14 [1] Use The Right Mouse Button! ======================== You can conveniently access many options and functions by clicking with the right mouse button on different elements of the main window. For example, right-click on a graphic control and you will see a Popup Menu with functions such as: Clear, Load, Save, Copy, Paste, Screen Capture, and Help. [2] Learn How To Use Filters! ====================== Filters can be very useful in selecting a subset of all records both for viewing and printing. For example, if you are only interested in records with NAME data field beginning with letters C-F just set the filter for the NAME field with filter expression 'BETWEEN C and F'. [3] Use Non-Stop Search! ================== In the Find window (after you click on the Search button) there is a useful Non-Stop Search option. You can use it to Find all records meeting your search criteria in one pass. It works very much like a filter - you can use the result of a Non-Stop Search for both viewing and printing. [4] Why Letter Tabs Are Not Working? ============================ The Letter Tabs are not active in one of two situations: they are disabled in Options or no Primary Sort Field has been selected. The Letter Tabs only make sense when your database is sorted alphabetically. See help for more information about sorting. [5] Main Window Is Sizeable! ====================== You can resize the main window and the data fields will adjust their sizes automatically. You can also change the ratio of the left and right page widths. Just drag the little red-yellow handle at the bottom of the main window. [6] How Many Records Are There In My Database? ====================================== To answer this question you have to disable the Letter Tabs. Then Click on Last button in the left panel (Table Of Contents) and select the last record by clicking on the last non-empty Record Button. The number in the right-bottom part of the main window (underneath the Details Panel) will give you the number of records in your database. [7] Use Record Templates! =================== If you enter many similar records chances are that you could save yourself a lot of typing by using the Record Templates. The Record Templates are most often used when adding new records (New button) but may also be used to replace the contents of the existing records. Click with the left mouse button on the Record Template button (in the top-right corner) to select a template for adding new records. Use the right mouse button to save the current record as a Template or to replace the current record with a Record Template. [8] Protect Your Data - Back It Up! ========================= You should back up your database regularly and especially after you enter many new records. Just click on Advanced/Maintenance/Backup and follow the instructions. Because the database can easily become larger than the capacity of a diskette the Backup function places the files in BACKUP directory on your hard disk (underneath DATA). You should compress entire BACKUP directory (e.g. using WinZip or PkZip) and then copy the compressed file to a diskette. [9] How can I get pictures into a graphic field? ================================== Using the right mouse button click on the graphic field and select Load or Screen Capture. Load can only load pictures from BMP files. Using Screen Capture you can import pictures from any format. For example, you can open a GIF file in Paint Shop Pro and then import the image into the graphic field using Screen Capture. [10] Should I use Single-User or Multi-User Mode? ===================================== Usually, on a stand-alone computer you will use the Single-User Mode and on a network you will use a Multi-User Mode. However, in some situations you may want to use a different User Mode. On a stand-alone computer, if there is more than one person accessing the program, and if you want every person to have his/her own private database (possibly protected by a password) you should use a Multi-User Mode. On a network, if you don't need security, and you want a simple setup you might want to use a Single-User Mode - in this mode multiple users can still access the same database at the same time. [11] You can customize the data fields! ============================ If you need some other data fields than those included in the program you can use the Custom Fields. You can also change the usage of the predefined data fields. Just click with the left mouse button on a data field name that you want to redefine and select Text... from the displayed menu. Remember, that you can only change the field names and not the field types (e.g. a date field must always remain a date field). [12] How can I change or delete items displayed in drop-down lists? =============================================== The easiest way to change, add, or delete list items is to click on the drop-down list with the right mouse button and select Edit List... from the displayed menu. [13] Customize Headers In The Table Of Contents! ===================================== You can select data fields, their order, and widths that are displayed in the Table Of Contents (the left side of the main window). To insert or remove fields click on the Header (above Record Buttons) with the right mouse button and select from the menu a field to be inserted or removed. To change the order of fields just click on the field names on the Header and use drag & drop. To change the field widths click on the field dividers (on the Header) and drag them. [14] Changing The Ordering Of The Database! ================================= To change the order in which records are displayed (and printed) click on the Sort button in the Advanced Tab. Then select the Primary and (optionally) the secondary sort field. A faster way to do it is to click with the right mouse button on the Primary and Secondary sort buttons (first 2 buttons in the Table Of Contents, above the Header) and select the sort fields from the displayed menu.