Click here to view the Navigation and Input menu.

Click here to view the complete Optifacts User Documentation Index.

Click here to contact us.

Introduction

This document explains how to navigate and input data using your keyboard. Optifacts has several different types of screens. Each has standards for navigating and inputting data.

Procedure

The Perform screens allow access to maintain selected tables within Optifacts. Find some maintenance screen locations within the following Optifacts menu options: (Menu 7-3, 5-10-10, 9-1-3, 9-1-7, and 3-15-4.)

At the top is the Perform Menu Bar. Menu bar option descriptions change depending on the option highlighted on the menu bar.

The Informix perform commands can be chosen in one of two ways. Either use the arrow keys to highlight your choice and then press the enter key or press the first letter of your choice. 

Please enter the first letter of the menu option — definitions for each provided in the next section.

Q - Query

N  -  Next

P -  Previous

V  -  View

A  -  Add

U  -  Update

R  -  Remove

T  -  Table

S  -  Screen

C  -  Current,

M -  Master

D  -  Detail

O  -  Output

E  -  Exit

Once you have chosen Query, Add, or Update, the cursor is placed in the form, and you can use the up and down arrow keys, or the enter key to move from field to field. The left and right arrow keys and the backspace key work within each field. Fields that require information are enclosed within brackets [ ].

Use the Next and Previous options to view the next or previous row in the Current List. First, use the Query option to generate a Current List (a list of all the rows that satisfy the query). If there is more than one row in the Current List, select the Next option to look at the next row. Select the Previous option to look at the previous row.

Press the Escape key to perform the selected command. For query, performs the search and display any matches. For Add or Update, save changes and add or update the current record to the database.

Press the "?" question mark key at the Perform menu for online help. Select "Screen" or press "S" to see more screens of the help file for Perform commands.

During a Query, Add, or Update, clear the data by press "Ctrl-D" when the cursor is at the beginning of the field. All text within and to the right of the cursor erases.

To abort or ignore any changes currently in process, press "Ctrl-C," "Interrupt (Pause/Break)," "Delete," or "F5" on some terminals.

For tips, glance at the top and bottom status lines. (What keys to press or expectations for the current field.) After choosing a perform command, Informix alters the top two lines, informing you of the selected option and what keys can still be used. Some forms provide additional information at the bottom of the screen.

A Perform command must reach completion before exiting the form. If a Query, Add, or Update started, press the "Interrupt" key and then "E" to exit the screen.

Perform Screen Navigation.

The following table provides more details for the information above.

• Enter the first letter of the command name “Q” (Query) to access the screen’s first open field.
• Alternatively, use the arrow keys to navigate to the command and press Enter.

Key	Function
Query	Press "Q" to query (search) the active database table. The system retrieves rows (items) based upon their entry date. The most recently entered row (items displayed first. Use this option to view the rows in the active database table. Use this area for searching the database for information on a job. Use the additional fields on these screens to narrow your search using other account or order information. Narrow the search by making an entry in any field. Use an asterisk  to perform a wildcard search. For example, to look up all accounts with the last name Smith, type *Smith* in the Patient field, to display all valid entries. Press Escape  to perform the query. Results display at the bottom of the screen with a message indicating how many records are found.
Escape	The fields on the screen populate with the first record matching the input criteria.
Next	Press "N" to navigate to the next record in the current list.
Previous	Press "P" to navigate to the previous record in the current list.
View	Runs editor commands to display Blob contents. (Available only to online systems.)
Add	Press "A" to add a new record to the active database table.
Update	Press "U" to update or change a record in the active database table. Only certain fields may be updated: Patient Name Courier Date Needed Time Needed
Exit Without Save	Press "Ctrl-C" to exit the table without making any changes.
Copy Previous	Press "Ctrl-P" to copy data to the field from a previously viewed record.
Clear Input	Press "Ctrl-D" to clear input or to clear a field.
View Help	Press "Ctrl-W" to view the Help screen. Within the help screen, press  "S" to view more or press "R" to resume.
Remove	Press "R" to remove (delete) a record (s) from the active database table.
Table	Press "T" to select the current table. Some screens are divided into sections or tables.
Screen	Press "S" to display the next page of the form. (Applicable where there are numerous screens on a form.)
Current	Press "C" to display the current row of the current table.
Master	Press "M" to select the Master table of the current table.
Detail	Press "D" to select the Detail table of the current table. The active section shows [brackets] around each field.
Output	Press "O" to enter an output file. The data, form, or report is sent data to an output destination.
Exit	Press "E" to exit the Perform screen.

Entering and Storing Data

Use the Enter key to store data input within a field. The Tab key won't move the cursor and results in an error sound (if the system is configured for audio).

Use the Arrow keys to navigate between fields. However, the data only saves by using the Enter key.

Date Format

Dependent on system configuration. IE: DD/MM/YYYY (DAY, MONTH, YEAR). If you enter the date without inputting the 4-digit year, the cursor doesn't move from the field until the date format is input correctly.

Exiting Screens

Most of the screens within Optifacts provide clear instructions on how to exit a screen. If onscreen instructions are unavailable, try these keystrokes in the following order:

Esc  

E  

Q  

Delete  

Help Screen

Press "Ctrl-W" to retrieve the first Help screen.

Press Enter to move through the rest of the help pages.

Press "R" to exit the help screen. 

To view and download these instructions as a PDF file, click on the following document image.

Click here to return to the top of the page.