Index1

Software Inventory 97 Help

Click on an item below for help:

Getting Started - Please read this before using Software Inventory.

Browse records in a Software Detail database

Cancel editing of records in a Software Detail database

Creating a new Software Detail database

Database entry form buttons

Delete records in a Software Detail database

Edit records in a Software Detail database

Insert records into a Software Detail database

Managing information in the Software Detail database entry form

Menu items

Navigation bar - database entry forms

Navigation bar - search forms

Opening a Software Detail database

Refresh data in a Software Detail database

Reports

Search form - Software Detail database

Toolbar buttons


Getting Started

This topic is for first-time users of Software Inventory.  There are some

important items you need to know before using this software:

1.  Software Inventory uses this database to store information:

Software Detail Information.db

2.  This file name is fixed and cannot be changed.  This is necessary

for the proper execution of this software.  If you try to name a new

database with a different name, a dialog box will state the database name

must be the above listed file name.  Do not rename the database file or

Software Inventory will not recognize it.

3.  If you maintain multiple database files, you must keep each

database in a separate directory.  Since the database always has

the same name, if you create a new database in a directory where a previous

one exists the new database will overwrite the old one.


Creating A New Software Detail Database

To create a new Software Detail database using the pull-down menus:

Click "File" and "New."  Use the file box to move to the directory you wish

to place the Software Detail database files into and click "Save."  The

database entry window will open.

To create a new Software Detail database using the toolbar:

Click the [image] New Software Detail DB toolbar button.  Folllow the same

procedure as for the pull-down menu.


Opening A Software Detail Database

To open a Software Detail database using the pull-down menus:

Click "File" and "Open."  Use the file box to move to the directory where the

Software Detail database files are and click "Open."  The database entry window

will open.

To open a Software Detail database using the toolbar:

Click the [image] Open Software Detail DB toolbar button.  Folllow the same

procedure as for the pull-down menu.


Managing Information In The Software Detail Database Entry Form

The Software Detail database entry form contains several control buttons

and three tabbed pages:

Entry Form

The Entry Form tab contains the data entry fields in which you enter and/or

modify Software Detail database record contents.  From the Entry Form tab

page you may:

Insert (add) new database records

Edit existing database records

Delete existing database records

Cancel changes made to an existing database record

Refresh the database information

Browse existing database records

Sort Options

This tab page displays the sort options available for the Software Detail database.

Click a radio button to change the sort order of the database.

The default sort order is by entry order.

Data Grid

Displays all the records in the Software Detail Database by the current sort order.

Records are displayed in a spreadsheet-like manner.  Use the scrollbars to move

vertically through the database records and horizontally to move through the

database columns.  Information cannot be inserted, edited, or deleted from the

data grid.

Use the [image] , [image] , [image] , and [image] buttons on the navigation bar to browse the

database records.


Navigation bar - Database Entry Forms

This is the database navigation bar:

These are the functions of the database navigation bar's buttons:

  --  Displays the first record in the database

  --  Displays the prior record in the database (if there is one)

  --  Displays the next record in the database (if there is one)

  --  Displays the last record in the database

  --  Insert a new record into the database

  --  Delete an existing record from the database

  --  Edit an existing record in a database

  --  Post changes to an existing database record

  --  Cancel edit of an existing database record

  --  Refresh data of a database


Insert Records Into A Software Detail Database

To insert a new record into a Software Detail database:

1.   Click the [image] "Insert record" button on the navigation bar.

2.   Enter a vendor name in the Vendor field.

3.   Enter a software title in the Title field.

4.   Enter the software version in the Version field.

5.   Enter the software serial number in the Serial Number field.

6.   Enter the cost of the software in the Cost field.

7.   Enter a group name into the Group field or select a pre-defined group from

      the Group Items drop-down list.

8.   Enter a category in the Category field or select a pre-defined category from

      the Category Items drop-down list.

9.   Type a description in the Description field.

10.  Enter the first media type (if there are more than one) in the Media Type 1

      field or choose a media type from the Media Selections drop-down list.

11. Enter the number of media items (floppies, CD-ROM's, etc.) in the Media

     Count 1 field.

12. Enter the second media type (if there is one) in the Media Type 2 field or

     choose a media type from the Media Selections drop-down list.  This field

     is optional.

13. Enter the number of media items (floppies, CD-ROM's, etc., if there are any) in

     the Media Count 2 field.  This field is optional.

14. Enter the date the software was purchased in mm/dd/yyyy format in the

     Purchase Date field.  Click the Current Date button to insert the current date

     into the Purchase Date field.

15. Click the [image] "Post edit" button on the navigation bar to save the entries.


Edit Records In A Software Detail Database

To edit records in a Software Detail database:

1.  Locate the record to be edited using the [image] , [image] , [image] , or [image] buttons on

     the navigation bar or locate the record using the data grid on the Data Grid tab page.

2.  On the Entry Form tab page, edit the necessary field(s).

3.  Click the [image] "Post edit" button on the navigation bar to save the changes.


Delete Records In A Software Detail Database

To delete records in a Software Detail database:

1.  Locate the record to be deleted using the [image] , [image] , [image] , or [image] buttons on

     the navigation bar or locate the record using the data grid on the Data Grid tab page.

2.  Click the [image] "Delete record" button on the navigation bar.

3.  A dialog box will ask you to confirm the delete.  Click "OK" to delete the

     record, or "Cancel" to abort the delete process.


Cancel Editing Of Records In A Software Detail Database

To cancel edit changes made to a record in a Software Detail database:

Click the [image] "Cancel edit" button on the navigation bar.


Refresh Data In A Software Detail Database

To refresh the data in a Software Detail database:

Click the [image] "Refresh data" button on the navigation bar.


Browse Records In A Software Detail Database

To browse records in a Software Detail database:

Click the [image] , [image] , [image] , or [image] buttons on the navigation bar or locate

the record using the data grid on the Data Grid tab page.


Database Entry Form Buttons

  --  Closes the database entry form window.

  --  Displays the online help.

  --  Prints the database entry window with the contents of the current tab page.

  --  Clears all entry fields on the Entry Form tab page.

  --  Saves a copy of the current database and all index files to a different location.

NOTE: This feature is only available in the REGISTERED version.  If you are evaluating

the Shareware version, this feature will not function.

  --  Deletes all records in the current database.  A warning dialog box prompts

you to confirm the deletion.  WARNING: Once the database records are deleted there

is no way to recover the data except from a backup copy of the database.  USE WITH

CAUTION.


Toolbar Buttons

This is the toolbar on the main window:

These are the functions of the toolbar buttons:

  --  Create new Software Detail database

  --  Open Software Detail database

  --  Open Reports window

  --  Tile arrange all open windows

  --  Cascade arrange all open windows

  --  Arrange Icons of minimized windows

  --  Toolbar Top - places the toolbar under the main menu on the main form

  --  Toolbar Bottom - places the toolbar at the bottom of the main form

  --  Toolbar Left - places the toolbar at the left of the main form

  --  Toolbar Right - places the toolbar at the right of the main form

  --  Hide Toolbar.  Click Special and Show Toolbar to display the toolbar again.

  --  Help button - shows the main help file topics

  --  Exit Software Inventory - exits the program


Search Form - Software Detail Database

The Software Detail database search form contains three tabbed pages:

Data Grid

Displays the contents of the database in a spreadsheet-like format.  To browse

the records, use the data grid scrollbars and/or the navigation bar.

Search

Contains the search options for the database.  Click the radio button of the

search option you wish to use.  A dialog box prompts you to enter a partial

or complete search string in the input field.  Enter a search string and click

the OK button to start the search or the Cancel button to abort the search.

A message box will inform you if the search was successful.  If the search

is successful, the Data Grid tab page will open at the point where the search

was successful.

Sort

Contains the database sort options.  Click the radio button of the sort option

you wish to use.  Return to the Data Grid tab page to view the sort results.

The default sort order is by entry order.

  --  Close the search window

  --  Display online help

  --  Print the search form with the current tab page displayed


Reports

There are three tab pages for the report options -- one for each database:

Click the tab page of the database you wish to report on.

Click the radio button next to the report option you wish to run and click the

Print button.

A filebox will open.  Locate the database you wish to use to create the report

and click the Open button.

Borland(R) ReportSmith(tm) will open and display a print preview of the report.

For help on how to use ReportSmith, consult ReportSmith's online help.

NOTE: Borland ReportSmith's online help file is only distributed with

the REGISTERED version of this software.  If you are evaluating the

Shareware version, ReportSmith's help file will not be available.

Borland is a registered trademark and ReportSmith is a trademark of Borland

International, Inc.


Navigation Bar - Search Forms

This is the search navigation bar:

These are the functions of the search navigation bar's buttons:

  --  Displays the first record in the database

  --  Displays the prior record in the database (if there is one)

  --  Displays the next record in the database (if there is one)

  --  Displays the last record in the database

  --  Refresh data of a database

NOTE: This feature is functional in the REGISTERED version only.

If you are evaluating the Shareware version, the navigation bar

will not be functional.


Menu Items

The main menu consists of the following groups:

File

The File menu group consists of five menu items:

New

Open

Search

Printer Setup

Exit

The Printer Setup menu item allows you to select different printers and

printer setup options to use with Software Inventory.

The Exit menu item terminates Software Inventory.  A dialog box prompts you

to confirm exiting the software.

Reports

The Reports menu group consists of one item.

Reports

The Reports menu item opens the Reports window.

Special

The Special menu group consists of six items:

Show Toolbar - displays the toolbar after it has been hidden

Hide Toolbar - hides the toolbar from view

Toolbar Top - places the toolbar under the main menu

Toolbar Bottom - places the toolbar at the bottom of the window

Toolbar Left - places the toolbar at the left of the window

Toolbar Right - places the toolbar at the right of the window

Window

The Window menu group consists of three items:

Tile - arranges all open windows in tile form

Cascade - arranges all open windows in a cascading manner

Arrange Icons - arranges any minimized windows at the bottom of the window

The Window menu group also displays the titles of all open windows.  The

current window will be marked by a checkmark to the left of its name.  To

change the current window, click on the window title in the Window menu

group.

Help

The Help menu group consists of two items:

Help Topics - opens the online help file and displays the help topics

About Software Inventory - opens the author's credit window