It is the area in which you actually work. You can activate this area either by clicking any where in this area or by pressing <Ctrl> + <M> key combination.
¨ Direct Command Area
Although Tally supports mouse commands, you can execute all commands in plain English from a keyboard by typing them in this area. You can activate this area either by clicking anywhere in this area or by pressing <Ctrl> + <N> key combination.
¨ The Buttons 
This area contains buttons which perform various useful functions. For example the second button in this area has a caption “F4:Backup” this means that in order to take backup of a company on floppy disk you will have to either click on this button or press the <F4> key. The third button has caption “F4:Restore” this means that in order to restore a company whose backup had been already taken on floppy you will have to either click on this button or press <Alt+F4> key combination.
¨ Company Information Menu
The right half of the Gateway of Tally area displays the company info. Menu
This menu has following three options:
· Select Company
· Create Company
· Quit
Creating a New Company
In order to create a new company for accounting following screen will appear : 

(Figure 1.2)

Once you have created a company then you are ready for maintaining account for the company. You have to feed all the information given in above figure and then save it. You can also alter any information given above in the figure.
When you have created company then go to main menu and select company by giving username and password (if you have enabled the security) when you select a company then following screen will appear. 

(Figure 1.3)

in the left hand side of the screen you will see the information about company selected like current period financial year of books, name of company selected etc. On right hand side of screen you will see the Gateway of Tally.