Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Chapter D 2 : Using System Features ====== This chapter provides detailed information about Advanced Revelation’s menu system and explains how to use menus, windows and popups as you build your application. It also explains how to control the online help system. ===== The Advanced Revelation Environment ===== The Advanced Revelation environment provides you with a complete, well-organized set of tools for developing, maintaining, and using database applications. The various tools are used to organize the different aspects of your applications. Because of Advanced Revelation’s flexibility, you build your database and application using the approach most comfortable to you. You can create a quick prototype of your system, then refine the prototype until your design is complete. Or, you can come to Advanced Revelation with a finished design and build your system from the bottom up. There are three major types of tools available in the Advanced Revelation environment: menus, windows, and popups. You use menus to move through Advanced Revelation, windows to issue commands and to design applications, and popups to help bring information into the system. This section provides an overview of each element in the Advanced Revelation environment. * Menus in Advanced Revelation organize the tasks and options of an application into logical groups. For example, to design windows, reports, menus, popups, and macros, you use the Design menu. To use Advanced Revelation’s various tools for maintaining your database, you use the Tools menu. * If menus are the paths to Advanced Revelation’s work areas, windows are the media that get the job done. Use windows to issue commands, to specify your database and application definitions, and to manipulate data. Windows are also used to enter and display information in your database. * Popups provide support throughout the system. Like a staff of expert assistants, they inform you about your options in many situations, guide you to the correct response, and help you use the system efficiently. The tasks that you perform using the menu system can also be performed by issuing commands directly at The Command Level (TCL). TCL is a command line that you access directly by pressing the TCL key [F5]. For more information on TCL, see the TCL section. ==== Managing the Advanced Revelation Environment ==== When you log on to Advanced Revelation, you have available a complete application environment. Many aspects of the environment can be modified to suit the needs and preferences of individual Advanced Revelation users. The Management-Environment option from the Main menu calls the Environment menu. Options on this menu enable you to customize the standard environment settings provided in Advanced Revelation. Commonly changed environment settings include specifying whether to display the Main menu or the TCL command window when first logging on to Advanced Revelation, changing the help level, specifying a macro set, and turning Editor functions off and on. For more information about user environments, see the “Users & Accounts: Planning Access and Security” chapter in Developing an Application. ===== Using System Features ===== ==== The Online Help System ==== One of the many features in Advanced Revelation is the ability to set a Help level. The Help level that you specify is used to determine the friendliness of the Advanced Revelation environment. No matter what Help level you choose, the online Help system is immediately available. For an overview of the Advanced Revelation Help system, press [Ctrl-F1] (General). To obtain concept (“big picture”) information about the current system window, just press [Ctrl-F2] (Concept). At popups or the current prompt, press [F1] (Context) for specific help about what to enter or select. === About the Help Levels === Your Help level dictates which version of the status line appears at the bottom of the screen. The Help level can be set to the values 2 or 0 (zero). The values correspond to your familiarity with Advanced Revelation. A Help level of 2 (New user) provides a status line listing active function keys. A Help level of 0 (Advanced user) displays the full status line. Status Line The status line that appears at the bottom of the screen will reflect the current Help level. The status line for Help level 2 dis- plays information about keystrokes active in the current window. Help level 0 (zero) displays a status line that substitutes detailed information about the current window for the keystroke summary. For example, Help level 2 displays a status line similar to the following when in Paint Roam mode: <code> | Paint | Roan | Col 2/78 =| Append mode| Auto bind| CUSTOMER | Fd-edit F9-save | | Fi-Help CF2~-Concept Help F2-Options F4-Edit F6-Softkeys F18-Menu Esc-Exit | </code> The same status line appears like this when the Help level is set to 0 (zero): <code> | Paint | Roan | Col 2/78 =| Append mode| Auto bind} CUSTOHER | F4-edit F9-save | lEd oFél [Row 2/20 |Macro |User | ILevel 2 </code> ==== What the Status Line Telis You ==== The status line for Help level 2 displays less detailed information about the current window. Specifically, the following types of information are not noted: * Editor status * Filter active * Row designation (for Paint and editing multiline prompts) * Current macro set * User or account name * Indexing active * Window level For more information about the status line, see “What the Status Line Tells You” in this chapter. ==== Changing Your Help Level ==== The Help level can be set at the General System Configuration window. To access this window, choose the Management-Environment-General option from the Advanced Revelation Main menu. A prompt named Help Level appears at the top of the General System Configuration window. You can change the Help level at this prompt. Enter the desired Help level. You can press [F2] (Options) at the prompt to select the Help level from a popup of choices. Press [F9] to save the change and exit the General System Configuration window. Press [Esc] to return to the Main menu. Now choose the Exit-TCL option from the Main menu. The Command Level (TCL) window will display. Enter the command: <code> RESET </code> This will reset the system and activate the new Help level. ==== What the Status Line Tells You ==== The status line that appears at the bottom of the screen reflects the current Help level. The status line for Help levels 1 and 2 displays information about keystrokes active in the current window. Help level 0 (zero) displays a status line that provides detailed information about where you are in Advanced Revelation and what kind of work you are currently performing. ===== Using System Features ===== This section describes the information provided at the detailed status line that is displayed when using Help level 0. <code> Process -— CC OPC IC I | | | | | | Filter Position Macro User Background Level </code> ==== Status Line Information ==== Some boxes in the status line display the same kind of information throughout Advanced Revelation. The illustration below shows these boxes. A description of each box follows the illustration. |Process|The Process box names the current process. For example, if you are at a menu, this section of the status line displays “Menu”. If you are at a window or popup, it displays “Window” or “Popup”, respectively. If you are using the Editor, “Editor” displays. | |Filter|The Filter box shows if a filter is active. A filter contains criteria used to select some of the records in a file. When a filter is active, the records meeting a specified selection criterion are available for display in an application window or for use in some process. For more information on using filters, see the “Using the Filter Key” chapter in Accessing Data. | |Position|The Position box specifies the cursor’s current row position and the total number of rows for the multivalued prompt, text prompt, or window. For example, “Row: 5/80” means that the current window has a total of 80 rows and the cursor is positioned on the fifth row. | |Macro|The Macro box names the set of macro keys active for the current user. Macro keys are predefined keystrokes that can carry out entire sequences of keystrokes or commands. | |User|The User box names the current user or account (the name under which you logged on). | |Background|The Background box provides information about background indexing. “Updating Indexes” is displayed when background indexing is active. | |Level|The Level box shows the current level number. When you first start Advanced Revelation, you are at Level 1. Each time you choose a new menu option or access a new window, your level number increases by one. Press [Esc] to return in order through the levels. | ===== Using Menus ===== The menu system logically organizes Advanced Revelation processes and provides a pathway to each process. This section explains how to use Advanced Revelation menus. ==== Action Bar/Pulldown Menus ==== The default Advanced Revelation menu system is composed of action bar menus and pulldown menus. The action bar menu is the top level menu. It is oriented horizontally and uses a sliding bar to highlight selections. Pulldown menus are always called from an action bar menu, and appear directly beneath the action bar selection. Most keystrokes are the same in both action bar and pulldown menus. To choose a menu option, highlight it and press [Enter] or [F9] (Save). A brief message across the bottom of the menu explains the purpose of the currently highlighted option. Use any of these methods to move the highlight: * To go directly to any option, type the first letter of that option. * To move through the options, use the arrow key that points in the direction you want to move. * To go to the first option, press [Home]. * To go to the last option, press [End]. If you are in an action bar menu, you can also use these keystrokes: * To go to the next option in a list, press [Spacebar]. * If the action bar contains more than one line, use [T] and [J] to move the cursor between lines. If the cursor is on the top or bottom line, an arrow key in the direction of the boundary displays the pulldown menu for that option. If you are in a pulldown menu immediately below an action bar menu and the cursor is at a boundary, you can “browse” the pulldowns by pressing the arrow key in the direction of the boundary. If the pulldown has been called from another pulldown, a left or right arrow key returns you to the previous (calling) pulldown. If pulldown numbering is active in the environment, pulldowns with fewer than ten selections display with numbers to the left of each selection. You may move the cursor to any item by pressing the corresponding number key. Selection numbering is not active in pulldowns with ten or more items. See “Changing Menu Styles” below for information on how to activate selection numbering. You can also use a mouse to move the highlight in menus. For more information, see the chapter “Configuring for the Workstation: Mouse, Display, and Printers” later in this section. ==== Choosing Menu Options in Horizontal Menus ==== Advanced Revelation includes a second, horizontally oriented, menu style. As with action bar/pulldown menus, you choose a menu option by highlighting the option you want and pressing [Enter] or [F9] (Save). A brief message across the bottom of the menu explains the purpose of the currently highlighted option. Use any of these methods to move the highlight: * To go directly to any option, type the first letter of the option you want. If more than one option begins with the same letter, each will be highlighted in turn. * To go to the next option in a list, press [Spacebar]. * To move through the options, use the arrow key that points in the direction you want to move. * To go to the first option, press [Home]. * To go to the last option, press [End]. You can also use a mouse to move the highlight in menus. For more information, see the chapter “Configuring for the Workstation: Mouse, Display, and Printers” later in this section. ==== Finding a Menu ==== You can display any menu in the system by choosing options through the menu structure, or you can go directly to any menu by using the Options key [F2]. To go directly from one menu to another, press [F2] at a menu. A popup appears, listing every menu in the system, as illustrated by the following: <code> Available Nenus pg 1/2 </code> The menu popup is a single-selection popup, which means you choose one option in the list and Advanced Revelation immediately responds. To choose an option, either type the number of the option you want and press [Enter] or highlight the option you want and press [Enter]. When you choose an option from this popup, the menu named by the option appears. For more information on using popups, see “Using Popups” later in this chapter. ==== Changing Menu Styles ==== You can choose a menu style at the “Menu Style" prompt in the Environment- Menu window. Ifyou press [F2] at this prompt, you will see a popup of the available styles: * PULLDOWN: Action bar and pulldown menus. This is the default menu style. * AREV: Horizontally oriented menus. This is the original Advanced Revelation menu style. The Menu Environment window also includes a prompt for automatically numbering selections in a pulldown menu of fewer than ten selections. If you set this option to “Y”, the menus display numbers next to each item. Pressing the corresponding number key on the keyboard will move the cursor to that selection. Pulldown menus of ten or more items do not include numbers, regardless of the environment setting. After making changes to the Menu Environment window, press [F9] to save the changes. You must then reset the environment by either typing RESET at Level 1 TCL, or exiting and re-entering Advanced Revelation. ==== Using Windows ==== Use windows to issue commands, design an application, or modify data in a database. For information about how to move from prompt to prompt and how to edit data at a prompt see the “Entering and Editing Data in Windows” chapter in Getting Started. === What Are Windows? === Windows are the bordered areas on the screen that contain prompts and entry lines. There are two types of windows in Advanced Revelation: collector windows and application windows. Collector windows gather information for a process you are executing. Application windows are used to enter data into files. Within Advanced Revelation, collector windows are used to issue commands and to provide Advanced Revelation with the information it needs to perform a process. For example, when you choose Access from the Main menu and then Window from the Access menu, Advanced Revelation displays a collector window: <code> Window Nane Enter a name for the window </code> Window Name is a collector window because it collects information to use in a process. You enter the name of the data entry window you want to use, and Advanced Revelation responds by displaying it. In the applications that you create with Advanced Revelation, windows are used to enter, view, and modify data in your database. For example, you might design a Customer window to enter and modify data in the CUSTOMER file. Windows used to enter and modify data in your database are called application windows. === Prompts, Entry Lines, and Labels === Windows consist of several elements: * Prompts identify the data to be entered or displayed * Entry lines are the areas used to enter or display data * Labels are text that is permanently displayed in the window but not associated with any prompt or entry line === Virtual Space === The complete layout of prompts and labels defined for a window is called the window's virtual space. In some cases, a window’s virtual space is larger than the space contained within the window’s borders. A broken border indicates more material in the border’s direction. For information on moving through a window’s virtual space, see “Panning Through a Window’s Layout” later in this chapter. === Saving Entries at Windows === Once you have entered data at a window, you can write your entries to the file (in an application window) or have Advanced Revelation respond to your instructions (an a collector window) by pressing [F9] (Save). In a window that contains only one prompt, you can use either [F9] or [Enter] to save your entry. In windows that contain more than one prompt, [Enter] moves the cursor from prompt to prompt, while [F9] (Save) saves the window’s current values. To leave a window without saving the current entries or activating an Advanced Revelation process, press [Esc]. If you have changed values at the window during the current session, Advanced Revelation asks you to press [Esc] again to confirm that you do not want your changes saved. === Refreshing Windows (F8) === Use [F8] (Refresh) to clear all the data displayed at the current window. In application windows, the data is cleared without updating the record. In collector windows, the data is cleared without initiating a process. If you make an entry at any entry line on the screen, and then press [F8] (Refresh), Advanced Revelation asks you to press [F8] again to confirm that you want to aban- don your changes. When you confirm, Advanced Revelation clears the data. You can then resume data entry. === The Status Line for Windows === When the Help level is set to 0, the status line at the bottom of the screen tracks screen activity. The following illustration shows the kinds of information displayed by the status line when you are using a window. A description of common sections of the status line follows the illustration. <code> Options SoftKeys Window Field | Browse | Relations | Key | Window CuCoIc at IC IC I C D Editor </code> == Fields == Fields are used to store the data you enter and edit in windows. The status line displays information about the field that is receiving data from the current entry line. The table below shows the kinds of fields ^When the Status Line displays^The field is^The type of data displayed is^ |Sv|Single Value|A single value on one line| |Txt|Text|A string of text that extends over one or more lines | |Mv|Multivalue|A series of distinct values that extends over one or more lines | |Amv|Associated Multivalue|A series of distinct and related values in separate multivalue prompts | |Key|Key|The record’s key or name, used to give a unique identity to each record in a data file | |Det|Dictionary|The name of the dictionary to use | |FN|Filename|The name of the data file to use | == Options == The Options status displays when options are available for the current prompt. When options are available, you can press [F2] (Options) to display a popup of possible entries for the current prompt. == Browse == The Browse status displays when a browse list is active. Browse lists are used to view and edit a specific set of records from a file. == Softkeys == The Softkey status displays when softkeys for the current window are available. The application developer defines softkeys to run special processes for a window. For example, a softkey can be used to run a report from a window. Softkeys are any of the keys [Shift - F1] through [Shift - F10]. The [Alt -F1] through [Alt - F10] keys can be used as well, although they are normally defined as Relations keys (see below). When softkeys are avail- able, you can press [F'6] (Softkeys) to see and choose softkeys from a popup. For more information about softkeys, see “Using Softkeys” later in this chapter. == Relations == The Relations status displays when windows related to the current window are available. Related windows are used to view and edit records in related files. When related windows are available, you can press [Ctrl - F6] (Relations) to see and choose related windows from a popup. Usually [Alt - F1] through [Alt - F10] are used as Relations keys to call related application windows. For more information on related windows, see “Displaying Related Windows” later in this chapter. == Window == If a window is collecting information to run a program, the status line displays “Collector”. Otherwise, it shows the name of the active file or the name of the active window. == Key == The Key status displays the key to the current record. The key is used to distinguish one record from another. ==== Accessing Other Windows or Menus ==== While you are using one window, you can suspend your task and go directly to other windows or menus, then return to your original window and resume work. To access other windows or menus, use [F10] (Menu), [F5] (ICL), [F6] (Softkeys), or {Ctrl-F6] (Relations). * Using the Menu Key: Press [F10] (Menu) to display the Main Menu. Choose the appropriate menu options to perform whatever tasks you wish. When you are finished, press [Esc] to return through the levels to your original window. * Using The Command: Press [F5] (TCL) to display The Command Level window. You Level (TCL) Key can display any window and accomplish any Advanced Revelation task by issuing commands directly at The Command Level (TCL). * Displaying Related : Related windows allow you to view and edit records in related Windows files. Files are related when a field in one file contains record keys for another file. For example, invoices in an INVOICE file might be related to the appropriate customer record in the CUSTOMER file through a joined field called INV_KEYS in the CUSTOMER file. The INV_KEYS field holds the keys to invoice records in the INVOICE file. When a related window has been defined for the current window, the status line displays “Relations”. Press the Relations key — [{Ctrl-F6] to view a popup of all the windows related to the current window. The popup should look similar to this: <code> Related Application Windows Key Window File Joined Field(s)} Intersections i> AFL MEMBERS TEMPLATES none 2] AF2 INVOICES TEMPLATES INU. KEYS 3 </code>To access a related window, highlight your choice and press {Enter], or type the number of your choice and press [Enter]. To return to your original window, press [Esc]. \\ \\ The Related Application Windows popup displays information about the related windows under these headings: \\ Key: The Key column shows the Relations key that has been defined to display the related window. To display the related window directly without going through the popup, press the Relations key from your application window. Usually [Alt - F1] through [Alt - F10] are set up as Relations keys used to call specific related application windows. \\ Window: The Window column names the related window. \\ File : The File column names the file where the related window template is stored. \\ Joined Field(s): The Joined Field(s) column names the field or fields in your current file that contain record keys for the related file. \\ Intersections: The Intersections column indicates the number of record keys in the joined field (for the currently displayed record). For example, if the joined field INV.KEYS in a customer record in the CUSTOMER file contained five invoice numbers, the Intersections column would show five intersections. \\ \\ If you choose a window with intersections, the Joined Key(s) popup appears, listing each of the values in the joined field. Use this popup to create a browse list of the records you want to see. One at a time, highlight the record keys you want and press {Enter] or type the number next to each of the record keys you want and press [Enter]. When you are finished choosing record keys from the popup, press [F9] (Save) to save the list and call the related window. The data for the first record in the browse list will appear in the related window. \\ For more information about using browse lists, see the “Selecting and Browsing through Data” chapter in Accessing Data. | ==== Using Windows for Reporting ==== Windows in Advanced Revelation can play a central role in the reporting process. You can take advantage of the Window Query or index search capabilities to look up information in the database. Records containing the information that you want are listed on a browse list. Once a browse list is active, it can be used in the window to view the records. For more information on using browse lists, see the “Selecting and Browsing through Data” chapter in Accessing Data. === Query in Windows (\) === Any application window can become a form for creating a database search by using Window Query. Window Query is invoked in a window when you press \ (backslash) at the key prompt, which is usually the first prompt in the window. Once Window Query is invoked, you enter selection and sort criteria at the prompts in the application window in order to create a search. When you execute the search, records that meet the search criteria are returned to the application window as a browse list. For more information about the Window Query process, see the “Using Window Query” chapter in Accessing Data. ==== Index Search Options ==== If you have established indexes for your data files, you can make use of these indexes when looking up data in windows. To perform a direct index search, you can use \ (backslash) plus a search value directly at the key prompt. You can search indexes not just for exact matches of data, but also for substrings, ranges, and specific patterns. The Browse Select window, accessible from the Filter key [Ctrl-F10], prompts you for information used to search the indexes. The index search capabilities are described in detail in the “Using Indexes” chapter in Accessing Data. Creating an R/LIST A keystroke available in application windows enables you to Report (Alt-V) create and execute R/LIST reports directly from within the window. If a browse list is active, the records in the browse list are passed to the R/LIST command as a select list (filter). Press [Alt-V] to display the R/LIST window. Enter an R/LIST command into this window, and press [F9] to execute the command. Press [Esc] to return to the window without executing an R/LIST command. When the report is finished, your application window will be redisplayed. If you had a browse list active when you created the report, the browse list will remain intact. For more information about the [Alt-V] key see the “Creating Reports with Advanced Revelation” chapter in the Creating Reports section. For more information on creating R/LIST reports, see the chapters called “Creating R/LIST Reports” and “Writing Reports with EasyWriter” in the Creating Reports section. Also see “Introduction to R/LIST” in the R/LIST section. ==== Moving a Menu, Window, or Popup (Ctrl-F8) ==== You can temporarily move a menu, window, or popup to a more convenient location on the screen. The menu, window, or popup can move until the border touches the edge of the monitor or the top of the status line. To move a menu, window, or popup, press [Ctrl-F8] (Move). Use the arrow keys to move the menu, window, or popup. When you are finished, press [Enter] or [Ctrl-F8] to turn Move off. ==== Panning Through a Window’s Layout (F7) ==== Sometimes a window's virtual space is larger than the area displayed within the window’s borders. A broken border line indicates more material in the border’s direction. Panning allows you to move through virtual space in a window so that you can see the contents that are outside the current window borders. As you pan, the window’s entire frame is shifted by a specified increment (a step, a window width, a page). To pan through a window display without changing the size of the window's borders, press [F7] (Pan). Use the arrow keys to pan through the layout. When you are finished, press [Enter] or [F7] to turn Pan off. You return to the prompt from which you started Pan. Use these keys in Pan to pan through the entire layout: ^When you want to Pan:^Press this key: ^ |Up one step|[T]| |Up one page|[PgUp]| |Down one step|[L]| |Down one page|[PgDn]| |Right one step|[>]| |Right one window width|[Ctrl >]| |Left one step|[<]| |Left one window width|[Ctrl <]| ==== Interpreting the Status Line ==== When you press [F7] (Pan), and as you pan through the window, the status line displays information about the current location of the window borders in relationship to the defined edge of virtual space for this window. |Col#/#|The number to the left of the slash () shows the number of columns that the window has been panned to the right. The number to the right of the slash shows the maximum number of columns that the window can be panned to the right. For example, Col 5/25 means that the entire window frame has already moved five columns to the right (so five columns on the left are hidden) and that it can be moved a maximum of 25 columns right. Thus, when Col 25/25 displays on the status line, the window frame has panned the maximum number of columns that it can move to the right. | |Row#/#|The number to the left of the slash shows the number of rows that the window has been panned down. The number to the right of the slash shows the maximum number of rows that the window can be panned down. For example, Row 0/14 means that the entire window frame can be moved down a maximum of 14 rows, but that it has not moved yet. Thus, when Row 14/14 displays on the status line, the window frame has panned the maximum number of rows that it can move down. | If you are using Help level 2, Row #/# will not display at the status line. You can change the size of steps that the entire window frame moves at each press of an arrow key. The current step sizes are displayed on the status line. For more information, see “Changing the Size of Steps” in this chapter. ==== Resizing a Window (Cirl-F7) ==== The [Ctrl-F7] (Resize) key allows you to change the border size of the currently displayed window. Use Resize at an existing window to make room for other material on the screen or to see more of the window’s prompts at one time. When the virtual space allocated to a window is larger than the area the window occupies on the screen, a broken border line indicates that there is more material in the direction of that border. You can increase the size of a window in the direction of a right or bottom broken border. You can Resize a window to be as small as one column by two rows, or as large as the virtual space defined for this window, up to one full screen. To change the size of the current window, press [Ctrl - F7] (Resize). Use the arrow keys to push the bottom and right borders in the direction you want. When you are finished resizing, press [Enter] or [Ctrl - F7] to turn Resize off. Use these keys in Resize to resize the window's right and bottom borders: ^When you want to move the bottom border:^Press this key:^ |Up one step|[T] | |Up one half window depth|[PgUp]| |Down one step|[1]| |Down one half window depth|[PgDn]| ^When you want to move the right border:^Press this key: ^ |Right one step|[>]| |Right one half window width|[Ctrl >]| |Left one step|[<—] | |Left one half window width|[Ctrl —] | ==== Interpreting the Status Line ==== When you press [Ctrl F7] (Resize), and as you resize the window, the status line displays information about the current location of the window borders. |Col0/#|The first number is always zero. The second number indicates the relationship of the right border to the edge of the window's virtual space. A zero to the right of the slash indicates that the right border is at the edge of the window’s virtual space. Any number to the right of the slash indicates how many columns the right border is away from the edge.\\ \\ In other words, the second number shows the maximum number of columns that the right border can move right. For example, Col 0/16 means that the right border can move up to 16 columns to the right (that it is 16 columns in from the edge of virtual space). Thus, when Col 0/0 displays on the status line, the right border has moved the maximum number of columns that it can move to the right. The border has reached the edge of the window's virtual space. | |Row0/#|The first number is always zero. The number to the right of the slash shows the maximum number of rows that the bottom border can move down before reaching the edge of the window’s virtual space. For example, Row 0/14 means that the bottom border can be moved down a maximum of 14 rows. Thus, when Row 0/0 displays on the status line, the bottom border has moved the maximum number of rows that it can move down. | If you are using Help level 2, Row 0/# will not display at the status line. ==== Changing the Size of Steps ==== A step is the number of columns or rows that the entire window frame will move (in Pan mode), or that a window border will expand or contract (in Resize mode) each time an arrow key is pressed. The current step sizes are displayed on the status line. Whenever Pan or Resize is on, you can change the size of the step used by the Resize and Pan keys. Use these keys to change the size of steps: ^When you want to:^Press this key: ^ |Increase row step by one|[Tab]| |Decrease row step by one|[Shift -Tab]| |Increase column step by one|[Spacebar]| |Decrease column step by one|[Backspace]| ==== Interpreting the Status Line ==== When you press [Ctrl - F7] (Resize) or [F7] (Pan), the status line displays information about the current size of the steps used to resize or pan: <code> | Window] Resize|Col 1/11 [by S Cols |by 2 Rows | <Enter>-end <ese>-exit | lEd Off [Row aS | | User | [Level 1| </code> |by#Cols|The status line shows the number of columns that the border will move (Resize) or that the entire window frame will shift (Pan) at each press of the arrow key (each step). | |by#Rows|The status line shows the number of rows that the border will move (Resize) or that the entire window frame will shift (Pan) at each press of the arrow key (each step). | ===== Using Softkeys ===== Softkeys execute special functions. Each window in Advanced Revelation can have its own set of softkeys. The softkeys provided in a window usually help you to perform activities related to that window. For example, a softkey might run a report, call another window, calla special menu, or call a related program. Softkeys are any of the keys [Shift-F1] through [Shift-F10] or [Alt-F1] through {Alt-F10]. At the time that a window is designed, specific softkeys may be defined for that window. To display a popup that lists the softkeys defined for your current window, press [F6] (Softkeys). To execute a softkey from the popup, highlight the appropriate process on the list and press [Enter] or type the number of the appropriate process and press [Enter]. You can execute a softkey directly by pressing the appropriate keys. For example, suppose the softkey [Shift-F1] were defined to run a report. Either of these methods will run the report: * Press [Shift-F1]. * Press [F6] to display the Softkey popup and choose [Shift-F1] from the popup. ===== Using Popups ===== A popup displays information or lists options related to the current activity. It returns selected values to the location from which it was called, or performs an action such as a softkey action. There are several types of popups: * Single-selection popups perform a procedure or write a value to a single-value field * Multiple-selection popups create a list of fields, records, or files, or write values to multivalue field * Display-only popups display system information or help messages Anytime a popup is displayed, you can exit from it without making any selections by pressing [Escl. ==== Interpreting the Status Line ==== When a popup appears, the status line displays Popup in the first box. The second box describes the type of popup you are using. The most common types are single- selection (Single), multiple-selection (Multi), and display-only (Display). The status line also displays a message that explains how to make selections from the current popup. ==== Moving the Highlight ==== One way to select an item from a popup is to highlight your choice. To move the highlight to the item you want, use the arrow keys. If a popup contains more items than it can show on one page, a message at the bottom border shows the current page number and the total number of pages. To move from page to page of a popup that contains more than one page, use [PgUp] and [PgDn]. You can also use a mouse to move the highlight in popups. For more infor- mation, see the chapter “Configuring for the Workstation: Mouse, Display, and Printers” later in this section. ==== Highlighting Options by Alphabetic Character ==== Popups allow you to highlight an item by typing an alphabetic character. This method can be used in addition to typing a number or using the cursor keys to highlight an item in a popup window. To highlight an item by alphabetic character, simply type the alpha character that begins the item text. For example, to highlight the item “Convert to uppercase”, you would type C. When you type any alphabetic character while in a popup, a message will appear at the bottom of the screen that reads: <code> Text to find: </code> The character you typed will display next to this message. Press [Enter], or add text and then press [Enter]. The cursor will move to the next selection in the popup in which the first column begins with the character or string you have entered. If the character or string you have entered does not appear in the first column of the popup, a message appears alerting you to this fact. You can also use the [Ctrl-F] (Find) key to find any string in a popup. Press [Ctrl-F], and at the Text to find prompt enter a string of characters that appears in the popup. If the string is found in any column of the popup, the highlight bar will move to that row. ==== Choosing Items from Single-Selection Popups ==== Use either of these methods to choose an item from a single-selection popup: * Highlight the item and press [Enter] or [F9] * Type the number of the item and press [Enter]. ==== Choosing Items from Multiple-Selection Popups ==== To choose items from a multiple-selection popup, highlight the item you want and press [Enter] or type the number of the item and press [Enter]. The selected item will blink or otherwise change its video attribute. Choose additional items the same way. If you change your mind about an item, move the highlight to the item and press [Enter] again. The [Enter] key works as a toggle for choosing and rejecting items. When you have chosen all the items you want, press [F9]. Advanced Revelation returns you to the process from which you called the popup, bringing your selections from the popup back to the process. For example, if you press [F2] (Options) at the Source record(s) prompt in the Recordcopy window, Advanced Revelation displays a multiple-selection popup listing all the available records. You can choose as many records as you want from the popup. When you return to the Recordcopy window, the chosen records will be entered in the Source record(s) prompt ==== Display Popups ==== Display popups display information or help about your current activity. For example, the List Files popup displays a list of all attached files. To see the popup, choose List Files from the Files Tools menu, or enter the command LISTFILES at TCL. You can page through the list of files, but you may not make selections from this popup. To exit the popup, use [Esc]. arev/chapter_d_2.txt Last modified: 2023/12/01 07:00(external edit)