built into payroll transactions
• Ability to not have withholdings subject to taxes
• Updated the Iowa withholding tax table for this year
• Accommodation for farmers who pay both halves of FICA
• Computer calculation of gross pay from net check
• Improved check reconciliation
• Added "Credit Transactions" (Revolving Farm Credit and Credit Cards)
• Added "Special Transactions", there are four items
  • Depositing CCC Loan Proceeds
  • Repaying CCC Loans
  • Crop Insurance Proceeds
  • Coop Dividends
• Added new check format - 3 per page with side stub on left.
• On screen support for Nelco checks as well as Deluxe

Reports

• Tack Note Report update to include details such as transaction number, transaction date, business ID,
  and etc.
• Employee YTD Report: Added “option to skip employees that have no paycheck”.
• Added a Detail Report Attachment to the Check Register showing income and expense details.
• Updated various reports to include set of books details
• Enterprise sub-total option in selected item reports
• Multi-profit center report
• Date range specifications available on loan reports

• Credit register report

• Updated screen preview now supports a wheel mouse

• Can show the chart of accounts on the report header

• Improve Multi-Year Loan Report - date specification and expired loans in previous years

• Added number of employees to SUTA / FUTA reports

• Added a Multi-Year Loan Report (2.1)
• Added the ability to "Join" fiscal years in the Vendor Detail Report and Vendor Summary Report (2.1)
• Added the Bank Transfer Report (2.1)
• Added the ability to specify a month range in the Multi-Year Cash Summary Report and Multi-Year Income Statement (2.1)
• Improved the reports used in church set of books (2.1)
• Added option to print the current page in the print preview (2.1)
• If not in "Direct Control of Period" mode, all period options are removed from reports (2.1)
• Added a SUTA attachment sheet option to the SUTA report (2.1)
• Save all applicable report options for use the next time report is run (2.1)
• Removed "long name" in the Bank and Loan Balance Report when used in "Split" mode (2.1)
• Added an option to print un-cleared checks in the Check Register.(2.1)
• Added an option to print the notes for employees in the Employee Background Data Report (2.1)
• Batch check printing available
• Compare to budget option is added to income statement report (cash and accrued).
• YTD Summary and YTD Cash Flow Format have the added ability to be compared with cash flow as well as budget
• YTD Compare with annual budget
• Labor Reports
  • W2 Summary Report added to labor reports
• Multi-Year Reports - Summary Report, Income Statement, and Balance Sheet
• Cover sheet information that includes business information and notes can be printed with year-end reports
• Added an option to include account code subtotals in vendor detail report.
• Added an option to include credit transactions in code group totals report
• Enterprise - Compare with Budget Report (when "Enterprise Locking" feature is used)
• Compact Enterprise Report (when "Enterprise Locking" feature is used)
• Improved Check Register - it prints first vendor in deposit rather that bank account
• Check Register printed by date range specification

Inventory (new name, was net worth)

• "Live" Net worth – double clicks to inventory screens. Will update if changes are made.

• Added the ability to specify a breeding, market or "both" type of livestock inventory (2.1).
• Seven new screens for entering inventory with more detail added
• New format for farm sets of books, same format for small business, church, and generic
• Automatically pull in Loan Vendors to the liability file in inventory
• Added a place for ending date for net-worth report. (bank balances etc. are recalculated to that date

Cash Flow

• Added the ability to specify which budget or cash flow file name (or set of books) to carry-over (2.1)
• Can have different names for Cash Flow file(s)
• Budget feature is now an option under "Cash Flow" and multiple budget files can be set up
• Reports that previously compared with budget can now compare with any cash flow files

Utility

• Previous export screen settings are now saved as the default.
• New utility allows user to change a vendor in multiple transactions at once.
• Updated Finpack export; changes include:
  • Updated default MN and IA export code defaults (set of book codes)
  • Added IL export code default (set of book codes)
  • Enterprise total for farm expense codes are now exported
  • Each transaction details is exported for farm asset codes
  • Date range has been added
• The program detects whenever a change is made to previous year set of books and offers to calculate and carry-over balances to the current year.  The function can also be run manually. (2.1)
• Added option to export units, weight, bank and loan balances (2.1)
• Added the ability for the user to check program updates and information on the web and download the latest update patch (2.1)
• Added export to FinPack for IFBA account codes
• FinPack export customization is more user friendly
• Calendar added

Other

• Numerous tweeks and cosmetic changes
• Changed several screens to be resizable as users requested.
• Made compatible with Windows 8
• Continue to receive Internet updates/patches and support (for the new version only)
• Improved error checking and added warning messages in many places (2.2)
• Program options are saved when installing over a previous program (2.1)

Upgrade Prices

• Upgrade from Pc Mars for Windows (full) version 1.0 through 2.2 - $100 (Iowa customers add sales tax ). To order, click on the following: Windows Upgrade Letter. Print it out, follow the instructions, and send it to SoftShell.
• Upgrade from PC MARS (DOS) - $130 (Iowa customers add sales tax).
• Upgrade from MAC MARS - Free !
• Upgrade from PC MARS for Windows - Lite version to Full version - $130 (IFBA members) / $200 (non-members) (Iowa customers add sales tax)

Patch updates to Pc Mars Version 2.2

Problems were detected after version 2.2 was released.  An update patch is available to fix these problems, as well as added features. You can tell if any of these affect you by examining the version number, listed under "About Pc Mars" under the Help Menu. Examine the version number and note the changes made for higher versions than yours. Described below are the problems and changes made for each of the versions updates. Note that these update VERSION 2.2 ONLY.

Version 2.2.8

1. The 2 percent reduction of the employee share of social security taxes is extended through December 31, 2012.

Version 2.2.7

1. The 2 percent reduction of the employee share of social security taxes is extended until February 29, 2012.
2. For non-simplified payroll method, the employer share of social and medicare is not added to the paycheck if the the user blanks out the employee share of social security and medicare.
3. Fixed a problem in FINPACK export (Minnesota users only), where milk units were not being exported correctly.

Version 2.2.6

1. Fixed a problem with network sharing (Paradox user error), caused by enhanced open/view.
2. Changed the calculating of State Tax Withholding with a fixed amount only being entered. (Advanced Payroll only)
3. Do not allow reusing of paychecks from a previous year and recurring paychecks are not carried over from a previous year. This is because of different withholding percentages used in past years.
4. Allow ZIP backup and restore of PLUS set of books in Pc Mars.
5. Added an option for enterprise budgeting – Small business and Church Set of Books only.
6. Added an option for enterprise “Fund” balance reporting – Small business and Church Set of Books only.
7. Changed multiple selection in the Check Register Report to “period” vs. “month” when direct control of the period is enabled.
8. Added a warning when a “zero amount” paycheck is entered and changed the calculation to show withholding in the appropriate Labor Reports.
9. Program change – Now only withholding will be included on paycheck stubs, even if a same name is used in the Vendor List as well as the Employee List.
10. A date range selection was added to the W2 Summary Report.
11. Added an option to the Expanded Labor Report for advanced users to screen out labor deposits occurring in a month or date range. Also this deposit criteria is listed on the top of the deposit portion of the report.
12. Option to specify quarterly FUTA rates for 2011(only), on the FUTA Report screen. For fiscal Set of Books, different FUTA rates and limits can be entered for the two spanned calendar years (under Payroll General Information)
13. Fixed an issue in the Labor Withholding and Deposit Report where the printing of deposits was overrunning past the end of the page.
14. Added a check in Advanced Payroll (only), where labor deposit descriptions cannot be the same as any of the withholding descriptions. Also in Advanced Payroll, a check was added so that pension employer share description cannot be the same as pension withholding description.

Version 2.2.5

1. Several users received a reconcile error after installing version 2.2.4.  This was due to characteristics of different operating systems.  This patch will correct this issue for all operating systems.
2. Non-simplified payroll users who made manual entries without matching descriptions for Social Security and Medicare withholdings noticed changes to the labor deposit reports.  This patch restores previous method for employer share matching calculations for paychecks entered prior to 1-1-11. 
3. Updated new IFBA address for advanced payroll ordering

Version 2.2.4

This update accommodates the federal 2010 year end tax legislation dealing with social security paycheck deductions.  The new law requires the employee share of social security tax for 2011 be decreased to 4.2% (instead of the previous 6.2%).  The employer's share, or match amount, will remain unchanged at 6.2%.  If any paychecks were entered incorrectly at the 6.2% rate, this update will also handle any offsetting adjustments made prior to March 31, 2011.

Version 2.2.3

1. Removed period column from reports where not pertinent; (when direct control of the period is NOT selected). The period is always displayed on these reports: check register and bank transfer report.
2. The deposit number now prints on the Nelco deposit tickets
3. Nelco check & deposit forms listed in selection box and Nelco order screens are added with hyperlinks to their website.
4. Tack notes are now "word wrapped" for entry and viewing ease.
5. Loan interest rate is printed on loan reports
6. Added an option to print all tack notes on the Year End Detail Report (Cash Version) or Full Year General Ledger (Accrual Version).
7. Added the ability to change a non-multiple loan vendor expense to a multiple loan vendor expense and vice-versa.
8. Enhanced Open/View now will now read books that have been “renamed” to a longer books names than the Pc Mars 8-characters default.
9. Amount column is moved before description column on the credit transaction screen to match the check and deposit entry screens.
10. Fixed an issue with deposit slip printing with blank vendors or descriptions
11. Date format (mm/dd/yy) cannot be overridden by a computer’s operating configuration.
12. On the Restore screen, the "Restore from zip file" check box was moved to the top of the screen.
13. Fixed an issue with the Tack Notes’ “Go To” button when there was no notes ever created.
14. If Account Receivable Program, A/R (interfaced mode) is running with an open set of books, Pc Mars cannot open that set of books at the same time and vice versa.
15. Enhanced open/view screen; in Pc Mars only selects Pc Mars books to backup when “select all” is chosen. Note: PLUS will select both Pc Mars and PLUS sets of books.
16. Added a feature under Utility to reset the printer settings. This will reset both the report and check printer option to the Windows default printer. This feature was added because wireless printers were being “lost” when signal dropped out.
17. Updated Advanced Payroll order form
18. Renamed patch installation exe file for improved patch installation
19. Changed 2.2.3 installation so that any “read only” program files that need updated have their attributes automatically changed.

  Version 2.2.2

1. New "Live" net worth is now available with small business, generic, and church sets of books.
2. Enhanced Open/View is now available in advanced file maintenance mode.
3. Fixed a problem with loan balances not being carried over correctly with accrual sets of books. (Accrual installations only)
4. Fixed a problem in Alternate FICA report with advanced payroll when using "other" pay types (Advanced Payroll only).
5. Added a "quit asking" option to net worth calculation screen that appear before opening inventories. (Accrual installations only)
6. Removed shading in the Net Worth Statement that was causing a problem with some printers.
7. Added back in Fica detail to labor reports that was in previous versions of Pc Mars.
8. Fixed a problem with Fica/Fed remaining calculations in detail labor reports.

Version 2.2.1

1. Modified program for regular payroll so that state tax tables can be used for state tax withholding after December 2009.  Note that these tables may be out of date, so state withholding calculations may not be correct after December 2009.
2. Fixed problem with employee list (regular and advanced payroll) where certain edit items were not being updated when using the scroll bar to browse employees.
3. Fixed a "looping" error condition in advanced payroll when changing pension type.
4. Fixed a problem converting regular payroll to advanced payroll, when "YES" is entered instead of "CONVERT".

If any of these affect you and you want to update your program to the latest release (2.2.8) , go to IFBA website to: Download Update (fix) to Pc Mars 2.2

This is a file that updates or fixes your existing Pc Mars 2.2 program file. Just save the file to your desktop. Then run the update program (Pc Mars Update 2.2.8.0.exe) by double clicking on it. It will ask you for the location (folder) containing Pc Mars 2.2. This most likely will be in "PcmWinf". This folder you specify must contain Pc Mars 2.2 in order for the program to be updated.

Patch updates to Pc Mars Version 2.3

Problems were detected after version 2.3 was released.  An update patch is available to fix these problems, as well as added features. You can tell if any of these affect you by examining the version number, listed under "About Pc Mars" under the Help Menu. Examine the version number and note the changes made for higher versions than yours. Described below are the problems and changes made for each of the versions updates. Note that these update VERSION 2.3 ONLY.

Version 2.3.2

1. Added a bank balance override feature.  This allows you to "start over" with selected bank account(s) if carried over bank balances are in error, due to problems with prior year sets of books.
2. Added inventory number to the report of assets and liabilities carried forward on the carry over balances utility.
3. Improved the user experience on the Capital Asset Purchase wizard - On a blank creditor you can go backwards, and  improved the use of the enter key on entry grids.
4. Fixed some issues with error checking on the entry of the data location of prior year set of book(s).
5. Fixed an issue with the calculator returned result.
6. Fixed an issue with the carryover of existing duplicate assets descriptions.  Also added error checking when new duplicate asset descriptions are entered.
7. Added error checking when deleting assets that have been carried over to a new year.

Version 2.3.1

1. Corrected a few issues with the Capital Asset Purchase wizard and added capabilities:
   1. Corrected an issue with the "vendor" column showing, when it should not have been, after a Capital Asset Purchase (with Cash and Financing) is saved to a check transaction.
   2. Clarification of the "boot" comment.  It is now not displayed if the transaction includes rolling over an existing loan.
   3. Expense and income codes can now be entered in the entry detail associated with rolling over an existing loan.
   4. Corrected an issue with the Capital Asset Wizard button on the icon bar being enabled for Accrual sets of books.  It is now grayed out (disabled).
2. Corrected an issue with the exporting of selected items to a spreadsheet.  It was not importing everything if the period specifications were blank.  The issue is now fixed.
3. Clarified the Social Security Rate comment on Payroll General Information screen and F1 help screen.
4. Corrected an issue with the Carryover Balances utility with the carrying over of zero balance loans.  The zero balance loans were being carried over again even if the user chose not to when creating a new sets of books for the year.  This is now fixed.
5. Clarified the F1 help screen for Finpack account code customization.
6. Added the availability of periods n1-n12 on the menu bar and the period selection screen when in Direct Control of Period mode.

 If any of these affect you and you want to update your program to the latest release (2.3.2) click on the following: Download Update (fix) to Pc Mars 2.3

This is a file that updates or fixes your existing Pc Mars 2.3 program file. Just save the file to your desktop. Then run the update program (Pc Mars Update 2.3.2.0.exe) by double clicking on it. It will ask you for the location (folder) containing Pc Mars 2.3. This most likely will be in "PcmWinf". This folder you specify must contain Pc Mars 2.3 in order for the program to be updated.

For further information, E-Mail IFBA or E-Mail SoftShell.

 This page last updated on 3/19/2013