A.I.M. "In Depth" Q&A

[extelecom]

Newport - Multiple Accounts, Subdirectories-Aug 14, 2000
Q.........
Hi Tom...In the past you mentioned using Newport on 19 accounts, by installing it to subdirectories. Could you explain just how you did this. My DOS is a bit rusty and I'm unsure of what to do in a W95 or W98 environment.
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A.........
Hi BJ,

Here's what I did to create the various directories:
1) First I created (in Windows Explorer) a new sub-directory
c:\program files\stocks
2) next created directories within the #1 subdirectory for each of the "accounts" I wanted, such as
c:\program files\stocks\tom
c:\program files\stocks\jane
c:\program files\stocks\watchlst
etc.
3) Next install Newport to each of those directories.
4) add the stocks/funds to each "account" that belong there.
5) From the "desktop" "right click" to find the "New" topic and create a new Folder and name it whatever you like. Open this Desktop Folder.
6) Create a "shortcut" to each account as follows:
- add a new "Shortcut" in the new folder
- call it BJ's or whatever you like.
- The "Target" or "Command Line" should be
c:\newportw\winport.exe
- Now you should have an Icon on the screen
- "right click" on the new icon and then the "Properties" item
- Edit the "Start In" to be
c:\program files\stocks\bj or whatever "file" names you gave the individual "accounts"
- repeat the process for each of the 'accounts' and you should then have a new folder window with each of the accounts identified.

Finally, using Windows Explorer, go to each "Account" file name and delete the winport.exe and the newport.hlp files from each. You'll save space on the hard drive by doing so. With modern computers, this is sort of a moot point, but I like to keep things lean - especially on my lap-top.

The same winport.exe file will run each of the separate "accounts" without conflict. You then can print each account's status, Buy/Sell Recommendations, and other historical info separate from all the others. The only drawback at this time is that if you and 13 of your friends/family all own IBM, you have to put the price of IBM in 14 times a week! Bob Norman's Version 2.? will have this built in. You'll be able to maintain separate accounts and only enter the common data once. It will distribute the data out to the proper local account. I think he's planning on having it ready around the last qtr or '00 or the first of '01.

Best regards, Tom