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Getting Started |
TroopManager Plus |
If you don't like reading documentation, this is the place for you. The features documented here are the sorts of things you might not discover on your own, yet knowing them will make you more productive with the product. Even if you've been using TroopManager Plus for a long time, we'll bet you don't know about all of these features.
First Time?
Getting Around
Data Entry Shortcuts
Saving Changes
Working with Records
Searching for Names
On-Screen Help
First Time?
If this is your first time using TroopManager Plus, be sure to read the First Time page for important information that will help make you more productive when entering data for the first time.
Getting Around
In an attempt to be easier to use, TroopManager Plus offers no less than THREE ways to access most data entry forms and other features. The most common features are found on large command buttons on a Main Menu screen. All of these features, plus several more, can also be found on a Menu Bar across the top of the window. In addition, a variety of Tool Bars are displayed just below the menu bar.
It's important to note that the Main Menu screen does not list every single product feature. You will have to examine the Main Bars and Tool Bars to discover everything.
Data Entry Shortcuts
The following features work in every data entry form. It never hurts to try them and see -- no harm can be done so it's safe to experiment.
 | Undoing Changes. If you find you have made a data entry error, simply
press the Escape key (often labeled Esc on your
keyboard). The first time you press Escape it will undo the most recent change made to the
current field. If you immediately press Escape a second time it will restore the entire
record to the way it was before you made any changes. Here's an example: Suppose you change a scout's last name, first name, and date of birth. If you press Escape once, the original date of birth will be restored. If you press Escape a second time, the original first and last names will also be restored. This two-level undo feature is very handy when you suddenly realize you have been making changes to the wrong record. Simply press Escape twice and the original record will be restored, no matter how many different fields have been changed. |
| Repeat Previous Entry. Hold down the Control key and press the quote
key ( ' ). This copies whatever you entered in the previous record into the current
record. For example, suppose you are entering the name of the school for your scouts. Many
of the scouts go to the same school, so after you enter the school name for the first
record, when working on the next record, place the cursor in the school field and press
the key combination -- Control + Quote ( ' ). The school name will be copied. |
| Clipboard. The Windows clipboard works well with TroopManager Plus. You
can copy text from one data entry field and paste it elsewhere. See the Edit menu choice
on the menu bar. |
| Today's Date. Hold down the Control key and press the semicolon key ( ;
). This copies today's date into the current data entry field. |
| Entering Dates. TroopManager Plus is very accommodating about how you enter dates. For example, if you are trying to enter the date August 6, 1999 any of the following entries will work exactly the same way. Note that slashes ( / ), dashes ( - ) and even spaces can be used to separate the parts of the date. |
| 8/6/99 | Omit century, 19xx is assumed |
| 8-6-99 | Use dashes instead of slashes |
| 8 6 99 | Use spaces |
| 8/6 | Omit year, current year is assumed |
| 8-6 | Omit year and use dashes |
| 8 6 | Omit year and use spaces |
| Aug-6 | Spell out an abbreviation of the month name |
| 6-Aug | Reverse the order and spell out the name |
When you leave the date field, TroopManager Plus will automatically format all of the above to be 6-Aug-1999. Important point: Even though the field is always displayed in this format, you never have to enter it in exactly this manner. Use whichever format works best and most efficiently for you. |
|
| Scrolling Fields. Occasionally a field can contain additional text that
does not fit in the space provided. TroopManager Plus will automatically shift the text as
you type. When you have filled the field to capacity, no additional text will be allowed.
In the following example, note that the field automatically shifted the scouts emergency
contact name to the left to allow phone number information to be entered |
| Zoom In (Shift+F2). Many data entry fields allow more
text than is visible in the space provided. Some of the captions mention Shift-F2 Zoom
right on the screen, but note that you can always use the Shift-F2 function key to zoom in
on the field and see a larger view of your entry. |
| Tab Key. Use the Tab key to move between data entry
fields. It is always much faster to press Tab than to move the mouse pointer and click in
the next field. This is true even if the next field you want is several fields away. Shift-Tab
will move backwards to previous fields, in the event you move too far. To repeat: The Tab key is FASTER than using the mouse to move from field to field. |
Saving Changes
TroopManager Plus assumes that you always want to save any changes that you have made to a record. There is no special action needed to save your changes. As you move from record to record, or from form to form, your changes are saved automatically. When you close a form with changes, the changes are saved.
Were Changes Made?
You might want to know whether or not youve made any changes that have not yet been saved. A screen element called the Record Selector bar, which is always located on the left side of the form, indicates the status of each record. If the Record Selector shows a triangle it indicates no changes are pending. If it shows a pencil with dots it indicates youve made changes to the current record that have not yet been saved (and thus can be undone with the Escape key). Below, the record on the left has no changes pending. The record on the right does.
You can click the record selector bar to force the changes to be saved without leaving the record or closing the form.
Multiple Record Forms
Many forms in TroopManager Plus display more than one record at a time. For example, the scout and adult history forms show many history records at once, as shown below. Note that the Record Selector bar described above is still displayed, but is much smaller. The undo changes feature (via the Escape key) is limited to a single record.
Working with Records
TroopManager Plus provides the ability to locate existing records, add new records and delete records.
Navigating Between Records
Each data entry form offers several ways to move between records. You can use the menu bar choices under the Record choice: First, Last, Next, Previous. There are toolbar buttons that do the same thing. The most efficient way is the keyboard. You can use the Page Down and Page Up keys to move to the next and previous records, or Control-Page Down and Control-Page Up to move to the last and first records.
Adding New Records
When you add a new record, it does not immediately get added to the database. No addition is made until after you save the changes, as described above. The result is that if you should accidentally add a new record, there is no harm done. Press Escape twice and the new record is discarded.
Deleting Records
When you delete a record, it is gone for good: there's no way to undo this action. Significant records, like scouts, adults and badges, require an additional confirmation that you really want to delete the record. Minor records, like scout and adult history items, do not require confirmation.
Deleting a Single Record
You can use the Edit-Delete Record menu bar choice to delete the current record. An additional way to delete a record that many users find convenient involves clicking on the Record Selector and then pressing the Delete key. Many forms also have a Delete command button.
Deleting Multiple Records
In forms that display multiple records, you can delete two or more records in one action. You must first select a range of records by holding down the mouse button while you click and drag down along the Record Selectors. This is easier to do than it is to describe! When multiple records are selected, pressing the Delete key will have the effect of deleting all of the selected records. Below, three events have been selected at the same time. When the delete key is pressed, all three events are deleted.
Searching for Scouts, Adults and Other Names
TroopManager Plus contains numerous data entry fields that require you to select one item from a list. You do not have to go through the trouble of moving the mouse pointer over to the field, clicking the arrow, and selecting an item. Instead, simply type the first letter of the selection you wish to make. The first item in the list that starts with that letter will be displayed. If there is more than one item in the list that matches your entry, you can press additional letters and the list will zero in on your selection.
For example, suppose you need to use the Locate Scout list to select a scout detail record.
1. Place the cursor in the Locate Scout field.
2. Type the first letter of the scouts name. The first name matching that letter is automatically selected.
3. If the initial match is not correct, type the next letter and the list will automatically advance.
Using the automatic match feature will save you a great deal of effort when making selections from such lists. All lists work in this manner, not just the Locate Scout and Locate Adult lists. You can use the feature with skills, awards, badges/patches, income and expense categories, events and trips, and so on.
On-Screen Help
Software applications can be very confusing, especially when youre first getting started. TroopManager Plus uses the status area (located in the lower left corner of the window) to display brief but helpful messages concerning whatever it is that youre doing at the moment.
| Data Entry Fields When the cursor is located in a data entry field, the status area describes the entry expected. The message always begins with Enter… if youre expected to type something. When the cursor is in this field:  The status area will show: (Note the reference to the Shift+F2 Zoom key.)  |
| Informational Fields Some fields look like data entry fields, but cannot be changed. If the cursor is located in one of these fields (sometimes called a calculated field) the status area describes the field.When the cursor is in this field:  The status area will show:  |
| Selection Lists When the cursor is located in a list, the status area describes what it is that youre selecting. The message always begins with Select… if youre expected to select something from the list. When the cursor is in this field:  The status area will show:  |
| Command Buttons Many frequent users of Windows are not aware that command buttons are not activated by merely clicking down on the button, you must also let the mouse button back up again. If you move the mouse away from the command button while still holding down the mouse button, the command will not be activated. TroopManager Plus displays a description of what the command button does when the command button is initially selected. If you are curious about what a command button does, click down on the button but dont let go. The status message will be displayed. If you dont want to perform the action, move the mouse away from the command button. When you let go of the mouse button the command will not be activated. When a command button is selected (note how Assign Parent(s) has a dotted ling around the caption):  The status area will show:  |
