How to use the Menus:

Apple Menu:
To Register Tab'n Dex or see your Registration Number:
Select "About Tab'n Dex..." from the Apple Menu and then click the "Register" button. If you have not registered, the window will allow you to enter your registration number. If you have already registered, your number will display. Click "Credits" to see the names of those who helped develop and test the Tab'n Dex application.

File Menu:
To create a new Tab'n Dex file:
Select "New" from the File Menu (or type ⌘-N)and name the file. A new record is automatically created in the new Tab'n Dex file and is ready for information to be added.

To open an existing Tab'n Dex file:
Select "Open" from the File Menu (or type ⌘-O) and locate the file. The last record viewed is automatically displayed when the Tab'n Dex file is opened.

To close the Comment window:
Select "Close" from the File Menu (or type ⌘-W). The Comment window (the one opened by clicking the SCS button) or the List window (if the currently active window) will close. Any changes made in the Comment window are automatically entered into the comment field in the Record window and will be saved when the record is saved.

To save a new or updated record in the currently open file:
Select "Save" from the File Menu (or type ⌘-S). The currently displayed record will be saved to the currently open Tab'n Dex file.

To create a new Tab'n Dex file from the currently open file:
Select "Save As..." from the File Menu and name the file. The currently open file will be duplicated and the new file will be opened.

To merge another Tab'n Dex file with the currently open file:
Select "Merge..." from the File Menu (or type ⌘-M). The information in the selected file will be added to the currently open file. The selected file will not be changed or deleted. If you want the currently open file to also be left unchanged, first select "Save As...", then save the file under another name or in a different location, and then select "Merge..." to add the merging file into the newly saved file. This menu item is only active after you have registered your copy of Tab'n Dex.

To find a specific record in the currently open file:
Select "Find..." from the File Menu (or type ⌘-F). The "Find" window will open and you can specify which field to search by selecting it in the pop-up menu and then entering the letter, number or phrase to search for in the specified field. You also can choose how to match the record in the second pop-up menu. You can select from "starts with", "contains" (only choice for searches of the Comments field) or "matches". The first matching record will automatically display if one is found. If no matching records are found, a beep will sound and the "Find" window will display again so you can change the search information. 

Searches of the Comment field are case sensitive, all other searches are not. The individual field in a record containing the text found in any search will be selected for easier identification. When the Comment field is searched and if a match is found, the matching text will be selected and will scroll to the top of the field. 

You can also search all fields at once by selecting the "Search All" check box. "Search All" searches are case sensitive. The fields for each record will be searched first. After each field of each record is searched the search will start over at the comments for the first record and then search all record comments.

To search again for a specific record in the currently open file:
Select "Find Again" from the File Menu (or type ⌘-G). The next record matching the search information last entered in the "Find" window will automatically display if one is found. If no matching records are found, a beep will sound and the "Find" window will display again so you can change the search information.

To set up print information before printing a record:
Select "Page Setup..." from the File Menu. The standard Page Setup window for your printer will display. 

To previw printing of a selected range of records:
Select "Print Preview..." from the File Menu (or type ⌘-J). This menu item allows you to preview a "Print..." selection to see if the records you want to print are listed. See "To print a selected range of records" below for more information. The check box labeled "Display Field Names", if checked, will display all of the field names in the header. Unchecking this box will leave the field names off of the display page, giving room for an extra record per page to display. You can edit the information displayed and copy it to another application or save it as a text file.

To print a record:
Select "Print Record..." from the File Menu (or type ⌘-E). All of the information for the currently displayed record will print on one page. The name of the current Tab'n Dex file and the date will print as a header (the page must be set to portrait, US letter size). If the "Help" tab is in front and the Help text displayed, this menu item will print the currently selected Help item.

To print a selected range of records:
Select "Print..." from the File Menu (or type ⌘-P). A "Print Selected Records" window will open where you select the field to sort the records by and the range of records to print. Enter the starting phrase in the first field ("In the range starting with") and the ending phrase in the other field ("And ending with"). Any record that matches either phrase or is between the phrases will print. If the sort order for the selected filed is Numeric, you must enter the number range to print, if the sort order is by Address, you must enter the Street Name range to print and if the sort order is by Date you must enter the names of the month(s) range to print. A full or condensed record list can print or you can select phone, fax & e-mail, phone and fax, or 3 types of address labels (page must be set to portrait, US letter size). See the "Viewing or Printing Records" section of Help for more information. If the "Help" tab is in front and the Help text displayed, this menu item will print all of the Help items (about 25 pages). The page number now prints on each page when the Help files are printed. The page numbers start over for each section.

If the first field is left empty, you will print from the first record to the ending phrase record. If the second field is empty you will print from the starting phrase to the last record. If both are empty, you will print all records in the file. To print only records where the "Print By" field is empty, leave the first field blank and put a "space" (spacebar) into the second field. To print only records for a single alpha-numeric character or phrase, enter that character or phrase into both fields. The records will print alphabetically by Last Name, First Name within the chosen Sort Order. The check box labeled "Print Field Names", if checked, will print all of the field names in the header. Unchecking this box will leave the field names off of the printed page, giving room for an extra record per page to print.

To quit the Tab'n Dex application:
Select "Quit" from the File Menu (or type ⌘-Q). If the current record has not been saved, you will be prompted to do so. The currently selected record and sort order will be saved so that the file will reopen at the same record, in the same sort order.

Edit Menu:
The standard Edit Menu commands of "Undo", "Cut", "Copy", "Paste", "Clear" and "Select All" are supported. These actions will affect the currently selected text in the currently active field. These also are active when the Comment window is open. All record information can not be selected or edited at once.

To set application Preferences:
Select "Preferences" from the Edit Menu (or type ⌘-Y). The four check boxes control how records are displayed. Selecting the "Edit field names..." button will allow you to change the field, menu and report names and the fields sort order. Selecting the "Set default font..." button will allow you to change the font and size used for printing and/or displaying records. See specific instructions for the "Preferences" items under the Help Menu item "Preferences".

Text Menu:
The Text Menu contains submenus for "Font", "Size", "Style" and "Color". It is only active when the Comments window is open or the Comments field in the Records window is the currently selected field. Any text entered into the Comments can be edited with this menu in the same manner as with any word processor. The "Font" menu includes all fonts installed on your system. The "Size" menu contains the sizes 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 18 and 24. The "Style" menu contains Plain (⌘-T), Bold (⌘-B), Italic (⌘-I), Underline (⌘-U), Outline and Shadow. The "Color" menu contains the colors Black (⌘-K), Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow.

Records Menu:
The Records Menu items perform the same actions as most of the buttons in the Record window (varies depending on how your Preferences are set) as well as lets you import or export records.

To Add a record to the current Tab'n Dex file:
Select "Add Record" from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-R) and a blank record will open. Enter the information desired. Click the Update Button (or type ⌘-S) to save the record. 

To Update a record in the current Tab'n Dex file:
Select "Update Record" from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-S). The information in the currently displayed record will be saved to the file. An existing record is updated by typing in the desired new information over the previous information and then updating the record. Updating a record is the same as saving a record (under the File menu).

To Delete a record from the current Tab'n Dex file:
Select "Delete Record" from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-D) and the record will be deleted. Once a record is deleted, it can not be recovered. If a record is no longer wanted, you can also select the unwanted record and use it to enter a new record by typing over the previous information and then updating.

To find a record in the current Tab'n Dex file:
Select "Find Record..." from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-F). The "Find" window will open and you can specify which field to search by selecting it in the pop-up menu and then entering the letter, number or phrase to search for in the specified field. You also can choose how to match the record in the second pop-up menu. You can select from "starts with", "contains" (only choice for searches of the Comments field) or "matches". The first matching record will automatically display if one is found. You can also search all fields at once by selecting the "Search All" check box. 

If no matching records are found, a beep will sound and the "Find" window will display again so you can change the search information. Searches of the Comment field are case sensitive, all other searches are not. "Find Record..." is the same as "Find" under the File Menu.

You can also search all fields at once by selecting the "Search All" check box. "Search All" searches are case sensitive. The fields for each record will be searched first. After each field of each record is searched the search will start over at the comments for the first record and then search all record comments.

To view on screen a selected range of records:
Select "List Records..." from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-L). A "List Selected Records" window will open where you select the field to sort the records by and the range of records to list. Enter the starting phrase in the first field ("In the range starting with") and the ending phrase in the other field ("And ending with"). Any record that matches either phrase or is between the phrases will list. If the sort order for the selected field is Numeric, you must enter the number range to list, if the sort order is by Address, you must enter the Street Name range to list and if the sort order is by Date you must enter the names of the month(s) range to list. All record information will be displayed in a scrolling list window.

If the first field is left empty, you will list from the first record to the ending phrase record. If the second field is empty you will list from the starting phrase to the last record. If both are empty, you will list all records in the file. If the range contains a large number of records (more than about 100), you may have to use a smaller range to get all of the records in the range to display correctly. To list only records where the "List By" field is empty, leave the first field blank and put a "space" (spacebar) into the second field. To list only records for a single alpha-numeric character or phrase, enter that character or phrase into both fields. The records will list alphabetically by Last Name, First Name within the chosen Sort Order. (See Viewing or Printing Records for more information).

To go to the first record:
Select "First Record" from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-[). The first record, based on the sort order, will display. If the preferences item is checked, the first record will be for the current tab rather than for the entire file.

To go to the previous record:
Select "Previous Record" from the Records Menu (or type ⌘--). The previous record, based on the sort order, will display. If the first record in the file is already displayed, a beep will sound.

To go to the next record:
Select "Next Record" from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-=). The next record, based on the sort order, will display. If the last record in the file is already displayed, a beep will sound.

To go to the last record:
Select "Last Record" from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-]). The last record, based on the sort order, will display. If the preferences item is checked, the last record will be for the current tab rather than for the entire file.

To import records:
Select "Import Records..." from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-\). The Open Dialog box will display for you to choose a text file to import. Once the file is selected, the "Import Records" window opens and the import order is set. Records can be imported into either the current file or a new file. (See Importing or Exporting Records for more information).

To export records:
Select "Export Records..." from the Records Menu (or type ⌘-/). Records are exported as SimpleText© files. The "Export Records" window opens and the export order is set. The records to be exported can be set in the same fashion as with listing or printing records, that is, a specific range and sort order can be selected. (See Importing or Exporting Records for more information).

Sort By Menu:
The Sort By Menu items allow you to sort the records in alpha-numerical order based on the contents of the selected field. This is very useful when you want to view records in an order other than by last name such as when you need to find someone who works for a certain company but you can not remember the persons last name. You can sort by any of the fields listed in the Sort By Menu. The records are sorted immediately after the menu item is selected. The sort order is indicated by a check mark next to the menu selection and also in the title bar of the application. 

You can sort by the "Last Name" (or type ⌘-1), "First Name", "Company" (or type ⌘-2), "Address" (or type ⌘-3), "City" (or type ⌘-4), "State" (or type ⌘-5), "Zip Code" (or type ⌘-6), "Phone" (or type ⌘-7), "Fax" (or type ⌘-8), "E-mail" (or type ⌘-9), "Pager" (or type ⌘-0), "Other" or "Last Updated" fields. 

Five types of sorts are available:
1) Alphabetical -(The tabs will be the letters of the alphabet). If the first character is not a letter, the record will sort under "A" (numbers or empty field) or "Z" (almost anything else). 

2) Numerical -(The tabs will be the numbers). If the first character is not a number, the field will be scanned until a number is found. The field will sort under the first number found. If no number is found in the field, the record will sort under "Empty" (an empty field) or "Other" (almost anything else). 

3) Alpha-Numeric or Both - (The tabs will be the numbers and letters, 2 letters per tab). If the character is not a letter or number, the record will sort under "Empty" (an empty field) or "Other" (almost anything else). 

4) Address - (The tabs will be the numbers and letters, 2 letters per tab). If the first character in the field is not a letter, the first character of the second word in the field will be used when sorting. (That is, if "123 Main Street" is entered into the field, that record will sort under the letter "M").

5) Date - (The tabs will be the months of the year). The field entry must contain a date in the one of the following formats: "Wed, Apr 15, 1998"; Apr 15, 1998; 15 Apr 1998; 4/15/98; 4-15-98; 04/15/1998; or 04-15-1998 or the records will not sort correctly. The same format should be used throughout a file or the records will not sort, list or print as expected.

The default sorts are:
The fields "Last Name", "First Name", "Company", "City" and "State" sort alphabetically. 

The fields "Zip Code", "E-mail" and "Other" sort alpha-numerically.

The "Address" field sorts by address.

The fields "Phone", "Fax" and "Pager" sort numerically. 

The "Last Updated" field sorts by date. Since this field can not be edited, if a tab is clicked that does not contain a record, an alert message will display.

Contextual Menus:

Three contextual menus are available in the Record Window depending on where the window is clicked. The Edit Contextual Menu is available in any window with an active edit field. To use these menus, the "Control" key must be held down when the mouse is clicked.

Contextual Edit Menu:
The standard Edit Menu commands of "Undo", "Cut", "Copy", "Paste", "Clear" and "Select All" are supported. Control-Clicking anywhere between the tabs and the buttons in the Record Window or anywhere in most other windows will bring up this menu.

Contextual Sort Menu:
You can sort by the "Last Name", "First Name", "Company", "Address" , "City" , "State", "Zip Code" , "Phone", "Fax", "E-mail", "Pager", "Other" or "Last Updated" fields. Control-Clicking anywhere over the tabs will bring up this menu.

Contextual Records Menu:
The Records Menu commands of "First Record",  "Previous Record",  "Next Record",  and "Last Record",  and "Add Record",  "Update Record",  "Delete Record",  "Find Record..."  and "List Records..." are supported along with the File menu commands of "Print Preview...","Print Record" and "Print...". Control-Clicking anywhere over the buttons will bring up this menu.