System Navigation
A consistent approach has been taken in designing all the screens you will encounter when using the system. The sample screen above demonstrates many of those standards such as:
In addition to following traditional Windows design standards other visual cues make using the system easier.
Cues such as the use of color make it easier to see information and to determine if it can be changed. All user data is displayed in sunken boxes. Within the boxes, green text with a white background indicates you can change the data whereas black text with a gray background indicates read-only. Labels are always displayed to the left or top of the data item and are black text. Data items of similar types are grouped together with frames and have a blue title in the top left corner of the frame.
The navigation control at the bottom of most screens allows the user to move between records such as clients, vendors or transactions. The VCR-type buttons work just like you might expect - moving from the first to the last or next and previous records. "Record 2 of 12" simply means that you are currently editing or viewing the 2nd vendor (alphabetically) and that there are only 12 vendors entered at this time.
** To add a new record, click the New button on the Records menu at the top of RPM or the New Record
button on the Navigation Bar at the bottom of the current screen. **
Use the Search box to find information in the currently displayed records. Type in a value to search for and use
Enter to search. Use Enter again to find subsequent matches.
The record selector at the left of most screens indicates the status of editing for the current record. For screens that use grids which show multiple records on a screen, the record selector is located at the left of each row but has the same functionality. The symbols that you will see on the record selector are described below.
This indicates a new record that you can enter information in.
This indicates the currently selected record and no changes have been made to the record.
This indicates that a record has been been modified but not saved. To discard changes made and restore the original data, select the Undo option from the Records menu or use the ESC key on your keyboard. Use the ESC key once to clear out information you entered in the current field. Use the ESC key twice to clear out the entire record you have entered but not saved.
** Use the ESC key on your keyboard if you start entering information and do not want to save it **
This indicates a record that is locked (being changed) by another user.
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System Navigation
The following are examples of additional screen objects referenced throughout this text. It will be easier to follow the documentation once you have an understanding of what the objects look like.
Record Selector - used to show the status of the currently selected record (possibly status values defined above).
Delete Record Button - used to Delete a particular row (record). Click the Delete Record Button next to the record (row) you want to remove and click Yes to confirm the deletion.
** To delete a record, click the Delete Record to the left of a record on a grid. **
Drop Down List - allows you to either start typing an item in the list to move to it rapidly or use the down arrow to the right to open the list and then choose an item from the list.
Navigation Bar - used to indicate where you are in the database such as current record and the number of records. Also lets you move to the first, previous, next or last record.
Check Box - used to indicate a Yes/No value. In this case it indicates whether to Pay the check to the client or not. Checked means Yes, unchecked means No.
Grid - a list of data rows (each with a record selector) that lets you see more than one record on the screen at a time.
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RPM User Guide
Scroll Bars - vertical and horizontal are used to scroll both up/down and left/right when more data exists than can be seen on the screen at one time.
Button - used to begin a process or close a form as shown by the text on the button.
Radio Button - used to select only one item out of two or more possibilities.
Calendar Date Picker - this will display when you enter a date field. Use it to select a date from the calendar instead of manually entering a date.
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