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Rap manager can be operated with a mouse. To install your mouse, follow the installation instructions which came with it. Proper installation will require a mouse driver command added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file or CONFIG.SYS file (eg. ,MOUSE.COM or DEVICE=C:MOUSE.SYS). Click the mouse button( usually the left button) to: Select an option from a menu or "POP UP" window Select any menu option / function key from the command line at the bottom of the screen. Select or position the cursor in a particular field on a form Move the cursor to a particular character or position in a field. Move the screen by clicking on any directional arrows found on the screen. Activate a form tab
Click the right mouse button to cancel the last action or go back one level.
Moving around the database records:
In view mode you can use the following keys for navigating the database.
UP Previous record in the index DOWN Next record in the index TAB Move the cursor into or out of a scrollable region in turn SHIFT-TAB Move back to the previous region
CTRL-PGDN Move to the next layer of the forms tab CTRL-PGUP Move to the previous layer or the forms tab. CTRL-END Move to the last record in the database CTRL-HOME Move to the first record in the database
In browse mode you can use the following keys for navigating the database.
TAB Move 5 columns to the right SHIFT-TAB Move 5 columns to the left PAGE-DN Move one complete page of records down PAGE-UP Move one complete page of records up CTRL-END Move to the last record in the database CTRL-HOME Move to the first record in the database
Within a regions window. you can use the following keys for navigating the database.
RIGHT One column right LEFT One column left CTRL-RIGHT Right most column in the region CTRL-LEFT Left most column in the region TAB Select the next region on the form, making it the active region on the form. SHIFT-TAB Select the previous region DOWN Next record in the region UP Previous record in the region PGDN Next page of records in the region PGUP Previous page of records in the region CTRL-HOME First record in the region CTRL-END Last record in the region
9.0.3 Available menu bar commands whilst in view mode
Change Allows you to edit the current record Enter Allows you to enter a new record Browse Toggles to browse mode, displaying records in a table format Index Allows you to select the primary index or search/sort list Find Finds a record quickly using an index or search/sort list (see finding records later in this chapter) Query Activates Query-by-form, allowing you to search for records (see using Query-by-form ) Delete Prompts form confirmation before deleting a record. Print Shows a selection box of report types to choose from for the viewed record.
9.0.4 Finding records using indexes
The find command allows you to find individual records in the database using the current index or search/sort list . For example if SURNAME is the current index, you can search for a particular member by surname. When you select the "Find" command, RAP Manager asks you for a the name to find as shown in the figure below.
When using an index, the find prompt displays either the type of index item to find or the search list expression used to find records using the Query-by-form. For instance, when using an index on the "Service Number" field, the prompt might be "Which Service Number" or if the index was by surname "Which Surname":
When the current index is "Search/sort list" as defined by the last Query you have run then the prompt will show the expression used by RAP Manager to find those records. In most cases this is the expression the program uses to find the records specified using the Query option.
9.0.5 Search/sort lists versus indexes !
Search /sort lists and indexes have similar functions (ie; both can sort and select records meeting a specific criteria), however there are some important differences between the two and you must keep them in mind. Indexes are maintained: Indexes are maintained after each record is entered or changed and will always keep records sorted according to the index you select.
9.0.6 Search/sort lists are not maintained:
A search sort list is a fixed list or collection of records that were found or collected during a Query-by-form function. The search/sort list will remain static even after a new record may be added to the database that meets the Query criteria that you conducted ie:, if you have run a Query and asked for all records where "Surname" is greater than "H" and "Date of birth" was less than 1965 then only those records will appear in the search/sort list and no other record will be added to it even if you enter a new record to the database. If you change a record in the search/sort list it will remain there until you refresh or re-run the Query . When changes or additions are made to the database or the search sort list, the list can become "out of date". To help indicate if a search/sort list is still current a diamond shaped symbol to the left or "search/sort list' will indicate that it is out of date ie:, (u) Search/Sort List. (see Query-by-form later in this manual)
9.0.7 Deleting records and un-deleting records:
When you delete a record it is not removed from the database, but removed from the indexes and reports. No reference is made to the deleted records in any reports, statistics or calculations and can only be viewed by using the "A. Record Number" option in the list of available indexes. This is the order that records were entered into the database, so to find deleted records you will have to scroll through the database to find them. Each deleted record is marked with a diamond symbol to the left of it. To un-delete each record press [ALT-U] and the record will then be included back in all the indexes, reports and calculations. Each application will have, in the Utilities sub menu, an option called "Pack database". The pack database option will permanently remove deleted records from the database.
