CA NONPROFIT CORPORATION FORMS Copyright (c) 1989-1999 by Anthony Mancuso (Published by Nolo Press) February 28, 1999 WHAT'S IN THIS FILE A. INTRODUCTION B. KEEPING UP-TO-DATE C. TYPES OF FORMS ON THIS CD-ROM DISK D. INSTALLING/COPYING THE CORPORATE FILES ONTO YOUR COMPUTER E. CREATING DOCUMENTS WITH THE WORD PROCESSING FILES F. USING TAX FORMS G. INSTALLING ACROBAT READER H. REGISTRATION FORM ********************************************************************* A. INTRODUCTION This computer disk contains files of the forms included in: - HOW TO FORM A NONPROFIT CORPORATION IN CALIFORNIA - CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT KIT Windows users should install the files onto their system; MAC and DOS users should copy the files onto their system. We suggest you only work on copies of the original files supplied on this CD-ROM. Then, if you lose a file or wish to work on a form in its original state, you can reinstall or recopy the original file to your hard disk. Necessary Disclaimer: While the authors and Nolo Press attempt to provide current forms and information, we cannot guarantee that these forms are appropriate for you. If you have any doubts or if you require further information or guidance, please check with an attorney specializing in small business law. ******************************************************************* B. KEEPING UP-TO-DATE This book with disk is updated regularly to reflect current law and practice. To order the latest version of this the book, call Nolo Press toll-free at (800) 992-6656. (This number is for orders only.) To be notified of updates to this disk and book, fill out and send us the Registration Form included in the back of the book or at the end of this file. ****************************************************************** C. TYPES OF FORMS ON THIS CD-ROM DISK Two different kinds of forms are contained on the CD-ROM: - corporate forms that you can open and edit with your word processing program (see Sections D and E, below), and - federal and state forms in PDF format you can open and print out only with the Adobe Acrobat Reader application (see Sections F and G below). ********************************************************************* D. INSTALLING/COPYING THE CORPORATE FILES ONTO YOUR COMPUTER Before you can do anything else, you need to install the files from the forms CD on to your hard disk. In accordance with U.S. copyright laws, remember that copies of the disk and its files are for your personal use only. Insert the forms disk and do the following: 1. WINDOWS 95, 98 or NT USERS Step 1. Insert the CD-ROM. Step 2. Follow the instructions that appear on screen. If for some reason you have disabled the AutoPlay feature of Windows 95, then the instructions referred to here will not appear on your screen. If this is the case, follow these instructions: Step 1. Insert the CD-ROM. Step 2. Click the Start button on the Windows 95 taskbar and select Run. Step 3. Enter D:\WELCOME.HLP (substitute the letter of your CD-ROM drive for "D"). Step 4. Follow the instructions that appear on screen. By default, all the files are installed to the \NP_FORMS directory. 2. WINDOWS 3.1 USERS Step 1. Insert the CD-ROM. Step 2. In Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu. Step 3. Enter D:\INSTALL.HLP (substitute the letter of your CD-ROM drive for "D"). Step 4. Follow the instructions that appear on screen. By default, all the files are installed to the \NP_FORMS directory. 3. MACINTOSH USERS Step 1. If the "CA Nonprofit" CD window is not open, open it by double-clicking the "CA Nonprofit" CD icon. Step 2. Select the "CA Nonprofit Forms" folder icon. Step 3. Drag and drop the folder icon onto the icon of your hard disk. 4. DOS USERS Step 1: To create a directory named "NP_FORMS" on your C: hard disk drive, type the following at the DOS prompt: C: CD\ MD NP_FORMS Step 2: To change to the NP_FORMS directory, type: CD NP_FORMS Step 3: To create a subdirectory named "TXT" to the NP_FORMS directory, at the C:\NP_FORMS> prompt type: MD TXT Step 4: To change to the TXT subdirectory you just created, type: CD TXT Step 5: To copy all the files from the TXT directory of the CD (in your D: drive) to the current directory, at the C:\NP_FORMS\TXT> prompt type: COPY D:\TXT\*.* All of the files in the NP_FORMS directory on the CD will be copied to the \NP_FORMS\TXT\ directory on your C: drive. ********************************************************************* E. CREATING DOCUMENTS WITH THE WORD PROCESSING FILES This section concerns the files for corporate forms that can be opened and edited with your word processing program. (Tax forms in PDF format are discussed in Section F, below). All forms and their filenames are listed at the beginning of Appendix B. All corporate forms come in two file types (or formats): - the standard ASCII text format (TXT), and - rich text format (RTF). For example, the form for the Cover Letter for Filing Articles discussed in Chapter 8 is on the files COVERLET.RTF and COVERLET.TXT. ASCII text files can be read by every word processor or text editor including DOS Edit, all flavors of MS Word and WordPerfect (including Macintosh), Windows Notepad, Write and WordPad, and Macintosh SimpleText and TeachText. RTF files have the same text as the ASCII files, but have additional formatting. They can be read by most recent word processing programs including all versions of MS Word for Windows and Macintosh, WordPad for Windows 95, and recent versions of WordPerfect for Windows and Macintosh. To use a form on the disk to create your documents you must: (1) open a file in your word processor or text editor; (2) edit the form by filling in the required information; (3) print it out; (4) save your revised file. The following are general instructions on how to do this. However, each word processor uses different commands to open, format, save and print documents. Please read your word processor's manual for specific instructions on performing these tasks. DO NOT CALL NOLO's TECHNICAL SUPPORT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON HOW TO USE YOUR WORD PROCESSOR. Step 1: Opening a File To open a file in your word processor, you need to start your word processing program and open the file from within the program. This process usually entails going to the File menu and choosing the Open command. This opens a dialog box where you will tell the program (1) the type of file you want to open (either *.TXT or *.RTF) and (2) the location and name of the file (you will need to navigate through the directory tree to get to the folder/directory on your hard disk where you installed or copied the CD's files to). If these directions are unclear you will need to look through the manual for your word processing program--Nolo's technical support department will NOT be able to help you with the use of your word processing program. Which File Format Should You Use? If you are not sure which file format to use with your word processor, try opening the RTF files first. Rich text files (RTF) contain most of the formatting included in the sample forms found in this book and in Appendix B. Most current Windows and Macintosh word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect, can read RTF files. If you are unable to open the RTF file in your word processor, or a bunch of "garbage" characters appear on screen when you do, then use the TXT files instead. All word processors and text editors can read TXT files, which contain only text, tabs and carriage returns; all other formatting and special characters have been stripped. Where the Files Are Installed Windows and DOS Users: - ASCII text files are installed by default to a directory on your hard disk named \NP_FORMS\TXT\. - RTF files are installed by default to a directory on your hard disk named \NP_FORMS\RTF\. Macintosh Users: - ASCII text files are located in the "TXT" folder within the "CA Nonprofit Forms" folder. - RTF files are located in the "RTF" folder within the "CA Nonprofit Forms" folder. Windows and Mac users can also open a file more directly by double-clicking on it. Use File Manager (Windows 3.1), My Computer or Windows Explorer (Windows 95) or the Finder (Macintosh) to go to the folder/directory you created and copied the disk's files to. Then, double-click on the specific file you want to open. If you click on an RTF file and you have a program installed that "understands" RTF, your word processor should launch and load the file that you double-clicked on. If the file isn't loaded, or if it contains a bunch of garbage characters, use your word processor's Open command, as described above, to open the TXT file instead. If you directly double-click on a TXT file, it will load into a basic text editor like Notepad or SimpleText rather than your word processor. Step 2: Editing Your Document Fill in the appropriate information according to the instructions and sample agreements in the book. Underlines are used to indicate where you need to enter your information, frequently followed by instructions in brackets. Be sure to delete the underlines and instructions from your edited document. If you do not know how to use your word processor to edit a document, you will need to look through the manual for your word processing program--Nolo's technical support department will NOT be able to help you with the use of your word processing program. Step 3: Printing Out the Document Use your word processor's or text editor's Print command to print out your document. If you do not know how to use your word processor to print a document, you will need to look through the manual for your word processing program--Nolo's technical support department will NOT be able to help you with the use of your word processing program. Step 4: Saving Your Document After filling in the form, use the "Save As" command to save and rename the file. Because all the files are "read-only" and you will not be able to use the "Save" command. This is for your protection. IF YOU SAVE THE FILE WITHOUT RENAMING IT, THE UNDERLINES THAT INDICATE WHERE YOU NEED TO ENTER YOUR INFORMATION WILL BE LOST AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CREATE A NEW DOCUMENT WITH THIS FILE WITHOUT RECOPYING THE ORIGINAL FILE FROM THE CD-ROM. If you do not know how to use your word processor to save a document, you will need to look through the manual for your word processing program--Nolo's technical support department will NOT be able to help you with the use of your word processing program. ********************************************************************* F. TAX FORMS Electronic copies of useful federal and state tax forms are also included on the CD-ROM disk. These forms are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer (see below) to view and print the forms. DOS users will not be able to use these files. To complete your document using these files, you must: (1) start Acrobat Reader; (2) open a file; (3) print it out; (4) complete them by hand or typewriter. You will not be able to complete these forms using your computer. Where the PDF Files Are Installed - Windows Users: PDF files are installed by default to a directory on your hard disk named \NP_FORMS\PDF\. - Macintosh Users: PDF files are located in the PDF folder within the CA Nonprofit Forms folder. ********************************************************************* G. INSTALLING ACROBAT READER To install the Adobe Acrobat Reader, insert the CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive and follow these instructions: 1. Windows 95: Step 1. Insert the CD-ROM. Step 2. Follow the instructions that appear on screen. 2. Windows 3.1 Users: Step 1. In Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu; Step 2. Enter D:\INSTALL.HLP (substitute the letter of your CD-ROM drive for "D"). Step 3. Follow the instructions that appear on screen. 3. Macintosh Users: Step 1. Insert the CD-ROM. Step 2. If the "CA Nonprofit" CD window is not open, open it by double-clicking the "CA Nonprofit Forms" CD icon. Step 3. Double-click on the "Install Acrobat Reader 3.0" icon. DOS users cannot install Acrobat Reader. If you do not know how to use Adobe Acrobat to view and print the files, you will need to consult the on-line documentation that comes with the Acrobat Reader program. DO NOT CALL NOLO TECHNICAL SUPPORT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON HOW TO USE ACROBAT READER. ********************************************************************* H. REGISTRATION FORM Please take a minute to complete, print out and send in this Registration Form. If you purchased this product directly from Nolo Press, you are already registered and needn't do anything further. Nolo Press 950 Parker Street Berkeley, CA 94710 FAX: 510-548-5902 EMAIL: regcard@nolo.com By doing this, you can provide us with valuable feedback and add your name to our mailing list to be notified of future updates to this product and related publications. Also, you'll receive a free one-year subscription to the Nolo News, our self-help law quarterly. In this quarterly you'll find interesting articles on a number of legal topics, book reviews, and legal update information for our books and software. Note to emailers: If you want to email us your completed registration, please fill it in and paste the form into the message body of the e-mail. Do not send it as an attachment. ******************************************************************* REGISTRATION FORM Your Name ________________________________________ Street Address ____________________________________ City _____________________ State _______ Zip _____ Telephone Number ( ) ___________________________ Email address: _____________________________________ Product name (select one): ___ How To Form A Nonprofit Corporation In California (Book) ___ California Nonprofit Kit (Binder) Where did you hear about this product? ___________________________ Where did you purchase this product ? ____________________________ Computer used? ___________________ Operating system ____________ Are you pleased with this product? (very) (5) (4) (3) (2) (1) (not yet used) Comments: _______________________________________________________ ______ You can quote me in future Nolo promotional materials. ______ I do not wish to any mailings.