QL Cash Trader

QL Cash Trader was originally released for the Sinclair QL by Accounting Software Limited. It then appears that this company was taken over by Quest Automation Ltd who released it as Trading Accounts with minimal changes.

The program works as a cash accounting system, providing simple double entry book keeping and VAT returns for a small business. As you enter transactions, the Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet figures are instantly updated and shown in a window above the input area.

There is a comprehensive manual supplied with the software, and also a simple sequence of learning and training exercises to help you get used to the software before setting it up for your own business.

QL Cash Trader allows you to keep track of your accounts, prepare trial balances and final accounts, all handled semi-automatically. No need to work this all out on paper anymore! It includes an easy-to-enter accounting routine with instant Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss a/c, VAT report, VAT return and trial balance.

Quest were originally planning bolt-on modules for Cash Trader, including more detailed analysis of profit and loss and balance sheet, as well as an invoicing module. They also developed Cash Trader for the IBM PC and other machines, such as the Apple IIe and Apple IIc, Apricot and F1, the Amstrad and the Epson PX-8 (certainly there appears to have been a version released for the Amstrad PCW).

When Quest Automation Limited disappeared from the Sinclair QL scene, Chas Dillon was asked to re-write the software for PDQL, which he did, with minor changes to the data formats. He also released a reporting module (CT-Analyser) and made the program much quicker, compiling it with Turbo.

PDQL also produced their own improved version of Cash Trader called (again) Trading Accounts - although all of these features were later encompassed into the version QL Cash Trader as it has survived today. Unfortunately, the other bolt-on modules planned by Quest do not appear to have ever been released.

Eventually, the rights to market the software transferred to Digital Precision Ltd, although the software was still supported by Chas Dillon. Following the withdrawal of Digital Precision from the QL market, Chas agreed to release the source code for Cash Trader as public domain, subject to no-one else making a profit from his sources.

RWAP Software then took on the mantle of this software, making changes to get around the millenium bug and correcting a few minor errors, adding password protection and minor improvements. RWAP Software sell this enhanced version for a nominal amount, to cover the costs of continuing to support the software.

This version includes the Analyser module which enables you to analyse accounts for management and auditing purposes (analyse all ledgers by date or by expense type). This can also be used to provide daily summaries and bank reconciliations.

A PC accounting package specifically aimed at pension funds has also been created based on the original Accounting Systems Limited version Visit M-P Systems website

Title: QL Cash Trader
Language: SuperBASIC compiled with Turbo
Author: Original by Quest Automation Ltd, Later re-written by Chas Dillon and updated by Rich Mellor
Publisher: Accounting Software, Quest Automation Ltd, PDQL, Digital Precision Ltd and RWAP Software
Year of Publication: 1985
Platforms Suitable for: All Sinclair QLs and emulators (min 256K memory)
Commercial Status: Quest Version - Unknown, PDQL and Digital Precision Version - Public Domain, RWAP Software Version - Commercial
Price in January 1985: £69.95
Reviewed: (Sinclair Research/Quest version) QL User (May 1985), QL World (July/August 1985)
Sources Available from: Download Cash Trader Sources
Latest Version available from: RWAP Software website